Somerhill Farms apartments, Gainesville VA

brats in the belfry

• bouncing a ball off the common wall
• running up and down apartment halls nonstop for hours, shaking the whole building
• jumping off the bed making the whole building shake
• screaming, temper tantrums, etc.

If you don't like noise, and the whole building shaking, then you don't want to move to the Somerhill Farms apartments in Gainesville VA.

the retirement maze: a decent place to live

dead end #1 - bought a house in a SC retirement community

• poorly built house
• poorly built community 
• infrastructure: golf courses, poorly built community buildings, roads, ponds, utilities, etc.
• high liability
• http://peretired.blogspot.com/

dead end #2 - rented a house in Culpeper VA

• bad landlord & property manager
• roof leaked, driveway washed out, water problems, etc.

dead end #3 - rented a house in Nokesville VA

• fickle landlord decided to move back
• 2 acre lot to mow and maintain landscaping

dead end #3 - rented a house in no. Fauquier Co. VA

• basement rented by another renter; some of his electric on our bill
• crooked property manager advertised gas heat when it was propane; and, propane tank was empty.
• crooked property manager advertised "working clothes washer and dryer" included. neither worked. we had to purchase a washer and dryer at our expense.
• http://customertalk.blogspot.com/2015/09/crooks.html
• neighbor's dog on property
• poor cable TV service including a lack of working coaxial cable outlets
• house, carport and roof in poor condition
• long, unpaved, dead-and-dying-tree-lined driveway 
• trees, leaves, grass, bushes, etc.

dead end #4 - Marque apartments in Gainesville VA

• upstairs neighbor up all night running and stomping, moving furniture, slamming balcony door
• dogs barking & smelly hallways
• bad property manager
• http://marqueresidents.blogspot.com/

dead end #5 - Somerhill apartments in Gainesville VA

• bad property manager
• 6 noisy college-age rowdies with 6 bikes on the balcony (a lease violation) in the apartment directly below us customer talk: breach of contract--Somerhill Farms apartments, Gainesville VA
• squatters on the property: customer talk: squatters, Somerhill Farms apartments, Gainesville, VA 
• other: customer talk: Somerhill Farms apartments, Gainesville VA
• traffic and lack of public parks

??? #6 - rental house in Strasburg VA

• less traffic
• fewer people 
• we're hoping for a better class of people, but at least they won't be living in the same building that we're living in
• relatively new house 
• relatively small lot to mow (no leaves from trees to rake or clog gutters)
• $1K/mo. less rent

File:Maze.svg - Wikimedia Commons

Somerhill Farms apartments, Gainesville VA

What do folks who were born in a barn, who live at Somerhill Farms apartments in Gainesville VA, do? 

among other things, they throw eggs.

Somerhill Farms apartments, Gainesville, VA, irresponsible dog owners

That's a pile of dog crap in the foreground--on the path that connects Somerhill Farms apartments to the trail that goes to Jefferson St. In the background, just inches away, on the other side of the fence, is Somerhill Farm's dog park.

Another pile of dog crap in the middle of the trail, about 30 ft. from the pile of dog crap in the first photo.

Novant Health

Flu season.

I log into MyChart and click on the "flu shot only" link to schedule an appointment for a flu shot.
I get to the THIRD PAGE of the process and it says: 
"Please choose the location at which you would like to schedule your appointment."
my location (Haymarket VA) isn't on the list.  
ABORT!

I then call the Haymarket office to schedule an appointment for a flu shot. 
No one answers. 
I leave a voice mail.
That was three weeks ago.
Novant hasn't returned my call.

Novant claims that they are "making healthcare remarkable".

When did "remarkable" become "we don't want your business"?

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Novant_healt_logo13.png

Somerhill Farms, Gainesville VA one-way

Twice in less than two weeks.

Renters pay for this service. If renters fail to follow instructions (trash in a tied bag, in the designated trash can, with the lid closed, not weigning more than 30 lbs., outside the door, but not before 6 PM, empty can inside before 9 AM the next morning), then the renter is fined.

a refund to renters for the times when trash isn't collected? not in your life! NOT in this "one-way" place! 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MUTCD_R6-1L.svg

In a fair and honest world the landlord would ditch this "service" (noisy trash collection occurs at all times during the night waking us up) and refund the cost to renters.

