Wood Lee Arms

Current Resident 169583

Verified Resident • 2014 - 2015

Great place to live, nice neighborhood, excellent staff. Maintenance staff are friendly and responsive and the building managers make sure everything runs smoothly. I especially like that there are staff members who live on location, so if there are building-wide problems (not that there have been any since I moved here), the right person is just down the hall.

Current Resident 382881

Resident • 2013 - 2015

The staff for this building have been a big selling point with me. The apartment manager is friendly, helpful and really very nice. She and the apartment engineer have responded promptly to all my maintenance requests.

John7999

Resident • 2013 - 2014

The worse apt ever!!!!

RMH2013

Resident • 2013

Grounds are taken care of albeit small. Laundry room recently redone as were the windows- all a plus. Tenants are friendly and building is secur

myspamshop

Resident • 2012 - 2013

I renewed my lease because the office and maintenance staff are so great! Anything that needs fixing is answered promptly, even on the weekends. The office manager is one of the friendliest and sweetest people you will ever meet. They will listen to your concerns and any problems you may have and try to rectify it. A comfortable living environment is a priority here. The area is pretty safe. There is a small playground and a couple of shops nearby. Anything else you would need is most likely a 5 minute car ride away. I'd prefer a bit more lighting in the parking area but that is not to say that there is no lighting. Utilities and parking are included in your rent.

Current Resident 236122

Resident • 2012

I have lived here for a few months and would recommend it. Comparatively, I get a lot of space for my money. This isn't a luxury building, so don't expect that, but it has all the things I need - utilities and parking included, safety and convenience. The stores across the street are GREAT (Starbucks, pastry shop, wine store, cafes, shopping). The best part about living here is the staff. The property manager is friendly and always around, and the maintenance is highly responsive to any needs I may have. Issues are not fixed within days, but within hours or even minutes. Hands down, best maintenance and staff someone could find.

tyrees

Resident • 2012

I live at the Wood Lee Arms for 2 years. The property is close to the metro station and bus stops exceptional, a great community to reside at. Office staff communicates with residents often I feel at home at Wood Lee Arms. Also bed and living room space are very big and service is on time and good when I call for maintenance. I look forward more years at Wood Lee Arms.

atg46

Resident • 2012

I have been living here for about a month and a half now. I would like to make a few comments about my experience. My roommates are international students and I am a graduate student. This posed some problems initially with getting approved for the apartment due to the fact that I was on student loans and my roommates were paying with funds that were in a foreign bank account. My first application was rejected. After this, Rhonda (building manager) worked with me to make some changes in order to get approved (I had to get a cosigner and bump up the security deposit a bit) I was so happy that she took the time to work with me. I will agree that this is a very affordable place to live and a relatively easy and painless commute into DC (about 10-15 minutes to the Rossyln metro via the bus stop right in front of the building. Ballston metro is also not far away). The apartment itself is very spacious with large closets in both bedrooms as well as two large closets in the hallway. The kitchen is decent size with decent appliances and counter space. The living/dining room is enormous. Although the heating/air conditioners are a bit old, a great perk that one no one has mentioned is that there are separate units/controls in each room allowing for each room to be set to different temperatures. This has worked out great for me as I like my room a bit cooler than those that live with me. You will never have to look for a parking spot and the parking is free. Guest parking is free with a pass that can be obtained from the office. If your guest comes after hours, then there is plenty of street parking available. I have yet to encounter any of the other problems that have been mentioned in the other postings: bugs, management issues etc. I hope that I can continue without these issues. Overall recommended,

ashley594

Resident • 2012

My roommate and I moved into Wood Lee Arms a few weeks ago and everything has been great! It is an older building, but you wouldn't know the difference after you're inside the apartment. When we moved it we had brand new carpet/paint/appliances etc... Parking at our last apartment was $150 per month, to our surprise Wood Lee Arms has completely free resident and guest parking. We had two friends that already lived in the building and they mentioned a woman named "Rhonda" we were hesitant at first, but we gave her a call. Rhonda worked with us (stayed late), so we could see the open apartments Wood Lee had available. Not only did Rhonda stay late a few times when we were trying to decide where to live, but one time she had already left and was on her way home -We called her and she came back to the building to show us around. She has been absolutely wonderful! The one time we did have to call maintance, we called in the morning and he fixed it while we were at work (first time). Laundry is in the building (not in each apartment), but when you're saving so much $ on rent -it's not that bad. Wood Lee Arms is definitely the cheapest rent around; utilities are included, parking is included, guest parking is included. Everything has been wonderful! -Ashley

