All Forum Posts by: Rick Birkey

Great Jones gives property management a bad name.  Sheesh.  I currently have two properties that GJ "manages" in the Saint Louis area.  First, you cannot speak with the actual PM in the area because, from what I understand, she oversees over 500 properties in the STL area.

GJ has a centralized nationwide Customer Service Department, which I initially thought would be a great positive.  However, it's VERY difficult to get anyone to answer the phone.  If someone does answer the phone, more often than not the representative is rude and condescending.  Sometimes helpful, many times not.  As owners, we're encouraged to communicate via email, which is incredibly frustrating, annoying, and time-consuming.

The Maintenance Department does not effectively communicate with Customer Service.  And so, if there are special notes on a property (such as "tenant pays for all maintenance"), Maintenance does not adhere to them.  

As an owner, I cannot communicate directly with Renewals.  This is a challenge, especially when they have a tendency to screw up lease renewals and not even follow-up with either the tenant or the owner.

All in all, the experience with Great Jones has been very painful.  I feel like I should have just self-managed and saved a lot of money, time and frustration.  

I'm sure there are really great property managers out there.  Unfortunately, "Great" Jones does not fall into this category.  Their service has been surprisingly disappointing and ineffective.

@Ben Halabi Excellent information!  Thank you!  Now if I could get you to move to Saint Louis ... ;)

Thank you!

Hello everyone.

I'm looking for a new property management team in Saint Louis MO.  I have two properties in Florissant - one is on a lease option and the other is just a straight lease.  

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

 Florrisant area

Thank you, Nathan!

Hello everyone.  Looking for a reputable property manager in the Saint Louis, MO area.  Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Any suggestions where I can find property insurance in Missouri?  

Thanks.

Hello.

Here's the deal. I recently rolled ~$150K from an old 401K into a self-directed IRA. With this, I'm very interested in purchasing some turnkey properties. Of course, the discussions are numerous on BP about turnkey, but I have a bit of a different question (one that I have not seen addressed yet).

If you've been a successful turnkey investor, what are the specific financial criteria that you've used to select your properties.  (Let's assume that I've already selected a provider.)  Is it, say, $300 cash flow after maintenance/vacancy reserves and fully-escrowed mortgage?  Is it cash flow plus, say, $50,000 appreciation in the next ten years?

Also, do you look for a specific type of property?  3/2/2 brick fully renovated?

Your thoughts would be very much appreciated!

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts!  You've confirmed what I knew, but didn't want to admit--that I was starry-eyed thinking of having that $30k (or whatever) check in my hand.  I would have reinvested, but after realtor fees and capital gains taxes I wouldn't have profited much.  

You know what they say -- a "property" in the hand is worth two in the bush!