Highlands Nanuet

Current Resident 588860

Resident • 2008

Avalon Gardens Nightmare

Please do not sign a lease with this place they are all talk and dont care about you as a tenant. They are just after your money and will continue to be an annoyance even after you have moved. From day 1 living in this community have had sveral issues that until the day I moved out 7 months later had not be resolved. The staff has no clue or concept on how to manage properties and usually updates thier staff monthly..please avoid at all costs!!!!!

Current Resident 757504

Resident • 2010

SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK & ROLL & ARMED ROBBERY & KIDS FOUND FLOATING IN THE POOL

This has to be one of the worst developments in New York. Drug deals and drug bags are a common site. Prostitutes use the area for their tricks as the Police do not patrol the area. Teenages roam in groups at all hours and they will seemigly rent to ANYONE as some of the clientele are not just poor but criminal. The office staff are worse than helpless, they are totally uncaring about abondoned and disabled vehicles stay away no matter what incentives they offer as you will be sorry. Many stay only a few weeks and then leave. Unbelievable that the AvalonBay corporate office would tolerate such deplorable conditions.

renter1029831

Resident • 2007 - 2008

Do NOT live on the first floor. Bugs are a MAJOR problem!

I have lived here for 10 months now, and have been trying to figure out a way to stop bugs from entering the apartment. The door molding / weatherstripping has been replaced by the maintenance team over 4 times now, as well as Terminix coming out multiple times. It has not stopped anything. Every day I go around with a vacuum cleaner and suck up about 20 ants / spiders / other types of bugs depending on the area of the apartment, and it's been going on daily now for about 10 months. It's disgusting and I would definitely recommend avoiding a first floor apartment at all costs here. Even better, don't rent from Avalon Gardens. Their rent is sky high, and compares to a rental community that should be only a couple miles from Manhattan, not 30. The neighborhood is very cold and unresponsive for someone young to live in. The majority of the residents are over 65 years old and crotchety, giving you dirty looks all the time for being young and living in the complex. We were in a rush to move up to this area for a job promotion, and only had two weeks to find a place. If you must live here for a corporate relocation, then it's bearable, but I would definitely steer clear of the Nanuet area in general if you're under 40, unless you have family here. It's really depressing. Time to move back to Manhattan!

Current Resident 872927

Resident • 2006 - 2007

PROBLEMATIC DEVELOPMENT

Oh this is so true. The walls are so paper thin i can hear my neighbor taking a piss at 5'o'clock every morning-and guess what he never washes his hands. The noise is unbareable. Avalon make you sign this clause about noise and when you complain about it they make it seem as if you're a bother. They have speed signs and when I went to view the apartment one of the employees took me for a tour-she was driving so fast her back wheels never touched the speed bump. Taking out the garbage you have to fight with two black cats-just to make it to the bin. My upstairs neighbors have two kids they run all day long non-stop. Noise here noise there -here a noise there a noise. Bang! Bang Bang! It's so loud I thought someone had a prostatic leg. I can't get into one of my closet doors, my porch screen is hanging over like its drunk. Lastly, before I moved in -there was a felon living here-the cops almosted busted down my door looking for the former tenant. I had too call the cops on the cops. Avalon gardens never apoligized to me. Please there is so more to tell. If anyone reads this stay away this place is a makeover scam.

Current Resident 929132

Resident • 2005 - 2007

Marginal quality at a Luxury price.

