Pros
Very organized processes and policies. Lots of company sponsored lunches known affectionately as associate appreciation. If you want to learn how to spin and fake it until you make it this would be a great place to start out. Tons of google and glass door reviews for you to read through if you're looking to get some direction on if it's worth it or not. This goes for residents and employees.
Cons
Nepotism is like a widespread disease there. No support from management it's an every man for himself kind of environment. Bonus/commissions system is designed to get the maximum amount of work/production out of you for the least amount of money. They set lofty and often times blatantly unattainable goals and act surprised when employees don't achieve them and subsequently don't get paid commissions or bonuses. This includes both the management and maintenance sides of the business. This is seen in areas such as NPS scores, leasing/renewal bonuses/Mid Lease surveys/ORM goals etc. If you enjoy being treated like a product, commodity, or an easily expendable asset of low value this is the place for you. Policy is king here but only where it serves someone's agenda, usually someone in management. There is NO accountability so more tenured employees get away with murder because they know they can. They will teach you to "act like an owner" and be "autonomous" however every time you do your decisions or actions will be called into question. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians to put it simply. If a resident has an issue with a rule/policy/fee all they have to do is threaten to contact the media or an attorney and Avalon will give them whatever they desire so good luck enforcing anything that is contested. They collect top dollar in rents, nickel and dime the extra fees and have astronomical rent increases. Try having conversation after conversation explaining to residents that they have a 15/18/20/25/30% rent increase for their same old apartment which hasn't all of a sudden learned a new trick and morphed into the Ritz Carlton. They build with the CHEAPEST materials they can find from china and the like and do not care about the quality provided to residents. Read some resident google reviews and notice a common thread about high rent increases, noise complaints, move out charges, cheap, looks good at first, not worth the money, buyer beware etc. They will quickly try to cover up any discrepancies or mistakes and routinely mislead residents or falsify information to avoid exposure such as issues with bugs, smoking, noise, "mildew or discoloration" aka MOLD. That's just a glimpse into some of the fun things you will enjoy with your belly full of "associate appreciation" aka "free food". Keep in mind Avalon Bay is a top real estate investment trust or REIT and they can afford it but it's a tax write off just like that 20% associate housing discount. They are raking in $2-5 billion annually according to Glassdoor and their premier "Pro" amongst a hefty list of Cons if you read the other reviews is "good food". What I will say is that if you are looking to build your resume this would be a great pit stop as it is a brand name. Like most brand names there is a certain level of buyer ignorance that goes hand and hand with brand recognition. Many places will hire you simply from seeing the Avalon name on your resume because Avalon Bay has an expert marketing department which knows that image is everything so they make sure everyone at the company is drinking the Koolaid so to speak. If you don't drink up then you don't last. If you last you recruit others to drink the koolaid too. Rinse and repeat. Fold in some act responsibly Spirit of caring code of ethics propaganda and there you have it. As someone else said in a previous review to describe the experience perfectly...STEP RIGHT UP AND JOIN THE CIRCUS! Good luck
