This week's Post real estate section features an Archstone property. It's a new property, so the people who are asked to comment on it haven't had the opportunity to experience the full range of life under the Archstone banner.
I want the Post to come back to these folks after their first lease expires and ask them how they enjoy those $300/month bumps to get another lease.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Sunday, December 23, 2007
$500 Community Area Fees?
I was scrolling through Archstone Smith's website (it's only fair, folks from the company regularly scroll through this site - no doubt looking for tips on how to be less evil? Ok, so probably not that).
Every property I was looking through in the DC area had a $500 community area fee listed. It didn't matter if the place had a pool or not, a useable roof or not, a common room that is more than a lobby or not. They all had $500 community area fees.
Just when I think these folks can't find any more places to grab money from renters.
Every property I was looking through in the DC area had a $500 community area fee listed. It didn't matter if the place had a pool or not, a useable roof or not, a common room that is more than a lobby or not. They all had $500 community area fees.
Just when I think these folks can't find any more places to grab money from renters.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Funny Stuff
Just ran across this from an Archstone press release:
"Through its two brands, Archstone and Charles E. Smith, Archstone-Smith strives to provide great apartments and great service to its customers – backed by unconditional service guarantees."
Gee, that's two big whoppers in one sentence. Great service and "unconditional service guarantees."
Maybe by unconditional they mean that there are no conditions under which they would provide guaranteed service?
"Through its two brands, Archstone and Charles E. Smith, Archstone-Smith strives to provide great apartments and great service to its customers – backed by unconditional service guarantees."
Gee, that's two big whoppers in one sentence. Great service and "unconditional service guarantees."
Maybe by unconditional they mean that there are no conditions under which they would provide guaranteed service?
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Another Non-Glowing Consulate Recommendation
For the Consulate building in DC. Again - it's the Archstone Smith greed that ruins what could otherwise be a good apartment living situation. So typical of this group.
My problems with the Consulate. The apartments (1 bedroom anyway) aren't exactly the largest in the world and you pay alot. We currently pay $1600 a month and just received a notice that our rent was being raised to $1885. For about 700 sq ft, not worth it. Also, the no utilities thing is really a downer. When I moved in I was painted this picture that utilities would be minimal. On top of our $1600/month we pay around $30 for trash and water and our electric as ranged from $150-$200/month. NOT the $60/month that was estimated. EVERYTHING in the apartment is electric including stove and heat/AC. The patio glass doors are nice but provide little insulation. Although you can usually find street parking, you are sharing the street with the Consulate, the Massive Van Ness Complex across the street, UDC, and Howard Law School. I've had to wait 30 min for a parking spot since I refuse to pay the $165 for a parking spot.
We've been living in the Consulate about a year and a half. Overall it's been a great experience and we haven't had any problems. I do agree with previous poster that the constant construction has really been annoying (Especially since we were on the pool side and woken up by jack hammers every morning). The new elevators are almost done, and they're also re-doing the weight room and basement facilities. It's a block from the metro and grocery store, very convenient location and it's a super safe neighborhood. The management and front staff are always super nice.
If you have expendable cash or have a cushy job making 6 figures this is great place to live. But for the average person living on minimal salary it can make for a financial crunch. If it wasn't for the cost I would definitely stay here but I know there are much cheaper option in D.C.
My problems with the Consulate. The apartments (1 bedroom anyway) aren't exactly the largest in the world and you pay alot. We currently pay $1600 a month and just received a notice that our rent was being raised to $1885. For about 700 sq ft, not worth it. Also, the no utilities thing is really a downer. When I moved in I was painted this picture that utilities would be minimal. On top of our $1600/month we pay around $30 for trash and water and our electric as ranged from $150-$200/month. NOT the $60/month that was estimated. EVERYTHING in the apartment is electric including stove and heat/AC. The patio glass doors are nice but provide little insulation. Although you can usually find street parking, you are sharing the street with the Consulate, the Massive Van Ness Complex across the street, UDC, and Howard Law School. I've had to wait 30 min for a parking spot since I refuse to pay the $165 for a parking spot.
