Apartment Review for Saratoga Place - Sarasota, FL

This is the 3rd apartment in Sarasota I have lived in, so I know what everyday noises are to be expected when living in one. Obviously the occasional dog barking, door slam, toilet flush, late night pissed off couple etc happens. We were floored (no pun) from the very first night we moved in. The construction between floors is shotty in every sense of the word. You can hear EVERYTHING (and I really mean everything) that is going on the floor above you. I've never been compelled to write a review on one of these sites before, till moving here.

Let me remind you, I am 21 and my BF is 23, so its not like we sit around all day with the TV off waiting to hear these things. The kitchen is the worst obviously, which is to be expected with any apartment though. You'd think Jojo the circus elephant is practicing his routine up there, but its really just a woman about 5'1 100 lbs soaking wet cooking and doing the normal. I can tell you when they wake up, go to sleep, vaccum (its LOUD), run the sink, and "other" things nobody wants to hear in the middle of the night. Seriously.

Flushing the toilet? Haa. I had a friend over for the first time to the new place and they flushed the toilet, without me making a cue he goes "Whoa, what in the hell was that?!" Oh, just the Old Faithful geyser upstairs, doing the random daily eruption.

For the real side splitter here, the 2nd day we moved in, I run a load of wash for the first time. (Our own machine we brought with us) Da-da-da. Late at night, long day, we fall asleep. Wake up the next morning and I step out of bed to SOAKING carpet. Call the head honchos at the clubhouse. "Maintenance says they got a call last night from the next door neighbor saying water was leaking in her kitchen." "Ok. Thats fabulous. So, uh, what did you guys do about it?" "Well, she said she went next door and knocked and someone from your apartment said there was no water in yours. Maintenance also knocked but no one answered the door." "Really, thats funny...have yet to meet any of my neighbors, its 7am and my carpet is soaked. Who's BSing here?"

As far as I'm concerned, it says in the lease if there is ANY report of water leakage maintenance has the right to enter ANY apartment without notification. Instead, the guy walks in my apartment the next morning and basically tells me I'm flat out lying, that I knew there was water the night before. Riiight a'hole. I just wanted to let ALL my cardboard boxes, stuff inside of them, and sofa to get wet. Then ya know, sleep on it for a bit to really think it all over.

P.S. "My machine, my problem." Only it wasnt the machine. Somebody stuck a rag DOWN the drain line to keep critters or God knows what from crawling up it. They admitted they do this in vacant apartments. Did I mention it took a flashlight and a really awkward head tilt to find this? I'll leave it at that and let you do your own head work and what water removal and a dehumidifier costs. Plus the 1k a month rent to really throw the icing on this wonderful cake.

P.P.S I swear, you cant make this stuff up. I wish I was.

Upsides? Nice area, interiors are above average, parking is ok, central location, and not too many kids running around. Just get a 3rd floor and check your drain lines before you do something stupid, like run a load of wash.