Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Oakwood Review #30

Which property management company did you use?

Oakwood Corporate Housing

What was the approximate START date for your stay?

May 2012

What was the approximate END date for your stay?

July 2012

You stated that you used Oakwood Worldwide.  Where was your apartment located?

Oakwood Falls Church

Overall Satisfaction
On a scale of 1 to 5, please rate your level of satisfaction with the following:
Overall, how satisfied were you with your location and direct billing option?

Very Satisfied

How likely would you be to choose the same direct billing company next time?

Very Likely

Basic Questions
How much notice did the direct billing program (Oakwood, BOQ, NCH) give you for your housing assignment?

1 week to 1 month

How many family members (including yourself) were on your orders at the time of this housing assignment?
Number of Adults (age 19+): 2

Number of Children (age 0-4): 0

Number of Children (age 5-12): 2

Number of Teenagers (age 13-18): 0

How many bedrooms did your apartment have?

1

How many pets stayed with you?

1

How much was the pet fee per pet?

300

Tell us what your apartment complex and neighborhood had to offer.
Please check each amenity provided by your apartment complex.

playground on-site, swimming pool, work-out facility, uncovered parking, business center, kid activities (e.g., supervised movie night, play groups), volleyball court, tennis court, basketball court, transportation to and from FSI or Main State, weekly maid service, on-site dry cleaner, sundries store & bbq

Please check each item that your neighborhood offered within close proximity to your apartment.

dog-friendly park, restaurants, convenience stores, Metro or bus stop, These are all walking distance.  + several gyms, BJs, car rental location.

How far is the walk to the nearest Metro station?

6-10 minutes

How far is the walk to the nearest ART bus stop that runs to FSI?

Not sure, didn't use

How far is the walk to the nearest Capitol Bikeshare station?

Not sure, didn't use

How far is the walk to the nearest car share program (such as ZipCar)?

Not sure, didn't use

Was the nearest grocery store within walking or driving distance?

0-5 minute walk

What school(s) (if any) did you send your kid(s) to during your TDY?

n/a

Satisfaction Questions
On a scale of 1 to 5, please rate your level of satisfaction with the following:
Size of apartment for your family size

Very Satisfied

Storage Space

Very Satisfied

Quality of "Welcome Kit" provided

Very Satisfied

Please share what items were included in the welcome kit.

Basic kitchen items and enough linens and towels for our family of 4.  

Quality of housekeeping services

Very Satisfied

If you ever had an issue with the quality of housekeeping services provided, was the issue ever resolved to your satisfaction?

Not Applicable

Quality of furniture provided

Very Satisfied

Proximity to the Metro

Satisfied

Please name the closest Metro stop.

East Falls Church (orange line)

Proximity to FSI

Satisfied

Proximity to grocery store(s)

Very Satisfied

Please list the grocery stores near your building.

BJs (the membership-only big-box chain).  This is under a 5 minute walk from the Oakwood at Falls Church.  Other non-membership grocery stores are not within walking distance of this Oakwood but there is a shuttle to/from.

Responsiveness of program (Oakwood, BOQ, NCH) to service calls

Very Satisfied

Experience with local school system.

Very Satisfied

What school(s) did your child(ren) attend?

JCCNV Preschool

Please elaborate on why you were or were not satisfied with the school(s).

One of our children attended the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia's preschool from January to August 2007.  It is an excellent program and they have infant care now, but they are quite far from the Oakwood Falls Church, as they are located on Little River Turnpike in Fairfax County, 3 miles south of the Dunn Loring Metro Station.  You need a car to get to/from the JCCNV.  Our children have never attended Falls Church public schools.  

How many times have you stayed with each of the directly billed apartment programs?
BOQ: 0

NCH: 0

Oakwood: 5+

If you have stayed in this particular housing before, was this a deciding factor for you to return and why?

Yes.  Because of the children's familiarity and comfort with the Oakwood Falls Church, this is the main deciding factor for multiple returns.  We stayed there January to August 2007 (language training); July-August 2009 (FSI training); September 2009 to May 2010 (rented; domestic assignment);  May to July 2012 (Home Service Transfer Allowance); and June to July 2014 (Pre-Departure Subsistence Allowance).

Please use this space to share any additional thoughts about this particular direct billing program and the apartment where you stayed.

We are quite happy with the Oakwood Falls Church.  Though it's neither glamorous nor luxurious, it is a nice, pleasant suburban complex with tons of transient Foreign Service families, tons of kids running around, and our children have always been happy there.  The apartments now also have their own washer/dryer combo, which is a huge improvement.  It's a far cry from the urban chic of Dupont or even something like the Mosaic District or Clarendon so if urban and walkable and a Whole Foods lifestyle is what you are looking for, look elsewhere. FSI is close enough to bike to and Main State is accessible by bike for the heartier--both via mainly bike trails.  The metro is only 0.8 of a mile away and the walk is not bad, plus there is a regular metro shuttle as well as an FSI shuttle.  This is easy, uncomplicated living that the children enjoy.  If I was childless, there is no way I would stay here.