VANTAGE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

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Vantage Property Management (VPM) provided basic property management services to our rental property for a competitive price for several years. We were unhappy with the general level of professionalism, responsiveness, communication, and quality of service through the term. We eventually sought a replacement company which is currently doing a superb job in comparison. Upon terminating services, we requested VPM return our house keys which we were charged to have copies made. VPM claims they mailed the keys "in a white paper envelope" via USPS, and the keys never arrived. The letter was not mailed with any sort of tracking or signature option. VPM was unresponsive to our follow on queries to trace the package or contact the USPS to investigate the issue (theft of first class mail is criminal offense). Now, since the keys are missing and potentially stolen, we must replace the front door locks. We initiated an unresolved complaint through the Better Business Bureau regarding the keys. We believe it is a reasonable business practice for any business to mail any sensitive item such as house keys using some sort of tracking mechanism available through the USPS at a minimal price. Despite their competitive prices, we do not recommend VPM and encourage potential clients to research the business through other sites and current/former clients.

Awful.

Vantage was our property management for a year and we were fairly happy, at first. However, had I known more about property management, I probably could have anticipated some of the problems that we experienced at the end of our tenure. Our main complaints with Vantage were as follows: 1. Lack of communication: we were not informed when they found us a tenant and were never given a chance to sign off on tenants. Additionally, we were never informed when work was done to the property until it showed up on our monthly statements. That can be a bit taxing when you're suddenly paying up to $300 more than you thought to your property management company at the end of the month. 2. Taking money for services not completed: During the course of our time with Vantage, they called an electrician to fix a light in our basement. $185 later, he declared the light "unfixable." Additionally, when our tenants moved out, they took money from their deposit for stains on the rug and to fix a ceiling fan, none of which was resolved, but we didn't end up with the money either. Last, they allowed the tenant to replace window coverings with aluminum shades instead of the ones we had on the window originally. 3. Pressure to lower rental rates: We received pressure from Vantage multiple times to lower our rental rate despite the fact that it was a very good rate for the area and we allowed pets and minor changes like painting. They also turned down applicants based solely on their comfort with the situation rather than just their credit scoring requirements, which were rather stringent. They also continued to charge us a management fee for three months even when the place wasn't rented, which was not our understanding of the agreement. Moral of the story: If you want to be completely hands off your property, a place like Vantage is a good deal. But watch the statements carefully and be sure to conduct your own walk through of the property after each tenant with Vantage to ensure that they use the money they took from the tenants to actually do the work in your property.

They're wonderful. The experience went really well. They did a really good job. Compared to everyone else in the DC area, they are less expensive and do more.