Equity Apartments (Centreville, Chantilly, Herndon: lease, townhome, safe area)

[JCricket]

I've got the offer letter! Which now means I'm scrambling to figure out how to move from Colorado to the Chantilly Area. I'm planning on getting a decent apartment for the short term to get my bearings and such. As part of my apartment searching, properties by Equity Apartments keep surfacing, so I was wondering if anyone has had experience with them, or if anyone has apartment recommendations for areas around Chantilly. The Equity properties I've found are:
The Reserve at Regency Park, Centreville
The Reserve at Fairfax Corner, Fairfax
The Reserve at Town Center, Pontomac Falls

Please help! Unfortunately this is going to be a sight-unseen rental, so any advice on the communities, things in the area, etc will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[saganista]

The only one I know of is the Fairfax one, and I don't know the complex in particular, just as one of a good number of clusters that has sprung up like mushrooms in the area around the County Government Center. These are all upscale developments, recently built, in a nice safe area, with easy travel to all sorts of stuff. Fair Oaks Mall (a big one) is nearby, so is Fairfax City, and the Vienna Metro for jaunts into DC isn't far off either. Obviously, your experience there would depend on neighbors and management and the quality of the maintenance crews and so forth. I have no clue on any of that, but as far as issues over whether it's some sort of drug-infested, litter-strewn dump where wino's and homeless people loiter at all hours of the day and night, well, no, it's a long, long way from any of that...

[lindsayd]

Apartment Ratings - Apartments for Rent with Ratings and Reviews from Actual Renters
is a great site that has reviews of complexes from everywhere.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by lindsayd

apartmentratings.com is a great site that has reviews of complexes from everywhere.

They do have a lot of ratings alright, but do you find that it's mostly the people who have had some sort of problem who post on these sites? I just wonder whether people who are having, or who did have, a perfectly ordinary stay at a complex are really motivated to jump on-line and post Yeah, it was fine...

[caution]

I've lived in two different "Equity" properties here, but none of the ones you mentioned. Apartment life is just that... it's what you make it. If they've been remodeled recently they should be OK. My only advice, live as close to work or a metro station as possible.

I currently live in one of their properties and leased it sight unseen. The staff isn't great, but the science/art of customer service can't really be found anywhere lately it seems.

[New Hampshire]

Originally Posted by caution

The staff isn't great, but the science/art of customer service can't really be found anywhere lately it seems.

So true, so true.

[lchoro]

Might also look at Archstone which has apartments in Dulles and Herndon (Woodland Park). I believe both are new.

[JCricket]

Great, thanks a lot. I have tried that apartment ratings site, and it seems like a crap shoot sometimes... an apartment we rented for my wife in Chicago had horrible reviews, but she's loved it, so who knows. I had just noticed that they had a floorplan that was a townhome-style with two levels, so I was hoping that meant it had the potential to be quieter since you won't have anyone above or below you.

[sa_native1977]

I usually vote for the shortest commute, especially when renting. I'm thinking that the Potomac Falls or Centreville apartments will be a better fit than Fairfax. Best of luck with the move!