Do I need to setup an
appointment? Do you take walk-ins? We
believe that finding and renting the perfect apartment at Old Farm
Shores should be easy – and because of that, no appointment
is necessary to tour our apartment community. However, we encourage
you to call ahead and schedule an appointment so we can assist you
as soon as you arrive. If you do decide to stop by without an
appointment, please arrive no later than one hour prior to closing
if you would like to tour the property. Everyone over 18 must
have a valid photo ID to tour the property.
Why do your prices have
ranges? Why do your prices change daily?
Our pricing incorporates many different elements including the
amenities specific to each apartment, the desired move-in date,
desired lease term and recent demand and supply statistics. The
pricing range you see depends on the lease term you choose. In
general, the longer the lease term, the lower the price, although
there can be specific exceptions. There are many factors that go
into pricing. Most importantly, we consider the quality of the
competing communities including age, size of apartments, quantity
and quality of apartment features and community amenities and the
quality of service provided. We monitor our competitor’s
pricing and are confident we offer a fair price given all of these
differences. When you stop by for a tour we can provide you with
price quotes on specific apartments based on these
factors. These quotes are good for 48 hours. If you have
specific questions, please do not hesitate to ask your Leasing
Consultant. We work very hard to be fair to everyone given all of
these different influences.
What is the application fee and is it
refundable?
The application fee is $35
per person. The $35 application fee is
non-refundable.
Can I complete an application online? Where
is the online lease form?
Yes, you can complete an
application online! You will find the “apply
online” tab on our website at the top of the page between the
“amenities” and “contact” and
tabs.
What utilities are residents responsible
for?
Residents are responsible
for electric, gas and water/trash service. Electric service
must be set up through Consumers Energy Company, and gas service is
provided by DTE. Set up must be completed prior to move-
in. The water/trash service is a monthly flat fee included
with your rent: $10.50 for a studio apartment, $13.50 for a
one-bedroom apartment, and $18.50 for a two-bedroom
apartment.
Am I required to have Renter’s
Insurance?
For the benefit and protection
of all residents, there is financial responsibility requirement in
which you must have insurance protection during the term of your
lease agreement. As such, you must provide evidence of
personal liability insurance with limits of liability in an amount
not less than $100,000 per occurrence. To assist you in
meeting this requirement, we have a program with an independent
insurance carrier from which you can choose to obtain
renter’s insurance. Through this program, all of our
residents are pre-approved for eRenterPlan renter’s insurance
which offers high-quality, low-cost coverage with products that are
designed specifically for residents of professionally-managed
apartment communities. To sign-up for a policy with eRenterPlan you
can go online atwww.eRenterPlan.com. You can satisfy your
financial responsibility requirement and obtain renter’s
insurance through this program, or you may choose to secure
coverage on your own.
Do you offer furnished
apartments? Yes, for more details, please
contact the leasing office.
What school district are you in? What are
the schools?
We
are in the Kentwood Public Schools District. The schools are
Challenger Elementary School, Crestwood Middle School, and East
Kentwood High School.
Lease and Community
Questions
Is my security deposit totally
refundable?
Yes,
provided the lease agreement has been fulfilled and the apartment
is left clean and free of any damages. A 30 day, paid, written
notice is also required before move-out. Any final balances
due are deducted from the security deposit before being
refunded.
When is my rent payment due?
Rent
is always due on the first of the month.
What day of the month am I liable for a late
charge?
Rent
is always due on the first with a 5 day grace period. A
$25.00 late charge is assessed on the sixth (6th) of the month. For
each day after the 6th and until the 20th, a $10.00 late fee is
assessed on all past due balances that exceed $50. All
payments must be received no later than the close of business on
the 5th to avoid late charges.
Will you accept electronic payments from my
bank?
Rent
is accepted by credit card, debit card, personal check, cashier's
check or money order. In order to make an electronic payment
you must enroll in our online services. You will need your
resident code in order to do this. Any of the office or
leasing staff can assist you with obtaining your code. Once
enrolled, you may schedule a monthly recurring payment to be
deducted from your checking account or charged to your credit card
or debit card.
Is there a place where I can pay my rent after
office hours?
The
fastest and most convenient way to pay your rent is electronically
through our online system. We do have a rent drop by the front
door of the office where residents can leave a personal check,
cashier's check or money order. We do not under any
circumstances accept cash.
Who do I write the rent checks out
to?
You can make checks, money
orders and cashier’s checks payable to Old Farm Shores
Apartments. We do not under any circumstances accept
cash.
What kind of pets do you allow? How many pets may
I have?
Cats
and dogs are allowed. We do have a few restricted breeds which
includeRottweiler, Dobermans,
Chows, Pit Bulls, Akitas, and German Shepherds. These breeds
or any mixture of are not
allowed. You may
have up to (2) pets per apartment.
