Hammond Estates

Hello, fellow Iowans! If you're exploring housing options in the heart of our state, especially those that offer a pathway to homeownership or a more affordable living solution, mobile home parks often come into consideration. Hammond Estates, located in the charming town of Slater, Iowa, is one such community that might catch your eye. For locals in Iowa, understanding the specific dynamics of any residential community, particularly a mobile home park, is a critical step before making a long-term commitment.

Slater is a small, welcoming town situated in Story County, known for its friendly atmosphere and convenient access to larger urban centers like Ames and Des Moines. Mobile home parks like Hammond Estates typically aim to provide a sense of community and can offer a more budget-friendly alternative to traditional housing, allowing residents to enjoy the benefits of homeownership at a potentially lower cost. However, it's absolutely essential for prospective residents to conduct thorough due diligence, as the quality of management, maintenance, and resident experience can vary significantly from one park to another.

It is crucial to approach any potential residential move with a well-informed and cautious perspective, especially when evaluating public feedback. A review for Hammond Estates states: "Got some bulldog in the office and acts like he's a general in the army ups the rent every year and they do absolutely nothing no maintenance at allThen they go around and tell you exactly what you can have in your yard then and they're so called least which is very one-sided and make sure that it protects them for everything and screws the tenant for everything even the ones that pay the rent on time every timeAnd charges you for a parking spot every month that you do not have which is fraud." This feedback is a significant concern that prospective residents in Iowa should take very seriously. While this represents one individual's experience, the severity of the alleged issues (unjustified rent increases, lack of maintenance, restrictive and one-sided lease terms, and fraudulent parking charges) warrants careful and direct investigation. It highlights the critical need to verify current conditions, management practices, and lease agreements directly with the park management, current residents, and potentially local tenant rights organizations or legal counsel. A stable, fair, and reliable living environment, with transparent and reasonable policies, is a fundamental expectation for any home.

Hammond Estates is located at 101 1st Ave N, Slater, IA 50244, USA. Slater is a welcoming small town in Story County, Iowa, known for its close-knit community feel and rural charm. This location places it conveniently within Iowa's central corridor, offering residents a blend of small-town living with relatively easy access to larger urban centers.

For Iowa locals, its proximity to Ames (home to Iowa State University) and Des Moines (the state capital and largest city) is a significant advantage. Ames is approximately a 15-20 minute drive north, providing access to extensive employment opportunities, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, shopping, and dining options. Des Moines is about a 40-minute drive south, offering even broader metropolitan amenities, entertainment, and a larger job market. This makes Slater an attractive option for those who work in these larger cities but prefer the quieter, more affordable lifestyle of a smaller town.

The park's address on 1st Ave N suggests it is centrally located within Slater, likely providing residents with easy access to the town's limited local amenities, such as a post office, local businesses, and community facilities. Access to the park from major highways like US-69 or I-35 (via county roads) is straightforward, ensuring convenient travel for residents and visitors. While the provided review focuses on management issues, the physical location itself remains advantageous for those seeking a balance between rural tranquility and urban accessibility in Iowa. Public transportation options are typically limited in small towns like Slater, so a personal vehicle would be essential for daily commuting and accessing services.

Based on the limited public information and the critical review, detailing the specific "services offered" at Hammond Estates becomes challenging, as the review highlights significant alleged failures in basic provisions and fair management. However, in a typical mobile home park, residents generally expect the following core services as part of their lot rent:

• Lot Rental: The fundamental service is the rental of the land lot upon which a mobile home is placed. This typically includes the maintenance of common areas within the park.
• Utility Connections: A mobile home park is expected to provide functional connections for essential utilities to each mobile home. These typically include:
  • Electric Hookups: Providing the necessary electrical infrastructure.
  • Water Supply: Ensuring potable water access.
  • Sewer Service: Providing wastewater disposal through municipal sewer systems or on-site facilities.
  • Gas/Propane Access: Facilitating connections to natural gas lines or accommodating propane delivery/storage.
• Common Area Maintenance: Traditionally, the park management is responsible for maintaining shared spaces such as internal roads, street lighting, and any communal landscaping. The review explicitly claims "no maintenance at all," which directly contradicts this expected service.
• Waste Management: This usually involves designated areas for trash disposal or curbside pickup services.
• Parking: Adequate and clear parking provisions for residents' vehicles are a standard expectation. The review's claim of "charges you for a parking spot every month that you do not have which is fraud" points to a serious alleged deficiency in this area.

Given the strong negative feedback, any prospective resident must directly and thoroughly investigate the current status and reliability of all utility services, the actual level of maintenance, and the clarity and fairness of parking arrangements directly with the park management, current residents, and potentially local authorities.