Current Resident 929317

Resident • 2010 - 2012

Ignore my Yes/No rating - it should be Maybe - and see the "Overall" analysis at the end of this review. I have been at this building for over two years. I am happy with the apartment itself - it is sizable, good location, etc. - but the management is terrible. The property manager doesn't help you with anything. She plasters on a fake smile, doesn't address problems you bring to her for up to weeks at a time, and even then acts like you're an inconvenience and should be appreciative she's taking the time to do her job. Whenever you call her out on anything, she just tries to spin it or change the subject. This post is actually a response to a concerted effort by the management office to get tenants to write positive reviews about the place because the ranking is currently in the dumps and they want to look better....like I said, spin. Unfortunately, the higher-ups for Grady Management aren't any better. The regional director will basically lie to you to avoid the responsibilities the landlords owe to the tenants, and then argue with you incessantly as the primary method of problem-solving. The mitigating factor that makes the building tolerable is that it has a great super. He's friendly, gets to know the tenants, and is responsive to any issues you have. I have learned to take any problems I have straight to him and bypass the management office completely...one time I reported an issue to the office, and when I talked to the super about it a week later he said it was the first time he was hearing of it. Ratings Analysis: Parking - Gets a 3-star because although there is plenty of parking, the management employs a towing service that will lift tenants' vehicles if there registration or tags are even one day overdue (they towed me on the first of the month), and then charge around $150 to give your car back. Noise - Not a problem with regards to neighbor noise, but you can hear noises between the bedrooms. Grounds - The grass and hedges are always well maintained, and there's a small "community garden" in the back, but there's also a huge open patch (approx. 1/4 the property) that is used for absolutely nothing. Also, there is no covered bike rack or anything, so you have to keep your bikes in your apartments. Safety - Never heard of any robberies, but also never asked, and the fire station is right down the street. Construction - The apartments were renovated over the last few years, so they have new appliances and new carpets. However, the dry wall is old and flakes if you try to hang anything up, and the heating/air conditioning units are old and noisy. They have also been claiming they would install new windows for over a year now. Maintenance - The maintenance is great for the most part...when management feels like getting around to it. Staff - See above Overall - If you learn the tricks of living here (i.e. avoid the office and deal with the on-site staff), this place can be great. The apartments are nice for the most part, and sizable considering the rent, and you are also in a good location - this is supposed to be an apartment rating, though, not a neighborhood rating.

Current Resident 925194

Resident • 2012

I moved into Wood Lee Arms a few months ago and have been extremely happy with my apartment, the staff, parking, and facilities. There is ample parking behind the building as well as on the streets. There is a small shopping center across the street that has everything you need (Starbucks, bakery, wine and cheese shop, restaurants, etc.) Major grocery stores and shopping centers are a short drive, bus ride, or walk away. I think it's a fantastic location. The residential area is beautiful to walk around in. I have a car so I'm able to get places easily. There is no metro stop really close but there are buses right outside that go there. There is a nice laundry facility in the building. I have so far never had to wait for a washing machine or dryer. The staff here are fantastic and friendly, taking the time to talk to you and answer questions if necessary. And the maintenance is fantastic. I have not had many issues with my apartment but the few I have, have been responded too immediately, which has been fantastic! I definitely recommend Wood Lee Arms.

Current Resident 924729

Resident • 2012

I have been living at Wood Lee Arms about a month now and overall, I love the area and the apartment is fine, except for some issues that could have been prevented if the building management was more involved. What concerns me is that when I moved in, the apartment looked awful (and still looks bad). The carpets had not been changed after the last tenant so there are multiple stains. The walls throughout the apartment also had not been painted after the last tenant so they look really bad: marks all over, baseboards coming off, paint chipping, cracks, water damage, etc. The AC unit in one of the bedrooms was leaking and causing the tenant underneath water damage to her apartment as well as mine. The wall surrounding the AC unit was damp and the floor was too. This also got me concerned about the possibility of mold growth because there was no telling how long this issue had been going on. The bathroom has a small window in the shower and its condition is absolutely disgusting. Water has obviously damaged the area and it is brown and gross looking. I will say that the building's maintenance guy is amazing. He has been extremely helpful in trying to get any issues I have fixed quickly. One thing I do not like about management though, is that for issues that do not involve maintenance, they still send him out anyways which is not fair to him. For example, when I was concerned about the possibility of mold growth because of AC unit leaking water and causing water damage to the bedroom, I asked for a trained professional who assesses mold to come out. The management staff sent maintenance who specifically told my roommate and I that he had no idea why he was being sent out when he is not trained for that. Finally, after much complaining, I think the issue will be taken care of and I am going to have someone come out and rip up the old carpets, tear down the damaged wall, and get the issue resolved. Hopefully if I complain a little more about everything else that needs to be fixed, the management staff will actually help to get someone out here to fix everything because honestly, they should have checked the condition of the apartment before letting someone else move in after the last tenant. I find it annyoing having to contact them about doing a job they are supposed to already be doing. I understand it is an old building, but I would recommend if you are wanting to live here that you keep in mind you will be needing to constantly talk to management to get things fixed/redone because they do not check anything involving condition of the apartment. Also make sure that the issue is addressed correctly because with some issues I told them about, they lied and said it was addressed when it really was not. So, I had to contact them four and five times until the issue was finally done right.

