Columbia Trails Apartments

Choosing this apartment was a big mistake! I can’t wait to move out. Yes this apartment looks nice outside and the people at the office were nice (only) when we sign the lease. We were so excited to move in and living here, although we had noticed quickly this apartment was not the right place for our family.
Smoking; this is our fault that didn’t consider about smoke free environment. When it’s nice out side and want to open the window and get fresh air, people are smoking and get to our house. So if you are non smoker, I wouldn’t recommend this apartment.
Ants: It may depend on the unit and location, but our unit always have ants issue.
Interior: Bad paint job. W/​D and kitchen/​bathroom sinks are so cheap. The dryer was full of lint and jammed all the time.
Office people: They were only nice to us when we signed the lease. Other time, when they were busy with something, they treat you like you are not even there. We understand they get busy, but small eye contact or something would help. It’s really inconvenient that we have to come back next day to just pick up a package we were expecting.
Overall, they seem overpriced for what it is inside the unit. I am not happy here and definitely not recommend to family or friends.

Hi my name is Russ and where a family of four! Lived at Columbia Trails for 7 years! Such great place to live, the management is great and on top of everything! Never had any issues. Such a quiet and great area to live… For the price very stylish apartments, up-​to-​date and most of all they provide great customer service!!! Thank you

I had read the previous two reviews prior to us moving out and couldn’t believe that the kind folks at Columbia Trails would treat anyone like that, so surely they were exaggerating. However, when we moved out a few months back we had a similar experience to Diva and Rene.
First off I will say that the property itself is probably one of the nicest in Gresham. Unlike the previous reviews we got prompt service when anything was wrong with the apartment, and the maintenance crew is top notch. The staff also treated us well while there and always had a smile and something nice to say. I doubt the girls who work there have any control of the overall unethical business practices at this property.
Like a previous reviewer said, don’t let yourself be sucked in by all the smiles, you WILL get screwed in the end. Judging by the other reviews and our own experience, it is likely their standard practice to try and gouge residents for as much as possible on the way out. I’m guessing the portion of our move out charges we disputed (about $ 800) is a standard amount. Just short of what would be worth hiring an attorney for. One of the most laughable charges, although a relatively cheap one was that we were charged for the replacement of a mini blind, which broke from normal wear, then we were also charged for window covering cleaning of both sets of blinds.
Our biggest gripe was being charged for the replacement of all the carpeting in the apartment. Granted there was a stain in the back bedroom where some hair color was dropped on the carpet, however that didn’t require replacing carpet in the entire apartment. We were only there 2 years, and my wife has always insisted that everyone take their shoes off at the door, so the «wear and tear» they sited on our moving out bill is laughable. They just wanted us to foot the bill for new carpet.
There is nothing more we would like to do than to stiff them on the portion of our final statement that is bull****. However as they have reminded us several times, they are going to turn over our account to a collection agency if we don’t pay it, so we are going to pay it soon. This is an effective tactic on their part since most of the people leaving will likely need to rent again in the future and doing so is almost impossible with an open collection on your record from an apartment management company.
Most of you that are reading this are looking for a place to rent. All I can say is do your research and that I HIGHLY recommend not leasing an apartment at Columbia Trails.

I lived here for three years and I will never forgive them for how cold hearted they are.
I’ll keep it somewhat short and simple–
They will charge you your first born in deposits, and then they will fight TOOTH AND CLAW to keep them when you leave. You probably won’t see a dime come back unless you sick a lawyer on them; and then you will be responsible for paying your second born (or pet, if neither, a limb) in move out fees. They will «find» all the damages you apparently did to the apartment and now have to pay for.
Parking is a mess, there is barely enough spots just for the residents let alone guests; and don’t even try to park at the mall.
They will raise your rent, every single time. And by A LOT. Not a little. A lot.
We fell for the pretty community home and the kind staff. It’s a front, they will be incredibly unhelpful once you move in, to save the nice act for new prospective residents.
They boast gated community, don’t fall for it. You can reach over the gate to open the door, there are places where the fence is two feet ABOVE the ground, and the gate to the parking lot is jittery half the time.
All of this I could forgive, it seems to be the norm in most apartment complexes. However, here is the story that truly make me realize these people are completely uncaring:
My father is in the military, every month he went to training at Camp Rilea. One month, he ran a 24 hour shift and ended up sleepy at the wheel– he swerved off of a steep cliff and smashed into a tree. He almost didn’t survive, and he was in the ICU for a month.
At this time I was purely going to school and relying on school funding to get me through– it wasn’t much and maybe at most I had 500 in my account.
When this accident happened, it was almost the end of the month. I was at the hospital crying my eyes out for the whole week, and how does my apartment treat me after I ask if they can make an exception and accept a late payment for the apartment?
«A late payment will be a 100 dollar fee.»
I was sitting in the office at the time staring at a young lady. My father was critically injured, he might suffer brain damage, and she was saying to me straight faced, they didn’t give a shit.
«But, I don’t have the money, it’s my dad that pays.»
«It’s policy.»
There it was. It’s policy.
To keep it short, I ended up using up all my money and charging a credit card, but by that time I was late by a few days– asking again if they can please waive the fee, they still refused.
I contacted my dad’s military chief and tearfully told him I couldn’t make next month rent either, and had no access to any of his funds. He contacted them and within a few hours I received the call they had taken care of it, and that I wouldn’t have to pay any fees if I was late– and that the military would send me a check for the rent next month.
I had to contact the MILITARY to tell my apartment to back the fuck off.
I never received a refund or apology. In fact, none of the staff even had the courage to tell me what a bullshit policy it was. Even when I looked each of them in the face and asked how they could possibly not make an exception.
I don’t know how they are a few years later, and I don’t care. I won’t forgive them, and I want everyone to know just what type of people they might have to deal with. If the chips are down, they might let you sink too. Just hope you never have to go through what I did.