We've been living in the Consulate about a year and a half. Overall it's been a great experience and we haven't had any problems. I do agree with previous poster that the constant construction has really been annoying (Especially since we were on the pool side and woken up by jack hammers every morning). The new elevators are almost done, and they're also re-doing the weight room and basement facilities. It's a block from the metro and grocery store, very convenient location and it's a super safe neighborhood. The management and front staff are always super nice.
If you have expendable cash or have a cushy job making 6 figures this is great place to live. But for the average person living on minimal salary it can make for a financial crunch. If it wasn't for the cost I would definitely stay here but I know there are much cheaper option in D.C.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Anti-Recommendations - Water Park Towers
Water Park Towers - Arlington, VA
Even the positive reviews can't bare Archstone Smith's money grabbing ways
1. This is really a luxury apartment. The rooms are very well sound-proofed, so you seldom hear your neighbors. The service is great; most problems get taken care of within 24 hours, no matter how much work is involved. The gym is OK and there are professionally catered tenant parties twice a year. There is even a voting precinct based here, so on election day you can actually vote in one of the lounges on the first floor.
But the prices are ludicrous. Most of the tenants are older because very few people under 30 can afford to live here. The rent goes up between 8 and 20 percent each year, depending on the unit and on a range of factors that they don't care to explain to you, so you never know what to expect until the increase hits you.
If you have tons of money, live here. If not, find someplace else.
2. I have lived here for over 2 years and the rents have become ridiculous. Another major downside is the train noise. The racket is loud enough that it can drown out conversation, wakes you up at night, and the vibration has shaken a picture off my wall. They have started to charge residents for parking as well.
Even the positive reviews can't bare Archstone Smith's money grabbing ways
1. This is really a luxury apartment. The rooms are very well sound-proofed, so you seldom hear your neighbors. The service is great; most problems get taken care of within 24 hours, no matter how much work is involved. The gym is OK and there are professionally catered tenant parties twice a year. There is even a voting precinct based here, so on election day you can actually vote in one of the lounges on the first floor.
But the prices are ludicrous. Most of the tenants are older because very few people under 30 can afford to live here. The rent goes up between 8 and 20 percent each year, depending on the unit and on a range of factors that they don't care to explain to you, so you never know what to expect until the increase hits you.
If you have tons of money, live here. If not, find someplace else.
2. I have lived here for over 2 years and the rents have become ridiculous. Another major downside is the train noise. The racket is loud enough that it can drown out conversation, wakes you up at night, and the vibration has shaken a picture off my wall. They have started to charge residents for parking as well.
Anti-Recommendations - Lofts 590
Lofts 590 - Arlington, VA
There's so much construction around here it's a nightmare. Right now they are fixing the apartments right next to us and it is so loud!!! They are also doing construction across the street so you hear constant drilling. There is no peace and quiet here. If it's not the construction, it's the very loud people above us or college kids partying in the hallway which echos very loudly into your apartment. Way overpriced too.
2. I lived in Lofts 590 for one year. I have never dealt with such incompetence with th management office in my life. The noise here is absolutely out of control. The idiots below me continued to come up daily to tell me how they could hear my microwave door slamming, walking, showering. For the "luxury prices" you pay...it's a total rip off. The manager always sides with her staff. She will never admit to a mistake. She is, quite possibly, the worst manager ever. DO NOT MOVE HERE EVEN IF THEY SHOW YOU THE KITCHENS...IT IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!!!! And the pet policy..it changes every 15 minutes.
There's so much construction around here it's a nightmare. Right now they are fixing the apartments right next to us and it is so loud!!! They are also doing construction across the street so you hear constant drilling. There is no peace and quiet here. If it's not the construction, it's the very loud people above us or college kids partying in the hallway which echos very loudly into your apartment. Way overpriced too.
2. I lived in Lofts 590 for one year. I have never dealt with such incompetence with th management office in my life. The noise here is absolutely out of control. The idiots below me continued to come up daily to tell me how they could hear my microwave door slamming, walking, showering. For the "luxury prices" you pay...it's a total rip off. The manager always sides with her staff. She will never admit to a mistake. She is, quite possibly, the worst manager ever. DO NOT MOVE HERE EVEN IF THEY SHOW YOU THE KITCHENS...IT IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!!!! And the pet policy..it changes every 15 minutes.
