Complaint Review: Rese Property Management

RESE Property Management used to manage a condominium located at West valley City. The last tenants placed by RESE end up being evicted on August 2017.  The tenants incurred substantial damage to the property (a value approaching $10,000).  As I lived out of state, the extend of the damage caused by these tenants was not revealed to me until January of 2018, when I decided that I would no longer rent the property, and hired a Real Estate agent to place the property in the market (the Real Estate agent was actually the one who informed me about the conditions of the property).

Notably, during August 2017 to January 2018, RESE collectted its management fees, while my property remained unmanaged and completely uninhabitable.  Once I realized what had happened, I contacted my RESE property manager, Scott.  Scott was very defensive, but assured us that RESE filed with their lawyers to collect $2,000 from the tenants, to alleviate some of the repair costs.

On March 2018, 3 months after having dismissed RESE's services, I noticed that RESE continued (and still continues today) to charge me for monthly management fees.   According to their calculations, I owe them $769.96.  I asked Scott about these recurring charges.  He replied that I needed to formally terminate their services through an "Termination Agreement."  This "Termination Agreement" stipulates that:

(1) RESE would be exempt themselves from any liability.

(2) I (the owner) had undergone a complete walkthrough and was satisfied with the conditions of the property.

(3) That RESE had returned all the keys and other means to access the property (which they fail to do).

(4) That I would have to pay a $59.96 "release fee."

(5) RESE would retain 10% processing fee (+$9.00 per check) from any funds collected from the tenant (i.e. $209.00 if 2,000 are recovered from tenants).

Prior to publishing this posting, I tried to email and call Scott, who ceased to reply to my emails and was, conveniently, never available to talk on the phone. I spoke twice with the office manager, Lisa.  I explained to her that if this issue was not resolved, post a review online, stating the facts and file a complaint with BBB. 

I ended up filing a complaint with BBB asking for:

(1) RESE is to "release" me immediately from any imaginary contract that RESE think I might have with them. 

(2) RESE to wave any termination fees that (i.e. $59.96).

(3) That given the extent of their mismanagement and gross neglect of my property, RESE will forfeit any money (i.e. $209.00) that may be collected from the last tenants. 

(4) Given that trust no longer exists between me and RESE, RESE will prove me with the information of the collection lawyer.

I will see what will come out of this.  This could have been avoided if RESE had not failed to obtain references for the tenants (in contracts with property owners, RESE "reserves the right" not to check references and exempts itself from liability resulting  from any property damages resulting from tenants... even though RESE decision may be the cause it).

A few days after this posting, Scott emailed me:

"I know you are not very happy with us, and I respect your right to put in a review, but I do kindly ask that you remove my name from google. If you want, I am okay if you leave my first name, but I am asking to for my last name to be removed. I am just an employee here, and I dont think it is fair to have my full name on google like that. It could potentially hinder my ability to get jobs in the future. With being an employee here, I am asked to carry out certain things that I may not fully agree with- This should reflect upon RESE, and not on my personal full name on something that is etched in stone on the internet. I hope you can understand? Please please remove [my last name] from Google."