Are there any deposits, special fees, or monthly
charges to have a pet? What are rules regarding
pets?
A $150 non-refundable fee is
charged for each pet. An additional Security Deposit of $150
is required for either 1 or 2 pets. Through our preferred
renters insurance provider, we also offer pet renters
insurance. For only $18 per year you can obtain $500 of pet
damage coverage. If you elect to carry this pet coverage, you
can do so at no additional charge. We reduce your Security
Deposit by $25. There is also a monthly pet rent of $25 for a
dog and $15 for a cat. Pet owners are required to pick up
after their pets. To maintain the look and safety of the community,
residents who do not pick up after their pets can and will be
charged a $50.00 fee. Pets must be on a leash at all times and
cannot be left outside on patios or balconies
unattended.
If I get a job transfer, can I break the
lease?
Yes, if the
lease buy-out fee has been paid. The 30 day paid written notice is
still required as well. If you need to break your lease for
any reason please come in and meet with the Manager to get a total
of all the fees required in writing.
How can I refer a
friend?
If Old Farm Shores is just your style, chances are your friends
will feel just as at home here as you do. Simply have your friend
mention you referred them on their first visit to Old Farm
Shores. You may also call, email or drop by your the leasing
office to recommend a friend or learn more about Old Farm Shores
resident referral program.
If something needs to be repaired in my
apartment, how do I report it?
You
may call the office, send an e-mail, or leave a message. You
may also submit work orders online if you are enrolled in our
online services. You will need your resident T-code in order
to do this. Any of the office or leasing staff can assist you
with obtaining your T-code.
There is a person who might be staying with me
for a while, is that permitted by the lease?
Yes,
if someone is temporarily staying with you for 14 days or less just
let the office know. If someone is permanently staying with you,
they need to fill out an application and go through the approval
process.
I
have a motorcycle, where can I park it?
Motorcycles may be parked in any regular parking
space. They cannot be parked on patios, on sidewalks, breezeways,
or common areas.
I
will be moving out. What do I need to do?
Old
Farm Shores requires a 30 day written notice, which you are
responsible through, prior to move-out. This is required
regardless if the lease is ending or you are breaking your lease
early. If you need to move-out at the end of your lease term,
please remember to come in 30 days prior to the lease expiring to
provide your written notice.
My children live with me in the summer; do I need
to notify your office when they arrive?
Yes,
it is always a good idea to let the office staffs know of any
guests that will be here for extended visits.
Do you have cable services?
Yes,
we are partners with Comcast Cable Service. We may be able to
assist you with getting your cable, internet, and phone services
set up at the time you complete the application. Please see a
leasing consultant for more details.
Do you allow satellite dishes?
We
do allow satellite dishes with prior approval from Old Farm
Shores’ management. There are a few requirements and
guidelines for installing the equipment. We also require
$50,000 in liability coverage (in addition to the $100,000 required
liability coverage per apartment) and proof of the additional
renters insurance prior to installation. If you are interested
in getting satellite cable service please stop by the leasing
office for more specific requirements for your building and
location prior to installation.
Can I grill on property?
Kentwood’s City Fire Code
states: All grills must be placed and used a minimum
of 10 feet away from any building or wooden structure. Per the
lease agreement, charcoal grills are strictly prohibited. Gas
grills are prohibited on all but the first floor. Grills are
not allowed to be stored on 2nd floor balconies.
I’m locked out of my apartment. What
do I do?
If
you are locked out during business hours, you can come to the
office to be let back in your apartment. If you are locked out
after hours you can call emergency maintenance to let you back
in. Please note, there is a $40.00 charge for an after-hours
lockout due at the time of service payable by check,
cashier’s check, or money order. No cash is
accepted. We will need to verify that you are on the lease
with a photo ID or by verifying personal information in the
file.
I’ve lost my apartment and/or mailbox
keys. What do I do? What if I want my locks
changed?
If
you lose your key during business hours, you can come to the office
to be let back in your apartment. If you lose your key after
hours you can call emergency maintenance to let you back
in. Please note, there is a $40.00 charge for an after-hours
lockout due at the time of service payable by check,
cashier’s check, or money order. No cash is accepted.
There is also a $10.00 charge to purchase a new
key. If you would like the locks completely changed out there is a
$65.00 lock change charge for new keys and lock installation which
due before the work is completed. We will need to verify that
you are on the lease with a photo ID or by verifying personal
information in the file.
Where do I register to vote?
You
can register to vote at the Kentwood Clerk’s office located
at 4900 Breton Road in Kentwood or at any of the local Secretary of
State Branch offices. The nearest one is located in the
Centerpointe Mall at 3665 28th Street.
