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Metro Realty Advisors Metro Property Management specializes in the management of apartment, condominium, commercial and single-family properties. Metro is widely known throughout the Des Moines area for outstanding customer service to tenants and landlords. Metro services the entire central Iowa region including Ankeny, Ames, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, Urbandale, Johnston, Grimes, Altoona, Windsor Heights, Pleasant Hill, and more.

Make and receive payments from the mobile-friendly Online Portal. Directly send funds for owner contributions, including emergency maintenance repairs, renovations, or reserves via eCheck or Debit Card.
Reviews (22)
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Sophia Dunahoo
May 19, 2022
So far I have had a good experience. I toured an apartment with Logan, and he was very nice. He answered all of my questions and didn't make me feel rushed. Someone else took that studio, so he showed me another one that's available soon and offered to keep me updated on it. Professional and nice!
Samantha Thielen
Jan 29, 2022
Worst property management I've ever encountered. Scheduled a tour with Logan a week in advance and 30 minutes before the tour (which I traveled 45 minutes for) he calls and basically says he doesn't think it's worth his time because I wasn't planning on signing immediately. I made them aware of this a week prior. After telling Logan I would still like to tour he, apparently reluctantly, confirmed our appointment then cancels it 5 minutes before our scheduled time due to a "calendar conflict". We had this scheduled a week in advance. Just absolutely unprofessional.
T. B.
Jan 24, 2022
One of the best companies, to manage apts, moreover very well secured and maintained, I suggest if in need of housing Metro Properties should be first on the list, ty have a great year.
Ethan Acheson
Jan 13, 2022
I signed a form of release to be removed from my lease and the management changed. They said they have no record of my release and have sent me to collections for damages that were there before I moved in and for damages that occurred after I was off the lease. They renovated the whole apartment and tied the renovation in with the debt. Shady management. Ive never been so disappointed with a property manager in my life. Theres plenty of better places with more transparency. I wouldn't recommend these people to ANYONE.
Pete Greco
Jan 08, 2022
I and others in my building have been waiting since summer for fire alarms in our apts. If you need a service call, they'll tell you someone will contact you but it doesn't happen. I hope other management companies haven't gotten this bad.
Joel Kruse
Dec 27, 2021
So I rent from metro property management. I will say, for the most part my concerns or issues are addressed promptly. I have had to send a reminder here and there but I know they are busy and sometimes short-staffed. My biggest suggestion would be to update the carpets and paint in the shared spaces. I wish they would wash the outsides of the buildings as well as the windows.

The garages could use repairs and painted. Anything else is really my general complaint about tenants who don't seem to care and don't treat the property as if they owned it like I do. I would like to see the recycling dumpster back. I know tenants had been throwing trash in them. (Like I said some tenants here don't care.) Management though has been good and I have no major issues with them
Debbie Wilson
Oct 28, 2021
Their expectations of 2.5x the rent even when the rent is guaranteed through an agency is absolutely ridiculous. Trying to help a disabled young man find housing with a program guaranteeing rent payments and they still wanted 2.5x the rent in income. Not disabled friendly at all
Oreo Jak
Sep 22, 2021
Anything ran by MetroProperty do not rent. I loved with cockroaches the entire year I stayed there called multiple times to complain nothing was ever done about it. Being this was my first apartment I moved out not knowing I should have given a 30 day notice I wasn't renewing my lease. I call back a month later asking how I would receive my deposit back I'm told since I I didn't give a 30 day notice I now owe 2 months worth of rent I said fine ok. 3 months later I get a paper in the mail saying I need to evict the premises even though I wasn't living there AND had conversation on the phone with a lady stating I moved out and when would I get my deposit back.

I now owe them $3000 in unpaid rent for months I wasn't living there & paying rent elsewhere! When I call trying to speak to someone about it I get told the boss is never there!
Terry Brooks
Sep 05, 2021
Compared to the few owners in the past Metro Property Management is a godsend, very pleasant, intelligent, a well-oiled machine. As with most entities, there is always room for improvement, so far I would give them a B+ keep up the good work.
Jeff L.
Jul 10, 2021
In May, I put in a request for our central air to be looked at as the air conditioner hasn't worked in years. A maintenance tech came out and realized that the air wasn't working. They were supposed to come out the next week with a vendor. The vendor came and told us once again that the central air needs to be replaced. We heard nothing until I put in another ticket, when I received a call from someone in maintenance who was told that we had a window unit.

