I'm having a day...

[TheEngineer]

How is it that some people can be so wholly incompetent and still be able to keep their job? We own a rental property that used to be our house. We bought it when the prices were high and moved when they were low. Rather than take a huge loss, we've held onto it and rent it out for a small monthly loss. We have a "professional" management firm we pay monthly to collect rent, handle maintenance requests, find new tenants, etc. They're an absolute nightmare!

I won't get into the mess they created during the transition between two tenants this summer, but related to that process I decided to audit my account with them. Long story short, they owe me $1800 in funds the inappropriately charged to me, didn't charge to a tenant, etc. It's been 3 weeks and they're still trying to understand what happened. I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENED GIVE ME MY MONEY!

Then in the middle of all this, the hot water heater spring a leak. They're authorized in emergency situations to send a plumber or whoever is needed to stabilize an issue. In this case, that would be stop the leak, figure out the cause, and call me for authorization for repairs. What did they do? They authorized a $2000 replacement of the hot water heater.

The plumber's invoice says the expansion tank was leaking due to a faulty gas valve. What the heck does that even mean!? The expansion tank is external to the water heater. None of them can tell me. THEN WHY DID YOU AUTHORIZE A $2000 REPAIR!?

To make matters worse, it is 2 days later and they haven't even sent someone to clean up the water that leaked all over the carpets, soaked the walls, and apparently traveled into the next room. They don't seem to fathom what they did was wrong. This isn't some rinky-dink firm either. They manage 4000 properties. What in the literal heck!?

</end rant>

Sorry, I needed to vent. I feel like I'm the only one sane in this situation.

 

[cmcoker]

Sorry they are incompetent, but seems to be a common problem. My coworkers living room floods everytime it rains more than a sprinkle. Not sure if her management company maintains or owns the property but they were gonna leave the water for 3 weeks cause that's when the crew could get out to CLEAN the floors. Carpet would be ruined forever by then..

Did I mention we've had record rainfall for September here? They keep referring her back and forth between the national and local offices and neither knows what the other is doing or talking about.

Apparently, the previous tenant accidentally mailed a package there, so they talked to him and the flooding was an issue then as well.

I told her to move.. how's the home value now? Houses around here going in days, multiple offers over asking.

 

[TheEngineer]

That's super frustrating too.

The market in NJ was slow to tank and so it has been slow to recover. The eviction process takes around 2 years so it was a while before things got bad there. Things are starting to turn around, but not enough yet. We just signed our tenants in June, so we couldn't sell before next June at this point.

 

[cmcoker]

That's a bummer, guessing your locked in a contract with the leasing company as well... hope it turns around for you soon.

 

[TheEngineer]

Nope. They're so fired as soon as I get my money.

 

[Kudos]

I wish you lived in New Orleans, I would tell you to ditch the management company and I'd rent from you my "luxury apartment" is ridiculous. Pay high end prices and still they suck. If it was for the maintenance guy loving the aquariums I would never things fixed the right way.

 

[norfolkgarden]

How is it that some people can be so wholly incompetent and still be able to keep their job? We own a rental property that used to be our house. We bought it when the prices were high and moved when they were low. Rather than take a huge loss, we've held onto it and rent it out for a small monthly loss. We have a "professional" management firm we pay monthly to collect rent, handle maintenance requests, find new tenants, etc. They're an absolute nightmare!

I won't get into the mess they created during the transition between two tenants this summer, but related to that process I decided to audit my account with them. Long story short, they owe me $1800 in funds the inappropriately charged to me, didn't charge to a tenant, etc. It's been 3 weeks and they're still trying to understand what happened. I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENED GIVE ME MY MONEY!

Then in the middle of all this, the hot water heater spring a leak. They're authorized in emergency situations to send a plumber or whoever is needed to stabilize an issue. In this case, that would be stop the leak, figure out the cause, and call me for authorization for repairs. What did they do? They authorized a $2000 replacement of the hot water heater.

The plumber's invoice says the expansion tank was leaking due to a faulty gas valve. What the heck does that even mean!? The expansion tank is external to the water heater. None of them can tell me. THEN WHY DID YOU AUTHORIZE A $2000 REPAIR!?

To make matters worse, it is 2 days later and they haven't even sent someone to clean up the water that leaked all over the carpets, soaked the walls, and apparently traveled into the next room. They don't seem to fathom what they did was wrong. This isn't some rinky-dink firm either. They manage 4000 properties. What in the literal heck!?

