Crystal Woods Of Alexandria

My toddler and I moved in about two months ago. So far, this place has been wonderful. I’ve been through my fair share of apartments during college, various internships, and other such endevours, so I have a solid grasp on what is and isn’t acceptable in an apartment home complex. In my experience, this community rates among the best. There isn’t a bug in sight. All of my maintenence requests have been resolved with in 24 hours. The price is very reasonable especially considering its location, only a few blocks from several major highways. Staff are polite and accomadating. Bianca was my leasing attendant. She was able to work with my schedule, my budget and my never-​ending questions. Especially since I rented my apartment online without even seeing it! It was everything I excepted. But the best asset to Crystal Woods, has been the community. My daughter has already made a few new friends. We have gotten to know all our neighbors and most of all we feel very safe in our home.

I have stayed here for five years and I had my ups and downs for the last four years and I almost moved out. But thanks to the new management ;Especially BIANCA :-she followed up all my problems and kept her promise. Me and my Familly start a new life and renew our lease; she s an example that woman can be leader !!

This residence is in a great area. Close to shops, the highway, schools, you name it! The staff here are great as well. My sons love Fannie, Kandis, Helmer, and Bianca. We have friendly neighbors and security on site. The renovations are really nice too! This is a great place to live with nice community feel especially with the frequent events the leasing office throws, mostly family oriented.

All and all the community is great. Lots of parking during the weekdays, unless you pull in after 9 on Friday and Saturday night, you have to park far. The inside of the apartment is clean, no bugs (maybe one in a month). The walls however are paper thin and I have an upstairs neighbor from hell. right now I am at work feeling like a hangover all day because I did not sleep. There seem to be a few people in that apartment that maybe work from home because they walk all night. Lastnight this guy woke me up at 3 am with his singing and loud talking right through to 5 am when I switch room and went in my guess bedroom. I have to get up at 6 am for work, plus I couldn’t go back to sleep. I understand that in apartment living, you have to endure a few things, but that is just unacceptable and inconsiderate. There is also a baby that cries at 3 a.m. from another neighbors’ apartment but the baby shut up quickly. I almost forget, in the front office there is a older spanish lady, she is just miserable with life and she has no customer service or care in the world. She inconvience me majorly once before and another time my family asked her a question and she gave us a wrong answer purposely because she didn’t want to look it up, but Bianca gave us the right answer and went into details.
If you move here, try to get the Top floor, you’ll be ok and avoid that lady by all cost…

Don’t be fooled by the move-​in incentives or the «new management» lingo. This company is shady and really does not care about how their residents live. Every month it is something. They will put a sign on all doors in the building that says the water will be off for maintenance issues. Bed bugs are galore. When you go to them to talk about it, they get nasty and act like they are doing you a favor by fixing an issue. Parking is also terrible.
Take your time and find another place. You will be glad you did.

The property is owned by a new company and they are doing great things to upgrade the community. I’ve been here for four years and I’m glad we’ve stayed.