Anti-Recommendations - Crystal House
Crystal House - Arlington, VA
1. I've lived in my apartment since Labor Day 2006. My roommate has been here for just about a year. … They're about to raise our rent from 1550 to 1925. We live in a 2br, 1.5 bath 1st floor "renovated" apartment. When we've gone to fight the 25% rent increase, we were told that we were getting a "deal" because the apartment is "renovated," meaning it recently had new kitchen cabinets (there is still only ONE drawer) and countertops and new vanities in the bathroom. The wiring is still old (the circuitry doesn't make any sense and we blow fuses often because we don't realize that two outlets on different sides of the apartment are in the same circuit). The tub needs to be replaced - our soap holder fell off the wall one night....just fell off...it didn't even have anything on it. The toilets are literally falling apart. The carpet is pulling up in certain places. We've had problems with the plumbing and the electricity.
The way they figure out utility costs is absolutely ridiculous. Instead of charging each apartment separately, they take the cost for the whole building and then divide it among the residents based on square footage of your apartment. So basically, if someone on the 9th floor leaves his/her water running all day, or leaves every light on everyone has to pay for it. The climate control....well you can't really control it. It's always either too hot or too cold and there's really no in between. The HVAC system is very outdated. Our corridor almost always smells like smoke, cigarette and otherwise. Every smell infiltrates the corridor and often permeates our apartment.
The management and leasing offices are basically worthless. Even though they're halfway competent, every request and conversation seems to be a great inconvenience to them. Maintenance requests take forever to complete, despite the 24 hour guarantee. A few requests we've had to make multiple times. Last week, our kitchen sink backed up and I put in a request... I got sick of waiting after two days and wound up fixing it myself and canceling the request. They don't communicate very well about changes in the apartment. Usually you'll get a memo slid under the door (don't bother putting down a rug or mat inside or the memo will go right under it). Even the memos are inconsistent. The week before Christmas, they shut off the electricity for the entire building for about 6 hours for a "routine county inspection." I had been doing my laundry in the common building laundry room and had just put my clothes in the dryer when the power went off. I wasn't the only one, either. The receptionist swore up and down they had sent out a notice...but most of the residents received nothing. Not to mention, I was trying to put together a Christmas Party and had to scramble to get everything together in time when the power came back on.
We haven't decided yet if we're going to stay or go. It's very convenient to the metro, the Underground and the restaurants and bars on 23rd street and Crystal Drive, but it's too expensive for what it is.
2. Parking used to be great. Now, it's a nightmare. The guest parking lot was sold off, so there is no parking for your friends. In recent months, there are construction trailors taking up at least 20 parking spots in the lot, if not more. Parking late at night is tedious, at best, and you'll have a healthy walk to the front door.
The leasing staff is chic. Unfortunately, once you sign the lease, you're ignored and treated with extreme disrespect. I have never been treated so badly, let alone ignored so much. I ask very little of an apartment complex. I am very understanding, and overlook many of the problems. But, this place is the worst managed, least secure, and worthless place that I have ever lived.
Maintenance is ridiculous. They don't fix problems. Chances are, if you removed the paint from your walls and kitchen cabinets, you'd see the rotting wood that is in mine. In the other areas of the apartment, the ceiling is leaking and molding. For a year.
Don't live here. Stay away. It's not worth it. Unless you plan on living in the swimming pool, there are far better options out there.
1. I've lived in my apartment since Labor Day 2006. My roommate has been here for just about a year. … They're about to raise our rent from 1550 to 1925. We live in a 2br, 1.5 bath 1st floor "renovated" apartment. When we've gone to fight the 25% rent increase, we were told that we were getting a "deal" because the apartment is "renovated," meaning it recently had new kitchen cabinets (there is still only ONE drawer) and countertops and new vanities in the bathroom. The wiring is still old (the circuitry doesn't make any sense and we blow fuses often because we don't realize that two outlets on different sides of the apartment are in the same circuit). The tub needs to be replaced - our soap holder fell off the wall one night....just fell off...it didn't even have anything on it. The toilets are literally falling apart. The carpet is pulling up in certain places. We've had problems with the plumbing and the electricity.