The good: Parking is good to excellent with lots of overflow space for guests. Small attached and unattached garages are available for an additional monthly cost, typically in the $150 range. Availability is quite limited. Grounds are pleasant enough and usually well kept. (With a few caveats, see below) Location is great, minutes from all major highways and local shopping. Units are spacious, though bland. The bad: Management staff courtesy rapidly deteriorates after you move in. Most experiences rate somewhere between marginal and flat out hostile. Most have a superiority complex as though you're privileged to live there. Staff turnover is high. Horribly overpriced for what you get, with 5-8% rent increases each year, and a $600 "amenity" fee which you pay regardless of whether you use the clubhouse and pool or not. Lease designed to milk every last dime possible from your pocket. Better not give them less than 60 days notice to terminate, else they bump you up to the 150% "monthly" rate for your last month. Fire Alarm system from hell. Due to the Clarkstown Fire Dept. being one step removed from the gestapo, there are a good dozen heat detectors installed throughout the unit (every single room and closet), which are tied into a central alarm system for each building. These detectors often fail, either due to water damage or "just because", which triggers a painfully loud alarm in every unit in the building and a visit from the FD. It is rare to go a month without at least one fire alarm. Also due to the FD, you cannot have a grill of any sort, not even electric. Management enforces the rule with gleeful abandon. I've had patio furniture accused of being a grill. Virtually impossible to use a satellite dish unless you get one of the "blessed" units with a south-facing balcony. So, for 90% of units, you're stuck with overpriced cable. If you are lucky enough to get a "blessed" unit, you pay an extra $150 for the privilege of using your dish. Maintenance staff sucks. It has gotten somewhat better in the last six months or so, though it's still a chore to get anything fixed in a timely manner, much less properly, unless it is a water gushing out of the wall emergency. Took months of complaining and finally calls to the Avalon mothership to have simple maintenance and cleanup performed in some cases. While spacious, the units were designed by someone with a love for stairs. Normal humans and movers generally do not share that love. Garages often have water meters or other equipment hidden behind random doors within the space. Maintenance people will often enter without notice and without concern for your vehicle and belongings. I picked up more than a few scratches on my car from tool belts and the like. Units feature bargain basement fixtures and appliances, cheap carpet and vinyl floors, "textured" (e.g. goo-sprayed) walls and ceilings-- the only thing "luxury" about AG is the price. Grounds/Lawn maintenance features noisy leaf blowers which workers cheerfully begin sweeping across grassless driveways at 8 am once a week during the summer. MANY unannounced or poorly announced (paper stuffed in door jamb) intrusions by maintenance staff for "smoke detector checks" and other such nonsense, as well as a number late at night from the fire system company. Unit water tanks are shared among units, and are small. Ten minutes of hot water during "peak times" if you're lucky. Said tanks also fail quite often, requiring a several-day visit from maintenance. Walls separating units, like everything else, are cheap and thin. You'll become intimately knowledgeable of your neighbors whether you want to or not. Immediate area has gone down hill over the years, much more traffic and noise thanks to a currently being built Lowes across the street, and the fire department is building a new HQ right next to the property. (Presumably in part due to the frequency of their visits to Avalon) There are many similar "communities" in the immediate area with similar quality for significantly less cost.

Current Resident 35166

Resident • 2004 - 2008

Big Time Rip Off!!

Don't get me wrong the community does have some good features. Plenty of parking, looks pretty and thats about it. Now for the real deal. The company itself does not value it's customers. I think we can safely say this. This is the most inflexible company I have ever had the non-privilege of dealing with. They make it look so appealing when they greet you and show you the apartments. Then when you're ready to sign, "The Rules" kick in. When I say "The Rules" I mean that Avalon is worse than Russia. Everything you do is a problem to this company. I'm surprised they allow you to take a crap in your own toilet without breaking a precious rule. They will find any way possible to suck more money from your pocket and give you absolute junk from the appliances right down to the Home Depot specials they dare call faucets. Sure the apartments looks pretty at first but you can't maintain the look because the appliances and kitchen cabinetry are so cheap they are almost impossible to clean. This is luxury? Avalon Gardens knows how to charge let me tell you. $100 application fee. $600 non-refundable Immenities Fee. Oh you want a animal? They charge you $55 more a month plus $650 fee upfront just for the "privilege" of having the animal. This is what was actually told to me. "The privilege"!! OK, fine. $55 times 12 months plus $650 = $1310. But wait! There's more. If the carpets are dirty when you leave, YOU STILL PAY FOR NEW CARPETS ANYWAY!! So whats the $1310 for?? Oh thats right, the Avalon Gardens famous Wallet vacuum at it again. Finally there is Maintenance. The maintenance people are getting lazier by the day. I think they use the golf carts for toys to fly around in rather than actually fix anything. What can you expect a company like this to hire. Good workers? But that would mean spending some more on their customers!! We can't have that! You see just how wonderful their people are just be looking at all the ripped up padding on the gym equipment thats been there for years and the garbage that piles up every weekend by the two "generous" dumpsters all 500 units have to share. Bottom Line: The only reason I'm still here is because I don't want to have to move again until I buy a house. Prices are getting better and it won't be long. I can't wait to say "adios Avalon"! But seriously, I don't mind paying good money but give me what I pay for damn it! Avalon Gardens is not a community that believes in value. Sure, the community looks good from that outside but thats all smoke and mirrors. It's like the electric company. Avalon behaves this way because there is no competition in the area. If there was, living in Avalon would be a much different experience I can guarantee you that.

