- Report: #555665
Complaint Review: Century 21 Selective - Oviedo Florida
Reported By:
Property Owner -
, Florida, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Century 21 Selective
376 N. Central Avenue, Oviedo, Florida 32765 Oviedo, 32765 Florida, United States of America
Phone:
(407) 366-6320
Web:
www.c21selective.com
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Century 21 Selective wrongly withholding rent monies, collecting fees but not paying property owner Oviedo, Florida
*Author of original report: Changed name to "Rent Works, LLC"
*Consumer Comment: You're not the only one who's fed up!
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Information regarding "RentWorks, LLC" and "Century 21 Selective"
*UPDATE Employee: Century 21 Selective has never wrongly withheld rent monies or collected fees and not paid an owner.
Century 21 Selective is a full-service realestate company operating in Central Florida and owned by Jack Luiz. They not only assist in the buy/selling of realestate but also offer property management services for property owners and renters. As a home-owner, and since I live in another state, I contracted Century 21 Selective to manage the rental of my second home in Oviedo, FL in April 2008.
The primary reason for hiring a property management company was to take the hassle out of renting my house out directly myself as it seemed more difficult since I was living in another state. The company would advertise and secure a screened renter, perform background checks on all tenants, handle all lease and legal contracts between tenants/property management company/myself, collect rent monies and direct deposit into my bank account, and be first contact to handle all tenant issues.
The "Exclusive Property Management Agreement" between myself and the company was clearly, if not excessively at 4 pages of fine print, worded. It spelled out every detail of each others' obligations. The lease agreement they used for the renter was equally detailed in that scope at a hefty 12 pages. Everything was agreeable, so I signed the contract and the company put a "for rent" sign in my front yard. A renter signed a lease with the company within a few days and became my first tenant. Everything seemed to be going smoothly up to tha point, but that is when the company had a contract to be paid and that is when thier practices began to become questionable.
My account was given to a particular Realestate Agent within the company, whom I initially blame for some of the problems, but after repeated trouble and contacting everyone within reason I soon realized it is company wide. The owner, Jack Luiz, is ultimately the most responsible and after fianlly dealing with him directly on several occassions I am certain he is also intenfull in his conduct and more than likely oversees and directs others to do as he says--right or wrong.
The lease agreement says that rent is due by the 1st of each month and if not received by the 4th then a late fee will be assessed as "additional rent". The Exclusive Property Management Agreement states that Century 21 Selective will collect rent and withhold 50% of the first months rent and 10% of each subsequent month as a fee. It also says that "property owners...will receive payment within 72 hours of processing".
The second month into it the tenant was late making his payment and noone informed me at all of the situation. It was not until the 12th of the month, noticing NO deposits made into my account, that I contacted them to find this out. First problem is a total lack of proactiveness and taking responsibility in managing my rental property, they were not doing anything until after I called them about it. The tenant came in and paid rent along with a 5% late fee. Another week, not 72 hours, later a deposit was finally made in my account and was only in the amount of 90% of the months rent, no late fee.
Keep in mind, several emails and phone calls were required just to get to this point. Now I ask what happened to the late fee that was paid by the tenant and I was told "the late fee goes to century 21." Through several more emails I recite to them (my contact agent, not the owner directly yet) exactly how the contract explains how late fees are considered extra rent and the owner/company split on rents collected are 90/10. I go on to tell them how them keeping 100% of a late fee would not make ANY sense for a property owner, putting the full burden on us while unjustly rewarding a mangement company. It took several weeks and several more follow-up emails and phone calls, being told "the person who handles that will be in on monday" and other similar responses, and without remorse or any explaination, I fianally get them to send me a check for 90% of the late fee. I'm quite certain it was the specific undistbutable wording of the contract that made them change course rather than thier ethical judgement on the correct action to take.
Well a couple of months later the same thing happens again, the tenant is late paying rent, pays a late fee along with rent, the company takes much longer than 72 hours from receipt to deposit into my account, and they fail to give me any of the late fee keeping all of it themselves. I have to go through a similar process of repeated emails and phone calls to resolve the exact same issue as previously. Belive it or not. it happened a third time a few months after that, and just as before the company tried keeping all of the late fee until I had to fight to get them to give me my share, even saying in one email "do I have to go through the same process every time to prove to you to do the right thing".