Current Resident 924233

Resident • 2012

I've lived in Wood Lee Arms for about a month now, and I no complaints. The few problems I have had- air conditioner not working, a few bugs in the apartment- were taken care of quickly. The maintenance man here is absolutely wonderful. He's helped me with things that are completely unrelated to his job- giving me some cable I needed to set up my TV, lending me movies, etc. He's really a neighbor, not a staff member. The location is nice as well- within walking distance of a few grocery stores, a CVS, and a Rite Aid, plus a few bus stops. Noise level is fine, quality of everything in the apartment is good. No complaints from me.

Current Resident 985801

Resident • 2011 - 2012

Although I would not stay here for life, it is a convenient, reasonable, pleasant place to rent while going to school or starting out as a renter. The staff really is committed to resident satisfaction, and the maintenance staff member is very trustworthy and dependable; my fiance and I view him as much as a neighbor as "the maintenance guy". The building definitely does leave things to be desired: it is old, sometimes the hallways smell, the laundry is acceptable but there are occasional machine breakdowns, and the windows are still single-paned glass which decreases insulation. The parking is great, and is free; the lot is well-kept. Many people have written reviews and cited roaches. Our unit is directly next to a garbage room and the only time we've experienced any bugs (they were not roaches and were little) was when people on our floor were lazy about putting garbage down the chute (instead allowing it to sit on the floor of the room). When people are good about properly disposing of their waste, we have no problems with bugs. We live on the second floor; I don't know if this makes a difference.

renter_e2012

Resident •

Not worth it! Steer clear.

It's a cheap place to live, but it is in no way worth your money. When I moved in it two them 3-4 months to get rid of the roach problem. It is the noisiest apartment that I've ever lived in. You can hear all of your neighbors and you can smell what they are cooking and it's not always a pleasant smell. The laundry machines are ALWAYS broken and it takes about 3 weeks for a machine to get repaired. Today none of the dryers are working and no one showed up in the office. They say they only allow cats, but there are plenty of dogs here. The water is shut off about 4 times a year because the pipes are so old that they break and ruin someones apartment. The apartment above me had a water leak so they just painted over the water marks in the drywall. The safety is about as good as TSA. I will never live in another Grady Management apartment again!

martinsweeney

Resident • 2012

Original chocolate face

In spite of all these negative reviews, I feel obliged to contribute a positive review of Wood Lee Arms. We had a great time at this complex; we stayed for six months from October 2010 through March 2011 and it was a wonderful stay,. The staff were most friendly and always attentive. There were some weirdos staying below us but that was not the fault of management, it was the fault of those immigrants' religion. We had a spacious apartment with all the mod cons, I simply can't say enough good things about this place. Just before we got kicked out of the country we witnessed an exceptional act of heroism from a tenant who shall remain nameless (let's just call him "cancer man"). The place was burning down (no fault of the owners) but this ledgebag ran back into the apartment complex to save all the inhabitants (while the Foo Fighters song "My Hero" was playing on a stereo... it was awesome!) He must have saved at least 70 million people. A local Paki offered one of our girlfriend's a place to stay while WLA was on FIYYAHH! I loved that place and I love all the people. Spacious wardrobes. There were many occasions where we double fisted! I will never forget your kindness, Rhonda!!!

Current Resident 353655

Resident • 2012

BED BUGS!

Beware or they'll eat you alive. You'll notice marks on your skin and start wondering where they came from until you actually catch the little critters in the act esp., at night when you're sleeping. Imagine the stuff they can transmit. The management SUCKS here, they don't give a damn about you, but they do love to increase your rent double the rate of inflation year after year and laugh to the bank because they're getting away with it. Enough is enough! People should start to look at their county/city/governmental leaders and ask them how could they allow this abuse to continue year in and year out. I remember when rent was reasonable, but now it's ridiculous! If you were to rent a 2 br/1bth here, it would cost you almost $23,000 a year! These idiots are taking advantage of those people who lost their homes during the housing crisis and are now moving in with family and friends. What ABUSERS! Money hungry with no remorse toward their fellow neighbor. I would save as much as you can, anywhere but here, then buy yourself a decently priced property in a county/city that has a record of NOT abusing its property owners with outrageously HIGHER TAXES year after year. Which brings me to my next point. Don't buy a condo or townhouse! The HOA dues will eat you alive worse than the beg bugs here! Yes, this apartment management company (Grady Management) and city/county leaders are colluding (working together) to steal from us any way the can through higher taxes, higher HOA dues, and of course if you're a renter, higher unregulated rents. We must come together, spread the word on what's really going on here and take a stand against these frigid, ruthless fools. revealing

