I'll try to keep it short but need to give a little background for those that I haven't kept up to date. Nick and I are renting our townhouse out and using a Atlantic property management company to handle everything for us, for a fee of course. We have a new tenant who has requested a few things be repaired that were not damaged when we lived there. Clearly, the tenants from last year did not take great care of our home. I received an email from our wonderful property mgmt co. advising that all the repairs would be taken out of the previous tenant's security deposit. A few weeks later I received an email asking how we wanted to pay for the repairs. I forwarded the first email and wrote per email below the fee for the repairs are to be deducted out of the security deposit. Then after 4 more emails asking for status on the issue, I receive an email saying sorry for the misunderstanding, but how do you want to pay? Seriously?!?!? I explained there was no misunderstanding, the email clearly says the security deposit will pay for the repairs. Then I'm told they accidentally sent back the security deposit early so they can't get it back now. Guess what? Not my problem!
Earlier this week I received two emails from Atlantic. One advised that they would take out the cost of the repairs from the monthly fees we pay them. It only took a month for them to resolve the issue! The second email was a receipt for the rent paid that is sent to us but it was $5 less than the agreed upon amount. So I sent an email that asked why there was a $5 difference to my main contact there, Laurie. Today I receive an email from Luis saying the tenant paid $5 less than she was supposed to but hopefully she will fix it next month. Seriously? SERIOUSLY??? Hopefully is not good enough. I'm pretty sure when you sign a lease for a certain amount you are obligated to pay that exact amount.
Now the good part...Laurie had forwarded my request for an explanation of the missing $5 to Luis to contact me. And Luis forwarded me that email and his very comforting response but forgot to delete what Laurie had written in her email. Per Laurie: "Luis, please follow up, she is one of the high maintenance owners so watch your tone."
I'll pause here for your laughter...needless to say I'm not happy. I'm not concerned about the name calling because I honestly don't care what they think of me personally. But the fact that I am red flagged to Atlantic property because I ask for things they should be doing anyway really infuriates me. I'm going to end this with a note from my brother-in-law, Brian, who is one of the funniest people EVER! Here is what he thought I should reply, enjoy :)
Hi Laurie,
It's Nour - your high maintenance owner. I just wanted to congratulate and thank you for your excellent service. When I get paid the wrong amount of money, the answer of "hopefully it will get fixed next month" is exactly what I'm looking for to reassure me that competent professionals are handling my townhouse. When I thought about not using a property management company, I was afraid that I would have to deal with issues such as:
1. Maintenance of my apartment
2. Having to pay for repairs that tenants caused out of my own pocket, even though I have their security deposits
3. Collecting rent on time, and for the right amount
But you guys have done such a wonderful job with all of the above. Hiring you has put my mind at ease so much, I feel like I'm constantly on vacation! As an added bonus, you are even kind enough to send me e-mails where you call me names. Perhaps we can renegotiate my payment to you, because I feel that you all are severly underpaid!! Thank you again for your constant professionalism and a job well done!!!!!!!
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