Complaint Review: Real Property managment - Chicago Illinois

 I live out of the country and hired RPM to manage a 4 flat unit since february 2013.  It is my belief that RPM took advantage of my situation as out of the country property owner and charged me exorbitant amount of fees knowing that I would not be able to inspect.  I entrusted RPM with my investment and was disappointment.  In their Entire 5 months of management, i have done nothing but wire money to "cover" for all the falsely reported "repairs".  I was worried about what was going on and decided to visit Chicago mid July.  When I requested a meeting with RPM, they met with me in their Damen office and not the property.  I should have realized then something is wrong since the meeting was not at the property as other managment services would have done, and the staff admitted to never personally been at the property themselves. 

I visited the building and examined the exterior of the building.  I also took with me the itemized maintenance  for one of my empty unit (the ready to rent package) invoiced that I paid $4410, I also took pictures of the unit, and the lawn, the electrical work and back yard.  The examination disclosed many issues with their invoice and the maintenance of the building.  RPM got paid for several items like;  a new gas range, replacement of the hood cover, issues with the pluming, repair dry wall and bath, install missing storm window in the bedroom and replace missing screens throughout unit, none of the work mentioned above was completed.

In addition, there was garbage found on the north side of the building, rat holes in the back yard with rat traps triggered and ready to spring (a nuisance for the children living in the building), a water hose extending from one end of the yard to the other (another danger to the tenants) and no maintenance of the back yard ( which I have been billed $110 a month for landscape) my yard was nothing but mud.  When I demanded invoices from all the vendors to see what actual work was done, Shaun emailed me and no longer wanted to honor our contract and did not give me the 30 day notice as stated in the contract.  within hours, RPM have already removed their management sign from the front of the building, putting me at risk for a city of Chicago building code violation. 

In order to exculpate themselves from any further liability, RPM entered the backyard and removed all the rat traps which were negligently placed (I have pictures of everything mentioned including the traps).  Furthermore, I spoke to the tenant on the first floor who stated that they did not receive their new stove until the 20th of July however, the owner ledger, states that the stove and RPM fees for installing was reported for July 10.  The same statement indicates that RPM  have installed a new oven (which was paid for)  on the 10th in unit 2, there was no oven in that unit.  To further exacerbate the problem, they left the old stove on the porch of unit 1, blocking the stairs creating a nuisance and another code violation. 

I brought a professional to analyze what actual work was completed and tell us the approximate cost of the work done.  The professional indicated that the majority of the work could be completed by a maintenance person and the total charge would be $800.  He also went through the work completed on the itemized list and indicated that it was poorly done.  We also have been given no explanation for what the $1900 escrow amount was used for.  In addition, without explaining the current spending, the staff was requested an additional $1900 to be placed in escrow which is suppose to be $300 per unit for a 3 units flat.  In the month of July alone, I had wired $6410 without any invoices to explain the spending.  I have requested all my money invested in the last 5 months in RPM and I have also reported their unprofessional ism to BBB. To this date, I have no invoices, no leases and no justification to the mismanagement of funds.  Legal action will be taken against RPM so no one else can be a victim like me.