You know its bad when Raid doesn’t work…
When I first walked in to the welcome center/​leasing office and was greeted by the staff, we began talking about the possiblity of me moving in. They showed me a very nice apartment with all the great things that come with it. At this point they began dicussing all the wonderful things about the apartment and all the delusions of grandeur about the place. However thats exactly what it all was delusions of grandeur the apartment, the amenities, the management, and the community.
Within in the first couple of days all of the wonderfully awful things slowly started creeping out of the woodwork… literally! There was an infestation of ROACHES, very thin walls (you can hear everything everyone in the other apartments are doing and saying clear as day!), the heat worked when ever it felt like it, and a few select people of the management team would be very hard to get a hold of to dicuss issues of the place.
As the months went by and the seasons changed the problems did not! The ROACH problem got worse! Management had a bug exterminator come in and exterminate my apartment; however, this believe it or not made it worse because they laid sticky traps out and sprayed the dust which only drew out all the roaches and it never stopped! The exterminator was coming on a regular basis which was very aggrivating to say the least. I would have to take everything out of the cabinets, the draws, clear out the bathroom, and hide all my personal items so the exterminator could spray. In time I came to find out that my entire building had a roach infestation which was the reason the problem wasn’t getting any better. I had a ROACH problem till the day I moved out! The next big problem I had was the very thin walls and I mean really really thin walls! I could hear everything going on in the other apartments such as walking around, EXACTLY what they were saying word for word, the kids and dogs running around, and how should I say this… certain extra curricular activities if you catch my drift. As for the heat issue, I had no heat for almost a week and half I told management about this issue and they said they would handle it. The maintance kept coming in and out of the apartment for the next couple of days which meant I had to hide my personal items again! (this was a becoming a common thing I kept having to do and getting rather annoying!!!) The maintance left space heaters while they fixed the heat which like I said I didn’t have heat for a week and half, they began trying to fix the heat problem on day one so you do the math on how long it took to fix it. By the way for those of you that don’t know space heaters jack up you energy bill so I was so thrilled to see them in my apartment! Once the heat was fixed it was good for a while then it would cut in and out but then would work for a while and then go back to cutting in and out. This never stopped till I moved out.
You know the saying a few bad apples ruin it for the rest… well that statement is exactly what the management team is like. There were a couple of people that were truthfully helpful, trying their best, and actually caring. However, what goes up must come down… there was a few who would ignore you as if you should be placed in quarantine. No matter the issue they acted as if it wasn’t a problem, didn’t exsist, or trying to sweep it under the rug. It was very difficult to try and resolve alot of the major issues when you could never get a straight answer or have an actual conversation about it. I felt like I was constantly getting the run around and there is nothing worse of a feeling then knowing you are 100% getting the run around!!!
To bring this full circle as I said you know its bad when raid doesn’t work… when I realized it would take quite some time to get something done I was impatient so I used my own treatments which never worked. So to sum it up I decided to move out. To really add fuel to the fire when I was moving out at least four other families were moving out as well… I guess raid didn’t work for them either…
Hope this sheds some light for you

«COCKROACH INFESTATION»
I originally found this location online using apartment search aps and was very pleased to not only find it within my budget but to also get a completely «brand new» renovated apartment with an updated bath and kitchen complete with off the street parking. What I actually got, was month to month maintenance issues, a serious cockroach infestation, paper thin apartment walls, and being challenged by management each time I reported a new issue.
Day 01 upon inspecting my new home I discovered that the A/​C did not work. I brought this issue to management and was told a work order was put in place. I consistently reminded management of this issue throughout the months of my stay. Upon my move out date, the A/​C still did not work. Each month an appliance would malfunction or break. First it was the washer not filling with water, then the garbage disposal (which I had yet to use), eventually leading up to having no heat in my home and coming home to space heaters that had fallen over on my floorboards (face down that is for who knows how long?). It took almost two weeks to get heat back in my home. Having consistent maintenance issues is not only time consuming/​problematic but opens up your home to «unintended visitors». At least once every two weeks someone new would have to come into my home while I was out to fix problems. I don’t know about you, but I do not like having to hide my valuables every other week.
Day 02 of moving into my new home I woke up to a cockroach next to my sleeping bag. I thought nothing of it and when I found a few more (I moved during the change of seasons) I took it as bugs just moving indoors to escape the cold. By day 04 I had found and KILLED over 12 cockroaches. This was no «seasonal bug issue» this was an actual infestation. I reported the problem to management and was told «the property exterminator» would examine my home within two weeks. It took OVER A MONTH for me to actually get sticky traps within my home. Bugs came from all over but most sites were under the molding of the floor board paneling, underneath the sink, the walls from the living room, and always from some part of my bedroom. Treatment can take several months and is especially hard/​longer if there is a «problem area» identified in the building you live in. Well, wouldn’t you know as soon as I began to get treatment I found out that my entire building was being treated and there was a problem unit somewhere above mine. If you ask property management about bug infestations they can NOT inform you due to «breach of privacy». Apparently when pest control decides there is a high volume of bug activity they step up from the sticky traps (which are already embarrassing to be seen by guests as they are scattered all over your home) to the spray dust. This «dust» which looks like a white colored sand is sprayed within every kitchen cabinet, floor paneling, bathroom floor/​sink, and closet. If you have children, pets, or do not prefer to have your home encased with chemicals then this property is not right for you. From day 02 till my move out date, I experienced NO DECREASE in cock roaches and once again, more «visitors» walked into my home every other week to spray.
Do you enjoy hearing other people have sex? Personally I do not, especially when I am trying to sleep and every night like clock work I heard the couple above me. Just from the paper thin walls I could tell you how many dogs lived next door, how many kids ran around each night above, and that someone elderly above my living room had a serious breathing issue which woke them up with nightly coughing fits. My home was in the rear of my building and I could hear the ice cream truck that drives through off the main roadway. You CAN and WILL hear personal conversations.
Management and I never saw eye to eye. I felt that when I addressed problems about the property that my issues were pushed off to the side. I would have to go out of my way to follow up on searching for missing packages/​mail, fixing safety hazards, checking up on pest control, getting copies of documents, or just general questions. I feel like I was given many false promises.
I see NO HOPE for this property or it’s management.

