So, I'm certainly no stranger to moving. My children are 3 & 8. My youngest has lived in a different state for every year of her life, moving 4 times since she was born. My oldest has moved 6 times. I think that qualifies my opinion.

I worked as a police officer in my home state of West Virginia. I left the department in search of more money & just a better way of living. My wife & I both had been through "not so great" marriages in the past & we wanted to provide the best we could for our new born & at the time, our 5 year old. I found a great job, with a large telecommunications company & proceeded quickly to move up. I was quickly promoted through the ranks & finally attained a level of income 3x what I was making as a police officer. My company has moved me to Richmond, VA, then to San Antonio, TX, and now here - to Atlanta. The move from San Antonio was going pretty smoothly. The company flew my wife & I here to Atlanta, & we quickly found a house that seemed to work well for our entire family. We were set to move on Friday. Everything seemed to be going so well, that I was waiting for the bottom to fall out of the tub. The Monday before we moved, while back in San Antonio, that bottom fell out - and it fell hard.

During our negotiations with the realtor, I had requested to have the staircase banister fixed. I even offered to pay for it myself. I just wanted it fixed before my family moved in. That Monday however, word came back that they would not do it. So my stubbornness showed & I told the realtor we weren't taking it. We'd pass. How' I had no idea. Not even a clue. The truck was already paid for, schedules had been arranged. Everything that I had worked so hard to plan for was quickly coming undone. Tuesday morning, I was at work & just started calling any & everyone in Atlanta, just trying to find an apartment. My wife & I do not have the best credit in the world - when a credit agency would run our credit, the computer would begin to release a black cloud of toxic fumes. Yeah, it's bad. But everyone makes mistakes in their past. It's just unfortunate that people can't seem to get past it.

At any rate, I contacted a gentlemen at an apartment community, explained my situation & was upfront w/ him about our credit situation. He was just as honest & told me he probably would not be able to help, however he did recommend someone who was w/ an apartment locator agency. I contacted his friend & gave her my situation. After a few quick minutes, she said she'd call me back. And within 15 minutes I think, she was calling. She told me of this young lady named Kelly Lucas at Avistele (Martins Landing). She told me to contact her & I did. When I first spoke w/ Kelly, again I was upfront with her & explained my situation - the whole time expecting to be told, "Sorry, we cant help you." But I must say, every step of the way, with every challenge that I kept posing to Kelly, she'd just reassure me - "Let me see what I can do; I'm sure we can get something worked out." I went home & told my wife. We looked up the community online, and I must say, I was not impressed at all. Matter of fact, at one point, I was even considering calling & asking for some updated pictures before I moved my family in. But looking back, I was truly out of options. And sure enough, just like clock work, Kelly calls me back & says, "Yes, we can work with you!" Whew! What a relief. I just had to fax some paperwork in & she'd work on the approval. I was literally going to pick up my moving truck when Kelly called me back Wednesday evening to tell me, "Welcome to your new home!" I couldn't believe it! I finally had a place to take my family to! I for once, breathed a sigh of relief!

Let me tell you. Taking 2 small children on a road trip, half way across the country can be trying - no matter how disciplined you think you are. For 2 long days, I had time while driving the U-haul to really think & rationalize the whole situation. My old law enforcement instincts were re-surfacing & hammering away at this situation. Could this really be true' When no one else would take my family & I (b/c of mine & my wife's past mistakes), this place would be willing to just "take our word for it"' You've got to be kidding me. No way. I bet the place is a dump. Bet it's ghetto. I'm moving my family into a hell hole where crime was running rampant.

All these thoughts just kept swimming through my head while I was driving... Again. It was a very, very long drive.

After 2 hours of sleep at a hotel in Mobile Bay, Alabama, I finally made the last of the journey to arrive in Atlanta on a Saturday. Kelly assured me that someone would be here to meet me when I came in. As I turned off Holcomb Bridge & onto Martin's Rd, I couldn't believe my eyes. The trees, the landscape, just the sheer beauty was completely astounding!