No one had come out to put in a window unit. A window unit was installed, but the size wasn't adequate enough to cool down the living room, let alone the apartment. Daytime temperatures were in the lower to mid 80s with fans running with the window unit. We also had issues with the air conditioner spitting water out from the vents. I put in multiple tickets and multiple calls with Jenny in regards to this issue.

The maintenance tech came out and told my wife to put fans in front of the air conditioner. After speaking with Jenny, the maintenance tech told her that we had a "cage or a couch" in front of the air conditioner. Neither was true. Instead of replacing the air conditioner, they added a second window unit that was larger. They never fixed the issue with the water spitting out of the air conditioner.

I took it upon myself to swap the units around and was able to fix the issue with the water spitting out of the window unit. Also the living room is much cooler now. The washers and dryers regularly break down. At least once a month, the machines are down with no communication from management. Friday the 2nd, the machines went down and were down all week.

We received multiple texts from management (finally communication) letting us know that they were working and then that they weren't working. On the 9th, I put in 1.50 to wash clothes and the washing machine wouldn't start. I called management and when I asked why this hasn't been fixed, I was rudely told that they can't fix an issue if they don't know about it.

I called a second time and got someone else who apologized and told me that they would send someone out. I was told that I would receive a call in regards to what was going on. No one returned my call, but I did receive a text letting me know that the machine was working. I went down an hour later, put in another 1.50 for the machine to not turn on.

I called the emergency line and received a call back from Miranda. Miranda told me that this wasn't an emergency and when I tried to express my frustrations, she cut me off and told me that she had more important issues to deal with. The best that she could do was put in another ticket. Tickets are regularly completed without work being done or verified fixed.

I very rarely ever get call backs when I have issues. No one bothers to reach out to verify that anything is fixed. The maintenance guy that they had last year was great. He was friendly, professional, and best of all, he fixed issues.
Nichoelle DeBrouse
Jun 27, 2021
New management at my complex is doing great. All my maintenance request are up to date. Which they finally have a good system going the most recent interactions I've had quick and positive experiences. If I call about anything they get back to me in a timely manor. The supervisor and owner have always been accommodating and respectful when I have had complaints or issues.

They work with you on payments and are very understanding. That being said leads me to my only complaint other tenants. They are a more accepting leasing company, this is great for people with not so good credit or maybe you don't meet income requirements they will work with you. Those lower qualifications lead to some tenants who just don't take care of the property.

Other tenants (not all but some) trash the hallways, laundry room, common areas, the courtyard, and the parking lot. Makes the property look bad. Keep to yourself and keep your unit clean and in order and you'll be golden.
Marc Young
Jun 21, 2021
If you see a rental from Metro Property Management, run away! All of the air conditioners in our buildings are out. They have put in small window units that don't work. They are unwilling to add additional units or ones that will adequately cool down the living space. Laundry machines are always breaking down. They send out maintenance to fix them.

A month later, they are broken again. The grounds aren't taken care of. Once a week someone comes out to vacuum and it's severely lacking. Calls to the property manager go unreturned.
Joshua S.
Jun 17, 2021
They do not take care of their properties or their residents. The parking lot is always full here because they let some guy keep 5-6 broken vehicles he works on parked and sitting. They never give the 24 hr notice to enter your supposed to get. Most recently they just came into my apt without any notice, the only way i even knew was because they moved a bunch of stuff and didn't out it back.