It'll NEVER happen! not in this dishonest, one-way arrangement where the landlords ALWAYS get their way and the renters ALWAYS get screwed.

Somerhill Farms 7351 Yountville Drive Gainesville, VA 20155 (703) 754-8008

NO VALET TRASH SERVICE 10/18/2016 VALET TRASH SERVICE IS SUSPENDED FOR TONIGHT 10/18/2016 DUE TO VEHICLE ISSUES. PLEASE DO NOT PLACE YOUR TRASH OUT THIS EVENING. IF YOU HAVE TRASH PLEASE BRING IT TO THE COMPACTOR ADJACENT TO BUILDING 7321 THANK YOU

PS  This email was sent on 10/18/2016 at 5:26 PM, a half hour before trash goes out.

Somerhill Farms Gainesville VA hypocrites

Somerhill Farms 7351 Yountville Drive Gainesville, VA 20155 (703) 754-8008

TOWING AND DOG WASTE Dear resident (s): There are many people who are being towed because they are not hanging the parking tag in their window or they are parking in visitors parking spaces without a tag.  ALSO- Fire lane parking is and always has been prohibited. This is not just a lease violation but a Prince William County violation. PLEASE NOTE:  If you have a visitor- they MUST hang the visitor tag we issued on their rear view mirror. If someone is parked in your space, you have the ability to call Manassas towing to have them tow the car. You must then park in visitor with a visitor tag in place of your parking tag. To combat abuse of visitor parking, the tow truck driver has been instructed to tow any vehicle that has parked in visitor for more than 3 days/week. That said, if you have a long term visitor please be sure to contact the office so we may issue a proper tag.  DOG WASTE IN VALET TRASH CANS!  It has been brought to our attention that someone has been placing dog waste bags in empty valet waste trash cans that have yet to be pulled in after trash pick up. This is not only unfair to your neighbor who owns the trash can but it's extremely rude. We have several dog waste stations throughout the property. Please be sure you are not walking your dog (or letting them urinate/defecate) on the grassy areas around the buildings. It is unfair to those who wish to open their windows and it is killing the grass.There are designated spaces along the conservation area and we have a dog park behind building 7300.  When using the dog park please be sure to pick up after your pet. We now have security cameras and for full disclosure pet waste violations start at $100 and increase thereafter by $100 for subsequent violations. Please help us keep your community clean and safe! Thank you Somerhill Farms

Wells Fargo: bad guys rob good guys

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/09/business/dealbook/wells-fargo-fined-for-years-of-harm-to-customers.html

I imagine that if a poll asked "How important is integrity in business?", most respondents would answer "huh?"

Hilton

Following are my comments about a really bad experience that we had with Hilton hotels:

At 4:30 AM on Saturday 9/24/16 my wife and I checked out of the Hilton Atlanta Northeast (HAN). The screaming and other noise coming from the 7th floor hallway and other 7th floor rooms began the evening before and continued through the night. When I asked the desk clerk if he could assist in making a reservation for us at the nearby Hampton Inn (HI), he said that he couldn't. Being a Hilton Honors (HH) member, and knowing that HAN and HI are all under the same "umbrella", I am miffed as to why the desk clerk was unable to help me with my simple request. 

We checked out of HAN and into the nearby HI. When I checked my HH account, it showed that we were checked in at both HAN and HI. I called the Hilton 800 number. The first Hilton representative (HR) that I talked to had an accent such that I was only able to understand about 10% of what she said. The second HR that I spoke to said that we might be billed for Saturday night at HAN. The second HR said that she was going to hang up on me, and I told her "go right ahead". I then spoke to the third HR, Karon Tank, who understood our situation.

