Avalon on the Alameda

Lived here as a single tenant with no pets and left the unit professionally cleaned. Despite that, I was charged an obnoxious amount for so-called "damage" that any reasonable person would consider normal wear and tear.

What is most frustrating is the pattern. Avalon offers their own cleaning services at move-out. If you opt out and arrange your own cleaning, they will still find a way to charge you. It does not matter what condition you leave the unit in. The charges will come regardless. It... is a system built to extract money from departing residents, not to fairly assess the condition of an apartment.

On top of that, I was hit with three months of utility bills dumped against my deposit at move-out, with no prior monthly invoicing. That is not how utility billing should work.

I have lived in apartments across the United States and never once experienced anything like this. If you are considering Avalon, go in with your eyes open. Document everything obsessively from day one, including your move-in condition, every cleaning receipt, and every communication. You will need it.

Deeply disappointed and will not be returning as a resident. Read More

Avalon on the Alameda is a great place to live. It's walking distance to Whole Foods, SAP Center and a lots of great restaurants. It's also in one of San Jose's best school districts. And best of all the office staff are friendly and helpful.

I really enjoy living on this street - it has a lot of character and convenient stores and restaurants, as well as Diridon bus station within walking distance. The apartments are well laid out, spacious, and I appreciate all the natural light. You can rent a small storage space right in the garage as well. There's a nice pool that's usually not very crowded. The only negative experience I've had is that the garage gate didn't have a sensor that reacted to a person being under it, and after... seeing a near miss we tried to get the company to install sensors, and though they eventually did, they were initially apathetic and disrespectful. Also, the rent has gone up a lot since we moved in. Overall, though, I've liked living here a lot. Read More