Pembroke Woods Apartments

nette268

Resident • 2011 - 2014

We have been living at Pembroke Woods for about 3 Years now. Ever since the new company took over, the place has been great. The admin staff has been nothing but helpful for any problems you have or issues. I went to Erick the manager to talk to him about an issue and he turned around and made it right. Yes you are always going to have items brake but the maintenance crew is great and get the problems fixed correctly and quickly. Even in the middle of the night a member of maintenance came out to my apartment to fix the water heater. They were on site under 15 mins and fixed the problem. Couldn't ask for anything else. Good place to live.

Current Resident 549320

Resident • 2009 - 2010

Not too bad

This complex (like all of them) has it's good and bad points. Good points -Nice apartments. The apartment I rent, and ones that I've seen are nice looking and have plenty of space. -Parking is never a problem. -It's great having washer and dryer in the units! -The building we are in is usually quiet. Some are worse than others, but building 1000 seems pretty good. -Our neighbors are for the most part very nice. I can't speak for everyone, but the people I know seem to be decent folks. -Prices are pretty good for what you get. Bad Points -People never pick up after their dogs. I think this is the most frustrating part of living here. When I take my dogs to the dog park I end up picking up poop for 20 min before I can even play with them. They have bag and trash receptacle stations all over the complex, but people just ignore them. -Landscaping crew is horrible. There was a big tic problem earlier in the summer and they would let patches of grass grow up past you knees in some spots. I come back from a walk and find ticks all over myself and my dogs. -Maintenance crew is not so hot. I've been told a few times "I'll be there first thing in the morning" then never hear from them. -I do see the cops every now and then. -There is an old guy who buries his alcohol in the dirt outside of building 1000 so his wife doesn't find it. He comes out all the time to take a sip and re-bury it.

Rentsearch10

Prospect • Visited 2010

Seeking for help on Rates verification - Someone please reply!

I was interested in moving in, but --- --------, Property manager, had sent me an e-mail stating that for two bedrooms starts at $1575. The rates on the Apartment's website states that it starts @ $1165-1725 for the two bedrooms. I sent back the e-mail with proof of the website and asked Jennifer about this lower rate, but she never responded. I need help on finding out which one is which? Your help is appreciated.

