My partner and I stopped by Ballena Apartments on a whim after driving by, and we ended up having a really great experience. The apartment manager was the first person we met, she greeted us right away and walked us to the office. Super warm and welcoming.
Even though we walked in during another appointment, Tailiyah and Sam still made time to show us around, which we really appreciated. The apartments looked great, prices seemed reasonable, and the amenities were all in really nice shape.
A few green flags that really stood out:
The staff was actively taking care of the place. People were moving boxes, organizing things, tidying up, not just sitting behind desks answering emails. Whenever I see that at other properties, it usually means they’re buried in paperwork (in-efficient systems) or dealing with constant tenant issues. This was the opposite.
The whole property was spotless. Hallways, common areas, the units. Everything looked clean and well-kept.
Huge shoutout to Tailiyah. She honestly made the biggest impression. She had this genuine smile the whole time, answered every question without rushing us, and just had a really kind, grounded energy. It felt like she loved her job and cared about the place.
They have good relationships with residents. As we walked around, Tailiyah greeted tenants, and they greeted her back just as naturally.
Current residents seemed happy. We asked a couple people for their honest thoughts, and they said they really liked living there. They mentioned a few other complexes but didn’t seem excited about those.
We didn’t end up moving forward, but Ballena genuinely left a great impression on us. Wishing the whole team all the best. If you’re considering renting here, definitely check it out.