I had to call and then be informed that yes they did enter to fix a leak and will be back tomorrow. So you were just never going to tell me at all? You were going to enter my apt 2 days in a row for what? An emergency that was so important you could call off finishing it till tomorrow? Thats not an emergency! I recommend never renting from any of their properties.
Mary Edwards
Feb 16, 2021
This the worst management company ever. They do not follow the entry law. They will enter a unit when ever they feel the need. They threaten eviction on just about everything. They are rude, and worst of all they cannot keep drug activity out of their properties. They manage many different properties around the metro, makes it hard to find a decent place to live. I'd rather live out of my car then to deal with this group of unprofessionals
Susan B.
Nov 03, 2020
Would give zero stars if I could. Metro recently took over managing the apartments I've lived in for 5 years. The place is getting dirty there's trash all around the yard and I just tried to go out to their place of business and pay my rent and they would not accept my form of payment which was. Cash. I said it is cash it's definitely good and they said they would not take it I said I have paid with cash for years so I don't see a reason to change how I make my rent payment now. I do not know how this company is still in business with the way they do things.
Jessie Hoaglund
Oct 25, 2020
So I have been living in one of their properties in ames for about a year now. At first everything was OK but after signing a new lease it has all gone down hill. For starters the manager of my building ignores you. I have asked to add my girlfriend to the lease so she could legally live with me and was completely ignored. My garbage disposal quit working causing a sink to back up.

I notified the manager and put in a request over a week ago and still no response. Not to mention we also found a roach in our unit which I told management about also and was ignored. I have asked multiple times for a garage and get no response but I'm watching all the new tenants get them. I have 3 motorcycles to store so this is kind of a big deal. I really think they need to look into new management.
Ben S.
Sep 02, 2020
Do not rent from this company. Their communication skills are extremely poor, not only will they charge you additional fees for your renting, but they will actively avoid returning calls, emails, etc. The other reviews listed are not exaggerations. After renting from this company for two years I can assure you they are true. Metro property management - do you have any response for us publicly? I'd ask you via call or email but I'm sure I'd never hear back.
Greg S.
Mar 19, 2019
Property management by Metro must have a goal of doing as little as possible. It's a shame how they manage their properties. Beautiful parts of town and the properties are typically sad apartment buildings that in their day you can tell were beautiful. When you contact their office they are less than pleasant and annoyed to deal with you.oh yea and you are the customer.
Bree B.
Nov 06, 2018
I currently live here and can't WAIT to move out. Getting the apartment was a mess. The pet fee is outrageous. $500 for a cat plus monthly pet rent of $25. Plus I had to pay for one months rent for the deposit. $500 For one cat. This is absurdly high. I was also required to purchase renters insurance but they didn't tell me that until the day before I filled out the application for the apartment. Also, no one told me I had to make out checks to Lenox Properties, which is a part of Metro Properties.

When I turned in my application, I made the check out to metro properties and was told that they would not be able to hold the apartment until a correct check was written. Other cons. The apartment is SO COLD in the winter. I have a space heater which I'm not supposed to have but the one time I called to ask about the heat I was basically told to suck it up, so I did by acquiring a space heater.

The hot water is also awful. The shower goes from a good temperature to FREEZING COLD in a matter of seconds. The pressure varies too. I am assuming this depends on how many people are using the water/ hot water in the apartment at the same time. Sometimes I have to run the water at the kitchen sink for 5 straight minutes waiting for hot water. If I did have to pay for water I would be furious because of how long I have to wait because the water pressure and heat can't keep up with the demands of the building.

The apartment was DIRTY when I moved in. I asked for some rent to be taken off due to me cleaning and they told me no. I have never rented from people who were so inept at keeping their renters happy.
Jack M.
Jun 04, 2018
These people are creative. They consistently find new ways to charge you more and provide fewer services. During the two and a half years I lived in my apartment managed by Metro, I saw four managers come and go. I had to force the management to provide assigned parking to the tenants when random vehicles were parking in our very small parking lot and vehicles were being parked in our fire zone.

Only under threat of reporting them to the city did they take action. Also during my tenancy, they snuck a clause into my lease renewal that quietly made the tenants responsible for the utilities, which had initially been included in the rent. No notice was given of this change. I found out by getting a bill from a strange utility company in Illinois.

They took portions of my deposit for cleaning fees, painting, and "blind replacement" after I cleaned the unit top to toe, and left the unit in much better condition then when I moved in. The exterior of the building was (and is) filthy, covered in soot and dirt, making the view through the windows disgusting. Also, leaves, trash, and cigarette butts were never swept up or dealt with during the entire time I lived in their property.

