Finding the best off-campus housing can be as much of a gamble as leaving your roommates home alone with a fridge full of your leftovers—you never know what you’ll find when you walk in the door. Will the place be clean when you move in? Is your landlord a stand-up guy? Will the walls be paper-thin? Questions like these that can give students anxiety when locking in a year-long lease.
To hopefully quell some of these fears (and the other problems students encounter with landlords), we’ve simplified the research process and combed through hundreds of Google reviews for apartments and property management companies near the GVSU campus.
Grand Valley State’s building for health sciences. (Flickr)
According to the reviewers, here are the top GVSU off-campus housing providers in Allendale.
Average rating on Google: 4.6
The Fulton Group is a local rental company with a number of student-friendly properties scattered throughout the Grand Rapids area. The company has made it its mission to restore and maintain the area’s old and deteriorating properties in order to breathe new life into the city and its inhabitants. As proof that their philosophy is working, The Fulton Group has over 40 reviews on Google, the majority of them offering glowing recommendations.
Whether it be replacing the windows and appliances, adding a fresh coat of paint or remodeling from the ground up, tenants seem to really appreciate the time and energy put into updating their units. Reviewers also make frequent mention of Rob, the company’s Managing Partner, and his superior customer service.
Our favorite review:
“I lived in two different Fulton Group houses for 4 years and had great experiences with both. Rob is a very good guy and cares about his tenants. If a maintenance request is sent in, you will hear back by the next day and usually your problem is fixed by that day or the next. I would recommend the Fulton Group to any family or friend/college student as all houses are very affordable and are close to the downtown Grand Valley campus and GRCC campus. Very nice houses with all the necessary amenities!”
Average rating on Google: 4.4
Simple Home Management is a full-service, residential property management company serving the greater Grand Rapids community. Jon, the owner, seems like not only a great business owner but a trustworthy landlord as well. Reviewers have noted that he is honest and fair, takes a front seat when it comes to resolving complaints and cares deeply about the experiences of both owner and tenant.
Our favorite review:
“Jon cares about every detail of the renting experience. Whenever there was an issue, he worked to quickly resolve it. He was honest about every step and was always great to work with!”
Access Property Management Group
Average rating on Google: 4.4
Access Property Management Group offers property management services and rentals across Western Michigan. Tenants seem to love that they are more than accommodating when it comes to pets, a quality that can be hard to come by in the realm of off-campus housing and rentals in general.
Many residents say that Eddie is especially helpful, handling issues with a level of professionalism and courteousness that makes his tenants feel at ease. Similarly, maintenance requests are addressed swiftly and usually resolved by the next day.
Our favorite review:
“Great and friendly! The management is very professional and communication is excellent. Being a college student and trying to find a place to rent with pet- friendly accommodation is difficult. Access made it simple and easy to have a pet. Their maintenance staff is quick, professional, and efficient. Access is by far the easiest rental group to deal with in the GVSU area, they make things easy! This is a great place to live!”
Hillcrest & Country Place Townhouses
Average rating on Google: 4.3
Located adjacent to campus, Hillcrest & Country Place Townhouses manages a modest portfolio strictly for GVSU students. The properties feature a range of amenities like free internet, access to their resident fitness center and free parking. Reviewers have commented that rent prices are some of the cheapest in Allendale, without the sacrifice of comfort or quality, and the staff is always helpful and friendly. If there is one common theme that permeates almost every review, Hillcrest & Country Place Townhouses is hands down one of the best deals in town.
Our favorite review:
“Country Place is a pretty awesome place to live! I lived in another property on 48th and had to pay for parking (and still got a boot on my car…) at Hillcrest it’s free, gym is free, basketball and volleyball court are free, and every complex is furnished with a huge FREE T.V. They definitely know how to set out a good deal for us college students.”
Average rating on Google: 3.9
48 West offers student-focused housing in proximity to GVSU’s Allendale campus, complete with luxury amenities and a sense of community. Reviewers say they enjoy the many resident perks, including a 106” movie theater, monthly social events, and even a private bus stop that leads directly to campus. In addition, the friendly staff and maintenance crew are always on stand-by with solutions to problems and maintenance requests. It may be a bit more expensive than some of the other complexes in town, but most agree that renting here is well worth it.
Our favorite review:
“I would definitely recommend living at 48west while going to GVSU! It really is a little community and they are looking for so much more out of your time living there than just a rent check. They put on events (that almost always involve free food) and they have cool amenity spaces like a theater, game room, fitness center, hot tub and lounge and a commons building to study and print at. They also have a bus stop that will take you right over to GVSU’s campus. As far as the actual apartment, I love that every bedroom has their own bathroom! It’s great to have that privacy and not have to share the space with my roommates. As for the utilities, they are always very reasonable. I usually pay right around $50 for gas, water and electric. I’ve lived here for 3 years and the internet has continued to be upgraded every year and my roommates and I have never had a problem with it as some others have said. I have had a great experience living here and I would recommend it to anyone I know!”
See anything you like? Head over to the number one resource for GVSU Off-Campus Housing for more information, and browse a list of rentals in Allendale and Grand Rapids.
Callie Kollenbroich
Callie Kollenbroich has been the Operations Coordinator and Content Writer/Editor at Rent College Pads since 2015. When she's not working, you can find her at home, eating peanut butter out of the jar and bingeing an unhealthy amount of Forensic Files. She's not as lame as she sounds.