The tenant has been late a few more times since then and the company still has problems on properly dispursing those funds. I am currently writing this, January 2010, because NOTHING has gotten any better. In fact I could say it has only become worse. Six months ago, the owner Jack Luiz took over the handling of my account after way too many problems occuring under the management of the previous agent. He assured me he would be on top of things from then on, make sure everything went as it was supposed to, and above all make sure I was properly informed of all matters as they came up. I specifially asked Jack to be proactive in communicating with me on any issue, such as the tenant being late in making a payment or prior to a three-day notice being placed on the front door (which I found out had happend several times without my knowledge at all), and he agreed giving me "his word".
Well the very next month was a complete contradiction to what Jack had promised. The tenant is late. The only way I am able to know this is by watching for deposits into my bank account which are typically happening a week or more after the tenant pays rent, so it is not until around the 10th to 14th of the month each time that I see things aren't going as they are supposed. Then I have to initiated the process of finding out what is going on because no one from the company does anything until asked and the first thing Jack does is pass me off to Karen in accounting instead of personally handling it as he had previously assured me he would.
This month, January 2010, after contacting the company on the 11th this is the response I got "The check (from the tenant) was deposited on Monday Jan 11th and the funds were deposited into your account today Jan 15th. The tenant did not include the late fee but he will add it to next months payment". The tenant had paid on the 9th confirmed by him and the company. The funds were NOT deposited into my account by 4:30PM on the 15th, which I confirmed in person with my bank, so I called the office to see why. I was then told verbally by the accounting person, same as quoted above, that the funds were deposited into thier bank today and were scheduled to transfer into my account, which I still have not seen.
I have had other problems with the company in managing my rental property, including hiring a shady and corrupt contractor to take care of some basic maintenance issues which were not done properly and way overcharged ($95 to tighten a water hose). I would honestly speculate that at least someone in the company was in collaboration with this contracter and getting something in return for thier favortism towards him. The company is Safe Home Builders and the owner is Michael O'Donnell, DON'T DO BUSINESS with them either, but that is another complaint.
My main purpose for writing all of this is to make others aware. I have been able to handle the improper and corrupt business practices of Century 21 Selective, but I wonder how many are out there that have been taken by thier tactics. How many other owners have had all late fees collected by them kept entirely by them without any knowledge or clear undestanding of such action. How many others have had thier money held in limbo, for whatever reason by the company, and have gone through some sort of financial duress as a result. Forbid they have been late making thier own mortgage payment due to such actions.
Since the current tenant wanted to continue to stay beyond the first years lease, the company did try to get me to sign a new contract. The new contract of course had much different language giving the company 100% of any and all extra fees collected including late rent fees. It also gave them exclusive prviledges and future control over the selling of my home, who would list it and get commission, and other one-sidedly beneficail elements. Also of course they made NO EFFORT to inform me of such changes and were even 2 months late in bringing it up at all, the entire process reaked of deception and puposeful intent. I refused to sign, at which point Jack told me I would then be bound by the original contract even though the dates had expired and I would be charged $500 to break it.
Although I know Jack is completely wrong and I could break my contract with him due to numerous failures on his and the company's behalf to uphold thier end of the agreement, I have decided to allow things to remain as is until the end of the second year for the current tenant. At that point I will do my best to part ways without conflict with Century 21 Selective, but what they will do between now and then is yet to be determined. I know I will be watching very carefully on how they handle the closing arangements and return deposits I made for emergency repair fund ($250) and whether the cleaning fee withheld will actually be used to hire a professional cleaner (unlike the initial cleaning fee they charged me to get the house ready to show but was actually performed by the renting agent and not a cleaning service company as stated).
I hope someone reads this and understands that this company may and most likey is treating all of thier customers this way and that they could be improperly retaing an untold thousands of dollars in fees that should have been going to property owners the entire time. If thier business practices are not illegal (or are they) they are certainly unethical and corrupt. I have since set up direct communication between myself and the tenant, making the whole reason for a property manager obsolete, and I have heard nothing but negative feedback from him regarding the company also. I strongly advise against anyone doing any business of any kind with Century 21 Selective in the Central Florida are.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Advocate
Orlando,Florida,
United States of America
Century 21 Selective has never wrongly withheld rent monies or collected fees and not paid an owner.
