Alcove at the Islands

1. There’s a reason they have so many “deals” 2. They have several additional fees for things you dont see or notice the effects. Eventually, the fees add up to where the “deals” dont minimize the cost at all 3. BUGS. First moved in to live, tiny bugs in the bath tub. Had at least two cockroaches every two weeks at least especially in the kitchen and in cabinets. We lived on the first floor, so not sure if this worsens this. 4. Windows leak severely during monsoon/whenever it rains 5. AC unit will leak/flood 6. These apartments are not “renovated”. There is paint carelessly slapped on cabinets and walls 7. Our apartment had a strong, strange, musty smell since we moved in and maintenance and management couldn’t explain it. My hunch is there might be a mold issue. We had everything changed/cleaned, yet the smell remained. It definitely didn’t seem healthy living in the specific unit.

Lived here for a year (6/21-8/22) before the housing market prices shot up. Didn’t have any major problems, was on the second floor so no real bug issues, I think 2 cockroaches over 15 months. Maintenance is typical, you have to ask repeatedly if you actually want something fixed. Our AC fan burnt out and we had a hard time getting someone to do more than just look at the thermostat and turn the air on and off. I sited the law to the office about livable conditions and the maintenance manager (I think) came out and called me to tell me some made up reason about why they didn’t do anything earlier. It did get fixed and that was the only time we needed maintenance to come out. Anyway, decent enough apartments. If you get into building 4 or 5 there is plenty of parking and an almost always empty pool. Not the same story by the community center, though. We loved having our own quiet side of the complex, and it was easy to get in and out from the side entrance. Management is nice, they're strict about parking restrictions and the smell of weed. Would recommend and probably would’ve stayed at least another year if they didn’t increase our rent so much. It was too much on top of all the random monthly apartment fees (doorbell camera fee, pet fee, HOA, renters insurance, etc). I did lots of research on different apartments in the valley and chose Alcove for a number of reasons. If you can get a decent rate, I would recommend living here.

DON'T MOVE HERE!!! This place is infested with spiders and bugs. When I moved in the some of the electrical outlets didn't work, a ceiling fan doesn't work, window screens were missing, paint on cabinets comes off easily, they tow your vehicle if you don't have the registration updated, they treat some residents better than others, the parking situation is ridiculous as well. That's not even it! Management is annoyingly incompetent.

I just recently moved into the apartments and it has been an amazing experience. I met with Lacie Easterday and she was nothing but kind and knowledgeable about the whole process. She had me in and out in a short time and was just very pleasant to deal with. The rest of the management staff was also there and greeted me. The manager Blanca was also very kind and helpful. I highly recommend these apartments because they are absolutely beautiful and the staff are incredible to deal with.

The apartments are average. Maintenance is average. What you’d expect. What’s disheartening is the pathetic management and security patrol. I’ve been living here for 6+ months and have had to call security at least twice a month on noise related complaints (parties at the pool going to 2am). Not only does the patrol not show up, but the office doesn’t seem to care to make any attempt at addressing issues either unless it involves dog poop. I’d hate for there to be an actual emergency, I definitely wouldn’t rely on this apartment to care. I can’t wait to get out.

I just moved in to these apartments there awesome I had AMAZING help from laci EasterDay finding out about the complex she was very kind and respectful and I appreciate it a lot!!!

Absolutely love these apartments, lived here for a year and was not disappointed. The view, the people and not to mention the STAFF! They are what makes this place a home, in specifics there is this young lady that works there that goes by the name of Lacie and she is and always has been so happy to help, warm conversations, and very good at what she does!! We need more Lacies! I will always refer you guys! Thank you!

I have barely lived in this complex for less than a month and a half, and it was nice and all until it wasn't. I had my shower clogged after only a month of living here, but maintenance quickly came and fixed it. I would have assumed that they would clean everything, including the drains, prior to moving new residents in. Another issue has actually affected me until today for the past two days. I started getting drain flies coming in up from my kitchen, KITCHEN drain. Its annoying trying to cook or even do anything in the kitchen when nasty flies keep landing on your food. Hoping that they will send someone to fix it, but as of right now, this place is okay. To think that for the price that you pay, that you would get a good conditioned apartment. If you can, look for a cheaper apartment with the same quality elsewhere.

