Safeguard Properties was hired by my mortgage lender to inspect my home that is being considered for a Deed in Lieu. They came in, found a chair, two A/C and a microwave and items in the shed that went with the house: tools, yard implements, planters, a wonderful swing to sit in and watch the lake. Along with that the vintage furniture that had been passed down through from owner to owner for the narrow front porch. They claimed this meant the property was occupied and I have now been denied my Deed in Lieu.
There was no bed, no lamp, no cooking supplies, no utensils, no water and no heat. The place had been winterized, closed down since July 29, 2013. They then shut off the electricity, which I had maintained the electric for 18 months to ensure, in it's isolated locatation, that security lighting would be available year round. They rekeyed the back door, cut off the crawl (under the house) space and did not replace a new padlock on it, hence the house is virtually unprotedted opening all shades and leaving the house vulnerable.
I reside in Iowa, 12-hours away by car, and can no longer, at 70-years old, maintain this house nor pay the caretakers any longer to rake, shovel and keep it up. Because of their (Safeguard Properties) hasty and nasty behavior, casual attitude, they told my caretaker who observed the process, that they would be back when it foreclosed! I guess that's the business they are in. Take what's left for themselves. This all occured in Fountain, Michigan, and they do not have a listed office in Manistee or Ludington or any nearby town in Michigan. I filed a complaint with the company and will discuss the outcome with my counselor (mortgage) lender, in the hopes that my good neighbors who have in the past 24-hours stripped everytihng from the property will give me a second chance to prove that no one resides there and has not since 7/2013. I also will file a complaint with the Michigan Attorney Generals office regarding their practices. If you come into contact with this company, watch your back, be very careful and be prepared to be screwed!