#2UPDATE Employee
Wed, May 25, 2011
Century 21 Selective is a full service real estate company that part of the report is true. Jack Luiz is not the owner. They do assist in buying and selling of real estate and have been in the property management business also. Century 21 Selective has been in business for over 20 years and has a outstanding reputation. They have been involved in the property management business for the over 10 years. They have managed 100's of properties and have an impeciable reputation in the industry. The property management agreements and leases that this owner is talking about are drawn up by a real estate attorney. Our screening process requires a criminal, eviction and credit background screening. Rental & Employment Verification are also performed on all tenants who wish to rent one of properties. The company does everything it can to make sure we place a qualified tenant into each and every rental property. Our management agreement clearly spells out what fees are associated with our company doing a full management agreement. There are no hidden fees and no upfront fees charged to the owner. The management agreement clearly states what the fees will be due to the owner and what will be due to the managment company. Rents are collected the beginning of each month and the rent is due on the 1st and late after the 4th. At which time a three day notice is posted on the tenants property. The owners proceeds (less management fees and any maintenance invoices) are processed on the 8th of the month. If the owner is paid by check they should receive the check in the mail in 2 to 3 days. If the owner is set up for direct deposit they should see the funds in there account with in 24 to 72 hours. A monthly statement is sent to each and every owner showing how the money was dispursed. The lates fees cover the cost of having the attorney draft the three day notices and to have the three day notices served. The company does not just pocket this money as this owner would have you think. The management agreement stipulates that the management company will place such notices on behalf of the owner so they know that from the beginning. The management agreement also clearly states that the rent collected must clear the Broker's account before any funds can be disbursed therefor is the tenant pays late then the owners payment will be processed at a later date. Century 21 Selective has never mismanaged anyone's funds all monies collected are accounted for in the owners statements.
The person who wrote this article also mentions a company by the name of Safe Home Builders. They are not affilated with Century 21 Selective or Rent Works LLC in anyway. They are an outside vendor that was hired by our company to do repairs at our rental properties. Unfortunately we found out after doing business with them that they were over charging our owners and we stopped doing business with them. At no time was anyone at Century 21 Selective in collaboration with this company or its owner and to make such a statement without any proof is ridiculous.
Anonymous
United States of AmericaInformation regarding "RentWorks, LLC" and "Century 21 Selective"
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, September 02, 2010
This is what I suggest.
You carefully read through any agreement you sign with them regardless if youre the actual renter with them or listing your home to rent with them. If you DO NOT AGREE ANY TERMS AND CONDITIONS do not sign unless you generate your own addendum to the lease/agreement!
As far as the person with the compliant about not receiving your payment on time. Here are few suggestions. If you choose re-list your property with them I would generate and addendum to your contract about a penalty if RentWorks,LLC does not pay you on time. You should carefully re-read your agreement with RentWorks. Technically your contract is up with them 120 days after signing it. And, only renews automatically if tenant renews (but this is based off you have decided to renew with the tenant. They should send you notice 60 days out and 30 days out. You reserve the option of renewing your contract with the tenant with an increase in rent, not to renew or choose to renew but with interest with selling your home with their assistance.) If you choose not to renew your contract you should send them a certified letter 60 days before the tenants contract is up.
When its 60 days out and you choose not to renew with them due to RentWorks,LLC unprofessionalism, inability to pay on time or general unhappiness with how their company operates and functions you can re-list your property with another company because you are choosing not keep RentWorks, LLC and the new company can set the available date when the current tenant leaves this way you do not have a gap of missed income. If RentWorks, LLC tells you anything deferent, or threatens you in any way make sure you report it.
There are plenty of more pleasant rental companies that will be more then willing to rent your property for you in a more efficient manner.
You should know that NO FEES are charged to you for advertising your home with this company (so they advertise.) The only time you are charged is if they actually lease/rent your home. And, you can advertise your home on rentals.com, craigslist, homerentals.net, places4rent.com, hotpads.com, rentspider.com, vacancylist.com, mynewplace.com, twitter, facebooks (marketplace) are websites you can use some are free some may have a slight fee. BUT, look into it. They of course, only list your home on the FREE sites. They do not pay to list your home on any of these sites.