For the record, I did not ask for a refund for Friday night or for anything else other than removing Hilton's error from my HH account that showed that we were checked in at both HAN and HI. I understand that the screaming and other noise at HAN is part of the world that we live in today. I understand that HAN wasn't going to do anything about the noise for fear of a lawsuit. We knew that our only course of action was to check out of HAN and check into another hotel. What is most disturbing to me is that the HAN desk clerk couldn't help us with our reservation at the nearby HI and the attitudes of the first two HRs when I called about Hilton's error of showing on my HH account that we were checked in at both HAN and HI.

good engineering; poor planning and poor enforcement

Somerset Crossing Drive in Gainesville VA is a relatively new, divided 4 lane road with a wide median, turn lanes and sidewalks on both sides. The posted speed limit is 45 mph.

Sidewalks are typically 5 feet wide (less in some places) asphalt. Trees planted close to the sidewalk have made sidewalks an asphalt mogul course--poor planning.

Adding to the problem of asphalt moguls and the relatively narrow width, adult bicyclists ride their bicycles on the sidewalk. My wife and I, walking side-by-side, have been assaulted by adult bicyclists coming up from behind us, where we can neither see nor hear them--poor enforcement.

If the sidewalks had been built with concrete, then they would be unserviceable, even though they are relatively new. "Bumps", depressions, cracks and "steps" caused by tree roots would have made it impossible for a handicapped person or a person pushing a baby stroller to use them. Cracks and asphalt moguls caused by tree roots make it difficult for even an able-bodied person to use the asphalt sidewalks. 

Using asphalt instead of concrete could be considered "good" engineering. If concrete had been used, then the relatively new sidewalks would have been unserviceable. However, making them only 5 feet wide when adult bicyclists use them is both poor planning and poor enforcement by the Prince William County police.

breach of contract--Somerhill Farms apartments, Gainesville VA

If someone on the second floor

• slams their door
• drops something(s) on the floor
• stomps around their apartment
• rearranges their furniture
• stomps up or down the stairs to the 3rd or first floors
• moves in or moves out

residents on the 4th floor not only hear it, but they FEEL it too--tremors shake the entire building.

How would you feel if the landlord/management company (Gates Hudson) for the apartment that you are living in rented the apartment below you to young rowdies who have no regard for their neighbors? screaming, yelling, slamming doors, etc. during the workweek and on weekends until 2 AM. 

Somerhill Farms in Gainesville VA is a mix of working and retired persons and at least one group of young rowdies. We feel betrayed that the landlord/management company (Gates Hudson) would allow such a situation. 

Gates Hudson's lease says:

"12. LIMITATIONS ON CONDUCT 

... No baby carriages, tricycles, bicycles, or other articles of personal property may be deposited, allowed, or permitted on the patios or balconies of the building ...

13. PROHIBITED CONDUCT  

You or your occupants and/or guests may not engage in the following activities:

     a) Behaving in a loud or obnoxious manner.

... 

You may not make or permit any disturbing noises that unreasonably interfere with the rights, comforts or convenience of other tenants."

Gates Hudson doesn't enforce its own lease.  Other residents expect Gates Hudson to enforce its lease for their (other residents') safety, protection and comfort. 

If property manager Gates Hudson enforced their own lease, then it would put an end to the obnoxious door slamming (sometimes more than 20 times in a single day). At a minimum, these inconsiderate, rude, immature adults slam the door 12 times each day when they each take their bicycles, one-by-one, to and from the balcony.

But, Gates Hudson doesn't enforce their own lease.

You'd have to be pretty stupid not to know that six college-age foreigners (I don't know the language that they speak) with bicycles and a den mother are trouble. Gates Hudson isn't that stupid. GH knew that they'd be trouble; GH sold out the other residents here by renting to them--all for the almighty $$$. The fact that GH doesn't enforce their own lease, e.g. six bicycles on the balcony, noise, one leasee and six full-time "visitors"?, etc., proves that GH sold us out. It also proves that Gates Hudson's lease, as far as the owner/landlord responsibilities are concerned, isn't worth the paper that it's written on.

WARNING:  Don't rent at Somerhill Farms apartments in Gainesville VA.

change?

Do you want change?

then stop supporting (with your hard-earned dollars) those who you want to change:

• stop contributing to political parties and their candidates
• stop doing business with customer-unfriendly businesses
• demand that government stop wasting your taxes

 

trend micro: customer unfriendly sales tactics

"...by clicking on 'I agree' you agree to the terms and conditions... and automatic renewal."

