Sierra Property Management - Santa Barbara, California

Лёша L.

My personal advice would be to avoid renting from Sierra in Isla Vista. Improperly timed bills were common (very often months after the utility billing period). Before any tenants moved in we had a steep electricity cost to pay. Even after transferring property management companies we continually get billed back random bills from Sierra, such as a trash bill 6 months after the property management transfer. They did not take care to resolve these bills with us during the property management transfer. The moldy fridge we inherited took months to replace. Since this is a public review, I won't call out a specific employee but the landlord was visibly angered (for the first time during our lease he was responsive) when I mentioned that the shared laundry machines with the unit next to us were out of order, which I didn't use anyway due to them costing money and having an odor. Keep and study your lease very well and be sure to take very good pictures of your place upon your move in with them. Document everything and keep records of your communications in written form. Reaching them over the phone was difficult and they were slow at responding to emails often taking several business days to weeks to get an answer. Wish I knew living under Sierra was going to be like this before moving in but I was young and dumb and didn't think property managements could be as negligent in IV. If you are able to live in student housing or with a private landlord that is a best option when it comes to living in IV and transparent management.

Anshuman T.

I rented with Sierra for over a year. Until the end of our tenancy, I was grateful that they were the least bad of a horrible bunch of property agencies in Santa Barbara, where landlords and agents have far too much power. But they fleeced us for $500 for "curry smells" in the house at the end. Of all the excuses to cheat people of deposits, this must be the most stereotypically racist one. Would an agency tell Italian people that their house smelled of Tomato and cheese, or Chinese people that their house smelled of soy and vinegar? Somehow I doubt it.

I felt double cheated because I hired professional cleaning service to ensure that I repaid what I thought of as an overall decent experience. As for the smell, every non-indian person who came by never had a thing to say. Heck, we cooked less "curry" than most white people do because we like eating lighter food. But why let facts come in the way of a nice story to fleece tenants, even if it's overtly racist.

Otherwise Sierra were generally responsive, and dealt with minor issues. But I must mention that the kitchen sink had backflow from god-knows-what, and they didn't fix it even after many complaints over more than six months. I let it go because this happened only once in a day, and they were decent otherwise (yeah, that's now bad SB agencies are - the bar is low).

Make up your own mind - but I would stay far away from people who aren't averse to making racist excuses to make some money.

T

I recently attempted to sign a lease with Sierra and was disappointed with the communication and support I received during the process. While I understand that individual experiences can vary, my interactions with the leasing agent left me feeling frustrated and unheard.
My questions and concerns weren't addressed adequately, and I received limited responses despite reaching out multiple times. This lack of communication and responsiveness created unnecessary stress and delays. I hope Sierra will consider reviewing its employee education system to ensure that all tenants receive the necessary support and guidance throughout the lease process.
A well-informed and responsive team is crucial to creating a positive and efficient experience for tenants, and I believe that Sierra can make improvements in this area.

Michael C.

Sierra Property Management has been excellent for my family! Special thank you to Jovien for consistently providing incredible support and timely assistance.

Anshuman D.

I've lived in this apartment complex for 3 years and they bought it over last year, and since then have constantly milked the residents and landlords as much as possible. They don't respond to emails, maintenance requests, and continue to do sketchy behaviors like hiding your lease and cancelling things that were part of the plan. Avoid if you can.

Renee V.

Sierra was great to work with, Joe Herman was a great property manager! I will say Livable their utility provider was not so good.

elelwani T.

I lived at 156 Gerard Dr for about a year with no problems. Sierra property management was amazing, understanding and helpful. They looked out for us when in a tough situation. If I didn’t have to move out of Santa Barbara Goleta for career reasons, I’d still be a tenant at 156 Gerard On top of comfort home, a great location, and a great property manager, Goleta neighborhood is diverse and beautiful.

Tom F.

Terrible experience with Sierra. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. They will steal money out of your deposit and fight tooth and nail not to honor their rental contract