We are current on our loan payment and lot rent so this is NOT a whining story of not being able to pay bills. We are currently seeking legal council.
Arc stands for American Residential Communities. When we first explored ARC as an alternative option to buying an expensive brand new home; we were impressed and overlooked a few red flags. The staff was polite although late or a no show for their appointments with us. The small size of the lots were alarming but appeared quiet and most homes are late models. The staff appeared to have some issues regarding professionalism such as making a mistake on our application and requiring us to jump through hoops to correct it. I now recognize this as a psychological ploy. The staff had our attention diverted to the point of desperation due to lack of organization and lots of "mistakes". This diverted our attention from the contract. The contract is beyond reasonable! All I can say is RUN!!! Read every word!!! We were told nothing of all the contractual terms until we had one hour before the bank closed and we needed our papers notarized. We had driven for hours and they knew this but I will move on.
Once you move in, the staff turns into typical trailer trash. The lack of professionalism and the lack of basic respect will astound you. We are a typical middle income college educated couple. We are treated as if we moved to Communist China. Apparently, the staff fails to recognize I am a customer, I expect to be treated with respect, treated as an individual and a person with rights while working out a reasonable solution. ARC does not own me and ARC will not treat me rudely or behave in this manner towards me again without consequences. We informed the staff of several issues with our home.These issues have not been addressed in two months yet we get drive by's, warnings, and more rules and regulations added on to us. Did I mention we own our home?
When the manager showed us the home, she explained they were currently repainting it and fixing it. When we drove up to sign the contract, the manager informed us she was done painting and literally left us with a half painted house. I mean streaks in the ceiling! They put up blinds that were too small and crashed to the floor when we raised them,,, every single one of them!! We had leaks to fix and fixtures to replace. We asked the park two months ago to replace the water heater part and to fix the corner of the home that is falling down. They have failed to do so. However, they have time to drive through the park like Gestapo police looking for one poop left in your own yard that you are paying a premium price for.
Let me give you just one of many examples: We informed our staff leader we had two dogs. A puppy and a two year old toy breed. We received a notice that we are allowed one dog. Sorry, but we will not be getting rid of our second dog. We have her name right in the lease paper. We will sue before we rehome our child. Our dogs are our children. They are Never outside except to potty. The lease clearly states if you move in with two dogs,, you may have two until one dies and then this pet cannot be replaced. They also tried to put a $300.00 pet fee on us from day one. However, we read in the lease the pet fee is for nuance pets. So, this does not apply to us. The park is now trying to change the lease and rules while not allowing you to move your home you own off their land for 15 years!!! I am sure this is were lawsuits are going to come in. They state they can change the rules and up the prices yet your bound to keep your home on their land for 15 years. We will see about this. We clean our yard yet other dogs are crapping in it, I believe the park can clean this up as I am not going to run out to check my yard five times a day. The neighbors also have five cats living under their house which crap in our yard all the time. The neighbors claim this nice fat cats are not theirs and have no knowledge of them. They are obviously their pets with one corner of the skirting put aside for the cats to live under. I will not live in fear. We are clean and quiet and we rake the yard regularly. We have never had a single complaint against us as renters or home owners, yet this ARC somehow finds something to b***h about or write us up over. I am telling you this is how unreasonable this park is. I am not in prison if you read this ARC!!!
Another issue, My husband bronco needs a new transmission. While we are finding a mechanic in this new town, my daughter lent my husband a newer small vehicle which we park directly behind the bronco and our new truck. This is a temporary solution. We received a notice we were in violation of having more than two vehicles. Life does not work this way; s**t happens. Our vehicles look nice and clean. When our children visit they will be driving down to see us and of course they will park on the street regardless of what ARC says. Everyone has issues with parking and we have all come tot terms with it. ARC is not needed. We are all aware that company or people with teenagers need to park on the street. I have not seen one Neighbor park in another neighbors area.
When we first moved in, we moved in during an awful 20 below zero storm with limited visibility for days. The park gave us a violation for having one small trailer unpacked. We intended to unpack it the next week end when my husband had his days off. I cannot unpack it myself.
The park will not uphold their own rules of safety. I had an elderly woman slip in a huge ice puddle surrounding the mailboxes. I grabbed her and went down hard on my shoulder. I informed the park and they told me it has been that way for years and ARC will not fix it.
I could go on and on, what really creeps me out is every time staff puts a notice on my front door; my front door is wide open and we NEVER see them. Who knows if I am walking around half naked from the shower. ARC if your reading this, be polite and KNOCK on my door when you step on my porch. Do you comprehend this? Well, I am going back to researching laws and looking for an attorney.
My best educated guess is this: ARC has a high turn over and they are making money!!!! Everyone wants to make money. However, read their contract, do not be fooled but I promise you will be surprised this type of community exists in America. IT is that bad, its is way beyond "normal" for safety and a pleasant atmosphere. In fact, they have gone so far overboard, you do not feel safe in your own home and are constantly looking over your shoulder.