I'll start by saying this: I don't feel like it's fair to judge this place based on the security of the parking lots or the rowdiness of the neighbors, as this is somewhat beyond management's control. Instead, I decided to rate Southwillow based on our personal experience with the things they CAN control. The star rating I gave is calculated by the '/10' scores I awarded...
Staff: 10/10
We had a great experience with both old and new management. The girls in the office are bubbly and helpful. Wendy was also a big help, especially when we were moving out.
Location: 10/10
Super close to the freeway, Target, Smith's, several fast food restaurants, Midvale, Gardener Village and the Taylorsville Crossing shopping Center. You can't really beat the location. That's probably what we miss the most.
Deposit return: 8/10
We got all but $150 of our deposit back upon moving out. Note that they will generally take a cleaning fee / pet treatment fee, and replace the stove top when you leave.
Apartment Space: 7/10
We were never ashamed to have people over. The layout worked well for us and was clean upon arrival. We were glad to have a dishwasher that was brand new when we moved in. There was some light wear and tear, and there were obviously some corners cut during the renovation process (eg. one bathroom cupboard was blocked by the toilet, the inside of cabinets were old and chipped, a couple of closet doors had the handle on the wrong side, the WiFi hookup was not wired underneath the plug). Aside from that, it worked well for the two of us and our small dog.
Maintenance: 6/10
Several times our freezer broke, and our dishwasher broke at one point also. Every time, someone came to fix the issue eventually, but it was often a timely affair. The service team themselves are capable and friendly.
Transparency of Cost: 5/10
We were in an apartment for $770 a month. We were told to set up our own electricity, but nothing else was really clarified. Our monthly rent worked out at about $1000, once water, street light fee, pet rent, gas, electric, and internet were added on.
Amenities: 4/10
The gym (which may have been updated by now) was not in working order when we first moved in. A pedal was missing on the bike machine, the treadmill had broken down, and there were several weights missing. The laundry unit often has machines broken also, and you can never tell before they charge your laundry card. We probably lost about $20 over 11 months just on broken machines.
Contactability: 2/10
This is where they lose out somewhat. I do not believe I ever got through to the leasing office on my first try. Often it would take 3-4 tries (sometimes more) spread across an hour or two. They definitely need to fix their phone line also, as the voicemail system does not work, and gives an 'out of office' automated message even during office hours. That can be very frustrating, especially when you have something urgent come up.
Grace Harding
December 15, 2017