From the moment we moved into crystal woods we’ve had trouble. Thanks to the remodeling development on Richmond Highway, VDOT has helped us relocate to a new apartment. They had to travel with us and inspect the new apartment for running hot water, electivity, and air conditioning and heating. The apartment that was offered to us was not even completed. There was no running hot water and the A/​C wasn’t even working (we moved in mid July and I was almost 9 months pregnant!). Bianca, thankfully rectified this issue and provided us with a new apartment that was fully renovated with everything VDOT needed to say OK!
First, our car was towed after one of the reps told us it was okay to park in the visitors parking until we got our parking permit. They didn’t even call us to notify us our car was towed! We got it back no charge because they saw I was 9 months pregnant and it wasn’t our fault.
A few weeks later we tried to install wireless internet. We couldn’t. Because when the apartments that were renovated had the wiring done incorrectly. We had to get Verizion to come and fix it because no one from their faculties team knew how to. We had to pay $ 279 for which we were reimbursed after complaining to the leasing office for weeks.
About 3 months later, after I had given birth, we were starting to experience bites. Horrible bites. I even had to go to the emergency room because I had an allergic reaction to it. We thought it may have been a tick because of the bulls-​eye allergic reaction on my leg, but it wasn’t. They had orkin visit our apartment more than 8 times to tell us first it was nothing, then a week later tell us it may be fleas but they don’t know then 2 weeks later tell us it was bed begs after finding one dead bug. We had so many bites that it was to be an INFESTATION of bed bugs, not one DEAD bug. I even had an outside contractor come from the DOH and tell us we had nothing. We were treated for bed bugs and the apartment building quarantined. My husband and I got rid of all our furniture and purchased a brand new bed and furniture for the whole house. Thankfully, no reoccurrence of bites. You can imagine my frustration after almost 2 months of dealing with bites and not knowing what’s going on. Plus, I had a newborn baby at home who was bit on his leg. Orkin told us the infestation came from the upstairs apartments (some not renovated) with more than one family living in them.
We also had a washer and dryer issue where the people installing them were walking in and out of the apartment unannounced while I was on maternity leave with my son. They filled my carpets with stains from their construction boots my son and I had to sleep on an air mattress for over a week because it didn’t take them 2 days like management had told us.
Now, we have a roach problem. We are a military family and we move constantly. This is the first time ever that we’ve had bed bugs and roach issues! Orkin came to put down product and spray whatever it is they spray to help. One of the techs told me that again, it was the families upstairs that live in very unsanitary conditions. I clean with bleach products, take the garbage out every day, sweep and mop everyday, vacuum and sanitize surfaces every day, I wash dishes every day twice a day, and there are still dirty disgusting filthy roaches. They come out all over the place now that the treatment is bringing them out. Its not killing them, just making them show face. I am deathly afraid of them because I have never experienced such disgust. They were even on my baby’s bottles in small section I have to prepare his milk and even in my fridge!
The older kids in the community are always hanging out by the gym trying to get in to drink water late hours of the night which is annoying!
Now, the apartments in our complex are being renovated because the old tenants who cant pay the high priced rent are leaving. The people working downstairs start so early it disrupts my husbands sleep who works 12hours in the emergency room as a PA and needs to sleep. They have no remorse and have been banging away as early as 7AM when my husband is just starting to fall asleep. I tell you there is always something with this place.
I really want to leave, but my husband gets stationed at another base in a few months and then we are gone!
There are only a few PROS to living here:
1. I love their renovated kitchens with black appliances, lots of cabinet space and granite counter tops and the bathroom is my favorite room in the house very pretty.
2. Always enough parking never have to park far from the house.
3. The leasing office has events for the apartment community which I love.
4. There is an express bus right across from the apartment that takes you straight to the pentagon in like less than 15 mins. I love that since I work in Washington and my commute is so much better now.