When considering a mobile home park, residents typically look for features and highlights that contribute to a stable and appealing living environment. For Hammond Estates, based solely on the provided limited information, identifying specific positive features is difficult, as the single review points to significant negative experiences regarding management practices and service delivery. However, generally, mobile home parks in areas like Slater might aim to offer:

• Community Setting: The potential for a close-knit community among residents is often a key feature of mobile home parks, especially in smaller towns.
• Affordable Homeownership: Manufactured homes themselves typically offer a more budget-friendly path to homeownership compared to traditional stick-built houses.
• Individual Lots: Residents often have their own designated lot, providing a small degree of personal outdoor space.
• Quiet, Small-Town Living: Its location in Slater provides the advantage of a peaceful, rural setting, away from the hustle and bustle of larger cities.
• Proximity to Larger Cities: A geographical highlight is its convenient access to major employment and amenity hubs like Ames and Des Moines, offering the best of both worlds.
• Slater's Local Charm: The town itself is described as "pretty nice little town" and "friendly enough," suggesting a pleasant local environment.

The critical review regarding "very poor management," alleged lack of maintenance, restrictive lease terms, and "fraudulent" parking charges heavily overshadows any potential positive features. Reliable management and fair practices are fundamental to a positive living experience. Therefore, while a mobile home park ideally provides a stable community and affordable housing, the most prominent "features" highlighted by the provided data for Hammond Estates are significant concerns regarding the operational aspects and management-resident relations. Prospective residents are strongly advised to investigate these aspects thoroughly and verify current conditions.

Given the nature of a mobile home park, particularly one with a concerning public review like Hammond Estates, it is highly unlikely to have "promotions or special offers" in the same way a retail business or a recreational campground might. Mobile home parks typically operate on a long-term lot rental model.

Any "offers" would usually pertain to:

• Lot Rent Rates: Transparent and consistent pricing for monthly lot rent. However, the review explicitly mentions "ups the rent every year" which suggests unpredictable or increasing costs without perceived equivalent value.
• Move-In Incentives: Occasionally, a park might offer a limited-time incentive for new residents, such as a discount on the first month's rent, or assistance with moving a manufactured home onto a lot. There is no information provided to suggest this is the case for Hammond Estates.

It is paramount for any potential resident to understand that the focus should be on the reliability and fairness of basic services, the consistency of maintenance, and the transparency of the lease agreement, rather than on promotional deals. A park facing the types of complaints highlighted in the review would ideally be prioritizing addressing those issues and building trust with residents, rather than marketing promotions. Therefore, prospective residents are strongly advised to directly contact the park management to inquire about current lot rent, any fees, and critically, to ask direct, pointed questions about the alleged issues raised in the review (rent increases, maintenance, lease terms, and parking charges). Any information about promotions should be viewed with caution and verified during this extensive inquiry.

For direct inquiries regarding Hammond Estates, including current lot availability, rates, and any specific questions about the park's operations, management practices, and addressing past concerns, please use the following contact information:

Address: 101 1st Ave N, Slater, IA 50244, USA

Phone: (515) 505-1626

Mobile Phone: +1 515-505-1626

Given the serious nature of the review regarding management, maintenance, lease terms, and alleged fraudulent charges, prospective residents are strongly advised to:

• Prepare a detailed list of questions about all these concerns.
• Request a copy of the lease agreement for thorough review by independent legal counsel if possible.
• Visit the park in person multiple times at different hours and observe the condition of common areas and facilities.
• Attempt to speak with current residents (respectfully and discreetly) to gather diverse perspectives on their experiences.
• Contact relevant local authorities or tenant rights organizations in Iowa to see if they have any information or advice regarding the park.

For Iowa locals considering Hammond Estates in Slater, the decision requires an extremely careful and thorough evaluation. On one hand, the concept of affordable homeownership in a pleasant small town like Slater, with convenient access to major employment and amenity centers like Ames and Des Moines, can be highly appealing. This geographical advantage offers a desirable balance between quiet, rural living and urban opportunities. For those looking to establish roots without the higher costs of traditional housing, a mobile home park can represent a viable pathway to homeownership within Iowa.

However, the critical review explicitly detailing "very poor management," alleged annual rent increases with "no maintenance at all," "one-sided" leases, and "fraudulent" parking charges represents a profound warning. For any Iowan, consistent access to well-maintained common areas, fair and transparent lease terms, and ethical management practices are fundamental expectations for a stable and comfortable living environment. The potential for unexpected costs, lack of property upkeep, and unresolved disputes can significantly impact a resident's quality of life and financial stability. Therefore, while the location and initial affordability might draw interest, it is absolutely paramount that prospective residents conduct exhaustive due diligence. This means directly addressing every concern raised in the review with park management, seeking legal advice on the lease, and ideally, gathering multiple current resident perspectives. Only after all concerns are thoroughly investigated and deemed satisfactorily resolved should an Iowa local consider Hammond Estates as a suitable place to call home. Your peace of mind, financial security, and comfort in your home are far too important to compromise.