Current Resident 497465

Resident • 2008 - 2010

Good and Bad

This complex is in a nice woodsy area, close to highway, shops, and restaurants. There's plenty of outdoor space to enjoy, including sidewalks for children, plus a pool, playground, grilling area, and fitness center. All complexes take Sect 8, and that really has nothing to do with any issues that occur. Most here who have it are actually the neatest residents and go through regular inspections due to Federal law. For example the drug/gun arrest that another reviewer wrote about was 2 single men, paying market rent. Don't stereo type people based on soci-economic status, disability, race; or the fact that they qaulify for assistence that helps them to provide for their children. For a nice complex many who live here are rather messey and you can see this on patio's, miss/matched curtains, and stuff everywhere!....Not what you'd expect from a so called high end complex. Stereo types aside, there are some who live here who lack social ettiqette, aren't polite, they enjoy gossip and get combative with neighbors over ridiculas things. Unfortunately the management hasn't handled these issue as best they could, and they encourage tenants to call the police over some things that they should resolve. The management does a great job with offerring tenanants holiday parties at the clubhouse including food and fun activities for kids, and a summer cookout as well. It's true like another reviewer stated that they don't always handle resident's requests very well. They need to be more receptive and prompt. For example: If you have an issue/problem they tend to make you feel that "your the issue." This makes residents feel uncomfortable, like their asking for too much, even if it's a fairy routine reasonable request. I haven't experienced this anywhere else. They seem to get overwhelmed/frustrated with normal requests, as if the tenant is a bother. On the other hand some tenants are a nuisance and bother them over silly things. The maintence staff work hard they are very nice and helpful. To get service you do have to put in a work order ahead of time, and can't just ask them for a repair if you see them on the grounds. The septic issue smells bad as stated (that's only at bldg #1000 in back.) The snow removal was better this winter than in the past, they have a better system now. The street is not on maps or GPS because it's a "private way." The pool does get closed more than it should due to "chemical issues" {not clean!} they need a life gaurd to maintain pool, watch children, and maybe supervise a few immature parents! They need to be harder on dog owners, enforcing cleaning up their pet's poop. This has gotten better in my area....but certain parts of the grounds are yucky!...watch your step! The walls are thin, easily damaged, even everyday normal noises sound really loud here. If you enjoy surround sound forget it! (Can't use in most apartments but def not here!) The apartments are nice, new, updated, good appliances, W/D etc. The construction could be better, things break easy from normal wear and tear, sooner than you'd expect. As far as police calls, the management gets rid of anyone who engages in illegal activity immediately. Most police visits are due to minor annoyances that management should address themselves...instead of encouraging residents to call if a neighbor is noisey. They def need to be more proactive, and also weed out the few bad apples. Most here are nice and friendly. Be aware of "rent specials" they do end, and rent goes way up! This causes most to move out after a yr. They seem to have a big turnover, tenants are always moving in and out. The thermastats do seem off, goof idea to install your own. Parking is a huge issue.....there isn't enough spots for the 2 cars per unit. However this is managements fault....in addition to not enough spots, they break their own rule by renting to some who have 3, even 4 cars. Many have room mates, or families w/ grown kids who have cars. Since they issue parking permit stickers, and all cars are registered with office....they know there are too many cars here, yet don't enforce the garage rule if tenant has more than 2 cars. Oddly, while they can be lax about the above issues, they can be overly vigilent about something benign ex.:like children drawing w/ chalk on sidewalks...go figure. One tenant was told to remove some nice decor from a door, while many have junk, trash,hanging laundry, and crap on balconies and no one says a thing. They seem to be arbitrary with rules amd not consistant.

bruinsnhl

Prospect • Visited 2010

thinking about moving in

Can someone explain the utility expense problem in a little more detail? Shouldn't the bills go by personal use? They don't have thermostats in the units? They don't control the heat do they? I know I have a lot of question, but please do explain.

Current Resident 282670

Resident • 2009

Wish we could of leave sooner...

We signed a year lease, but we wish we could of move our sooner. After moving in for a month, we had cops showing up at our complex, our neighbors were rude and disrespectful to one and other. They were fighting and claim to kill each other with guns. Few months after that, we had more cops showing up because another resident in our complex was a drug dealer and had a deal went bad. Windows were broken, people were arrested, other innocent residents cars were damaged and we heard the polices found a gun. We immediately felt unsafe and wish we could of move out then. So we went to the management team to see what we can work out, but they were unhelpful and could of careless about our safety (especially Jen, the property manager). And the maintance team is a joke, we called them couple times for help but the guys really have no idea what they are doing. And after living there for almost a year we come to find out they offered section 8 housing for people....which explains why we had so many problems. Also the walls are paper thin, we can hear anything from downstair, upstairs and next door.

smitheng

Resident • 2008 - 2009

Alexan has a bad septic tank issue

I cannot go on here any longer. This establishment should be reported to the board of health due to the improper installation of the septic system. My wife and I cannot eat or sleep without smelling the distinct septic odor. It is as if the septic tank were uncovered directly outside of our window. The stench from this septic system is so bad, I actually vomited the other day which is prompting me to write this review! Do not ever consider living here. It is like living in the middle of an open septic tank.

bosox9817

Resident • 2007 - 2008

The Worst and most unprofessional Apartment complex

We lived there for 1 year in 2008. 8 months after, we receive a bill for unpaid dues. We have no clue why. The management is so rude and the place wnt downhill by the time we moved. We also were walking our dog around the complex and found a DIRTY NEEDLE!!!!!! Do yourself a favor and do not even consider this place!!!