Surely, I'm in the wrong place.... My GPS was lying to me. Just then, it sounded to turn left. I pulled into the parking lot, this HUGE U-Haul truck trying to navigate through the parked vehicles like a bull in a China shop. Fortunately, I have very good insurance. :) As I drove through the community I couldn't believe it. It was SOOO incredibly beautiful! The landscape, the buildings; everything was so well kept.

Yep, I'm definitely in the wrong place. I finally made my way to the community center/office. Sure enough, it said 1500 right on the side of the building. That told me, I was right where I was supposed to be. I got out of my truck & just stood there - in complete awe! There were children out playing together, running around, having fun. That was something I wasn't used to. Everyone that I saw out walking would just look & smile & politely say hi! I wasn't used to that either. I practically stumbled into the office b/c I was still star-struck... There's no way I could have been this lucky. No way!!! When I entered, I met Kathy. She greeted me like she had known me her whole life. Of course I was still just gazing at the beauty of everything & on more than one occasion I believe it would have been necessary for Kathy to have hit me upside my head in order to bring me out of my delirium. We talked & she told me of the grounds. Everything she was saying, I could totally see it! Then she took me out back of the office and OH MY GOSH!!! What a VIEW!!! The 50 acre lake out back is absolutely breath taking - seriously breath taking. I'm not an english major here, folks. I was taught at the police department to clearly state & articulate the facts. This place, the lake, the community center, even the outside of the buildings - spectacular! And even that's an understatement.

So after Kathy finally brought me back down to earth, we realized that we both had many things in common. Her husband had family in the exact area of WV where I'm from. We both moved to Texas. Then we both moved here to GA. Very odd indeed! Then I met Matt. Clean cut, straight shooter, and just truly had the attitude of "You are why we're here, so you're calling the shots." Totally dug that too! Matt & I sat down & he reviewed everything with me. I then interrupted & asked if he'd mind showing me my new home. Not at all. I can't say enough about him... He has an attitude about him, & as cliche as it may sound, his attitude was all about "me & what I wanted." To hell w/ the way things are written in the books, etc... He just rocks, plain & simple! So he brings me to my home & just as before, I'm completely awe-struck. At this point I want to hurry up & get back & sign everything before he figures out that I'm just a jerk who doesn't like associating with anyone. I quickly returned & signed all paperwork, gave him the check. He was so thorough w/ me. He explained everything in detail, always stopping to see if I had any questions. To this day actually, I still can't think of any that he did not answer in our first meeting.
Trust me, I'm still trying to think of some questions.

As we're finishing up, that's when Kelly stopped in. She had come in on her day off, just to meet me. I wanted to just throw my arms around her & hug her for all that she had done for me & my girls, but considering the fact that I probably smelled about as well as a hog trough, I figured I would have saved her any embarrassment that might have caused. Kathy, Kelly & Matt were 100% committed to make sure that everything went as smooth as possible for me, considering all that I had been through the previous week. They did their jobs so damn thoroughly, by the time I had gotten to my new home, I had completely forgotten about all the struggles I had endured the previous week. Truly I did. When it was all said & done, I felt like this had been the executed plan of action all along - I just somehow happened to fall into my appropriate place.

Unbelievable.

So after about a week of getting moved & settled in, I finally said to myself that there has got to be something about this place that I'm missing. Surely this place has got to have something I can pick at & pick apart. Yes, I finally did come up w/ somethings that I'll share in a moment. But truly, everything that they told me about this place, was SPOT ON! No BS, no smoke & mirrors, no man behind the curtain. It is what it is, and what it is, is just awesome! So I've now lived here about 2 months now, & yes I've had a few mishaps. My garbage disposal went out. Guess what! Next day, when I came home, it was fixed. I don't even remember putting in a service request. Matt told me that the service folks, DON'T PLAY! He was right. Just last week, my water heater tank leaked & ended up leaking water into my hallway. Monday afternoon when I came home, they already had a new hot water tank installed. Tuesday, they were replacing carpet. It almost reminded me of SWAT tactics the way they just come in, meet their objective, & then they're gone with a smile & a blink of an eye. Amazing!

