My significant and I moved to Avalon @ Lexington Hills early summer 08. We were moving to Mass from out of state and moving under a tight quick schedule due to transferring with my company. We had looked at many apartments over the web and had talked to many properties over the phone. We choose Avalon @ Lexington Hills because it was close to where I would be working and still pretty close to Alewife Station. I knew that it was a new complex and a big company which was good for us since we were moving blinding, so we figured if the place is new and it's corporate run, how bad can it be, right' oh no.
The very first moment we arrived, it look beautiful and sounded so promising, but shortly after...
1) the building is shoddily built. we are on the top floor and had water leakage within the 1st heavy rain of the summer. water stains on the ceiling and through the walls.
2) the plumbing was a mess before we even moved in. the very first day we had no hot water. We called maintenance and got warm water. After that it has taken 3 separate called to get plumbing reworked (they had to know a hole in the wall to re direct the pipes- apparently all our hot water was going to the toilet, literary.)
Also the taps are misdirected as well, so hot is cold and cold is hot.
3) The fixtures are feel like they come from ikea. With in the first week the top cabinet door in the kitchen just broke off hinges and all. They came back and just drill new holes in to the plywood, it's held since then, but it's not very attractive.
4) About 3 months in we had some AC issues and it took about 4 days to rectify.
5) Appliances (microwave, W/D, and dish machine) are nice and new, but everything sounds loud and beeps multiple times to throughout the cycles.
6) We happen to live next to 2 families with small children, which we can hear crying or running up and down the hall at any given time.
7) Utility bills are a bit high, especially the water bill this summer (over 200 for water and sewage for a 1b1b apt!) but that has been rectified between and complex and ista, and it is more reasonable-even though it is still about $25 for sewage.
8) The office staff is so-so. You can talk to the same person everyday and about 1/2 they time they are pleasant and 1/2 the time quite cold and stiff. Overall, they are generally cordial, but lack follow through in dealing with requests or work orders.

On a good note:
1) Parking is ample and well lit.
2) They to keep the common areas like the halls and lobbies clean.
3) They love to landscape so it's pretty.
4) The maintenance crew is very nice, but seem inexperienced. They try to fix it, but usually end up calling in professionals days later.
5) It is very family friendly.
6) It is very convenient location.
Quiet around the complex.
Not a busy area with lots of shops or restaurants or traffic.
Close driving to RTE 2 and Alewife, MASS Ave into Waltham or Lexington, and 95.

It's an ok place to live. All I can say is serves me right for finding an apt online. I wished I had signed a shorter than an year lease.
So do you research and check out as many other places as you can.

User Responses
From: dangiampa213	Date: 01/06/2009
I live at the community and the Construction is really BAD!!! can't wait to get out.,so desperate to get out we are going to break our lease agreement. Do you still there?
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/02/2009
Which unit# were you renting?
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/09/2009
I don't think that the specific unit number matters ... they all are built without very much care ...
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/11/2009
I am the author of this review. and I agree, I don't think the unit# matters. As I have talked to several other tenants and read other reviews- I think we can all agree the construction is shoddy and sloppy. Too much for a brand new complex. I could understand if it were older and had gone thru several renovations... I could forgive then, but being new? NO. Also we are undergoing the moving out process (now that our lease is coming to an end) and the amount of work you have to do to get thru the inspections is a bit ridiculous! They seem to want you to leave the place COMPLETELY ready for the new tenants (i.e. paying for professional carpet cleaning, painting, etc...) I mean isn't that the complexes job? They want to charge $230 for basic cleaning/shampooing. All I can say is just by our living here and general cleaning we are leaving our unit better than how we found it. We have fixed numerous shoddy construction and cleaned up all the debris left from building (like drywall dust, left over nails, and paint spill/splatters).

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