Preferred Homes Realty, Inc

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2015/03/16) */
Contact Name and Title: [redacted] manage
Contact Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Contact Email: [redacted]@sbcglobal.net
The resident has had many issues and complaints since they moved in. As property manager we try and respond to...

all complaints timely and makes repairs in the same manner. The tenant has also had a lot of issues with other residents. They seem to be the only people out of 5 other units that consistently have trouble. The police have been out on several occasions to investigate the smell she speaks of and not substantiated the claim to my knowledge. In 29 years of management I have rarely experienced one person having so many issues. We did offer several times to let them move with our penalty but they have not done so. I just do not see them ever being happy at this apartment.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2015/03/17) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
I do not accept their response. Like I mentioned in my original complaint and the business mentioned we have had several complaints and issues since we moved into the property. Most of the issues where not taken care of in a timely manor, some where, and others still haven't been resolved to even looked into by the business. We do have a lot of issues with not only other residents in our apartment building but also with our neighbors. Why you might ask? For one, it seems that most people in our area between the people in our building (some not all) and our neighbors all hang out, smoke/deal illegal drugs, park their cars where ever they please or their guests and always seem to park in our spot(s) even though we have assigned spots. Even though the business has sent out letters about the parking tenants still don't comply and we've mentioned this to the business and they don't seem to follow through. We aren't the only tenants having issues, we maybe the only ones speaking up but I've had several conversations with others and they are unhappy as well. I've come across several other previous tenants of this business and have not heard one good thing. We've been working with an officer from EPD on the illegal activity that has been going on and they have been keeping a look out and he is even trying to help you find a better place to move to. We did this on our own since the business hasn't been helpful at all even though they are supposed to be a drug free housing. I recently emailed the business manager on 3/13/15 photos of illegal things going one and he's hasn't responded. This was the same day when I filed my complaint to Revdex.com. I've rented from at least 4/5 places now and this business by far has been the worst in everything. I can't believe it's still in business. The last place we rented from we where there for 2 years, when anything broke they fixed it and fixed it right the first time, which is what most landlords should do if they don't want something to keep breaking. But when you think of the kind of people they rent to and if most are doing the same illegal activity they aren't going to have a problem as long as they are getting their rent money. I've suggested them getting cameras so they can monitor better and see for themselves what My family and I have to deal with when I meet with the business manager on 10/8/14. The activity is worse when the weather is nice out so it's only a matter of time that all the activity is going to start up again full force. I expect to get the respect, quality, follow up/through, repairs done when needed in a timely manor, ect just as much as they expect their rent when it's due. They did offer for us to leave when we wanted to and pay a penalty, and even showed us three different apartments/homes. One of them was too small for a family of 4, the other two smelled of animal feces and was dirty that even I left with a rash. But as I mentioned to the business manager in an email, it's not easy to move when you've just moved especially since we work full time, our children have started at a new school, and it takes time and money to move. Where they going to reimburse me for moving? I don't think so they won't even reimburse us for having to do laundry 3 different times now since our dryer has not been working properly since Dec/2014 which we are supposed to have a washer and dryer and now they aren't fixing it at all. If they where honest in the first place just as we where we would of never chosen this business to deal with and apartment to live in. They stated it was a safe quiet neighborhood and building. A clean ready to move in apartment with cleaned carpets. And if anything it was and has been the exact opposite. I have pictures to prove it since day 1. I've tried to capture every situation in pictures that I was able to so I'd have proof and people would know I'm not lying to trying to get anything out of this that isn't deserved to me. I work and make a living for myself and family so I'm not looking for a hand out or trying to make excuses I just peak the truth. He's right we have and never will be happy in an unsafe environment especially because we care about the safety of our children. When they have to smell Marijuana from time to time in the halls and coming into our apartment that's a problem. I don't expose my children to that kind of stuff so I definitely don't want anyone else to. Like I've mentioned, I have documents, Pictures, notes, police reports to back up my complaints/problems. Unfortunately, I'm unable to download/scan most of it being that it's on paper/my phone and I'm unable to scan or download to my computer to upload so if there is a way I can mail you all that documentations please send me the mailing info I would be gladly willing to send it all. Thank you for your time, I truly appreciate it. I just want to be reimbursed for my expenses, time, loss, gas, damages, ect that I mentioned in my original complaint. I not asking for more or less. I know there has to be someone out there who is willing to listen and help me. Thank you for your time.
