Hope Ranch FX Review

Ive had nothing but a positive experience living here. The place is clean with modern appliances, if things break, its fixed pretty quickly. As far as Santa Barbara standards are concerned, the rent is fair for what you get. Clay has been respectful and takes care of business. The neighborhood is pretty eclectic and has little bit of everything. I love it!

This is a nice complex. Parking is tough for the moving in and out and the only reason I did not give them five stars is, storage. When I have been in these units, there doesn't seem to be a ton of places to keep stuff, Non in the bathroom that I recall.

7/13/18 EDIT: Disregard the above review based on the time of posting and rather general, dictated statements it is quite obvious that they have specifically instructed and or suggested that someone write a review to cover up the one star review that was given to them by me 4 months ago, as the review and reply was posted immediately after

I noticed a piece of paper taped to the front door of my apartment (#C21). It was a notice from AUM, the utility management company responsible for this property. The notice had informed me that I had been late on my utility payment, and that I would be docked with a late fee of $9.00. This was of complete surprise to me, as I had not been given any notice from AUM or Clay that I had been late, whether or not it was either party's fault, both had my email address, phone number, as well as my father's email and phone number (my cosigner). Thus, I had not been given any bill what so ever from anyone to pay. Regardless, I called AUM and they informed me that they had sent a bill, but that the bill was immediately sent back by the mail carrier that THEY had appointed. Therefore, no bill was ever sent to me to pay in the first place resulting in my late fee. After I ended my call with AUM, I called my property manager, Clay Cochran. As usual, he did not pick up his phone so I left him a message, to which I presented a very frustrated tone. In the message I referred to the management and the utility company as "incompetent," and I said that I wasn't going to pay the late fee. Almost 2 hours later, a friend and I were exiting the parking lot, to which to my utter surprise Clay confronted me, and demanded that I come to the office, in a very threatening and concerning tone. He kept insisting that I said things that I did not say. And whether or not I said them, his job is to maintain his calmness and professionalism while dealing with the tenants, nothing I could've said should have caused this incident. Needless to say, Clay wasn't able to maintain his professionalism simply because he was angered by my frustrated tone on the voice mail. He went on to call me "ignorant," he informed me that "I have a lot of life lessons to learn" and that "this must be the first time I had been living on my own," he was presenting a very threatening and loud voice so much so that it truly became concerning to me. (KEEP IN MIND, THIS MAN LIVED ON THE PROPERTY AND SO DID I) I asked him if he was the owner of the property, to which he replied that "he owned the whole world." I was truly shocked and mortified that a simple misunderstanding escalated to that level with my property manager on a property that costs me almost $1700 a month. Finally, the moment where I was truly concerned for my safety was when he told me to "leave because he didn't want to fight me." Clay knew that he had made a mistake, so he came running back to my apartment like the beta-male he knows he is and essentially begged me to forgive him, I told him to walk away. I have a witness to all of this. Clay actually made a neighbor of mine cry, to the point where she had moved out.

Furthermore, the apartments are quite small. Not worth your money. And I understand why Clay is so angry, racist and bitter his life will never be worth anything, I mean the guy probably didn't even finish college if he is working in a position such as that. So I understand his bitter attitude, he lives an unfulfilling life where his only light is an old Honda minivan and a low grade motorcycle that no real man would ever ride. Gosh, I feel sorry for the guy I mean 50 years old and all you got is a Honda, a VW from another century, a sub par motorcycle and a sub par girlfriend...Pathetic.

I was going to sue, but I knew I was going to leave in a couple months so with the advise of my peers and family I decided to be the bigger man and move on, but this story needs to be told. No one should have to deal with that. Especially in your own home where you sleep at night next to your loved one, my home is my sanctuary and someone threatened the comfort of that sanctuary.

Sorely disappointed by lack of professionalism of property manager. Was told by Clay I would be refunded my deposit a week later, called a week later, only to be told I wouldn t get it until 10 days later... Then Clay had a condescending attitude towards me, like how dare I call and ask about my $500? Clay s supervisor should be aware of how rude he presents himself over the phone and via email. It was not very pleasant working with him in person either. Instead of being friendly and hospitable, considerate of others, he is abrupt, hangs up the phone as you are mid-sentence saying thanks so mu!... or Have a nice da !... with not so much as a click after he has finished with whatever he thinks is the extent of his responsibility. Was simply not surprised to read other negative reviews concerning his conduct. Supervisors of this property should be aware. This presents a poor image of what attempts to be upscale apartments. Prospective renters, dealing with this person on a regular basis may prove to be unsettling.