Poor parking policies and difficult management. I just moved in and cannot wait to leave.

User Responses
From: Krystal120	Date: 01/04/2008
From the start of our apartment hunting experience we both admired and strongly considered the possibility of the AvalonBay Communities. However, attempting to get information on the apartments and have a leasing agent return our calls was nearly impossible. Being that we were unable to receive any assistance via telephone we decided to physically visit the Avalon on the Sound East community were we met with a leasing agent. After waiting approximately an hour, we were able to view three apartments (two studios and a one bedroom) after which we learned the prices. Together we express to the agent that we would be contacting her at a later date after we discussed our options. By weeks end, we contacted the leasing office and spoke with the assigned leasing agent and expressed our need for a one bedroom and set up a date to view apartments. When meeting with with the leasing agent we were shown three one-bedroom apartments and one large studio. At the end of our viewing we return to the leasing office to further discuss the prices and potential move-in dates. At this time we made mention that I was committed to a lease until September 30th, 2007. In revealing this to the leasing agent, she had asked if I could possibly extend my lease or stay with a friend because there was a less expensive and larger one bedroom available November 24th, 2007. In learning this I attempted to extend my lease term but was unsuccessful. We went back to Avalon and decided to go ahead with the available one bedroom. While sitting down looking over the paper work I had made a comment on how I had wish we could just trade the apartments when they were done. In replying, the agent said that she forgot to tell us about the transfer option. In choosing to take advantage of the transfer option we would have to pay a fee of one months rent of the first apartment. We were both upset that we were not originally told of this option, had we known about this we would have had a cheaper transfer fee being that the market prices were lower when we first went to the leasing office. After talking over our options and calculating the prices of getting a smaller one bedroom on a higher floor for more money or live in a studio until the larger and cheaper one bedroom was complete and pay the transfer fee, we discovered the transfer would be our best bet and cheaper option. After figuring everything out we return to the leasing office and asked if they had the same apartment on a higher floor. In fact there was the same apartment located on the ninth floor which would be available December 15th, 2007, which we decided on. In going with that option we filled out the applications and paid the necessary fees including $220.00 for the applications. Within a week we learned we were approved for the apartments and could come in anytime prior to the September 15th, 2007 to sign the lease. Revealed in this conversation was another hidden fee that was not mentioned at the start of our apartment search, the need to obtain renters insurance. The following day we obtained renters insurances at $220.00 and went to sign the lease. Upon our arrival we learned that the lease was incorrect and that we needed to come back the following day. The next day, we went back to meet with the leasing agent and sign the corrected lease and pay all necessary fees. After moving in the weekend before September 30th, 2007 everything was fine except for the laundry facilities. We were told that we would have access to the laundry facilities starting the end of September, however did not have access to them the weekend of October 8th, 2007. On October 8th, 2007 we decided to a laundry mat in Scarsdale. Being that we had to go out of our way to do laundry we were a bit annoyed and contacted the Customer Service Manager. In speaking with the customer service manager she was very apologetic and stated that for our inconvenience she would issue us a fifty-dollar gift certificate. After returning from the laundry mat, my boyfriend and I pulled up to the front of the building to unload the vehicle. As I went to the front desk to retrieve a hotel cart my boyfriend began to unload the laundry out of the car. In obtaining the hotel cart, I told front desk attendant that I would be right back with the cart. In returning to the car we both loaded the cart considering the amount of laundry the cart was overflowing and difficult for both of us maneuver. We passed by the front desk and again told the front desk attentant that we would be right back with the cart. Together with the cart we waited for one of the two elevators out of six that were working. We finally were able to fit in an elevator with all of our laundry, brought it to the apartment, dropped the bags onto the floor, and left. In total this took about fifteen minutes being that we were rushing to get to the grocery store. After returning the cart, we return to the car outside, however the car had been towed. Together we returned to the front desk and asked were the car went, The front desk attendant said that it must have been towed and gave us the number to the tow company. We went outside, my boyfriend called the towing company and I began to speak to another resident who stopped us after over hearing that his car had been towed. He told us that he was towed and that the maintenance man (director of maintence) was watching from a window and was calling the tow company in order to have residences towed. While I learned of this my boyfriend was on the phone with the employee of the tow company who was extremely rude. While he was trying to rectify the situation the tow guy specifically stated You could rectify the situation by getting your ass up here and paying the $125.00 in cash. After my