I had to constantly ask the management to tell the other tenants not to smoke in the entryways of the building, but they never made much effort to stop them. Thus, my apartment would smell like cigarettes frequently, especially during the winter months.
Carrie K.
Nov 22, 2017
I am writhing this on behalf of my Elderly Mother. Back in November 2016, My mom had an episode where she did not know were she was and was wondering about in her Apartments mumbling and lost. Some of the tents found her in the hall ways and call the fire department and my sister. She was taking to the hospital for an evaluation. She had lost of test done and we don't know why she has that.

This is not the 1st time this has happened to her. So her Dr. said she need to go in to Assisted Living home. At 1st she did not want to go. Till she came to visit me in California. Me and my Husband talk to her and told her she can come live here. We have an extra room for her and she would not have to worry about living in a home she is not comfortable with.

A week after she went home she call and said she would move in with us. So we set things in motion. She went to the appt Manager Nancy that is located at 1100 E 2nd Ave Indianola, Ia 50125, and what my mother needed to be done about her moving out due to she was in a lease. Nancy told my mom to get a Dr.'s note that gave a reson why she need to move out and that would be enough and she can them movie out.

So my Mom went to the Dr's and ask for a letter which they gave my mom. That letter was mailed to my mom on April 21,2017. My mom gave a copy to Nancy and she said this will be fine that they have done this in the past with some tents that need to move out in to assisted living. So now we set the date for her to be moved out by September 1, 2017.

My mom received a letter in the mail form Metro Property Management in regard to her leaving and instructions on what need to be done before she moves out. Great! No problem's there.(that letter was mailed to on May 8, 2017.) So them on July 31, 2017 she wrote her 30 Day's notice and payed her last rent and gave it to Nancy the apartment manager.

My Mom then again got another letter in the mail form Metro Property Management in regard to her leaving and instruction on what need's to be done before she movie's out. Great. Again no problem's there.(that letter was mailed on Aug 17, 2017.) so Nancy told my mom that she should get her deposit back in a month or so. Ok now were in November 2017.

My mom ask been calling both Nancy and Metro Property Management and were getting the run around. Metro Property Management said that she still owed for September and that she was not getting her deposit back. She told them no. I have gave my 30 day notice and all the documentation for me to movie out by September 1, 2017 according to Nancy and all you letters that you sent me. John at Metro Property Management said that he need to call and make sure that was the case. Ok. 2 weeks go by and no call form John or Nancy.

My mom call's again. John told my mom that it is not the case that she would have to pay for September that she will not be getting the Deposit back. My mom then told him, I have all the paper that you all told me to do and that I was moving out by September 1, 2017. You all told me this was ok. Now your telling me some thing different! He tried to tell my mom that they did not agree to that.

But she has all the paper work form them with nothing saying that they did not agree them the terms. They said they mailed it to her but we did not get it but it got returned to them due to they put a 0 at the end of the address. But the funny thing is, that call was made on November 14, 2017, and we got a letter from them a few day later with the 0 in the address that they said came back to them on it that was mail on November 15, 2017.

So it make me wonder what this company it up to. I will not stand by while they take advantage of my Mother that way. Im going to do what ever it take to get my Mom's money back for them and make sure the consumer is aware of Metro Property Management of Iowa. I have will be getting ahold of the state of Iowa, Better business bureau, The Indianola Congressmen, ect. So before you rent. look to see who the Property Management is and look them up before you rent. So this dose not happen to you. Thank you
Hannah T.
Nov 02, 2016
I rented a cute apartment that had recently been fixed up on Grand. I was excited because it had charm and was in a good neighborhood. I soon found that it was very, very, very overpriced for what it was. There was no air and the heat constantly ran. As mentioned below, they don't pay for it and they say they do. UPS won't deliver packages because they've been stolen before.

There were bugs everywhere. Water leaked all of the time. Management was difficult to ever get a hold of and even when I did, they were difficult to even work with. Their lack of communication is laughable and it's amazing they're still in business. You're lucky if you get half of your deposit. Amy in the office is a total nitwit. Do not rent with them.