The Broker of the office is Judy Luiz. She is the one you need to address your complaints with. Jack Luiz may be the owner but unfortunately for you that does not mean anything! Because, they function as a real-estate office they have to have a Broker and a current license for the company. So everyone here needs to file a compliant on the below listed site under their license(s) both Judy Luiz Craig Luiz (Craig Luiz is the Manager of the location) and RentWorks, LLC. This way the state can investigate further. Make sure you do this. As a general rule of thumb only communicate with them through email. This way you have solid proof for your compliant.
Florida Department and Business Regulations
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/re/index.html
Craig Luiz (Office Manager) License Number SL629096
Judy Luiz ( Broker) License Number BK396893 & BK3230746 (She has two!)
Jack Luiz (the owner) License Number - SL581277
RentWorks, LLC License Number - CQ1036142 (this is the corporate office located in
*All of the above license numbers are public information on the site and can be look up for verification*
If you are tenant that is looking into renting or ARE currently renting with them. Note that the cleaning fees ALONE are a rip off not to mention the $75.00 maintenance fee PER CALL is a rip off alone! You should do what I did, make a few calls for a professional cleaning and then just give them a receipt this way they can not charge you $600.00 dollars in CLEANING FEES not to mention they will charge you for a hole in the wall. (Im not kidding.) If you have any issues you can go to the county your house resides in ( orange, Seminole ..etc.) property appraiser website and look up the owners information and contact them if you feel like you are not being treated correctly by RentWorks, LLC.
MOST OF ALL! Know your rights as a Landlord and a RENTER! Never take their word or threats ALWAYS, ALWAYS find out for yourself!
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United States of AmericaYou're not the only one who's fed up!
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, July 16, 2010
Oh, how I wish this report had been around before we signed with this company. We, too, live far from Orlando and thought a property management company would save us time and stress. We were WRONG!! RentWorks (formerly Century 21 Selective) has caused us so much stress and frustration that we regret ever signing a contract with them. We've had several different agents assigned to our property, and sadly, the only agent who showed any amount of professionalism left the company shortly after. Getting a returned phone call or email is like pulling teeth. We don't have the time or the desire to hound them, hence the reason for hiring a management company in the first place. Unfortunately, we get no response until we demonstrate how angry we are. We've been sending monthly emails (and making monthly phone calls) since May regarding a discrepancy on a check. No response. Communication issues aside, they have not kept us in the loop as to our property (which I suppose is yet another communication issue). For instance, the rental sign post had been leaning up against our house for 4 months AFTER the tenant moved in. Had it not been for a neighbor/friend, we never would have known. It's absurd that we, living several hours away, should have to notify the company of issues on our property. We also received a notice from our HOA regarding the lawn maintenance. Again, the company should have been doing the periodic drive-bys like we were promised. Additionally, we were informed by a neighbor that our tenants have a dog, for which we received no additional deposit. We're still waiting...and waiting...for the results of the mid-lease walk-through which I'm sure hasn't occurred yet.
Getting our property rented in the first place is a whole other complaint. We had to propose each price drop. When we demanded to know what was going on during the 6 months our house sat empty, we were rudely informed by the agent that there were bugs on the carpet; it was dirty; etc. - as if we should have known, even though we hadn't been in the house in several months. (It was clean when we moved out.) We had to come up with additional ways to advertise our house. We shelled money out every month to list our home on rentals.com just to increase the traffic. The agents were no help and didn't seem concerned that we were paying a mortgage on an empty house.
We can't wait for the 11th month of our tenant's lease so we can send them our certified notice to end the contract. We are anticipating a great deal of frustration in that process, but thankfully, I know a lot of attorneys.
Property Owner
United States of AmericaChanged name to "Rent Works, LLC"
#5Author of original report
Wed, May 05, 2010
Century 21 Selective in Oviedo, FL has changed the name of their property management division to "Rent Works, LLC". They are still the same company run by the same people, in particularly the Louiz family of Judy Louiz (mother) and sons Jack and Craig Louiz. I am still dealing with this company and trying to finally part ways once and for all but they are still making everything as difficult as it can possibly be. They continue to give me the run around and when I call them out on this they basically express that they do not care and continue to delay anyway. They have told me a number of mistruths to try to distract me or throw me off and have tried just about anything to keep from doing what is right.
It was a costly mistake to do business with Rent Works, LLC (formerly Century 21 Selective) and it would be an even bigger mistake to do busniess with either of these companies again.
