All Forum Posts by: Mark Douglas

Thanks Joshua,

Some very good ideas. It was just confirmed by the carpet cleaning company that they have never done any work on my property. My next step....I have the PM's vacency list and will track down the property owners to see if they have gotten bogus bills as well.

These are all excellent comments and suggestions. I really appreciate the input.

I've heard that these sort of issues are common with PMs, but we shouldn't stand for it. What has happened to me is really a small matter overall. If I'm not reimbursed, I will be out about $2,400 when all is said and done, but it's the principle that this mom and pop company is blatently ripping off owners of the 135 houses and apartment buildings they manage. They handled three houses for me and in addition to this reconditioning situation, I've noticed that in the last several months I've been nickeled and dimed for leaky toilets, cielings, mailbox repairs, etc. Now I am investigating to find out if the repairs are legit.

So far, on the move out issue, I have two vendors who have confirmed that at the least, I've been overcharged. They are to confirm with me today that they were never actually hired to work on my property to begin with.

The contract with the PM does not mention anything regarding thier right to create vendor invoices or change prices. Only that they have the authorization to hire, supervise and discharge services and independent contractors for repairs/maintenance necessary.

I'm relatively new to rental ownership (3 years) so I suppose this goes with the learning curve. In the end, I will be talking to a lawyer, but instead of passing it off to someone who will charge me up the wazoo to investigate, I'm doing as much legwork myself so that in addition to saving money, I may also learn some ideas that will prevent me from getting ripped off in the future.

Thanks again. Any other ideas or comments are welcome, especially if they involve statutes or laws regarding fraud.

Originally posted by Jon Holdman:

Sounds like you need a good lawyer.

Since a lawyer may cost more than I am out, I am hoping they have seriously broken the law and can be charged. I'm still investigating, but it appears that my evidence is solid and compelling.

Happy New Year eveyone...I hope that someone can help me with a nightmare I'm dealing with. I have a Property Management co for a rental that I have in Arizona. The tenant skipped in Sept with 3 mos left on the lease and the place in a horrible mess. It has sat vacent since, but I've been sent receipts from the PM claiming the place has been reconditioned, but during a surprise visit, I am learning that NOTHING has been done. It's a pigsty. I've inquired with vendors and there are major discrepencies both on price quotes and that any work was even actually done by them on my property.

Here are my questions:

Is a property management company required to charge the property owner only what a hired vendor charged for the work completed, or can the PM create their own invoice for what was hired out?

If a PM fabricates, adjusts or fakes a vendors receipt to show that work was completed when it was not, or changes the price, what legal ramifications could they be facing?

Can the PM lose their RE Brokers license if it is proven these allegations are true?

What other resources should I seek as a recourse for being screwed?