As I mentioned previously, I'm really not a people person. I'm not big on hanging out. But I find myself just stopping into the office, just to say hey or see what's been going on. Whenever I stop in & I see potentially new members, I always ask permission from Kathy to go & tie the visitors up to a tree until the decide to stay. Of course, she says no b/c that's against the law, but regardless, I do have to fight the temptation to interrupt & tell them that if they walk away without joining, then they're making a big mistake.

I can't say enough. In all my training I never thought that I would NOT be able to articulate or describe any experience. But this is one, & has been a continual experience that I just truly can't describe- not in words. Kelly, Matt, Kathy, Chris - I can't tell you how welcome they make me & my family feel. And most of all, I can't tell you how much of a true "home" this place feels to me. After years of traveling, & moving all over the place, I really do feel like this is a home. Folks, if you're reading this, there's just so much more than outside beauty. It's a mindset. It's a way of living - a way of life. Best of all, the folks here not only live & display that mindset, the community as a whole truly reflects that mindset. Everything & everyone - from my neighbors, to the grounds & landscape - it's a way of life & for once, THANK GOD, somebody finally got it right. Would I recommend Avistele at Martin's Landing' No. I wouldn't recommend it, I would DEMAND it. It would be a requirement for anyone who wants to truly feel "at home". It's so peaceful here - yes even with all the children. One thing that really impressed me is that the folks in the office, yeah they talked it up. But they only talked so far. They left it to me & my family to discover & experience what they were trying to say. I believe if they would have told me everything, I would have remained a skeptic - which is of course, my nature. But instead, they gave me just enough to keep me pressing forward, and allowed me to find out for myself.

Ok, so now that i've discussed all the pro's of living here, it's now time for me to talk about the con's of living here. Let me say this first though... it took me almost 2 months to come up w/ the following list of things that are wrong... and I must admit, they are PETTY!!!!! Ridiculously, petty! But in the interest of being fair, I must provide a balance. So with that being said, here we go:

1. The weight room does not have a set of 55lb & 60lb dumb bells. (yeah, told you it was petty)
2. 2 washing machines took my $1.25.
3. The fish in the lake, although I see them in the water, refuse to bite my fishing hook.
4. The only thing I've caught in a FULLY STOCKED lake was a stinking turtle. Did make a nice pet for my 8 year old.
5. I don't have a personal key to the swimming pool. (more of a wishlist item rather than complaint)

Seriously, I know that's a pretty pathetic list to come up with. But I have not been able to come up w/ a single, legitimate item to cast doubt on this place. And I've tried!!

Apparently, on this very message board, there are posts regarding the past incidents that took place here. I would encourage any viewer to note the timedate stamps on those posts. No matter how negative they may sound, I can speak from personal experience - everyone deserves a second chance. Even a community. This place has given me & my family, our second chance.

If you would like to contact me for more information, I've made myself available through the Avistele Management team. Please inquire w/ them & they will be more than happy to put me in contact w/ you so that I can tell you one on one, just how great this place is! Or feel free to contact me via email. My email is listed above.

Hope this helps to give someone else their second chance too! As a follow up, I plan to post monthly all the wonderful discoveries I've made in living here in this community. The management team has truly made me feel welcome, & I have no intention nor desire to leave this community anytime soon!


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November 16, 2008

My apologies for not keeping up w/ my updates as I recently stated I would. But I do have some information to pass on to others.

So it's been several months now that my family & I have lived here. I've actually gotten to know several folks here in the community - regardless of my instinctive hermit nature. I've also had time to build a relationship w/ the folks in the office - Chris, Matt, Kelly, Kathy... I've been here long enough to establish consistent patterns & identify issues that would otherwise not normally make themselves apparent. After all this time, I STILL, 100% STAND BEHIND EVERYTHING I HAVE STATED ABOVE!

