Time to move (again)?
By
(2 votes, average: 0.00 out of 10)
Loading ...So, I’m in a bit of a quandry here. I need to move, yet it’s going to be just assininely expensive to do. Then again, my current apartment company has offered me a free month’s rent if I move to one of their places. Then again, if I do THAT, I don’t get rid of the problem at hand, but if I DON’T do that, I’m looking at close to $2k just to move my ass from here to another apartment (and that’s just in town) !!!!
Why move? Well, the place, while originally decent (5 years ago) has repeatedly developed problems over the past 5 years, and just gotten worse when it was sold to another company.
This place was built, probably somewhere in the 60′s or 70′s, and the wiring has just not been update since. While that was good back then, it’s just not good now. For example, the entire place has 2 prong outlets (no 3).
While to most people this might not be a problem, hey, it is to me. This is especially bad during the summer, when certain things just go “off” because the circuitry is supposedly “overloaded”. Why? Damned if I know, and damned if I care.
Of course, this problem only aggravates electrical failures in devices (such as PC’s, TV’s, etc) which can not stand to be just “shut off” improperly. It wouldn’t be so bad, if the individuals actually did something about the problem, but every time I’ve said something about it, I get the typical “It’d cost too much to fix” BS. That is NOT the way to keep customers, whatsoever.
That’s just one gripe though, with the company, and (honestly), not even the major one. I could deal with this problem, IF they provided competent management services. Instead? Well, just take a look at what’s been going on the past 3 years since this company took over the property:
When the current management company took over the property, they immediately informed us that they would no longer be picking up cable bills (something that was in the lease). Of course, I immediately called them and informed them that they were obligated to do so, and it took 2 weeks to get them to live up to the existing lease. Not a huge concern, but you can not alter a lease in any way, shape, or form without signed consent by all parties.
When the current management company took over the property, the neighborhood (apt. community) was reasonably quiet, reasonably decent, had a mixed variety of culture in it, and it was a decent place to be. Now? It’s basically become a “hood”. I’m not talking about the surrounding complexes which the management has no control over, but I’m talking about the complexes which the management has FULL control over and refuses to take action over. They’ve turned a decent complex into a “hood” and it’s just gone to shit quickly.
When the current management company took over, they replaced the existing apartment managers with their own (duuh). The first one was ok, at least she tried to work, but she didn’t last 6 months. The next one (current), Maureen Garlich, is absolutely as lazy as all hell and refuses to work whatsoever. A few examples of this:
Shortly after taking over her management position, tenants were informed that there were to be NO CALLS to the management line whatsoever. WTF?!?!?!? Maintainance issues were to be addressed by a separate maintainance number (which she should be maintaining), disturbance calls were to be made to the police (WTF, she won’t even do her job and keep her tenants in place?), lockouts were to be referred to (get this), a LOCKSMITH! Again, WTF? How the HELL is a locksmith supposed to know whether or not someone is legally supposed to be entering my apartment? They’re NOT. Of course, this also violates the lease terms and conditions I originally signed, which state that the tenant is to call the LANDLORD for lockouts, and is entitled to have their door unlocked once per year for free, afterwards it’s $45 (which is still cheaper than a fucking locksmith).
Another classic example of lazy, crap attitudes from this senile old bitty:
A year or two back, I had a problem with my light fixture. The bulb had burned out, and none of the replacement bulbs were working (thus it was a fixture problem). This was a bathroom fixture, and the only one in there, so taking a crap @ night, well, let’s just say it wasn’t really happening too well.
Being night, I waited until the next day (I’m reasonable), and called her to have maintainance come out and fix it. Since she is the manager, it is her responsibility to manage and co-ordinate these things. I let it go when she didn’t call back by two (like she said), and sat around till 530, again, no worries.
Come 6,7 pm, I still hadn’t heard back from her, and so I called again. Since it was after 5, went straight to voicemail, because, well, she had the phone turned off. I left a very unpleasant VM (she had the chance at pleasantry and blew that out of the water by blowing me off). Since it was a Friday, I didn’t get a call back till Monday. Her excuse:
I forgot
Seriously folks, THAT was all I got! It got resolved that day, but come on now, if you can’t handle even the most menial part of your job, then you CAN’T do your job!
Fast forward now 3, 4 months. Same scenario, different fixture (I did mention it was an old apartment, right).
I started calling the line @ 1pm, got sent directly to VM, then got the “this inbox is full” message, for an hour and a half straight. An hour and a HALF! That’s just unheard of. If you are going somewhere, leave the cell phone with someone who isn’t. It’s not like you can just walk the hell away from paying customers!
When I WAS finally able to, I left a voicemail and said she needed to call me back by the end of business the next day, or have someone out there to deal with it by then. Of course, again, more than reasonable, allowing a day and a half to address the problem.