Current Resident 863132

Resident • 2009 - 2012

NOTHING BUT CRACK HEADS LIVE HERE

If you are looking for a place to live where you can hang out with white trash, crack heads, section 8 and people that live on welfare, then this is the place for you!!! The parents that live in the building right beside the managment office (lady with the bun on her head) let them run wild, bully other kids and the parents do nothing but collect welfare and take ambulance rides when they need a fix. If you are hard working parents run, run as fast as you can. The people in the office are so nice while you are signing your lease but once you move in they change there tune. They have got to be the rudest people I have ever encountered. Can't wait to move out so my children don't have to be harassed by drug infested low life!!!

Current Resident 119504

Resident • 2008

There are 2 sides to Every Story!!!! This is the TRUTH!

My Boyfriend has lived here for 3 years. I have stayed with him for LONG lengths of time. And in October we will be moving out of his unit now (3rd floor loft apt) to our own a floor down in the same building. I've "lived" here long enough to know the TRUTH. We have done all our dealings with Sharon. She is Amazing! Great woman! Very Polite, Funny and helpful...she has gone ABOVE and BEYOND Numerous times for us! I can't say anything else about the other people but i do hear that the higher up (Sharon's Boss) isn't too Friendly. But then again I've never met him or her. The ONLY problem that I think Alexan Pembroke Woods has is their Septic issue and we have asked Sharon about it and she has been VERY HONEST with us about it. It's very simple!!! When they built the establishment they built the underground tanks TOO CLOSE to the Buildings...and the Vent pipes for the Tanks are too close to the buildings. Alexan HAS been trying their best to counteract the problem by adding chemicals to the tanks...problem is...they haven't found the right Chemical...they are tying new ones all the time..hoping to find the right one that is strong enough to treat the tanks and diminish the odor. The odor is not around ALL THE TIME and not ALL the buildings can smell it...it's only when the wind is taking the Odor in a certain direction. But like i said it's NOT Pembroke Woods's mistake it's the Developers. It's their Error, and Alexan is paying A LOT of money to try and fix it. The Apartments are VERY NICE!!!! They should hire a better Landscaping company though...the one they have now does a "Half Asked" job and gets away with it...But it's also another issue that Sharon and her team are aware of. I would recommend Alexan Pembroke Woods. Every year THEY ARE WORKING to make things better. I know that for a fact. They are still VERY NEW...give them a chance to correct what minor issues they encounter.

Current Resident 241150

Resident • 2008

Sucks!

High bills, noisy neighbors, rude office staff, high rents!

umb917

Resident • 2008

So far, so good

EDITED 7/10/2009: My boyfriend and I have lived here for one year and one month now and are still very happy. We renewed our lease and plan on staying here until we buy a house (could be a while) as long as our rent doesn't skyrocket. Over the winter we had to do some extra insulation (weatherstripping around doors) and we did what someone else suggested, install our own thermostat, and that helped keep the bills down. Like I mentioned before, the place is delicate, found this out a few times while vaccuming :/ One really weird thing: this place doesn't show up on Google maps, Mapquest, or any GPS that I know of so far... be ready to actually give directions to your friends instead of just plug the address in to a Garmin. A friend of mine did that and it took her to some condo complex in another part of Pembroke. UPS, FedEx and obviously the regular mail can find it just fine, though. Haven't had any issues with parking really and snow removal in the wintertime is way better than the last complex I lived in. They stayed pretty on top of it last year. I also like that they keep the hallways clean. All in all, still a thumbs up. ------- I am a new resident here, so my opinion could change in the future, but compared to the complex in Abington that I recently moved out of, this is way better. I do feel very safe here, the area is very well lit at night and Pembroke in general is very safe, in fact when I changed my address at my car insurance place my insurance went down by several hundred dollars, my agent said this is because its a much safer area than where I lived before. As for the staff, I have dealt with Sharon, Slava, and Jen (never seen an Eric in there?) and they have all been very nice, putting up with me and my boyfriend wanting to visit the property several times before we moved in and I like how they are open 7 days a week, and until 7 on most weeknights. I give the staff a big thumbs up. Haven't had to deal with maintenence yet. Also I live on the third floor in a loft-style unit, so I don't get a lot of noise up here but I try to be as quiet as possible as it does seem like you would hear a lot (which honestly, you get that in any complex you live in). It is summertime so I haven't had any issues with my electric or heating bills yet but one tip is to turn down your water heater, mine was set at 165 degrees so we turned it down a few notches (you shouldn't really have it above 120) and that should keep the bills down. Also I think I am going to ask the office about what another reviewer said, to put in my own thermostat. Only thing is that the apartments are very delicate, the walls scuff easily and the wear in tear is more than in other apartments I have lived in. There could be more parking but I heard that they are adding in another lot. As for the smell that other reviewers have complained about, I have smelled it a couple of times when the wind blows in from that direction (I think its from the east?) and that was the day we moved in and yesterday when I was at the pool. It is a bit expensive and I suppose there are always things to complain about but overall this is the nicest complex I have lived in yet.