</end rant>

Sorry, I needed to vent. I feel like I'm the only one sane in this situation.

Sorry to hear about this.

Hppe it improves soon!

I'm sure you have all the paperwork to take them to court?

 

[Erica-Renee]

This is why when these management companies call me to do Repair work them i tell them NO.. I do not work Middle People. Stop using a BIG Company , I see this over and over larger companies taking advantage of people. The same people who often will not give me a Project because they claim I am not Large enough of a company. But instead give it to a Company that hire the job out to Chuck in a Truck with NO License no insurance and OFTEN wearing a Cute Ankle Bracelet..

So sorry for your issues , My Professional Advice Find a Small Construction company Self employed Remodel person to help you with Repairs and Handle the Property yourself.. Stay away from TOTAL PROFIT ONLY Driven Companies.. I look every customer i have in the eye give them a Reasonable price and a Promise to do it right the first time. I have more work then time to do it . Good Luck

 

[Mattrg02]

This is all why I have a general dislike for people until I get to know them.

 

[norfolkgarden]

This is all why I have a general dislike for people until I get to know them.

Lol, so true.

But I smile and try to be nice anyway so they don't think the same about me.
[emoji6]

You can think it. You just don't have to say out loud what you're thinking.
[emoji23]

 

[TheEngineer]

Update:

The management company called me Friday at 5:00. Told me they just got a quote to do the water remediation work.... WHATTTTT!!!!!???? Water has been sitting in the house for a week.

I made them get the president of the company on the phone. He heard what was going on and freaked out. Threatened to fire the guy on the phone with me there. Said, “Get off the phone, right now, and get somebody over there. Not tomorrow, not Monday. Tonight. Now. Why would you let water sit in this guy’s house?”

I assume someone was sent. But I haven’t been updated. Gonna have to get insurance involved. Over $2k in damage apparently.

 

[Erica-Renee]

Update:

The management company called me Friday at 5:00. Told me they just got a quote to do the water remediation work.... WHATTTTT!!!!!???? Water has been sitting in the house for a week.

I made them get the president of the company on the phone. He heard what was going on and freaked out. Threatened to fire the guy on the phone with me there. Said, “Get off the phone, right now, and get somebody over there. Not tomorrow, not Monday. Tonight. Now. Why would you let water sit in this guy’s house?”

I assume someone was sent. But I haven’t been updated. Gonna have to get insurance involved. Over $2k in damage apparently.

Sheesh very complainant people There .

 

[Michael Naegeli]

Property management companies suck!! They have always seemed to overcharge me and were consistently incompatant. I too had a couple properties that I held onto and rented. I just got the second one sold. Not too bad of loss, but I don’t think market for existing homes goin up much more where I’m at for the new build inventory is now come back and cheaper. My suggestion would be to unload now man. I will never deal w a property management co again. Straight up morons in my experience. Always tried to throw in xtra costs and tenants always seemed to be at their wits end w them too. All gone for me. Good riddens

 

[norfolkgarden]

Update:

The management company called me Friday at 5:00. Told me they just got a quote to do the water remediation work.... WHATTTTT!!!!!???? Water has been sitting in the house for a week.

I made them get the president of the company on the phone. He heard what was going on and freaked out. Threatened to fire the guy on the phone with me there. Said, “Get off the phone, right now, and get somebody over there. Not tomorrow, not Monday. Tonight. Now. Why would you let water sit in this guy’s house?”

I assume someone was sent. But I haven’t been updated. Gonna have to get insurance involved. Over $2k in damage apparently.

Sounds like things are getting at least a little better.
Hope the president of the company is serious about fixing the situation.

Our former next door neighbor had tenants for almost a year.
We had a week of temps with highs below freezing.
That never happens here.
2 days at most and then it's back in the forties.
Anyway the pipes under their crawl space froze because nothing here is insulated.
It was dripping for 3 months.
They had to replace the entire hardwood floor. Small house, 700 square feet.
Some of the boards were raised up 2".
The tenant was "behind on rent" (2 months, small payments every week, just to keep them hoping the tenants would make good on everything.)

so the tenants didn't say anything to rock the boat and get removed for legitimate repairs to the house that needed to be done. Or whatever. God only knows what they were thinking while they kept a rug over the worsening uneven floor boards.

Took almost 2 months to get the repairs completed.

New tenants are from their church and quiet and nice.