I've just recently moved in and wanted to share my initial impressions of the place. Overall, I love my apartment but you should be aware of the possible problems associated with renting one of the units that hasn't been renovated.

I decided to rent an apartment that had not been renovated because I could get much more space for a lesser price. The cabinets are ugly and some of the appliances are old but I figured that I could deal with it. The washer and fridge had been replaced and the toilet was also fairly new. However, I did not realize that for appliances, "old" often means "doesn't work." The first time I did laundry the washer worked fine. I put the clothes in the dryer only to find that it took not only 2 full cycles but an additional 100 minutes of timed drying to get the clothes dry. I also found that the dishwasher and garbage disposal did not work at all. The toilet also ran constantly after flushing.

I told the office about the problems and they were very friendly. If you do rent here, I recommend Joanne who is very friendly and helpful. Maintenance fixed the disposal, claimed to have fixed the dryer and are going to replace the dishwasher. No word on when they will replace it so for now I have to wash dishes by hand. I tried the dryer again and it still does not work properly. Hopefully I can get them to replace it. The toilet also still ran because two of the parts in the tank were overlapping, so every time I flushed it I had to open up the tank and move them. After doing that for several days the issue seemed to resolve itself.

So, I am very disappointed in the appliances in the apartment, and because it hasn't been renovated the fixtures are old, unsightly and in some cases rusty.

The layout of the apartment, however, is amazing. I have the 879 sq ft "Carmel Valley" which is a one-bedroom with dining area which is perfect for an office. It also has a gigantic walk-in closet and built-in vanity area. If this apartment had been renovated it would be gorgeous, but I would probably be paying several hundred dollars more per month. I would highly recommend getting an apartment on the top floor. It costs more but the vaulted ceilings are wonderful and make all the difference in making the apartment feel like a home.

Avalon also charges a pet surcharge of $35 a month, in addition to a $400 pet deposit. The deposit is refundable, which is nice but the extra money a month seems ridiculous just for me to have a cat. Their pet policy is very restrictive, which you should know before considering living here. Small animals of any kind are not allowed, including hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, mice and rats. Snakes are also not allowed along with several breeds of dog. I was very disappointed to find out about this because I have had pet rats in the past and wanted to have them again now that I have the room for a cage.

Also know that parking is fairly scarce here and in all likelihood you won't be parking in front of your building every day.

The complex feels safe but I haven't lived here long enough to get a good feel for it. There is plenty of shopping within a short drive, but nothing within walking distance. The immediate area around the complex is all other apartment complexes.

Avalon also has a website that residents get access to where you can order utility services and renters insurance, which was a big help because I decided on this apartment on a Monday and moved in the following Thursday, leaving hardly any time for making arrangements.

So overall, I like the place but whether I continue to like it will depend on how quickly they resolve my appliance issues.

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