Current Resident 953451

Resident • 2007 - 2008

Interesting

Well I moved in October of 2007....no one told us anything about problems with high bills. That may explain why we are still paying outragous prices for electric and gas. I have to admit that there is a HUGE septic issue. I have to admit that the apartment complex isnt to blame its the town. I do have to complain about the management. THey dont return calls..never at the office when they should be..when you have an issue or question you always get "computers down" "I will have someone get back to you"...I even had a phone call from one of them yelling at me because my husband wasnt answering her questons....I had no idea what was going on and the worst part was they called my husbands cell phone and he is in the military and couldnt meet with them that weekend...SHe told him "I dont care you better come down this weekend and fill out the applicaiton." The funniest part is it was there fault....we moved in October and received a call in Feb..that THEY lost our ids and applications and where being auditted........ All I have to say is that this living experience here at Pembroke Woods has not been pleasurable. Please let there dogs out and roam without leashes ( I was out walking my leashed dog and a lady came running to myself, child and dog...saying stop..cause her dog was lose and didnt like people or other pets)..they let there dogs poop all over the place..cigarette butts everywhere..snow removal (dont get me started).... So as it always goes....Dont judge a book by its cover. Just because something is beautiful on the outside watch out cause its not whats all cracked up to be.....

wishicouldmove2

Resident • 2006 - 2007

NOT WHAT IT MAY SEEM...

PEMBROKE WOODS SEEMED LIKE IT WAS THE BEST CHOICE OF APARTMENTS AT THE TIME WHEN WE WERE LOOKING...THE ONLY BRAND NEW ONE I'D SEEN IN THIS AREA. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND RENTING ON THE 1ST FLOOR OR NEAR THE STAIRS. THE APARTMENTS ARE SET UP SO YOU CAN HEAR EVERYTHING ABOVE YOU! I HEAR ALL FOOT TRAFFIC GOING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS THAT LEAD TO THE 2ND AND 3RD FLOOR APARTMENTS. NOT ONLY THAT BUT EVERYTIME THE DOOR OPENS A LOUD BUZZ GOES OFF RIGHT NEXT TO MY WINDOW WHERE I SLEEP! IT IS THE SAFEST APARTMENT I COULD FIND- EVERYONE THAT ENTERS MUST HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK AND HAVE A KEY THAT LETS THEM INTO EACH BUILDING... BUT NOT WORTH ALL THE CONS THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED. IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO FIND A CLOSE PARKING SPACE ESPECIALLY AFTER 5PM. DON'T EXPECT TO SAVE $$$ WHEN YOU'RE HERE- I'VE NEVER HAD HIGHER ENERGY & GAS BILLS AND I BARELY USE EITHER! I'VE HEARD THE REASON IS BECAUSE MY HEATER IS IN AN OUTDOOR CLOSET BUT I'VE HAD THAT AT OTHER PLACES AND PAID A LOT LESS. THE RENT IS CHEAPER NOW THEN IT WAS WHEN WE MOVED IN BUT WE'RE STUCK IN THIS LEASE! WISH I COULD GET OUT OF IT SOMEHOW.... I WOULD NEVER DREAM OF RENEWING MY LEASE!

