Maple Grove Villas in West Des Moines, IA

Pros

• Tim and the Maple Grove Villas leasing team are welcoming, friendly, personable, communicative, professional, and caring, delivering exemplary service.
• The property is well maintained with top-notch amenities, including a beautiful clubhouse and pool.
• Shawn is outstanding at communicating and treats residents with kindness and respect.
• Shawna and Sarah create a welcoming, efficient office environment with excellent communication.
• The community is beautiful, well-kept, and great for families.
• Maple Grove Villas offers affordable, beautiful townhomes in a clean, convenient area.
• The landlord and maintenance team are responsive and care about residents' needs.

Cons

• The complex is described as the worst apartment complex to date, with the front desk never answering and staff described as rude.
• Rent has been increased by hundreds of dollars each year with no updates to appliances.
• Maintenance requests take weeks, and the pool is often dirty.
• Communication is poor, with the leasing office consistently failing to return calls or emails.
• There are numerous undisclosed or erroneous charges and deposit disputes between the management company and tenants.
• The property declined after new management, with weeds overtaking the grounds, trash littering the premises, and pests.
• The office is frequently locked or closed, making it difficult to get timely assistance.

Review

Maple Grove Villas in West Des Moines is best suited for value-driven renters who want affordable townhomes with solid on-site service, provided the management team is stable and responsive. When the locals report strong leadership - exemplified by Tim in the leasing office and Shawn or Angie in property management - the property is described as well kept, with a welcoming clubhouse, a usable pool, game tables, and attractive units. For families and active adults who prize straightforward access to staff, reliable communication, and a clean, comfortable environment, Maple Grove can feel like a good fit at its core.

The strongest positives come from on-site maintenance and management when they are present and attentive. Reviewers consistently highlight the property's upkeep, the appeal of the common spaces, and the pleasant, professional demeanor of managers like Tim and Shawn. The sense of community is clear in praise for prompt maintenance and good experiences with the office team, particularly when residents are able to work with the same staff over time. In addition, affordability remains a consistent draw: several residents note reasonable base rents for spacious townhomes and the pet-friendly environment.

Yet the experience is sharply uneven, and the most damaging gaps are structural rather than cosmetic. A recurring pattern across reviews is the turnover to a new management group, with Highlands Vista and related entities taking over in 2023 and introducing widespread complaints about responsiveness, billing, and transparency. Tenants describe a chaotic administrative environment - phone lines that rarely answered, doors locked during business hours, and fees that seem arbitrary or inadequately disclosed. Several accounts detail rent increases that felt steep and unfounded, along with charges for utilities, administration, or common-area costs not clearly outlined in the original lease.

Maintenance and operations, which should anchor a solid rental experience, are repeatedly flagged as slow or inconsistent under the new regime. Reports range from delays in fixing basic systems (furnace filters, water heaters, mold concerns) to complete failure to timely address larger issues (pest control, snow removal, debris and weeds, and pool access). The surrender of previously included services - such as trash pickup - paired with criticized communication and frequent disputes over deposits, has left many residents wary. Where the staff members like Shawn or Angie remain praised for their personal professionalism, the broader systems appear stressed, leading to a perception that individual kindness can only go so far in the face of ongoing administrative instability.

Given the mix of strong on-site service and high managerial volatility, Maple Grove Villas is best approached with clear decision criteria. Pros offset cons most effectively for buyers who can confirm consistent, forthcoming communication from a stable management team, and who place premium on a well-maintained property and predictable fees. For residents whose tolerance for administrative turbulence is low, or who require transparent, timely billing and dependable maintenance without surprises, alternatives may be a safer bet. The community has real appeal, but the risk of fluctuating management practices and disputed charges means a careful, inside-the-cycle tour and current resident feedback are essential.

For families and seniors weighing options, the decision hinges on management stability and the certainty of what is included in the lease. Prospective renters should press for a current, written explanation of all fees, a clear maintenance response timeline, and confirmation of which team is in charge month to month. Tour guides should verify current operations: Is the on-site office reliably staffed? Are maintenance requests tracked and completed within a reasonable window? Are parking allocations and common-area rules enforced consistently? If the answers are robust and transparent, Maple Grove can deliver on its promise of comfort, community, and affordability. If not, there are several nearby communities that offer more predictable management and a steadier long-term experience without the ongoing billing and communication headaches.

Parks

• Playground At Maple Grove School (0.8 miles)
• Valley View Park (1.1 miles)
• Westown Meadows Park (1.8 miles)
• Grant Park (1.8 miles)
• Stonegate Park (2.4 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.9 miles)
• Culver's (1 miles)
• Burger King (1 miles)
• Taco John's (1.1 miles)
• Wasabi (1.3 miles)
• Hana Ramen Sushi (1.4 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (1.5 miles)

Physicians

• University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics (1 miles)
• Bassett, Tony-Mercy Jordan Creek Pediatric (1 miles)
• Midwest Sleep Specialists (1.3 miles)
• Hunter Karen Parkway Periodontal Group West Des Moines (1.6 miles)
• Wolfe Eye Clinic (1.8 miles)
• Dermatology Clinic, P.L.C. (1.9 miles)
• Lakeview Occupational Medicine (1.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Westview Church (1.2 miles)
• Living Faith Lutheran Church (2.1 miles)
• Shepherd Of The Valley (3.6 miles)

Theaters

• Century Theatre (1.5 miles)
• The Palms Theatres & IMAX (2.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care (2.4 miles)
• Hy-Vee Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Mercy Medical Center West Lake (2.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Scotters Coffee (3.3 miles)