TERRIBLE, So they decided to install washer and dryers to every individual home. They said on a certain date I’ll be receiving my washer and dryer, It never came. I went into the management office a total of 5 times, and in those five times talked with the same person. The same person told me she was going to call me about it, but NEVER DID.
This is by far the most terrible place to live, they don’t seem organized at all, and the staff is by far just horrible

It has been a few months since I moved here (8 months actually) and things haven’t changed as much… only the seasons. Garbage still piled up on the side of the garbage cans, noisy neighbors, pet owners not picking up after their pets, and the speed bumps have been destroyed due to snow plows from the winter. Since the new management took over, I guess they have been fixing the water pipes (there have been numerous shutoff notices posted) A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MOVED OUT… One couple moved out after staying here for only two months. Once tenants move out, they «renovate» the empty apartment with new cabinets, fixtures, and the like. I also heard they are adding washers and dryers in some of the renovated apartments. With «renovation» comes higher rent prices.
The management have actually started organizing community events which is pretty good. Things like movie night, wine and cheese day, and coffee sometimes. They really need to nix the wine and cheese day. No offense but this community is not into that type of stuff. They also started a contest for the best balcony/​patio, referral imcentives, and has a Facebook page to keep everyone informed on events.
The stairwells are still not cleaned on a regular basis. There was old carpet from another apartment in my stairwell for 3 days… they finally picked it up. Small kids are starting to play outside because it is warm, so many tend to dart in front of your car. There are also a few kids that skateboard… and hit other cars, dart into traffic, and clog the roads because they can’t control their skateboards… kids leaving broken bikes everywhere has become a problem as well.
At night, they check your cars for decals. If you don’t have a decal or temp pass. you will get towed. I try to park my new car away from other cars at night… but sometimes I see people peeking in my car, hitting my car with their door, and throwing out trash near it. My lease ends in September… I have decided to not renew my lease. I would rather pay higher rent in a nicer community with better amenities, than live here.
Also…realize that this part of Alexandria is changing, updating the roads, communities, and pricing people out. In the next few years, if you are having a hard time paying your rent, you may have to find somewhere else to live. I pay 1500 for a 2br. Once I move, they will «renovate» it and skyrocket the rent. Thank God i can afford to live in Alexandria. .many will feel the pinch in a few years.

I lived here for about a year and a half. It’s been a while and I hope things have improved, but this was the worst experience of my life.
When I first moved in there was a cranky nasty lady that lived below me, she filed a complaint about noise about every week. The first time was the day I was moving in, the last two time were during times when I was out of the state on business. The management tried to evict me for noise and I had to get a lawyer. I was then moved to another apartment.
In the new apartment, that is when things got worse.
The maintenance man let himself into my apartment one morning and was standing on a step stool over my bed when I woke up one morning. I screamed and his response was, «you asked for this crack to be fixed». That was the response from the management office too, even though I had NEVER asked for any crack in the ceiling to be repaired. In fact, there wasn’t one, and if I HAD, it certainly wouldnn’t have been my choice to have a strange man do this in my bedroom while I am sleeping.
This same man once struggled with the chain I put on the door and stuck his face in the crack yelling at me to open the door so he could fix my toilet. I had to threaten to call the police.
The next was the fire. Aparently a neighbor caught the place on fire and none of the smoke dectors worked. I was lucky to have been carried out while 6 months pregnant by the firemen who broke down my door.
Then there was the gas smell. The management company and superintendant for 3 days kept telling me that I was smelling paint. I had to hire someone to come in to repair the gas line in the back of the stove. When I showed the bill to the front office, they told me that they weren’t responsible for me calling an outside company and they have their own maintenance staff.
I was 19 and living alone with my baby boy. I had to request the locks be changed twice because the girl at the front desk kept giving a copy of my key to my abusive ex, who was not on the lease.
When I complained to the new Property Manager, a man. It got worse and I finally had it. He tried to kiss me, broke in and cooked dinner in my apartment, (he was there when I came home from work) and would repeatidly drop in to check on me.
I know I should have done more. At 19 and vulnerable, i was stupid. The lawyers I spoke to all said it was my word against theirs and the police said that since they were gone before they got there and had a reason to come in from time to time there was nothing I could do. I will never forget the hell I loved in while here.