Not sure what the bad reviews of about this place are for. First of all, this is Golden Gate, not the grand villas on Gulf Shore Blvd or any of the quarter million dollar HOA communities in the area. Expectations should
Not sure what the bad reviews of about this place are for. First of all, this is Golden Gate, not the grand villas on Gulf Shore Blvd or any of the quarter million dollar HOA communities in the area. Expectations should be lowered unless youre willing to pay 4 times the rent of Oaks at Naples. There arent any security gates that require passwords or secret handshakes with guards in a little toll booth. There isnt any valet parking in a temperature controlled parking garage. And there sure isnt a towel boy standing by the pool waiting to hand you a 900 count Egyptian cotton towel that was steamed to a perfect 120 degrees using natural spring water to eliminate the impurities of cheap beach towels.The Oaks at Naples is a surprisingly affordable apartment complex in the midst of several upgrades. In the 2 weeks that Ive been here, the lighting in the hallways have been updated to LEDs instead of dingy flickering tubes. It was obvious the next day as to the difference in the halls. Security locks have been installed in all the doors, and each outer door has a camera to added protection. Being on the edge of Green Blvd and Collier helps with visibility instead of being tucked back into the trees in a secluded area like the other complexes down the road. Ive seen some of those complexes; they must have a lenient pet policy because of all the turkey vultures gathered by the overflowing dumpsters in their dark parking lots.Keeps the rats away, I guess. The lighting in this parking lot is quite bright at night, so I feel my vehicle is as safe as could be for the area, and I havent seen any overflowing regular or recycling receptacles, or turkey vultures. Frogs, yes, but not vultures.As for the size of this one bedroom apartment, that was the ultimate selling point for the money. Anything in Fort Myers in the same range or higher is at least 25-40% smaller. This is by far one of the larger one bedrooms Ive ever rented. The bathroom is a little on the small side, but its a room for doing your business, not entertaining.It is a little dated; the cabinets would use some retooling, but the marble countertops are nice. Mine even had a brand new refrigerator and dishwasher. No more wondering what the mystery stain is in the freezer, or wondering why the dish rack are rusted out. Tile floor throughout is easy to clean. No problems with the two patio slider doors either, although they are the only source for windows in the apartment. Not a complaint.As for Angie, well, I dont hold it against her that shes from the upper Midwest. So am I. I found her quick to respond to my emails prior to signing a lease, and answered all of my questions thoroughly. She kept in touch as I made my move to Florida to let me know the status of my lease approvals, even letting me know ahead of time about a potential issue with my first choice of residence. By the time I arrived, everything was taken care of. She is quite knowledgeable and professional, but also very friendly (thats the midwest thing). I know nothing of the actual property company that she works for, but she represents it well. All paperwork was easy to understand, including information regarding the online portal for maintenance and bill payment. Even after moving in, texts from the office regarding change of hours, maintenance, etc., are timely and to the point. Its a good way to keep in touch with the residents.Maintenance is quite visible. Each morning I see him canvassing the grounds for rubbish and obstructions. A casual conversation with him in the parking lot over a trivial maintenance issue was completed promptly and politely, again with pre-work and post work phone calls to let me know the progress of the issue and to check on my satisfaction. He is also hard at work rehabbing the vacant apartments for new tenants. He is just as polite and upbeat as Angie.Not sure if the trees are oaks, but Ill let that slide.
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