AlishaSch

Resident • 2007

Absolutely not!

Avalon calls itself "luxury". The ONLY thing "luxury" about this hole is the rent! We moved here from out of state and found this place online. It seemed ok, but once we were here we realized the management doesn't care about their tenants. They act like you are lucky to be considered a tenant. They are absolutely incompetent and will automatically assume the worst about you. When we moved here, they didn't mention to us that we needed renter's insurance to get our key and weren't going to allow us into our apartment until we got it on 4pm on a saturday! Mind you, we just drove 12 hours to get here with our two cats stuck in the car. And the manager had the NERVE to not once, not twice, but numerous times tell us how "lucky" we were that she was at the pool and decided to come up because SHE was on vacation. Horrible first NY experience! We pay our rent on time every month, and despite that we still get an envelope in our door to pay our rent or move out...after they've cashed our check! The apartments themselves are bottom line and in Michigan this apartment would be half the price it is here. Cottage cheese white walls and high ceilings do NOT luxury make. We can't have our windows open due to the loud traffic. Stay far away. We aren't re-upping our lease. In fact we are already looking for new apartments only 4months into living here. Get an apartment down the street for $600 less/month and get better service.

Current Resident 94603

Resident • 2007

SURPRISE..they have a new maintenance team!!!

There is a GOD!!! AVALON MAINTENANCE IS GETTING BETTER...NOT SURE ABOUT THE OFFICE STAFF..FORMICA COUNTER TOPS STRIPPING..

Current Resident 361621

Resident • 2003 - 2006

No good. Lived there 3 years which was 3 years too long.

Major Complaints:<br>1. Overpriced (like most communities in the area, but more so at Avalon Gardens, because this place is no more special than any local competitors.)<br><br>2. Bottom of the line materials used in every area of apt. I guess everything being white gives the effect of cleanliness and allows them to use the word "luxury." <br><br>3. Inconvenience that they removed local dumpsters and so you have to put your garbage in your car and drive to one of the entrances since there are only 2 dumpsters now for a few hundred apartments.<br><br>Never seen a dumber system, even when I lived in "non-luxury" apartment complexes. There was always a local incinerator or dumpster, since garbage is not an option, it's a necessity.<br><br>4. Forced to pay $600 per year for the ammenities whether or not you will actually use them. The gym is crappy; most machines are broken most of the time, and I still had to join another gym since I couldn't get a workout there. <br><br>5. Management treats you as if you should be priviledged to live at their complex, not the other way around.<br><br>Screw them; I got the hell out of there. I only stayed as long as I did since I was planning on living there until I purchased a condo. I haven't purchased a condo yet, but I found another apt. They're all the same; some just charge you more money.<br><br>Avalon Gardens will look good when you visit, but after you live there you will feel like a sucker for overpaying for your rent. You'll soon realize that you been had. It happened to me. If you haven't lived there yet, there's still hope for you. <br><br>

Current Resident 526171

Resident • 2005 - 2006

"Fake" staff don't care about you at all

Avalon's website and other propaganda would have you believe that their staff is so genuinely friendly and cares about your well-being. They talk about a "spirit of caring" and "enhancing the lives of residents". They want you to think their staff will be like extended family. Ha!<br><br>The staff at Avalon Gardens can be called a lot of things, but not caring. In general, they have learned the art of SEEMING like they care without actually caring one bit. They care for you in the same way that the car dealer cares for his customers. They've got the smiles and the professional dialog... but you can still tell it's all fake.<br><br>So, you might ask, why would I care if the staff treats me well or not? Well, you'll surely have to deal with the staff at some point or another. Negotiating an initial or a renewal contract. Complaining about noise of other nuissances. Requesting maintenance. Yes, you will work with the staff there, and it's unfortunate, too.<br><br>For what you're paying here at Avalon, I'd expect people who truly do care about their residents. Or at least people who fake it better than these guys. Personally, I'd rather have them take a hundred dollars off of our crazily expensive rent and instead give me people who don't even pretend to care.