This place is the real deal. As I mentioned before, there's no smoke & mirrors - no man behind the curtain, pulling the puppet strings. I am still, even after 7 months of living here, unable to fully articulate the wonderful community that this team has put together. This place is beyond a shadow of doubt, the best place - all around - that we have lived in. To be honest, my wife is expecting our third & final child - a boy - and our last child. She's decided that we need a bigger place. So we went to Chris & team & asked about moving into a 4 bedroom. Consider it done. This team has basically taken care of all the arrangements for us, which is great due to mine & my wife's work schedule. Best of all, it's closer to the lake, the office, & the laundry room. Oh, speaking of which, yet another benefit. I expected the laundry room to constantly be packed full of folks; always expecting to have to wait. There's hardly anyone using the laundry room - which is very convenient for us. :-)

In a nutshell, I still can't say enough about this place. Even the management company, in dealing w/ them, have always treated me as if we were the most important people on earth. I just can't thank this place enough for what they've given to me & my family!

Again, I stand behind my statements listed above, 100%. If anyone would like to contact me to discuss further, please don't hesitate. I'm a believer now, that there are other people in this world who are concerned & have your best interest at heart. Here at Avistele, I've found an entire community of those folks!

-Drew -- 11/16/2008

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March 13, 2009

So, another couple of months have passed since my last update.

In my previous essay, I mentioned that my wife & I have decided to upgrade to a larger apartment, since we added our beautiful baby boy to our family in December. Our son was born, early December. Three days later, we were moving.

I can't articulate, just how seamless the move was during this time; having a new baby, things seem to get put on hold for a few weeks. We didn't have that luxury, because we wanted our son to have his own room & his own decor. Matt was truly the guiding light for us in making the move. It was just as seamless as our original move into the community. He would stop by just to see how things were going, keep us updated on the important details of the process, & always offer any help that he or others in the community could provide. My only regret is that we didn't take this home when we first moved in!!! Man, what a view. My children can go outside & play, the lakeside view is just astonishing, & I'm practically right beside the office which makes it convenient for me to run over & ask should I need anything. I always try to stop in & check in on Matt, Nicole, Kathy & the others, just to see how things are going or to see if there's anything I might be able to assist them with.

We just recently finished our decorating & getting new furniture. This place feels even more like a home to me, than did our original place in the community. Even my wife has admitted (finally) that this place now feels like a home. We frequently take family walks around the lake, or just sit outside & play with our kids.

This is still in my opinion, the best family environment that I have been able to provide thus far. I can engage, interact & enjoy being a father to my three wonderful kids here, all within the Avistele community. I just couldn't have wished for a better place.

If anyone reading this, has any doubts or hesitation about moving into the community, please take the chance. I did & it paid off! My family deserved this after me asking them to move all over the country for the last 4 years. Your family deserves this place as well!!!

Feel free to contact myself directly or any of the Avistele Martins Landing staff with any type of questions you might have. I am so sure of this place, I even opened my on Avistele Community Forum at http://www.avistelecommunity.com. I have posted pictures & hope that other community members may join my effort to spread the news of Avistele.

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June 21, 2009

So a lot has changed here. It's been over a year now that we have lived here in the community. I've actually come out of my self-imposed reclusion & gotten to know a few families here in the community. It's great to establish friendships with like minded individuals & allow my girls the pleasure of social interaction with other children.

Folks, I can't say it enough. This place is, still after 1 year of living here, just wonderful. It's so beautiful, peaceful, & feels like home. This isn't an "apartment community". This is a HOME community. A family community. Nicole & her team have been hard at work trying to raise the bar to an even higher standard; & it's because of their team effort that I've been able to share an absolutely wonderful year here in this community, watching my kids grow, play & experience all that life has to offer them.

Would I still recommend this place' Without a seconds hesitation. I wish I could tell many others about this place & through my essays, hopefully I can articulate to them all that this place has to offer!

This is the real deal - it has been for the last year & I don't see it changing any time soon!

User Responses
From: RenaissancePG	Date: 07/03/2009
It is always encouraging to receive such positive feedback. Thank you for taking the time to recognize the kind of wholesome, uplifting community we are creating at Avistele. Please feel free to contact the owner-operator, RenaissancePG LLC, directly at info@renaissancepg.com, or call us at 865-777-0076. We welcome both compliments and complaints as they both help us to better serve our Members and their guests. It is how we are trying to change the world, one community through one relationship at a time.

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