Final Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2015/03/18) */
The owner of this building will not pay for the charges she lists nor is he legally obligated to do so. The owner spent nearly $500 in dryer repairs already and is not obligated to make repairs over and over for same issue, the tenant bears some responsibility for maintaining the owners property. The deposit she referenced will be returned according to terms of the lease she signed after she vacates. I have already explained to the tenant that they are free to move and now I feel she is just complaining to the Revdex.com to try and get us to pay for things we are not obligated to. We will not be extorted in this manner. We have an outstanding reputation with the city of Elgin code department and the inspectors will testify that we are one of the best management firms in the city.
Final Consumer Response /* (4200, 11, 2015/03/22) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
I do not accept Preferred Management's resolution because like all others they are not taking responsibility in which they should be. I feel that preferred management hasn't been complaint with their end of the contract and make me out to be the bad guy/tenant when I have done nothing wrong or illegal. I have only been following the rules and bringing issues to their attention in a timely manor and yet they don't put any effort into really fixing my problems. They claim we are the only tenants having issues yet they can't attend to them. Again I am only following rules and safety for my children. It just angers me that all the time, stress, money loss, sleepless nights I've had to endure because this business is not doing their job when it come to ensuring the safety of their tenants as they should according to their drug free housing contract. Instead of really looking into all my complaints even with a simple solution as putting up cameras to see what I have brought to their attention to see for themselves, they'd rather me just leave instead of fixing the problem. And as I have explained to [redacted] (the business manager) over an email (which I have a copy of) there's a reason why we rent as for most people. It's not easy to keep moving especially when you have young children in school. Which is one reason we picked this apartment because it meant my son would be able to go to a good school. Which is why we left our last house that we where renting after 2 years because when he started kindergarten and the school couldn't provide the proper safety for my child I took him out after a few months and put him in private Kindergarten which made our budget tighter but it was something I had to do for my child. Like I said I'm also angry because if the business was honest from the beginning and informed me that the area and other tenants in the building where bad/unsafe I would have never chosen to live here. And if I did I couldn't be mad if they where honest because I would've know what I was signing up for but I wasn't which is why I'm upset. And it make me more upset that they aren't even going to fix the dryer that hasn't been working properly since Dec/2014. Because they can't fix the problem they are now turning things around trying to say it's our fault. We've been washing cloths the exact same way since we moved in June/2014 and we need to continue washing so why would I "break," the dryer now? Because we didn't. It doesn't make sense but it's another way they can try to get out of something without fixing the problem or replacing it just as all the other problems. We take care of our belongings because we are not well off and can't afford to buy new things every other day, just as we take of the property that we rent from. Even though the property is not ours we still take care of it as though it was. Same goes for my car that I lease and previous property that we've rented from. We rent because we live pay check to pay check right now and if something major like a dryer breaks or a furnace, ect we wouldn't have that extra money to get it fixed. If the owner doesn't want to pay then I think the management company is responsible. One of them needs to step up and take responsibility. I've paid my rent so now it's time for either of them to own up to their responsibilities and pay what is owed to us due to negligence. I am not try to extort anyone who doesn't deserve it. But I've tried talking to this business in person, over a meeting, over the phone, ad over emails and they don't take responsibilities or follow up so I figured complaining to Revdex.com was the next step and maybe they'd wake up and smell the coffee and do their job and a management company not only with collecting rent which they are good at but also following up with tenants concerns and problems. According to the City of Elgin when they came to inspect our apartment they informed us the Preferred Management is notorious for not fixing problems but instead just pay the fines. I've heard nothing but negative things from previous tenants, current tenants and even landlords who have used this business themselves. I'm not only saying this because I am currently having issues with them. Revdex.com ask around or investigate and you'll see. I'd even start with the same building that I rent from and expand from here. Again I have pictures, statements, records to prove my problems and would be able to provide them to Revdex.com if there is somewhere I can mail them to.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2014/05/15) */
Contact Name and Title: [redacted], Manage
Contact Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Contact Email: [redacted]@sbcglobal.net
This resident lives in a homeowners association. He is obligated to pay the dues to the association per the...

Covenants of the association. The association must pay to have common lawn areas mowed. There is a drainage pond that the developer should have finished but they went bankrupt. This does not relieve the owner from paying dues as there is still common area being mowed and cared for.