Current Resident 880100

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Nowhere near a luxury apartment!

The management company would have you think this is some sort of luxury apartment complex. Ha! Which of the following items would you say is luxurious? <br> A - White laminated pressed wood cabinets & countertops<br> B - Fluorescent lighting in the kitchen<br> C - "Cottage cheese" ceiling<br> D - Outdated appliances<br> E - Builder-grade faucets and shower tile<br><br>Yeah, this is surely the lap of luxury. You'll feel like the Beverly Hillbillies! Yee haw!<br><br>Listen... this is a decent place, don't get me wrong. It just isn't anywhere near "luxury". You're paying a ton and not getting very much. So if you have to stay here (because your company is putting you up or something), then that's fine. Just don't forget to bring your toilet plunger. Because these toilets are sooo luxurious!

Current Resident 224729

Resident • 1997 - 2006

STAY FAR, FAR AWAY!!!!!!

I have regretably lived at avalon gardens for 8 years. the only reason i stayed was because my son attended George Miller Elementary & finding another apt in the town of Nanuet was next to near impossible. The rent was affordable when they first opened. However, over time the more open apts they had, the higher they raised my rent!!! I became sick and tired of calling and calling the office in order to have a simple request filled. During the "garbage crisis" in which the genius mgmt resolution to the overflow was to remove the small additional dumpsters they had placed.....i found several hyperdermic needles strewned all along the grass outside my window!!!! I'm not about to pay $1800 / month to have to stare at garbage. AFter 3 calls to the office, i took pictures of the trash & stormed into the club house and made a huge scene in front of the property mgmt and perspective tenants. I had to threaten to report them to the corporate office in order to have the trash picked up. Needless to say, when I moved out last week, they knew not to mess with me......they got me on NOTHING!!!!!!!! This place is the biggest joke in Rockland County. I would live in my car before I would ever lease from an Avalon Property again. The grounds are disgusting, dog feces everywhere. People drive through the complex like they're in the INDY 500. Maintenence will only make your problem worst....try to fix it yourself!!!! They will rip you off for everything you own. Make sure you have a thick backbone and can stand up for yourself otherwise you're screwed...................STAY AWAY FROM THIS DUMP.....YOU'LL THANK ME FOR IT

petlover31

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Expensive, not worth it, look elsewhere!

I'll start with the good stuff... beautiful clubhouse, beautiful apts. OK, Im done. Now the bad, my main complaints are with maintenance and management. Maintenance is shoddy and slow while management is corporate and greedy.<br> A couple of examples of their greed... I renewed my lease for 2 months and had to pay a $600 clubhouse fee for maintenance of that beautiful clubhouse I mentioned (That I never use by the way), non-refundable. I was asked to move out a week earlier than my requested move out date to give them time to prepare the apt for their new tenant. No problem, but they expect me to pay for rent that week until the tenants move in. Little things like that added up to thousands of dollars very easily. And security deposit? Good luck getting that back. <br> Maintenance is awful, I dont call them unless I have no choice because one time they made my toilet problem worse. Oh yeah, toilets here clog easily because they used too small pipes. They also have a bad mold problem here.<br> There are only two trash compactors for the whole facility which means unless you're lucky (?) to live near one you got to carry your trash out in your car and drive it there. If you're lucky like me to live next tom one, its not big enough for the large amount of garbage placed there on weekends and it piles up. The stench, esp. in the summer is horrendous!<br> Finally, this is the most expensive rental in the area and is not worth it at all. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere, you'll thank yourself and your wallet in the long run!

Current Resident 712179

Resident • 2006

great place

this is a great place to live, very affordable for what you get, walk in closet, washer and dryer in unit, everything freshly painted, balcony or patio, spacious i mean bigger than avalon in edgewater plus like 300 a month less, great deal, plus free parking too! WoW. nice clean pool, work out room, and friendly staff, can't wait to get in there, only problem is getting in i'm on a waiting list, and have been for like 2 months... Hopefully I'll be there soon!

