Day Properties, Inc.

Review: Day Properties, Inc. did not provide the type of service to me (the landlord) or my tenant that would be expected of a property management company. Despite my numerous attempts to ask for better and more timely communication from them regarding issues at my property, I usually found out about issues only via an owners statement. An example: I was not notified that my tenant was breaking her lease early until three weeks after she submitted her notice. Their excuse what that they had to 'interpret the lease' which they had written and executed with my tenant. I spoke to my tenant after she moved out and she questioned why I had even been paying Day Properties. A quote from a recent e-mail she sent me: "From a renter perspective [they were] nice but usually couldn't provide help (out of town was usually the reason) so I would then call [my real estate agent]. Things were handled timely by [my agent]. Basically the one time [Day Properties] had something fixed it took over a week. She never returned my phone call to discuss the lease ending. I set up everything for the walk through after [my agent] told me [Day Properties]inquiring but [Day Properties] hadn't reached out to me directly. [Day Properties] may have answered the phone but really didn't provide service. [My agent] actually managed the issues. Not what you would think a management company would be used for."The defense of Day Properties during my recent discussions with them was that they 'carried out the agreement.' And while true, their customer service was terrible and neither me nor my tenant were happy with the service they provided. Day Properties did not add any value to me as a landlord or to my tenant, except for issuing me a simple tax document at the end of the year.I warn potential clients to be weary of the enthusiasm and assurances up front; Day Properties does not provide a return on your investment with them.Desired Settlement: Considering the lack of communication, the lack of service provided to my tenant, and the necessity for my tenant to seek the help of other real estate professionals in place of my property management company, I am seeking a refund of 50% of the total fees paid to Day Properties, Inc. I paid them $4224 over the course of two years; I request refund in the amount of $2112.

Business

Response:

August 17, 2014Dear [redacted]:This letter is in response to that Complaint submitted July 8, 0214, assigned ID number [redacted]. As a property manager, Day Properties attempts to protect our owners from having to deal with various tenant requests and other time consuming and mundane matters involved in Owning rental, investment properties. In addition to the record-keeping and accounting functions provided under the Property Management Agreement, we have found this service underlies a landlord decision to engage a management company, The subject complaint bases its allegations of non-communication upon the property owner (customer) not being notified that tenant was “breaking the lease early,” In fact, as a result of the tenant’s communications with this office, there was no early termination of the lease. The tenant completed the full term of her tenancy.Statements contained in the complaint, raised during the 24th month of the 2 year management contract with Day Properties, acknowledge that our office carried out the terms set forth in the contract and from in depth review of the property file, a claim for refund of any earned management fees is unsubstantiated. Correspondence logs indicate that all issues surrounding maintenance of the property were expeditiously communicated to the owner, and/or handled by Day Properties per the terms of the management agreement. Further, despite the customer’s representation in the complaint, we have a note from the tenant expressing appreciation for our promptness and helpfulness in dealing with the several issues during her occupancy at the property.Over 20 years of providing property management services to Northern Virginia property owners, we have never had a complaint lodged against our company, nor any customer request refund of our fees. We take great pride for the individual attention and professional services offered to our clients and find it unfortunate that this customer offers such a dissatisfied and unhappy review of our company. After having spent much time and communication with this customer to discuss bis frustration at the end of the 2 year contract, we find it a shame that he remains so unresolved. However, Day Properties stands by our services and will continue to provide the level of service that has proven to be successful and beneficial to our owners over the past two decades,Sincerely yours,