Copper Beech at Ames Apartments, ames-ia

I rarely leave reviews, and honestly all I really want to say is: don’t live here. But to back up my one-star review, I’ll elaborate. If there’s a maintenance issue that isn’t considered a dire emergency, expect to wait until it’s convenient for them — even if the office is still open. We once had no hot water in our shower but because “all maintenance people had gone home for the night,” we were told we would need to wait til the next morning. Noise complaints also go nowhere. If you work full time and value sleep, don’t sign a lease here. You’ll be up at all hours hearing people above you stomping, moving furniture, blasting music, throwing parties, or even playing fetch with their dog. The walls and floors are incredibly thin, especially in the one-bedroom units. Parking is another nightmare, especially during game days or nearby events. They only allow 10 guest parking passes per day, and it’s first come, first serve. The rent increases are also ridiculous. Our one-bedroom went from $1,070 to $1,280, which is absurd for what you actually get. We briefly considered moving into a two-bedroom, but all units come furnished, meaning if you already own furniture, you have to figure out where to store theirs. Between all the extra costs, it’s unrealistic — especially for college students. Most of the amenities are only available during office hours, so good luck trying to actually enjoy them after work. The gym is basically the only exception. The pool was also closed almost the entire time we lived here because it had to be redone, meaning it was only usable for less than a month in nearly two years. The final straw was the renovation situation. They gave us notice over Mother’s Day weekend while we weren’t home and told us to essentially pack up our kitchen, empty appliances, and bag food for fridge transfers. We later found out we were automatically put on the renovation list because we chose not to renew our lease — despite never signing up for renovations ourselves. My boyfriend and I both work full time, so this was extremely inconvenient and unnecessary. We packed everything up just to find out they don’t even have a renovation date scheduled yet. I will say, some of the staff members were wonderful. Harley was always incredibly kind and welcoming, and she deserves recognition for that. Overall, after living here for two years, I would absolutely not recommend this complex.

I moved into Copper Beech at the beginning of this school year, and my experience has been great so far. The maintenance staff does a great job communicating when appliance issues need to be fixed and keeps us updated on when they will be coming. Harley in the front office is so sweet, remembers the residents, and is very attentive. Any issues we have had were worked out quickly by Jake, Joey, and Harley. I really appreciate how responsive and helpful the team has been!

I love living here! The office staff is very nice and communicative, and maintenance always responds in a timely manner. I love how spacious the apartments are and enjoy all the benefits the clubhouse has to offer!

My roommates and I LOVE living at copper beech. Prices are great and staff is super personable. We also love the giveaways and events, free stuff is always a plus.

I really enjoy living here! It’s affordable especially for all the space in the units. All staff are so nice, helpful, and communicative. Harley especially went out of her way to give us a tour, answer all of our questions, and keep us in the loop of the leasing process which made the move SO much less stressful! It is such a community here - Copper Beech is the way to go!