boyfriend spoke with the tow guy and became frustrated I called and spoke with him and he stated the same thing he told my boyfriend and hung up. I called again and attempted to tell the tow guy that I need to speak with him and that he needed to calm down because I needed my asthma medication, once again hung up on. After which I continued to try to contact the tow company while walking towards the building were we saw two maintenance men at the window on their cell phones. In walking into the building my boyfriend approached the two maintenance men and asked him if they had called the towing company, and if he thought that calling the tow company on their residence was a good idea. However, at no point did my boyfriend or I scream loudly and/or used profanities. In responding to my boyfriend question the two maintenance men became defensive and vulgar. To calm the situation down I asked who was the appropriate person to speak with to resolve the matter at hand. After which one of the maintenance men (manager) had stated that he was, I then asked him his name which his responded his name was none of my business, I then asked him who was in charge of the building and he stated that he ran the building. After the maintenance man (manager) rudeness towards me I still remained clam, I asked him how could we get the car returned and he said we had to go to Harrison and that was that. My boyfriend, then told him that they illegally towed the car due since his tag was showing, we were unloading, and that entrapping him by calling the tow company. I then interrupted and stated that I needed the car brought back since my asthma medication was in the vehicle. In response the maintenance man (manager) questioned who was on the lease, and I told him that was not his business being that he was the maintenance manager, then he asked the very personal question as to our marital status. At this point I was very offended and upset, I then told him that we did not want to deal with him and that we wanted to speak with his boss at which point he began to physically get in my face by which I felt threaten. In seeing this my boyfriend became upset and told him not to get into my face and that he was acting unprofessional at which point he said that we were acting unprofessional. In stating this I had told him this was his work place and he needed to always be professional. Soon after going back and forth when the Community Manager walked by and stated that she was in charge. At which point I expressed to the community manager (who is the manager of Avalon on the Sound) how rude her staff was and the personal questions that were asked, and the towing situation including how rudeness of the tow company. Being that the maintenance man (manager) was now in front of his superior he had attempted to make peace and tried to get us to agree that we were both upset and which point I told him he was wrong and that I was not going to lie because I was not in the wrong. In order to right his wrong in regards to his and the tow company s negative and completely unprofessional attitudes, he stated that he would have the car returned free of charge having Avalon pay the bill. My boyfriend accepted his proposal as far as the car was considered and I made a meeting with the community manager for the following day at 5:00 PM to discuss this situation further. In speaking with the community manager she had stated that every resident was given notice which was placed underneath their door. However, we replied that we sincerely did not receive the notice. If we had received that notice there would have not been any way we would have parked in the circle that we had parked in on a number of different occasions before to unload the car. After waiting nearly an hour outside in the rain for the car to be returned the tow company finally arrived and my boyfriend inspected the car. While waiting for the car we had told a number of residents that cars were being towed and inquired on whether or not they received a notice regarding towing, all stated they did not received the letter. Together we drove the car around to make sure it was running properly and returned to the building to retrieve documentation about the towing of the car, which we were denied. The following day the two of us left worked early in order to make the meeting that we had at 5:00 PM with the community manager on time. When we arrive to the meeting she was already in a meeting with her staff and we were rudely told by the lady at the front desk that she did not know that we had a meeting and the we would have to wait. In asking how long we would have to wait we were told we would have to wait until she was done, there was no definite time given. Not knowing how long the community manager was going to be in her meeting and considering the rude attitude of the staff the two of us left the office. The following day, frustrated with the situation I contacted the community managers superiors the regional manager (CT) and the regional manager (VA) and explain to both of them the situation. They had stated that they could not do anything and I would have to try and resolve this problem with the community manager of Avalon on the Sound East and Avalon on the Sound. However, both of her superiors did state that the fact that we expressed to the front desk attendant that we would be right back with the cart the car should not have been towed and that being that cars were being towed the attentant should have notified us at the time we retrieved the hotel cart. After hearing that I had to once again try to solve this problem with the community manager I attempted to do so and had discovered that all that could be done regarding the maintenance men (one being the manager), was writing them up for their actions and their unprofessional attitudes. During this phone call I expressed to her that I