The way they figure out utility costs is absolutely ridiculous. Instead of charging each apartment separately, they take the cost for the whole building and then divide it among the residents based on square footage of your apartment. So basically, if someone on the 9th floor leaves his/her water running all day, or leaves every light on everyone has to pay for it. The climate control....well you can't really control it. It's always either too hot or too cold and there's really no in between. The HVAC system is very outdated. Our corridor almost always smells like smoke, cigarette and otherwise. Every smell infiltrates the corridor and often permeates our apartment.
The management and leasing offices are basically worthless. Even though they're halfway competent, every request and conversation seems to be a great inconvenience to them. Maintenance requests take forever to complete, despite the 24 hour guarantee. A few requests we've had to make multiple times. Last week, our kitchen sink backed up and I put in a request... I got sick of waiting after two days and wound up fixing it myself and canceling the request. They don't communicate very well about changes in the apartment. Usually you'll get a memo slid under the door (don't bother putting down a rug or mat inside or the memo will go right under it). Even the memos are inconsistent. The week before Christmas, they shut off the electricity for the entire building for about 6 hours for a "routine county inspection." I had been doing my laundry in the common building laundry room and had just put my clothes in the dryer when the power went off. I wasn't the only one, either. The receptionist swore up and down they had sent out a notice...but most of the residents received nothing. Not to mention, I was trying to put together a Christmas Party and had to scramble to get everything together in time when the power came back on.
We haven't decided yet if we're going to stay or go. It's very convenient to the metro, the Underground and the restaurants and bars on 23rd street and Crystal Drive, but it's too expensive for what it is.
2. Parking used to be great. Now, it's a nightmare. The guest parking lot was sold off, so there is no parking for your friends. In recent months, there are construction trailors taking up at least 20 parking spots in the lot, if not more. Parking late at night is tedious, at best, and you'll have a healthy walk to the front door.
The leasing staff is chic. Unfortunately, once you sign the lease, you're ignored and treated with extreme disrespect. I have never been treated so badly, let alone ignored so much. I ask very little of an apartment complex. I am very understanding, and overlook many of the problems. But, this place is the worst managed, least secure, and worthless place that I have ever lived.
Maintenance is ridiculous. They don't fix problems. Chances are, if you removed the paint from your walls and kitchen cabinets, you'd see the rotting wood that is in mine. In the other areas of the apartment, the ceiling is leaking and molding. For a year.
Don't live here. Stay away. It's not worth it. Unless you plan on living in the swimming pool, there are far better options out there.
3. I moved into this place 10 months ago and I found the glass of the window was broken in the first day. There was a leaking problem in the ceiling of my bedroom, too. I asked the management office to fix these problems and they were really useless and rude. I had to send an e-mail to their headquarters in order to ask for help and it took me more than one month to get these things done. Since then, I have gotten lots of troubles in my apartment. When I went to the management office, the peoples are really rude and they never keep their promise. There was once when they made a mistake about my rent payment. I had to go to the bank to get the statement to prove it and the management people were so rude to me. They also lost my rent payment check one time and they blamed me for this. In addition, the living environment is really unbearable. There are a lot of noise problems just as other reviewers wrote down.
Anti-Recommendations - Bennington
Bennington - Arlington, VA
1. For almost the entire winter, we did not have hot water for showers. More often than not, it was ice cold and you couldn't even shower. The hallways always smell like a dumpster, and the building doesn't look much better. The weight room is terrible. There is nothing good about this apartment other than its location (10 minute walk) to the metro. I can't say strongly enough, STAY AWAY FROM THE BENNINGTON!!!! It is worth the extra $200 you will pay for something far nicer. Also stay away from Crytal Houses, Crystal Towers they are just as bad if not worse. In fact, stay completely away from any Charles E Smith building. There are many other better options in the area. Rent at the bennington, and you will have 100% disatisfaction, 100% guaranteed.