What if a customer doesn't like automatic debits? 
What if the customer doesn't want to sign up for the product for life?
What if a customer prefers to renew the product on their own terms ("pay as you go")?
Whatever happened to "treat your customers right"?

what it's all about

social media hogwash

"... suggesing that any media form has some sort of magical value that can turn a sow's ear into a beautiful corsage of brand value is ... hogwash. 
...
Marketers are trying to invade social media space just the same way they did traditional outbound marketing communication. The premise is simple: There are millions of people involved in social media. Therefore, for me as a marketer, they are fair game to chase, pursue, pressure, etc. I'll invade their space, just the way I did with newspapers, magazines, radio and television. They are trapped in the system and are, therefore, targets. More hogwash."
Branding-Schultz.pdf

squatters, Somerhill Farms apartments, Gainesville, VA

Somerhill Farms apartments

Gainesville, VA
on the trail that connects to Jefferson St. (Haymarket)

July 6, 2016, 10 AM

I emailed these two photos to Gates Hudson's on-site property manager. She replied "we will contact the authorities".

July 7

The tent is still there! Gates Hudson's property manager and maintenance man said that parents kicked their two "kids" out of their apartment. Gates Hudson's property manager also said "All I can do is report it to the police. After that, there's nothing I can do. You can contact the police if you like." She also tried to tell me that the property doesn't go to the trail where the squatters are. She's wrong.


Source: Prince William County VA GIS (Geographic Information System) a.k.a. "County Mapper"

Not knowing how old the "kids" were who had been kicked out of their parent's apartment, I called the Prince William County child abuse hotline. Later I noticed two police cars outside our building. One cop was in the car and the other was wandering around like he was lost. I told him that I may be able to help them find what they're looking for. "The tent?"  "Yep." 

Later when I went to get the mail the two police cars were parked at the office. One cop called to me. He said: "They're both 18. There's a note on the tent that says 'We'll be out by tonight." He also said: "I don't think they've ever been camping--their tent is set up in the worst possible place (right in the middle of the trail)." 


July 8
The tent is still there! We didn't backtrack today. We walked around the tent in the middle of the trail. (I had my cane with me.) I saw someone laying inside the tent; he didn't look 18 to me. 

Now I understand. My only questions are:

1. to the parents: Why did you give them the tent?
2. Will the cops follow up? (I'm doubtful.)
3. to Gates Hudson: Why on earth did you ever allow them to squat on the property that you're managing for the owner(s)? (Perhaps Gates Hudson is more stupid than I thought.)

July 9 (day 4)

The tent is still there! smack dab in the middle of the trail. same note that's been there since day 1 ("We will have our stuff gone by tonight..."):

It smells of human waste--a Health Department issue.

July 10 (day 5)

no change: https://youtu.be/232lOm4RFw8

As far as my questions are concerned:

1. I'm beginning to understand why the parents threw these liars out of their apartment. What I don't understand is why they gave them the tent.
2. Like I figured, the cops didn't follow up.
3. Gates Hudson is dumber than I thought. No one in their right mind would take on the liability themselves (and the owner(s) that they represent) for injuries that the squatters cause to themselves and/or others. Besides this, there's the issue of adverse possession (squatters' rights). 

July 15 (day 10)

Finally, after 10 days they're gone! Now all that's left is their trash:

and the smell human waste. YUCK!

In addition to being wrong and reckless, Gates Hudson's property manager fails to meet the owner's/property manager's responsibilities outlined in their lease. She also fails to keep residents informed of situations that impact our safety, protection and comfort. She's not looking out for the owner(s) or the residents--she's just looking out for herself.

customer talk: Somerhill Farms apartments, Gainesville VA

This is one of those deals where nobody wins:

• not the residents of Somerhill Farms
• not the owners of Somerhill Farms
• not PWC police
• not PWC Child Protective Services
• not the parents of the squatters
• not property manager Gates Hudson
• and, most of all, not the squatters

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles doesn't answer citizens' mail

Does it take a month to respond to a citizen's letter? by snail mail? by email? by telephone?

No.

Don't bother writing to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. The DMV doesn't respond to citizens' mail.