Maple Grove Villas

Pros

• The property is well maintained, with the clubhouse, pool, gametables, and units described as AAA quality.
• Tim's industry knowledge demonstrates his commitment to serving residents with integrity and to the community.
• The Maple Grove Villas leasing team is welcoming, friendly, personable, communicative, professional, caring, and timely.
• Residents' experiences with Maple Grove Villas have been exemplary.
• Maple Grove Villas is highly regarded and considered a top choice by prospective renters.
• The staff fixes issues promptly and is helpful during move-in.

Cons

• The front desk never answers the phone and is often away for lunch.
• Shawn is never available and is described as extremely rude.
• Maintenance is inconsistent and can enter tenants' apartments whenever they choose.
• Rent is raised by at least $500 annually with no updates to appliances.
• They do not salt or shovel when it snows, creating ice hazards.
• The property is described as a trash heap with neglected grounds, overflowing dumpsters, and no pest control.
• Move-out charges include repainting and cleaning fees for supposed damages despite tenants' photo documentation.
• Promotions and move-in specials are misrepresented or not honored, causing confusion.
• Deposits are not returned promptly and can be mailed to the wrong address.

Review

Across the various accounts, the housing experiences described span a wide spectrum - from warmly praised management and well-kept amenities to persistent frustration with communication, pricing, and maintenance. Two different properties and their management teams repeatedly surface in these reviews: Maple Grove Villas, where Tim and his team are spotlighted for their attentiveness, and Highlands Vista Group, whose management struggles are laid bare in very detailed, critical narratives. The threads of opinion weave together a picture of what residents value and what they feel falls short.

Tim's leadership at Maple Grove Villas is celebrated as a standout positive force. Reviewers repeatedly highlight the property's upkeep - the clubhouse, pool, game tables, and units - describing them as "AAA" due to their high standard. The reviewer's observation that Tim's industry knowledge and genuine desire to serve residents with integrity extend beyond individual customer service to the broader community sets the tone for what many tenants experience in this complex. Even though one reviewer notes that they haven't yet decided to apply because they're exploring other tours, Maple Grove Villas remains at the top of their list, signaling a strong initial impression driven by Tim and the property's presentation.

Another reviewer, Brad, captures a similar sentiment about the Maple Grove Villas leasing office. He describes Tim and the management team as welcoming, friendly, personable, communicative, professional, and caring. The experience, he says, has been exemplary, with people who are not only effective but genuinely invested in residents' well-being. That combination - polished professionalism paired with personal care - appears to be a defining feature for Maple Grove Villas in these accounts, contributing to a sense of trust and satisfaction among residents.

Yet the Maple Grove experience is not without its complexities. A long-form review recounts an appointment around a promotional offer that caused confusion and frustration. The reviewer describes an interaction with a manager named Shawn who initially indicated that a $1,100 monthly special was available, only to be told later that the unit had already been rented. The conversation about applying within 24 hours and the need to text for a price adjustment to reflect the offer never materialized as promised. The reviewer then encountered another employee, Amanda, who provided budgeting details that varied depending on the unit and whether it was renovated or non-renovated, and who did not consistently follow up. The lack of timely communication, mixed messages about what constituted the special, and the repeated delays in getting a definitive answer left the reviewer feeling uncertain about the offer and the process. This account underscores how even in a favorable environment, promotional clarity and reliable follow-through are crucial to maintaining trust.

Complementing the positive vocalizations about Maple Grove Villas are further notes of problem-solving and responsiveness when issues did arise. One reviewer attests that Maple Grove Villas "has been great and very helpful," acknowledging a few hiccups during move-in but emphasizing that management fixed issues promptly. This suggests that when problems occur, the property's team is capable of corrective action, reinforcing the sense that Maple Grove Villas can deliver on its promises with the right support and communication.

In sharp contrast to the Maple Grove narratives are experiences at a different property under Highlands Vista Group's management. Several reviews describe a pattern of frustration and dissatisfaction that centers on non-responsiveness, perceived rudeness, and inconsistent maintenance. A particularly strong entry labels Highlands Vista Group's operations as the "Worst apartment complex to date," accusing the front desk of never answering calls and being away for lunch during visits. The reviewer singles out a staff member named Shawn as routinely unavailable and discourteous, with maintenance frequently described as inconsistent or intrusive - "they like to think they can enter your apartment whenever they feel like it." The financial aspect adds to the anxiety: rent increases are described as steep, and there is a noted lack of essential upkeep, such as snow removal and proper grounds maintenance. The pool, pest control, and general amenities are cited as deteriorating, painting a picture of mismanagement that affects everyday living.

Another, more expansive, critique paints Highlands Vista Group as systematically problematic. This account details aggressive and opaque billing practices, including the charging of repaint fees for "dirty walls," cleaning fees alleged to contravene local code, and damages claimed from previous tenants despite the tenant's own documented evidence. The reviewer describes a months-long back-and-forth to reason through common charges, with little proactive communication from management. The deposit refund process is described as fraught and delayed, eventually culminating in a frustrating misdirection where a refund was mailed to the wrong address and required escalation to legal threats to secure resolution. The reviewer characterizes a broader pattern of communications breakdowns, delays, and financial stress that extended well beyond a single incident.

A further negative perspective emphasizes the deterioration tied to management changes two years prior. This reviewer notes rent increases of over $300 in a short period, coupled with declines in groundskeeping and amenities: dumpsters overflowing, pests no longer controlled, pool out of use, and general safety items like fire extinguishers and smoke detectors neglected. The absence of routine maintenance - water heater failures, furnace filter changes lagging for nearly two years - paints a stark contrast to past experiences and reinforces the sense that "new management" brought not improvement but a marked decline in services and upkeep. The reviewer's cautionary admonition - "DO NOT BELIEVE THE 5 STAR REVIEWS; THEY ARE BRIBING PEOPLE" - summarizes a deep distrust of the current management's portrayal of the property.

Taken together, these accounts present a nuanced landscape. On Maple Grove Villas, Tim and a responsive, resident-focused team are consistently praised for high standards and effective communication, with occasional promotional confusion acknowledged as an area needing clearer execution. The Highlands Vista Group narratives, however, depict a troubling pattern of miscommunication, fee disputes, delayed maintenance, and degraded living conditions, culminating in strongly worded warnings to prospective tenants. For someone evaluating where to live, these reviews underscore the importance of direct, reliable communication, transparent pricing, timely maintenance, and consistent upkeep - elements that clearly separate experiences of satisfaction from those of frustration across these properties.

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)