Current Resident 653055

Resident • 2006 - 2007

Horrible

This place is horrible. Cockroaches everywhere. Trash smells badly in all the halls. A couple of years ago they had a manager who was the worst. They send tow trucks into the parking lot at midnight on the first day of the month and tow every car that does not have an updated county sticker, minutes after they expire mind you. I think the managers get a cut of every one of these bogus towing fees.

renter571n703

Resident • 2011

Cockroach problem and more

The main problem is the cockroaches. I moved in 4 months ago and am still having problems w/ roaches. Exterminators have been here several times and management said that the last tenant never had any problem with cockroaches. There have been problems with outlets and still have a few but I'm not worried about it. When i moved in, i was told that it had new carpet and was detailed. The toiled and bathroom floor wasn't thoroughly cleaned and the carpet had stains and still does. there are many cracks or tiny little holes near the floor and wall, things that are common in old buildings. The building needs an overhaul. I could say more, but won't give specific examples. Simply, I don't recommend it. I wish I could say otherwise. I will say that management has a pretty good attitude though. There is a security/safety issue right now. I won't say details. I don't recommend this place. Good luck in your search for a residence. I'm stuck here for now.

Current Resident 387418

Resident • 2010 - 2011

A cockroach motel

Not an ideal place for a family or single. This place is run like a public housing project. The place is crawling with cockroaches, the interiors of the apartments are abysmal, terribly maintained and just plain old and moldy. It takes forever to get a maintenance request filled by the maintenance guy who thinks he owns the place and lives rent free yet doesn't seem to do much work. The washers and dryers are nearly always broken. The first floor when you enter seems to always smell of rotting trash as the trash shoot for the entire building is right as you enter. This place is a train wreck and the rent is not a good value for what you get in return. Utilities are included but the water runs at a very low pressure, there are limited electricity outlets and the AC/heaters are OLD and inefficient. Honestly, I regret signing a lease here, but I'm stuck. As a tenant, I would say--look elsewhere. You may pay slightly more but all the things that matter to your home will be in place.

Current Resident 733690

Resident • 2011

Roaches

This place is infested with cockroaches. Something has to be done with the whole apartment complex. The management is very good.

nj4ster

Prospect • Visited 2010

Older reviews may not be helpful

My son and I visited Wood Lee Arms this past week and I think the old reviews are out of date. They again have a new manager and she seemed very nice. We did not see any cockroaches or mold. They have been remodeling all the apartments and are in the process of remodeling all the common spaces. This is an older building, but it is hard to beat the price for the excellent location (about a mile from Ballston). My son plans on moving in next week, so he'll be able to provde a better review after he has lived there awhile, but don't ignore this place because of all the negative older reviews. Parking is FREE! I have no idea about the noise or maintenance yet so I left them at a 3. Grounds, safety, and construction seem normal for an older building. There are not many amenities in this building...no gym or pool. There is a central laundry where you pay. No washer/dryer in room.

Current Resident 438137

Resident • 2006 - 2009

Excellent Apt

Great value -- good neigborhood, well-maintained (despite the other reviews), convenient, ample parking. I have lived here for several years and the current manager (new manager) is doing an excellent job keeping a much older (40 years) building in shape.

WoodLeeResident

Resident • 2006 - 2008

Large, Reasonably-Priced, No-Frills Apartments But Don't Count on Much More...

Large, Reasonably-Priced, No-Frills Apartments But Don't Count on Much More... This place was better before the great maintenance man that had worked here for 15 years committed suicide in the basement boiler room. :o What a horror show that was. The current manager is horrible. She doesn't give a damn about anything. The place could use some TLC but she sure ain't providing any. It's a shame because the apartments are large and the neighborhood is excellent in a highly sought after zip code (22207). A good place to live but don't expect a lot from the management. Utilities are still free so cross your fingers that it continues. Parking is okay if you don't get home too late at night. This building features no-nonsense, no-frills apartment that is large and reasonably priced. Amenities are non-existent but the rent reflects that - so no problem. They need to do something about a few of the apartments where 20 illegal aliens have all shacked up together - they do this even in efficiencies! What you see is what you get - but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

rlee9112

Resident • 2004 - 2007

Terrible management - look elsewhere

I've been here since 2004 and the management has gone from nice/ok to horrible in that amount of time. They hardly return calls, they ignore you at all levels (from community manager to regional manager) and they constantly drop the ball on items that they promise to take care of. Workmanship on bathroom and bedroom heater leaks is poor as well. I've tried in good faith to work with them over this period but have now reached the limit and hope to move out at lease end. Not to mention the roach problem is now returning. The noise has always been bad (thin floors/ceilings) but coupled with the bad management it makes living here unpleasant. You can get better value elsewhere, even if the price for North Arlington is tempting!