2 weeks later, STILL nothing. So, it came time for rent, and I mailed them an unsigned, un filled out check, stating that if they wanted my money they were going to have to call ME back and apologize for ignoring me for two weeks, and fix the problem, then they’d be paid rent (sans the time they didn’t do their jobs). Their response?
You never left a message
Despite showing them PROOF of leaving a message, they refused to admit that they got a message (I had phone records from that day, everything), and they demanded full rent, which, of course I was forced to pay (I’m not going to give up an apartment just because some crazy, senile bitch doesn’t want to do her job).
I could go on and on about the incompetence of this woman. From refusing to take charge of the properties she supposedly manages, to trying to break leases by doing things such as modifying them willy-nilly to refusal to actually just do her job in a timely fashion. Another perfect example of this, the last one, and I’m done here:
A couple years back, during Christmas time, the laundry room was suddenly “closed”. Without notice, it was abruptly closed, with a sign saying it’d be back open shortly. Umm, ok, great, but they’re responsible for maintaining these facilities and keeping them running, right?
A month later, still nothing. 6 weeks? STILL Nothing. Oh, they’d repainted the place, made it look all sparkly , shiny, and new, but it was STILL barren , you couldn’t wash or dry anything.
2 months (yes folks, 2 months) after closing the laundry room, they finally re-opened it, with machines that worked. Was an explanation offered? No. Was an apology offered? Not at all. It was simply expected that individuals would ignore the fact that this bitch was too lazy to get off her ass and do her job. Now, I can see a week’s delay, honestly, as things aren’t “instant”. However, 2 months is way, way too long to keep people waiting.
The last time I went in to do laundry, there were even MORE problems with the facilities. This time, it wasn’t service affecting, the driers had just been broken so you couldn’t pay for laundry. This had been going on for a month or so, and it’s still going on 3 weeks later (I can survive 3 weeks easily between laundry loads 
). Still not a MAJOR concern, but a HUGE, HUGE lack of respect and concern for tennants and clients.
Last summer, on going into the laundry room, I noticed my key didn’t work any more. Why? Because the lock had been broken. So, what was ONCE a secured area was not so secured. It’s still this way, close to a YEAR later. Again, incompetence and ignorance abound here.
So, given all this, is it reasonable for me to have qualms about moving into another place with this company (who uses this senile old woman to manage virtually ALL of their apartments)? I know she’s rather old (I’ve seen her facebook, and she’s going on 69), and I know I can expect the same pathetic performance from her at the new place.
While we all deserve second chances (I’ve had more than my fair share of them, so I’m a HUGE fan of them), I think she’s had her fair share of second chances, and history will just continue to repeat itself if the problem is not effectively resolved! By resolved, I mean the old broad has to go! She’s grossly incompetent for the position.
What would you do in this position? Also, hey, if you KNOW of any 2BR apartments (even 1BR would be good) in the Waterloo, IA (pref close to West/Covenant) for reasonable rates, please, please, let me know. All you need to do is comment to this story to let me know, or get me a way to get in contact with your management company. Just leave out the following companies:
North Star Realtors / (Calvin and Sandy Horn) – Seriously under-qualified people, a team who can not manage their own tenants well enough at all
Metro Investments – Current company that I’m looking at dumping because of the crazy old broad.
If you get a referral bonus of some kind, make sure to let me know your name or how to get that to you, and if I decide to go with your company , I’ll follow the instructions you provide to make sure you get that
Anyways, I’m tired, I’m sick, I’m cranky. Thanks for reading all this, and I’m really, really looking forward to reading some useful responses here, even if it’s just your own advice on what you’d do here.
Peace out, kids!!
Tom
Well, I read your rantings about Metro Investments and I’m here to tell you that you are a complete ass hole. I to rent from them and have had nothing but avery good experience with the company. It sounds like (and by the way your picture looks you could be on america’s most wanted) you just like to bitch when thing don’t go your way. And If I was the lady you were talking about I would contact a lawyer and sue you for slander. Who the hell do you think you are. And if you are having that many problems with your apartment and the managment why don’t you do them a favor and just f___ing move.
Firstly, slander is only appropriate if what was said is false . Not the case here. Everything said about that specific idiot is in fact 100% true. Sadly the person that took her place is just worse.
As far as me liking to bitch when things don’t go my way? Yeah, you really know me there, right? Not at all. I DO let people know when fraud takes place, but that’s part of my responsibility. Businesses shouldn’t just be allowed to be openly fraudulent and not be called on it!
As far as me being an asshole? If my stating dissatisfaction publicly makes me an asshole, then please label me an asshole, but NOTHING in this post, or this blog is required reading by you, or anyone else.
