Royal Oaks — Local services in North Royalton

Terrible management and NOT SMOKE FREE AS ADVERTISED! I can already tell that all of the bad reviews for both this place and Dover Farms (which is managed by the same company) are true, and I only inquired about a one bedroom.

After dealing with major second-hand smoke issues from neighbors in my current apartment, I am desperately trying to find an apartment complex that is smoke-free. After googling smoke-free apartment complexes in the Cleveland area, I was excited to find both this place and Dover Farms. They both claimed to be smoke-free, were within my price range, and looked beautiful in the online photos.

Well, after calling both places and talking to extremely rude and uncaring staff members, I found out, after insisting that they stop talking in circles and tell me the truth, that they aren't really smoke-free. Any residents that live there who smoked before they instituted a smoke-free policy are allowed to continue smoking in their unit, as well as out on the balconies. As one of the women I talked to put it, they are "grandfathered in." Well, what the hell is the point of advertising as a smoke-free complex if that is just not true?? One of the women I talked to even had the nerve to claim, "well you know, second-hand smoke doesn't drift into neighboring units in shared apartment buildings..." HA! I beg to differ! She should come hangout in the smoke hole where I'm currently living. I can't even breathe in there sometimes. The other day it was so bad when I came home from work, I could smell it through the closed door when I was putting the key in the lock.

To top it all off, at the time I originally called, I was so desperate to find a new apartment, I went ahead and made weekend appointments at both Royal Oaks and Dover Farms, thinking that I would maybe have more luck figuring out if there was any way that I could move there and be guaranteed not to live by smokers if I could talk to them in person. Well, since that first call, I have had better luck finding a lead on a truly smoke-free apartment, so I decided to cancel both appointments since they were so rude on the phone, and it would probably end up being a waste of my time to go to either place. Well, when I tried to call both places to cancel my appointments, thinking I was doing the nice thing so they wouldn't be waiting around for me to show up on the weekend, I couldn't even reach anyone who could help me, at either place!

When I called both numbers, which are advertised online, and which I originally called to make the appointments in the first place, both of the people who answered had no record that I had even made appointments to visit, and suggested that maybe it was because the number I had reached was an offsite leasing office, and that I would need to call the actual apartment office. The woman on the phone at Dover Farms gave me an actual number to call (no one even answered when I did call), and the woman at Royal Oaks suggested that I just wait a few minutes and try calling the same number again that connected me to her, and this time, hope that it connects me to the actual apartment office instead. Unbelievable!

I'm SO glad that I'm not going to have to live at Royal Oaks or Dover Farms. I really feel like I dodged a bullet, and no wonder there are so many bad reviews. They can't even treat a potential resident with respect, just think about the type of customer service you would receive if you did live there, and needed assistance with something. I think they are just way too big of a company to really provide any human service. And it really frosts my cake that they claim to be smoke-free, and are not....

Current resident - trying to decide if I want to renew my lease.

Nice layout, good view. Maintenance in the individual units is adequate - definitely better than maintenance of the public areas.

First year was great, but it's gone down hill from there. I've found out that the first year I lived here was also the first year that Banyan Living took over the management, so they were benefitting from the remnants of the old management.

So, what are the problems?

Year 1: gym was pretty clean, landscaping was kept up, pool was open, they held several resident events.

Year 2: door on the gym was broken a lot of the time, minimal effort put in to landscaping, pool was a stagnant green pond most of the summer, fewer residential events, dog park fence broken. Gym poorly cleaned and maintained. Office staff completely changed every 6-8 months. In exchange for lowered amenities and service, the rent was raised $83 per month.

Year 3: door on the gym was broken even more often, door on package room was broken for most of the year, even less landscaping was done, snow removal on sidewalks was frequently non-existent other than at the office and at buildings on the main road. Pool opened late in the season and closed in mid-august for repairs that weren't done until this summer, pool was closed about 35% of the time during the summer (I kept track), only 1-2 resident events, dog park fence still broken. Office staff still changed every few months. Gas grills that were installed at the beginning of summer were broken by the end of July.

Current year (as of mid-July): door on gym and gate on pool still frequently malfunction, main road and office have been landscaped, but other than that it's all dirt and weeds. Gym is poorly cleaned. Pool opened late this year, and has been closed 23.9% of the season so far - sunny and 85 today, and it's closed right now. Pool is only cleaned once a week or so, garbage cans there are overflowing and smelly much of the time. No resident events, dog park fence is still broken. Current office staff is rude, but I'm sure they'll be gone in a few months, so I suppose that doesn't matter. Gas grills have still not been repaired. In exchange for the services, amenities and standards that have been lowered even further, and in exchange for putting up with office staff that sits somewhere between rude and hostile ---- I'm expected to pay a another rent increase of $92 a month in the coming year.

Let me be clear about this: Since I moved in just over 3 years ago, my rent has gone up $175 a month in exchange for: Rude staff, Vanishing amenities, A pool that's closed 20-35% of every season, A dirty gym, Questionable security due to malfunctioning doors, Poor grounds keeping, No community upkeep, and a complete lack of the resident events that are used to market the property to potential tenants.

BTW - they also tell you things like (today) "the PH levels in the pool are too high because of all the rain" - funny thing, the pools on the same street at Dover Farms, Traditions, Hampton, Spruce Run, Pine Forest and Oak Brook are all open --- did they get less rain 100 yards up the street? So let's add that the office staff will lie to you as well.

SO - if you don't care about having a pool, a gym, a dog park, or landscaping, you don't mind salting and shoveling your own walk, you're okay with promises being broken, and you think nothing of being upcharged every year for things you don't get...this might be just the...

Looking to live at this apartment complex? heres an honest review. My girlfriend and I lived here for 18 months. For a top-floor renovated unit. we paid 1250 a month. When we received our renewal offer it was 20% higher than the original asking, changing it to 1560+. For the same unit. yes. Do not expect to renew another lease term as they will jack your price ridiculously.

Are you concerned about noise? you should be. as you can hear anybody next to you, below you, or in the hallways. Our apartment specifically, you could hear every step taken because the floor is extremely creaky. Cant imagine, what it’s like to hear that below.

Do you have a dog or like to walk? goodluck, as there is no sidewalks.

Worried about rules? you should be. as they constantly email some idiotic rule. for example, if you have a kid, you can’t use sidewalk chalk. what?.

Concerned about winter? you should be. The complex is very hilly and steep. Throughout the winter season, they struggled to salt, and plow. Making it nearly impossible to leave any given time in the day. For example, someone, while taking a turn, completely knocked over a stop sign (probably sliding into it), It was never replaced.

Worried about parking? yeah like i said, you should be. most people end up parking on the street. goodluck if you get home at 5-6pm. it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Looking at a renovated apartment! dont bother! as the only improvements are painted doors, cabinets and baseboards, and one or two new appliances. The dishwasher, consistently had an awful smell before/after each use. Our thermostat consistently read 5-6 degrees higher than what it “felt like” in the unit. Expect a high electric bill in the summer months. we set our thermostat to 75, and it would still constantly run.

Peep the review prior to this one, as in it, it mentions how the ac units completely gave out for over 30 apartments. thats sad. for the price these leasers are paying.

I attached a few pictures, as this is the 1500+ apartment complex you may be looking to live in. Most times, it reminded me of a motel six. Do not get scammed by this place as they are a corporation and will...