[response to that post] You forgot to mention that the water was so cold in the winter the pipes burst and for several days many apartments had little or no water! Why is the water so cold? Because they try to save money on the utilities while overcharging us for hot water we NEVER USE!
2. I lived in the Bennington from August 2003 to May 2007. At first, it was a nice place to live, but around 2005, things changed for the worst. They started charging extra for utilities and parking (those were both included when we first moved in), they stopped cleaning up as thoroughly, and don't get me started on TWO winters in a row with *major* issues with hot water. Taking a cold shower in the morning in January is not my idea of "luxury living," which the Bennington claims to offer. Don't believe them!
1. For almost the entire winter, we did not have hot water for showers. More often than not, it was ice cold and you couldn't even shower. The hallways always smell like a dumpster, and the building doesn't look much better. The weight room is terrible. There is nothing good about this apartment other than its location (10 minute walk) to the metro. I can't say strongly enough, STAY AWAY FROM THE BENNINGTON!!!! It is worth the extra $200 you will pay for something far nicer. Also stay away from Crytal Houses, Crystal Towers they are just as bad if not worse. In fact, stay completely away from any Charles E Smith building. There are many other better options in the area. Rent at the bennington, and you will have 100% disatisfaction, 100% guaranteed.
[response to that post] You forgot to mention that the water was so cold in the winter the pipes burst and for several days many apartments had little or no water! Why is the water so cold? Because they try to save money on the utilities while overcharging us for hot water we NEVER USE!
2. I lived in the Bennington from August 2003 to May 2007. At first, it was a nice place to live, but around 2005, things changed for the worst. They started charging extra for utilities and parking (those were both included when we first moved in), they stopped cleaning up as thoroughly, and don't get me started on TWO winters in a row with *major* issues with hot water. Taking a cold shower in the morning in January is not my idea of "luxury living," which the Bennington claims to offer. Don't believe them!
Anti-Recommendations - Crystal Towers
Crystal Towers - Arlington, VA
1. Dont Move Here Even If Your Life Depends On It!!!!
The management does not care about you, does not return your phone calls, and allows your apartment to flood. Our apartment flooded and our clothing was ruined and the management did nothing. Dont Move Here Even If Your Life Depends On It!!!!
In fact don't move to any apartment owned by Charles E.Smith or Archstone, they are all the same. I have a friend in Houston, TX who had the same problems when she lived in an Archstone apartment.
2. Dont dont dont rent here. Managment wont let you out of your lease and the noise during the day is awful. Everything is dirty. We tested our carpet and it hadnt been replaced in six years- GROSS! Dont do it
3. this apartment looks nice... but it a mess. There is always construction and the parking is terrible. I have been towed with the proper sticker from the lot 2 times now! (100$ a time and 3 scratches on my car)... the front desk staff is hit or miss w/ their people skills and my balcony was taken off for an asbestos problem... scary.. i do NOT recommend.
1. Dont Move Here Even If Your Life Depends On It!!!!
The management does not care about you, does not return your phone calls, and allows your apartment to flood. Our apartment flooded and our clothing was ruined and the management did nothing. Dont Move Here Even If Your Life Depends On It!!!!
In fact don't move to any apartment owned by Charles E.Smith or Archstone, they are all the same. I have a friend in Houston, TX who had the same problems when she lived in an Archstone apartment.
2. Dont dont dont rent here. Managment wont let you out of your lease and the noise during the day is awful. Everything is dirty. We tested our carpet and it hadnt been replaced in six years- GROSS! Dont do it
3. this apartment looks nice... but it a mess. There is always construction and the parking is terrible. I have been towed with the proper sticker from the lot 2 times now! (100$ a time and 3 scratches on my car)... the front desk staff is hit or miss w/ their people skills and my balcony was taken off for an asbestos problem... scary.. i do NOT recommend.