As far as renting from them (learn to use proper English, BTW, and spell properly):
You’re entitled to your own opinion, but you are NOT entitled to attack others on their own blogs automatically. So what if you’re happy being treated like utter trash? That’s how these people treat you, and I’ll give you a better example here:
On 12 January (this year), I was robbed. My place was broken into and things were taken while I was on Jury Duty no less. 3 hours, in, out, and they got most of my electronic appliances. Their response ? I hope you have renters insurance. They care about the SECURITY of their tenants that much!
In early February, the individual came back and stole (some of) what he missed the first time, psp, Blu-Ray, etc. Again, their response? Nothing. In their own words “it’s not my job to secure the property”. Actually, their response was to accuse someone I’ve trusted for years while I’ve not even been in town to look after my place.
This isn’t just ME this is happening to either, sadly, it’s everyone in this complex, on the first floor. What have THEY done to provide security for their tenants? Not a damned thing. Hallways still accessible to anyone without a key, no surveillance, and certainly nothing suggesting they actually take security important. Yeah, a real bang-up company there.
Of course, when it comes to money, they’ll happily rip you off more and more. When they took over, the rent was $385/month (a few years back). Within 6 months, it went up to $415, and just January, they raised it again. What do the tennants get for this? Well, considering a good part of the robberies took place in Jan/Feb, you do the math. Higher rent, you get robbed.
I don’t really care if you’re happy with them, but don’t come in here, attacking me for making factual statements just because YOU have a problem with those.
Here it is the 3rd of July, 2010, sadly, I’m still here, and after 3 more break-ins (4 total since January ’10), I’m out over $12,000 due to the gross negligence of the company managing these properties. Insurance? Sure, I got it, but at what point do the insurance companies refuse service? Well, if I’m not there already (still waiting on the last claim), I’m sure I’m on a very, very thin line with them. What am I to do though, just eat the losses and pretend this company is grand and glorious? Not possible.
I know what you’re thinking:
If they’re so bad, why not move.
Well, honestly, I tried this. What’s great about ‘trying’ this is the fact that this company is lying to prospective landlords about things, claiming that @ the 15th of the month I hadn’t paid rent, claiming that I’m a nasty individual (when, up until January I had had incredibly minimal contact with them in 4 years, and certainly got my rent IN by my lease agreement date).
At this point, I’ve basically had to lock my doors and pray that I don’t get shot or knifed in this neighborhood. These guys are NO help in this matter and refuse to clean up their own complexes. The cops are out here (according to themselves) an average of 4 to 5 times a day, which doesn’t surprise me, and all the while, this place turns from what was a great apartment complex to a shit-hole ghetto because someone doesn’t want to get off their asses and MANAGE the complex.
Tired? You bet. Frustrated? Beyond it! I’ve lost everything I own because of these ass clowns, and can’t MOVE because of them. Things were absolutely perfect for years, until they started messing with the system, chasing out the decent tenants and turning this place into a ‘hood’. I’ve STILL got glass broken in my back window that’s been broken since January. Their response? I know, we’ll get to it. Yeah, that’s how much they take care of their tenants!
Nobody, but nobody that’s been here since before Metro took this place over can say a thing nice about what they’ve done with the place. Why? Well, because they’ve killed it off. I’m (literally) just waiting for someone to be shot in this complex, because it WILL happen. Security? Think again! Peace? Not in this place!
It really is sad to see what was once a great apartment community shot down by a bunch of cheap thugs who can’t even give a real name, address or phone number for their company
Yet another quick update:
The past 6 months have been a living hell for me, not being able to sleep, not being able to leave my apartment, not being able to do anything without worrying about this or that. While I will concede that this is not 100% the management company’s fault, it is their responsibility to ensure that their properties are managed properly, which does include at least marginal security.
That said:
I can’t say the company itself isn’t all bad. They still haven’t replaced the window (broken back in January), but they HAVE made great strides to keep things as sane as possible, at least on the inside of the apartment. Without their management, I wouldn’t have been able to have fridge replaced / repaired repeatedly (I really don’t know what was up with the old one, it worked for a week or two, stopped working, they’d fix it, and cycle repeats a couple times).
After the last incident (when my 42″ plasma and monitor were stolen), I insisted that something be changed, either moving me to another place, or some sort of visible security around this place. I mean, 4 times in 6 months is just a bit ridiculous , honestly. It took some time, but we got things worked out, and I’ll be in a new place very, very shortly.
Without the assistance of this management company, I would not be able to have moved, so, my appreciation is greatly owed there. Darcy managed to work a deal with the property owner, so I’ll be moving from place to place mid-month, and (hopefully) keep the deposit from the places.
While I’m still very unhappy with the situation (who wants to move after 6 years of being in place), the management company responsible for metro properties is owed a great debt of thanks, especially Darcy, as she is the one that worked out the deals with moving and everything. Thank you so much for this!!!
Tom