The Colonies at Grande Reserve

Pros

• Kathy and Margaret have been awesome.
• Kathy answered all of their questions and put them at ease.
• Kathy showed them what the inside and outside of their home would look like.
• Kathy and Margaret found a way to get them in there this year.
• They love their home and the neighbors are great.
• The Bahama model is standard and felt like home when they walked in.
• The homes are gorgeous.
• Nick, Kathy, Dan, and Andrew are all great to work with.

Cons

• The review notes a total lack of privacy due to fence restrictions.
• There is insufficient visitor parking.
• The neighbor behind has two dogs that aren't regularly picked up after, creating a nuisance.
• Warranty issues prevent any repairs.
• The grass-cutting crew is terrible and cut the cable line.
• Snow removal is not happening and the claims about it are false advertising.
• The carpeting is below construction-grade and needs replacing.
• The dishwasher has already broken after three years.
• The reviewer feels they were conned by the sellers.

Review

In the latest updates from the community, the landscape around the HOA, covenants, and ownership has begun to shift in meaningful ways. The board had just come into office when an owner wrote on 1/22/24 that, historically, HOA covenants are drafted without homeowner input and that this one was no exception. The writer noted that with homeowners now serving on the board, there is genuine potential to introduce changes and steer the covenants toward more homeowner-friendly language. This remark set a tone of cautious optimism: a system once built from the developer's and builder's perspective could start to reflect the lived realities of residents. By the end of the year, the owner expanded that sentiment with a personal assessment, acknowledging the board's efforts while signaling that practical issues remain to be addressed as the community evolves.

A separate, longer-term reflection from 12/31/24 adds a more nuanced picture of life in the neighborhood. While the reviewer remains highly appreciative of Kathy and Margaret - the team members credited with guiding many buyers through the process and helping families secure a home - there is a clear acknowledgment that the community falls short in some important areas. After living there for nine months, privacy is a major concern: the lack of fences and the proximity to a neighbor behind the home, who has dogs that aren't regularly picked up, contribute to a sense of intrusion and discomfort. Add to that limited visitor parking, and the overall impression becomes "underwhelming" in the reviewer's words, even as the home itself retains its appeal. Still, the base sentiment remains largely positive: the residence is nice, and the person's outlook on ownership remains open to improvements that may come with changes to covenants and policy.

Throughout the collection of notes, Kathy and Margaret consistently emerge as central sources of support and reassurance. Multiple entries praise their responsiveness, their ability to answer questions, and their practical assistance in the purchasing journey. One couple, Gene and Donna, credited Kathy with walking them through what their home would look like both inside and out and expressing gratitude for the help that set their minds at ease. Another voice emphasizes the positive, ongoing impact of Kathy and Margaret by noting that they were instrumental in getting a family into the community earlier than anticipated. The sentiment is summed up by comments that Kathy answered questions, explained the plans, and helped turn a dream into a working timeline for ground?breaking and settlement. The broader team - Kathy, Dan, Andrew, Nick, and others - receives repeated praise for their approachable, responsive, and capable service as buyers navigate approvals, selections, and the emotional arc of construction.

The praise, however, sits alongside mixed experiences with the community's infrastructure and maintenance. Some reviewers point to tangible frustration: warranty issues that seem difficult to resolve, and maintenance teams whose work does not always meet expectations. One reviewer specifically complains that "if you are warranty you can not get anything fixed," while another recounts a neighbor's lawn care incident that resulted in damage to a cable line. There are comments about routine maintenance - dishwashers failing, carpeting that appears construction-grade and needing replacement, and snow removal policies that do not always align with what residents expect (false advertising tied to the promised level of service). These observations convey a sense of growing pains common to new or rapidly developing communities, where expectations and procedures are still being refined as more homeowners move in.

Despite these challenges, the overall impression of the homes themselves remains favorable. Several voices celebrate the quality of construction and design. Praise for the homes' architectural appeal and build quality sits alongside specific notes about model selections. One reviewer was "pleasantly surprised" to discover that everything in the Bahama model they chose is standard - no extra options necessary because the features already match their ideal vision. Others describe the homes as "gorgeous" and express genuine excitement about final completion. The sentiment that the model and its interior presentation felt like home from the first walk?through recurs, reinforcing the idea that the product itself has lasting, positive appeal even when service and policy issues provoke frustration.

A final thread woven through the commentary centers on the community vibe and neighbor relationships. Several notes highlight the positive social environment, with both owners and neighbors described as friendly and cohesive. One comment specifically says, "the neighbors are great," while others emphasize the sense of community and teamwork among residents and staff. Conversely, one reviewer relays a more alarming personal experience, stating that there was a sense of being misled or "conned" in relation to parental expectations, underscoring that trust and clarity in communications remain essential for some buyers. Taken together, the observations paint a picture of a community that offers strong housing value and a generally favorable purchasing experience, yet one that also requires ongoing attention to covenants, maintenance, and service quality to fully meet residents' expectations.

In sum, the overall narrative reflects a community at a crossroads: a beautiful, well?built product with strong sales and post?sale support, but with growing pains typical of a newly organized HOA and a developing municipal framework. The 1/22/24 update signals a hopeful shift toward homeowner?influenced governance that could recalibrate covenants to better align with resident needs. By the end of 2024, residents balance gratitude for Kathy and Margaret's advocacy and the practical realities of privacy, parking, maintenance, and service delivery. As the community continues to mature, these interwoven experiences - positive testimonials about staff, delight in the home itself, and constructive critiques of upkeep and policy - will likely shape how the HOA, builders, and residents collaborate to create a place that lives up to its initial promise while accommodating the daily realities of family life.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• Jewel-Osco Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)
• Target Pharmacy (4 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)
• Walgreens (5.3 miles)

Parks

• Jericho Lake Dog Park (1.4 miles)
• Hudson Crossing Park (2.4 miles)
• Phillips Park (5.6 miles)
• Waubonsie Lake Park (7.2 miles)
• Wheatland Park (7.5 miles)
• Wolf's Crossing Community Park (8.3 miles)
• Silver Springs State Park (8.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Bristol Tap (2.1 miles)
• Dairy Hut On Main (2.6 miles)
• Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen (3.7 miles)
• Culver's (3.8 miles)
• Portillo's (4 miles)
• Riverside Pizza & Pub (4 miles)
• Sunfield's Restaurant (4.1 miles)

Physicians

• Dreyer Medical Clinic (3.4 miles)
• Brenart Eye Clinic (4 miles)
• Troy Karlsson, MD (4.1 miles)
• Aishling Obstetrics & Gynecology (4.6 miles)
• Indian Trail Medical Center (6.2 miles)
• Advocate Medical Dryer (6.3 miles)
• Fox Valley Pain Management (6.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• New Life Church (3.6 miles)
• St Patrick's Church (4.4 miles)
• Blessed Sacrament (7.6 miles)
• Our Lady of Mercy (7.9 miles)
• St Mary's Church (8 miles)

Cafes

• Grace (4.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.5 miles)
• Sugar Grove Cafe (6.2 miles)
• Moka North Aurora (7.6 miles)
• Starbucks (9.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (9.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Kendall Pointe Surgery Center (4.2 miles)
• Yorkville Dialysis Center (4.8 miles)
• Rush-Copley Oncology (5.1 miles)
• Provena Mercy Medical Center (6.6 miles)

Transportation

• Aurora Transportation Center (5.8 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark Tinseltown USA (6.9 miles)
• AMC Showplace Naperville 16 (9.5 miles)