Current Resident 169022

Resident • 2007

I Love MY Appartment

We moved in in 2006. I have been very happy with most things. I have NEVER noticied any unpleasnant odors outside (as someone else had mentioned in an above comment). Our appartment is beautiful, most of the nieghbors are great. Very spacious bathroom and large walk-in closets. Noise is at a min. You can hear people on the stairs and in the hall, but mostly it is very quiet. The land scaping is very nice. Although the grass in the back of out apaprtment wasn't watered enough this summer and always looked slightly dead. Mainenance has always been very friendly and come quickly to our service with any problems we have had. Only concerns I have are to people renting these apartmnets in future years. The construction was done in a hurry and poorly done with bottom of the line supplies. Wear and tear in just one year more than average. The laminate tiles in the kithcen and bathroom look nice but don't wear well. Also, a big tip to keep down your elecric bill is to put in your own thermostat. The one that come in the apartment is a piece of crap, it is worth $3. It barely regulates the temp, it was either really hot or really cold and the automatic regulator doesn't even work. When we put our own digital thermostat in we started saving at least $40/mo. Not very much but why pay that if you don't need it. The apartments are very well insulated and we would turn on the heat in the morning at about 70 for an hour and leave in set on at 60 when we left and we would have a nice warm apartment to come home to with out leaving the heat set above 60 and it would be 76 room temp. Most of the staff is very helpful and friendly, but if you report a problem, there is certainly a lack of communication between the office staff. Overall I would give the complex an 8/10.

Current Resident 161232

Resident • 2007

Waste treatment and smell

There is a waste treatment building in the complex. On days when there is no air movement it smells like septic. When I moved in there were chain link gates that did not allow access to that end of the complex. No wonder! I was never told it was there. I can't imagine renting in the building next to it.<br>On a nice hot summer day with no breeze, sitting at the pool I bet it won't smell like you are in paradise!

Current Resident 368128

Resident • 2006 - 2007

Articles in Patriot Ledger about code violations

I saw two articles in the Patriot Ledger that said they violated two sanitary codes. There was something about electric heaters causing high electric bills. The paper said I guess they can't do that because the renter should not be paying for that. The heaters are in little outside closets. I feel lucky I did not pick a model with the closet. What a bummer for the people who did. They would have extra electric to pay for. I wonder if they knew that.<br>I like Erik too, but I don't think management has been telling us everything for real. <br>

Current Resident 39654

Resident • 2006 - 2007

two side to everything

I have spoken to the office several times about this matter( high bills) and they have told me that they are working on fixing the problem & I have all the faith in the world in the office staff. And as far as Erik goes he has never been anything but helpful to us. He was probally very busy and I guess whoever wrote that last email has never had a bad day at work & I want their job

moppieie

Resident • 2007

Bad Experience

I went to look at these apartments and was not happy at all. They are beautiful but... I had an appointment with Eric one of the guys who shows the apartments at 2pm. He show's up at 2:45 Then takes a walk in beofre us, and I said " Um.. we had a 2pm appointment and he actually had the never to say I'll be back in 10 mins! I would have normally left but I was like well maybe I will really like the apartments. We get to the apartment and he brought the wrong key! So he had to go all the way back and get the right one, so I'm thinking ok this can happen whatever.<br>He gives me the price and he quotes me a price $500 more a month then my cousin pays who lives there, and just moved in 30 days ago! I asked about it and was told well rent goes up. They offer you a deal where if you move in right away they will give you a month and a half rent off, but they fail to tell you next year if you are still there your rent will skyrocket. Beautiful but not where I want to call home.

Current Resident 678785

Resident • 2006 - 2007

ELECTRIC SITUATION CORRECTED

We were one of the first units involved in the electric situation. It has recently been corrected to not place financial burden on either the renters or owners of the complex. We are statisfed with the end results.