I’ll be frank: I had a bad experience living at Alcove at the Islands. Although it’s a nice complex in a good neighborhood, I had some major problems living here: So there are good things about this place. But the negatives far outweigh the positives: 1. Pests. I had a particularly bad problem with flies coming up from my drains. They go away in a couple days, but the pest people basically told me there was nothing they could do about them. 2. Most of the other problems I had with Alcove at the Islands are related to the management and, especially, the property management company, Apartment Management Consultants (AMC). They were, bar none, the worst property management company I’ve dealt with. 3. For one, they are unbelievably rude. The tone of their community newsletters/notices is appalling. They have referred to their own tenants as “riff raff,” and they threaten eviction for every conceivable reason. Also, I don’t have kids, but they seem to have a real problem with “unaccompanied dependents,” as they call them, so I would look elsewhere for a family-friendly complex. 4. They come into your apartment A LOT. After I first moved in, I found a note on my door saying that they needed access to my apartment from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. M-F for a period of about a month. Pets were supposed to be kenneled during that time. Completely ridiculous. (And, yep, they threatened eviction if your pet wasn’t secured.) 5. Right before I moved out, they advertised “electronic package lockers” as a helpful new service. They cost $7 a month—and after they were installed, the office would stop accepting packages. So they’re basically charging $7 a month to be able to receive secure packages. 6. Finally, the most frustrating thing was when I moved out. I only lived there for 6 months and left the unit in good shape. No damages, no messes, nothing. Again, I was only there for 6 months. But they tried to charge my over $300 in “move-out” fees (apparently for cleaning, painting, etc.). These fees were at all not explained in my lease. The management tried to claim they needed to “sanitize” the unit, but this was a blatant cash grab. I went over their heads to the AMC corporate office and got the fees slashed in half, but $150 in cleaning fees for a 6-month stay is ridiculous. All in all, this is a complex to avoid. Don’t be fooled by the nice grounds/area. For the money you pay (and the rent isn’t cheap), the headache of dealing with the management/AMC just isn’t worth it.

We walked up to the front door on a Saturday, with about 12 minutes till 5PM, as we reached for the door, it was locked. I checked the time and I knew it wasn’t 5PM yet. This lady comes to the door and says “we close at 5PM” and I was confused cause it wasn’t even time for them to close. She has her foot in the door closed all the way on it with her head barely sticking out of it. We just wanted to get PRICES, and to do a tour another day. Honestly with that bad of customer service, as the first thing you see. I suggest not even renting from them.

Soo some new owners bought the property and it was already a headache but even more headache they now charge for maintenance such was included in rent before and not only but they got expensive. Even though they are doing upgrades the major thing is to upgrade the old ac units as they are loud and hard to sleep through.

Do not recommend! They have sudden price increases

I have to agree with everyone about the smoking complaints. I cannot have my windows open or even closed without smelling it. Horrible. Walk to the car, mailbox, lake, anywhere and that's all you smell. Could not believe the filth I had to clean upon move in after paying them a cleaning fee. I've already had my dishwasher and stove replaced. The building is very dated. Drafty windows, inefficient appliances and AC/heater, my electricity bill is insane! Cannot wait for my lease to be up. I had high hopes when the new management took over recently, but the only changes they've made is to benefit themselves to get new tenants; nothing for the current residents.

I've lived here over six years and liked it. However I now have at least 3 sets of smokers adjacent to me and can't even sit outside to enjoy the lake. Complex needs a non-smoking building or two.

This place is beautiful and located right across the street from a great park so it breaks my heart to give them 1 star, but I think it is warranted unfortunately. There are so many smokers here that no one can enjoy their patios or open their windows without cigarette smoke coming into their homes. We find that we have to hold our breath to get the mail. Smoke even comes in around the door when it is shut despite the weather stripping. Unfortunately there are more than 3,000 reports of lung cancer reported in our country each year as a result of 2nd hand smoke so we are not comfortable living here. If this place went smoke-free it would be a safer place to live, but for now we will be looking for smoke-free apartments so that our family is not at an increased risk of health issues

This apartment complex is only OK. Maintenance responds as one would expect, they're not roomy, but not too tight, and noise is minimal 93% of the time. The office staff is friendly, as one would expect, and the common areas are kept neat, especially near the office. The carports are a bit tight, but I've seen full size SUV's squeeze in and remain within their respective lines. They do like to come in and check your fire alarm a lot, but that's not uncommon in Gilbert. The one nice thing is the lake view. If you can rent one on the lake, do it, it's worth it. I hate apartments, but the view makes it tolerable.

I requested 3 times through emails for more information and pics. No one has ever returned with a message.