Current Resident 902058

Resident • 2004 - 2005

NICE!

Have been at Avalon for 1 1/2 years and love it. The layout is very nice except that the bathroom is inside your bedroom. I love having a washer, dryer, and same level garage. It's pretty and quiet outside and I can walk around the community a night by myself.<br>The office & maintanance staff are excellent and the pool is kept clean.<br>I feel like I'm on a permanent vacation.<br>I highly recommend it.

Current Resident 587939

Resident • 2000 - 2004

GREAT PLACE!!!

I JUST LOVE LIVING AT AVALON GARDENS, THE SCHOOLS ARE GREAT, THE OFFICE AND MAINTENANCE STAFF ARE GREAT, NICE AND PROFESSIONAL. WHEN YOU CALL FOR A REQUEST IS HANDLE PROMPLY AND FIXED THE FIRST TIME. I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 4 YEARS AND MUST SAY THAT NOW IS WHEN I AM EXPERIENCING A GOOD AND STABLE STAFF (MAINLY MAINTENANCE).<br><br>THE ONLY THING IS THAT THEY SHOULD ENFORCE RULES ON THE GROUNDS AND PEOPLE LEAVING STUFF OUTSIDE APARTMENTS (IT JUST LOOK BAD)

Current Resident 466171

Resident • 2003 - 2004

Let down by BAD Management.

The place itself is not too bad.<br><br>Things I do not like.<br><br>1. Management...especially the fat -----.<br>2. Beware...the toilets block...quite often...management refuse to anything about it.<br>3. Expect to pay more money...one way or another.<br>4. I have heard you can kiss bye bye to your deposit...have not experienced it myself...but time will tell.<br>5. Don't be deceived by the word luxery...the meaning is lost here.<br><br>All the above have truelly spoilled the stay...looking for alternatives...

Current Resident 730359

Resident • 2002 - 2004

Lovely Place

We really ejoyed our visit at Avalon Gardens. We would have stayed but we bought a house. The office staff was great. They were always there and helpful. People are too critical, I guess they have never experienced bad service. <br>Good luck.

Current Resident 651247

Resident • 2003 - 2004

We love it

We moved into Avalon about six months ago in the summer and so far they have been great. They are very prompt and did a great job cleaning the streets with the snow storms we had. The apartment is nice and clean. The only thing we miss is a garbage disposal in the kitchen sink, which for some strange reason the apts don´t have. Other than that, the apt. is very modern and we love the inhouse laundry. We did hear they take a lot out of the security deposit (like most landlords do) so we were very detailed in our pre-move in checklist. So far, so good.

Current Resident 288361

Resident • 1998 - 2003

Aweful experience

Avalon Gardens in Nanuet is a rip off ! I lived there for 6 years and they unfairly raise rent, and almost never give back your security deposit. Renter beware ! They treat their tenants horribly !

Current Resident 947981

Resident • 2000 - 2001

Too Expensive for what you get

We lived there for a year and a half and hated it. Parking was not great. In the cold of winter, the fire alarm went off one night and we had to stand outside for well over an hour before ANYONE came to do anything about it. THe fire department never even showed up to check things out. The pricing is ridiculous! When management was called because outdoor lights needed changing, nothing was done til multiple calls were made. Not at all recommended!

kaliban185

Resident • 2002 - 2003

Great

We are very happy here. There are a few complaints but service is good (although the management does change ofter). It is also expensive. Good Luck. <br> <br>

Current Resident 621152

Resident • 2000 - 2002

If you like living in the projects, you will love it!

There are more changes in management than there are tenants. The place is run down and depending on how pushy you are, you can negotiate just about anything. Management, when they are there, never get back to you. If your toilet goes, too bad, you probably have another one anyway.

Current Resident 522572

Resident • 2001 - 2002

Excellent

Our apt. is like a townhouse. It is three levels therefore giving the feel of more of a condo. Not many communities allowed pets and we have a small dog. We have been living here for over a year and plan to renew.