could not believe that this was the way we were treated and that the maintenance men were out of line. In responding to this the community manager told me that they were not going anywhere and they were not going to be fired. I am not sure what prompted her to express this to me however; she felt the need to do so. After which we dropped the subject, on the 16th of October I return home to find a notice under the door in regards to an outstanding balance. Not understanding where the notice came from and the reasons for them not processing the payments we attempted calling the leasing office with no success after which then my boyfriend called assistant community manager trying to figure out the problem. We paid the balance and inquired about why this was not brought to our attention before and what in fact happened to the with the payment information as well as my social security number that had been fax to the leasing agent. Through out this day there were a number of things going on, one being the fact that the building was not providing any heat. On the day that they lost the paper work for the payment, the notice was placed under our door, I spoke with the community manager as well as her bosses, and she wrote up the two maintenance men; I spoke to the inspector for heating and code enforcement and inquired about the heating codes for Westchester county. In turn he came out to the building and had given them a fine for not providing heat. There were a number of e-mails that went back and forth between the community manager and myself regarding the heating situation in the building, all which were rude and out of line on her end, and ended with her saying she was not going to discuss the fact that we did not have heat any further. Since learning that the building was given a fine I had drop the subject, and had not inquired about until mid last week being that the heat had been out for two weekends ago as well as this past week until Thursday. The inspector came out again and in fact confirmed the heat not working properly and was waiting to hear back from the maintence manager. On the same day that I inquired about the heat I called up Minol, the third party company that does the electricity billing being that we moved in to the building in September and we have not received a bill. In providing the customer service representative with a call back number my boyfriend, received a phone call from a supervisor whom explained that the reason why we have not received a electric bill was because Avalon was having problems figuring out what apartment used what electricity since they were having issues with the sub-meters. The following day, a loud banging awaked me and a number of doorbell rings at our door. Thinking that there was a fire or an attempted robbery, I had rushed to the door and then opened it to find two taped letters reading Five (5) Days to Quit and Vacate. In reading this notice, I discovered that all allegations were either false or exaggerated. I felt as if it was a witch hunt, being that all things mentioned in that notice were blamed on me, I never drove the car nor did I park the car. Together we took at the most fifteen minutes to return back down stairs with the hotel cart. And lastly, I never once stated that I was going to kill the community manager and everything said about me was a lie. The date that the leasing agent stated that I threaten to kill the community manager I was at work and never spoke with her. I honestly think this is a malicious, vengeful, deceitful, harassing act on AvalonBay Communities part. I truly think that it is despicable that if any of these facts were true that they would wait months until giving us such a notice. I believe that they waited until the other apartment market value increased and until we would lose all moneys put down for both apartments to carry out this incomprehensible retaliatory act. In all honesty, if the rules we broke were so horrid that eviction was necessary or the community manager felt threaten by false statements that no restraining order was obtained, why wait two months to issue such demands. Since getting an attorney involved AvalonBay Communities has yet to budge as far as there stands and has yet to provide us with our moneys back, which to my knowledge they have no legal right to have. We have been told that we have to vacate the property as per the five day notice to quit and vacate, on January 18th, 2008. In not providing us with our money back (9M) we can not look for another apartment, not that we feel as if we should leave. I have the paper work if anyone wants to see it ... feel free to contact me.
From: Anonymous	Date: 01/05/2008
Based on my experience at this Avalon, I do not doubt - not even for 1 second - the accuracy of this post (and I can attest to the so called hidden fees and nickle and dime nature of apartment managmnet this place takes, plus, might I add, overall shoddy construction and lack of heat when it is cold). Not only is this place not time well spent, it certainly is not money well spent. In addition, as dangerous as this place is to your wallet and mental health, the neighborhood is as equally dangerous to your wallet and physicall health. Not even close to recommended!
From: hormati	Date: 08/25/2008
Just take my advice. STAY AWAY FROM THIS ---- WHOLE! It'll ruin your life.
From: mistakewithavalon	Date: 09/02/2009
Be warned. Avalon on the Sound and Sound East employees will do illegal actions in order to get as much money from you as they can. They will make up false statements/fines and lie and then hide behind corporate offices and corporate lawyers and bully you into paying them. Do not trust them for one second. I stopped living there more than a year ago and I'm still kicking myself for making this mistake. The worst mistake of my life..

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