Anti-Recommendations - Park Connecticut
Park Connecticut
1. All I can say is that when management does a terrible job ensuring that its tenants are happy, all falls apart. The maintenance here is HORRID and the management very rude. The apartments are supposedly high-end, but you would never know that from the quality of service or apartment building itself. No one really takes the time to make sure that a problem is solved and the manager of the building does not seem to really care. I am really surprised that this is the quality we receive here. Other buildings of Charles E Smith have been very good in quality service and everyone has been helpful. Here, it seems like a favor is being rendered every time a problem is reported, instead of thanking the tenant for their support. This building is not deserving of the rent prices, and a major attitude adjustment needs to occur, if this building wants to retain its tenants. The only thing going for this building is its close proximity to the metro and drugstore.
2. My Fiance and I went to the Park Connecticut this Saturday looking to rent a 2 bedroom unit. The woman at the desk just said "there are none available"... no offer to put us on a list, no offer to call us if something opened up, just get out of her building. SO RUDE... for the price they advertise I was expecting much better service. Even if a unit does open up now, I would rather live in the streets than in their building.
3. Looked at an apartment when building was brand new. And I couldn't have had less of a positive opinion of the place. The agent was nice, and the apartment showy, but . . . To get to the apartment she was showing me we went down (good view of the park) to what I was told was the parking level when I asked why there were only doors on one side. I asked if car fumes would be an issue and she said no, but the idea of living on the same floor as the garage didn't really hit me that well.
And while the apartment was nice, the price was just outrageous. I settled in up the street a few blocks, into an older building. But the apartment is large, the management great and I'm happy as a clam here. So glad I didn't waste that extra money each month just because the place was new.
4. I moved in thinking that the nice views of the park and closeness to the metro were all I needed. The parking garage is on the other side of the hallway. Do you like smelling car fumes and exhaust night & day? This place is for you! Or you could get a place in the front with windows facing another apartment and a balcony small enough to put one plant on. If this place was half the price, MAYBE it would be worth it. But they actually wanted to increase my rent by a huge amount to get me to stay? A bad deal all the way around. For that much money I'll find a place I can breath in at night.
1. All I can say is that when management does a terrible job ensuring that its tenants are happy, all falls apart. The maintenance here is HORRID and the management very rude. The apartments are supposedly high-end, but you would never know that from the quality of service or apartment building itself. No one really takes the time to make sure that a problem is solved and the manager of the building does not seem to really care. I am really surprised that this is the quality we receive here. Other buildings of Charles E Smith have been very good in quality service and everyone has been helpful. Here, it seems like a favor is being rendered every time a problem is reported, instead of thanking the tenant for their support. This building is not deserving of the rent prices, and a major attitude adjustment needs to occur, if this building wants to retain its tenants. The only thing going for this building is its close proximity to the metro and drugstore.
2. My Fiance and I went to the Park Connecticut this Saturday looking to rent a 2 bedroom unit. The woman at the desk just said "there are none available"... no offer to put us on a list, no offer to call us if something opened up, just get out of her building. SO RUDE... for the price they advertise I was expecting much better service. Even if a unit does open up now, I would rather live in the streets than in their building.
3. Looked at an apartment when building was brand new. And I couldn't have had less of a positive opinion of the place. The agent was nice, and the apartment showy, but . . . To get to the apartment she was showing me we went down (good view of the park) to what I was told was the parking level when I asked why there were only doors on one side. I asked if car fumes would be an issue and she said no, but the idea of living on the same floor as the garage didn't really hit me that well.
And while the apartment was nice, the price was just outrageous. I settled in up the street a few blocks, into an older building. But the apartment is large, the management great and I'm happy as a clam here. So glad I didn't waste that extra money each month just because the place was new.
4. I moved in thinking that the nice views of the park and closeness to the metro were all I needed. The parking garage is on the other side of the hallway. Do you like smelling car fumes and exhaust night & day? This place is for you! Or you could get a place in the front with windows facing another apartment and a balcony small enough to put one plant on. If this place was half the price, MAYBE it would be worth it. But they actually wanted to increase my rent by a huge amount to get me to stay? A bad deal all the way around. For that much money I'll find a place I can breath in at night.
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