The Domain at Columbia

Lived there last year. Beautiful on the outside and on paper. However, horrible foundation, cheap furniture, and constant utility overages. I could get over all of these things except the fact that the Domain has terrible management. Tracy Ball to be specific. She is the most inconsiderate property manger. She doesn’t understand basic privacy, respect for others, let alone the fundamentals of property management. She gives a horrible name to the Domain, and I would be embarrassed as a company if she worked for me. Often, security guard and police officers would bang on my door even though I would be doing nothing wrong. That and Tracy Ball are the reasons I did not renew my lease. But, if you can get over inadequate management and constant disruptions… the shuttle ran on time and maintenance obviously knew what they were doing.

Pretty on the outside but that’s it. Poor and inadequate staff obviously untrained in property management skills. Here is an example where a company comes in and takes complete advantage of students/​young adults. Inadequate parking and loud (even though it is full of college students). Barely lit hallways. Big mistake putting out daughter there. My advise, look elsewhere.

I have never had an issue with staff or maintenance. Compared to other properties in Columbia this is one of the best. It is basically all students so some noise is expected but at least I can’t hear my neighbors through the walls! I lived at another property here in town which had feces coming up through a drain in our utility closet and the management did not send anyone to clean it which was ridiculous! If I make a call to the staff they are always willing to help which is great! The problem with online reviews is that people will usually only take the time to write them up when they are angry about something.

My daughter recently moved into the Domain and the move in experience left me wondering if we made the right choice. The apartment was dirty and had a array of things that where broken or needed to be fixed (holes in the furniture, the TV didn’t work, fist marks on the door, etc). When our concerns where shared with the leasing office they did not seem to care or try to make it right in a timely fashion. They were quick to explain why there was a problem but so to come up with an answer. The Domain looks great on paper and on the outside but their ability to handle issues could use some work.

Where to start? Don’t live here.
I’ve held my tongue for a long time, but more and more reasons keep occurring that make me NEED to warn people away from this place.
Here’s some straight truths you need to know:
–It’s tiny. Extremely tiny for the amount I pay. $ 580 for this? NO. I’m paying one of the cheapest prices in my 4 person flat.
–The construction is terrible. It was thrown up extremely fast with shoddy materials that allowed me to have $ 190.11 utilities bill for my one story flat (the temperature hasn’t gone above 68 degrees the entire time and that was with Thanksgiving Break in which ¾ girls were gone for over a week). Plus, it’s already falling apart.
–The amenities aren’t worth it. That nice movie theater? You can’t use it after 10PM. Nor the gym, tanning, or other amenities. (and if you like working out on Sunday mornings? Don’t plan on getting to the gym until after they open at noon.) The pool was still open until mid November, running water and all — but I don’t suggest that in Missouri.
–The staff doesn’t care. Especially if you were planning on using the bus system. I love when I was told at the front desk that my problem was that «You just need to hustle to the first bus stop, and shove your way onto the bus» when I was repeatedly denied service as it swung around full to the second bus stop at the rear of the facilities. I’m delighted I decided not to get a parking pass so I can ride with strangers to class every time the bus is full or pay $ 2-​$ 3 a day for campus parking.
–You sign away all your rights when you sign the contract. Don’t expect any help if anything goes wrong. (Yes, your garbage disposal will be fixed, but otherwise…) Somehow it’s your fault and you’ve signed it away in the contract. The pipes above you burst and you suddenly have a pool in your living room? It’s not their fault. The contract is iron tight and has no protections for the resident. And seriously, they don’t care, nor will they work with you.
–You signed early and were promised to live right by the pool? That can change instantly, especially if one roommate is late on getting their guarantor form signed and is dropped from your apartment without notice (to you or her.) She can sign again for an extra $ 120 a month to live in the same place… but if she can’t afford that? You get a random person without notice and without your consent. (You signed away that right, remember?) Also, you’re now shoved to the back of the complex that faces a noisy highway and is over a quarter of a mile away from the clubhouse. Those thin walls don’t block out much noise.
–You can have guests over for events and visiting! Of course you can, if you want them all shoved into your tiny living room with it’s uncomfortable, wobbly furniture! But where will they park? Guest parking! That’s if they get one of the six spots anywhere near your building in the back or otherwise they get to park in the front (.3 miles away!) …So you want to buy a reserved parking spot for an extra $ 10 a month for when you come home late and those guests have spilled over into the regular parking spots? It has a nice label on it, but that’s all you get for that extra $ 120 a year. The Domain will not tow for you and not enforce parking spots.
–It’s seems like a great idea to have a valet trash service. They take your trash away without you having to deal with it. NOPE. They will only take one 13 gallon bag away a night and will refuse you service if you don’t BUNDLE cardboard together in a certain way. Seriously, the gentlemen that services our building is lazy and rude. Then they tell you that you will be fined if the trash remains in the hallway. If a dumpster was available, I would throw away my own things with much less hassle.
My simple suggestion for those thinking of living here? Don’t do it.
It’s not worth the money, the hassle, or having to deal with the management. Complaints and simple problems are ignored or dealt with in a considerably rude manner. I honestly hate that I give this place my money every month. They need to face consequences for their rudeness and for their lack of care in regards to their customers.
These people are just out to take your money. Not earn it with the services they provide, but to find reasons to continue to charge you more and more beyond what’s already sacrificed for living in this dump. Trust me, there are much better places to live in Columbia.