The Social West Ames Reserve

DO NOT LEASE HERE. Our unit was absolutely filthy when we moved in with peeling counter tops, showers, even the cheap vinyl on the bathroom floor. Oh and the years of layered scum covering every inch of the bathroom that water had touched. One of our kitchen drawers (that barely opens unless you pry it) was crammed full of filthy utensils from the previous tenants. Every single one of our upper cabinets had extremely sticky, tacky substance and covering it that I couldn't remove even after scrubbing with hard chemicals for about 2 hours. The keys given to my roommates bedrooms DIDNT WORK. We found out after my roommate came home at 2am and tried unlocking her door and couldn't enter her own room. Somehow we got ahold of management at that hour but he was unbelievably rude and put us on hold for almost an hour. His excuse was that he was "trying the numbers of other maintenance to come and help us". None of them answered. My other roommates key didn't work either. I got charged for being towed in MY OWN PARKING LOT. TWICE. Totaled almost $200 in unlawful charges that I still have not been able to dispute because they offer no resources to battle the unfair situations they trap you in. Management dismissed me with no valid explanation even though I pay to live and park here. There is no one you can contact about disputing the scams they force on you. They will empty you of all your money any chance they get after still placing you the lowest quality apartment possible. They don't even provide you with a microwave. Pool is never open either.

Please read before thinking of renting here. First of all, they will lie to you. They say you can have a pick of any room. "It's first come first serve" they say. I put in my application that got accepted for a master months ago. Then a month before I was supposed to move in and I had already paid and signed a contract for the master, I got a text from the office saying it was no longer available. Then they said I could live in a different master for 40 dollars more a month or a regular room. I chose the regular room because I had already met my room mates and didn't want to switch. Then come to moving day, I get put in a completely different apartment building with no notice and obviously no contact with the people living with me. Also why is it only 10 dollars more to have your own damn bathroom. The room I'm in is literally 9 by 10 and cost 10 dollars less than having a master with your own bathroom. Also still haven't gotten paid back for the master that was paid for months ago. Also I had been talking to my room mates that I was supposed to be living with about furniture I should bring. I was told by them I shouldn't have to bring anything except for my essentials. Now that I'm not living with them I brought nothing for the new place. What would I have done if I lived hours away. Buy new things? I'm a broke college students just like everyone else living in the apartments. My point being this was not the experience I was expecting when starting college. I hope no one else has to go through what I did.

I have waited a year to write this review, and wow, what a terrible year it was. I was scheduled to move in August 18th, 2023. The current tenant warned me about the carpets. I arrived August 17th to see them for myself. They were soaked in cat pee. Management did nothing. The previous tenant works for the social, and she is the one who caused all of this. Then, she harassed me into signing my lease "as is" because I came a day early to see how bad the carpets were. She tried reporting us months later as the ones who caused this. Other tenants complained about the smell coming from our unit. There was cat pee everywhere, along with cat feces. My room had blood on the carpet. My shower didn't work. My outlets sparked, some didn't work- they still do not. Do not rent here. Even after they finally replaced the carpets, which took months, the entire apartment still had a strong ammonia smell. Do. Not. Rent. Here. Listen to your friends who will say the same thing.

I absolutely love living at the Social West Ames Reserve! It's a peaceful haven, perfect for students. With fantastic amenities like a gym, swimming pool, and basketball court, it's ideal. The apartments are clean, conveniently close to the CyRide bus stop and cafes. My 1-bedroom unit boasts in-unit washer/dryer, dishwasher, and central heat. Plus, it's budget-friendly for students seeking independence. Couldn't be happier here!

If I could give zero stars I would. First off, when I moved in the apartment was not cleaned at all, it took us the whole day to just get everything cleaned. Even we brought this up to the management nothing was done. Throughout the year things including our sink and windows were breaking and nothing was done to fix them. They literally will not let you talk to upper management there and will give the most vague answers to make you go away. I called at least half a dozen times trying to talk to the manager and was never connected. I left countless messages and was told she would get back to me but that never happen. I had been disputing a charge with them for months and was waiting on the social and it took them so long and they were so negligent that it ended up going to collections. By all means, if you are looking to get absolutely screwed over by the incompetent management, and overpay for a terrible apartment, go here. There are plenty of more affordable and overall better apartments in Ames to live.

This rental company is basically a slumlord. My bedroom wall is infested with mold from the ceiling to the floor into the framing boards. It looks like it was painted over. I reported it and they came and ripped open the wall to inspect it but didn't fix it. I was told by staff it might be a while before it's fixed because the company hasn't paid their contractors in months. For the last two years, I have gone over a month with a broken AC. It is not the maintenance team's fault as the property management is the one responsible for paying contractors. They cut corners and take 2 weeks to respond to maintenance due to low staffing and budget for them. This place is ridiculously expensive and they will fight tooth and nail to not do necessary large repairs. Almost all of the appliances are over 20 years old and hardly work. For the price, you are much better looking someplace else. I have lived here 5 years and in the last 2 it has gotten unlivable and I will not be renewing my lease again. They also have to have City Inspections all the time because they fail them every time.

I really enjoyed my tour I took recently. I very much appreciated the professionalism Jake Pringle showed during the tour! He was very knowledgeable and answered all my questions.

Hi! I am currently a resident here and never thought I would be SO passionate and proud of my apartment in Ames! The social isn't just a place to live it's a safe community I am able to call my home . The maintenance, front desk, my neighbors could not be any more helpful. The Social team puts on so many great events and giveaways it's actually amazing.. I've got to personally meet Emily Ryan, the CEO of Ames and other athletes throughout my time as a resident. not sure a place that comes close to what my Roomates and I call home if you are looking for housing, no more, hop on board and Live Social !!!