SERVICE SPECIALTIES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

In August, 2006, I moved my family to Charlotte, North Carolina. After a year of being unable to sell our property due to national economic circumstances related to the housing market, we hired Service Specialties to manage our home as a rental property. Living out of state, we stipulated in our agreement that we were to be notified of any expense exceeding $100 that could be deducted from our monthly proceeds. We also stipulated that an annual inspection needs to occur in order to keep tenants in check and minimize risk of damager. In November, 2007, Service Specialties rented the property to a tenant named ?Seabrooks?. Over the course of 7 years, Service Specialties (SSPM) never performed an annual property inspection as agreed to by contract, allowing the house to fall into disrepair. It was so bad that in late September, 2014 after the tenant "skipped out", SSPM sent me an email with informal repair estimates from $6,000 - $10,000 (if we re-carpeted). There were no accompanying vendor estimates or any documentation of any kind. Based on that email, I sent a check for $2,500 so they could begin work. SSPM never provided any proof of repairs in the form of vendor invoices or materials receipts, but with every subsequent monthly statement, there would be unsubstantiated charges. In addition estimates, they strongly recommended a replacing the furnace. That added another $2,400+. I spoke w/ SSPM Maintenance on December 5th, 2014. After assuring me that all the repairs were completed and that the house was ready to rent, SSPM placed the house on the market the very next week on December 8, 2014. I called SSPM again on December 31st to check on the status. It was on that call that someone spoke to me about how it might be important to get security on the house. I agreed and they were expected to install before the end of that week - January 2, 2015. Having heard nothing for weeks, I called SSPM on January, 27th just to check status of the rental prospects. It was only then that I was informed that SSPM reported on January 5th, 2015, a break-in and theft of ALL COPPER PLUMBING. SSPM never called to inform me and three weeks after reporting it to police, still didn't have a repair estimate. Instead, they blamed me for not buying their security on the house - which they never offered until after the house was on the market. When I tried to get the plumbing repairs expedited, they were more concerned with my past due balance. My house had been un-rentable for at least 3 weeks and they never told me, the owner. When they finally produced an estimate, I contacted my Insurance provider who agreed to cover all $2,300, less the $750 deductible. I sent all but the $750 to SSPM and insisted that they cover the $750. They never responded, but cashed the check for the remainder. At the time of the repair, the plumbing contractor added a Hot Water Tank repair ($550) to the bill. I paid for that. In the end, SSPM only paid the Plumbing contractor about $1,000. I paid SSPM about $1,700 toward plumbing repairs (all but the $750 deductible). I reported them to the Better Business Bureau in April, 2015. It was only then that I received my first phone call from SSPM since December, 2014. The owner, Catherine Bott said I owed somewhere between $1,300 and $2,300, but would not provide any documentation to support those amounts. I reported SSPM to LARA in May, 2015. Later that month, I receive a letter from SSPM's attorney stating that they would be cancelling service, including their alarm monitoring, effective June 15, 2015. On Monday, June 15, 2015, I arrived at 20212 Washtenaw, Harper Woods. I contacted the Harper Woods Police Department to inform them that I have a locksmith coming to change my locks and that I would like an officer to be present to witness the condition of the property upon entry and to be aware if the alarm should go off. I have photos and video that show the complete disregard SSPM showed toward this property and that the property was never ready to rent. We also learned that SSPM had never submitted for city inspections every two years as required by Harper Woods. When I hired a new Property Management company to evaluate what was needed to get the house on the market, their estimate was upwards of $3,500. Therefore, SSPM charged $11,000+ for repairs and still fell way short of having the property even close to ready for rent. How that money was spent will never be known until SSPM produces documents to support their expenses. I have also asked SSPM to provide me a copy of the original Management Agreement, which they have refused. Their claim is that they provided me a copy 7 years ago and they ?don't have time? to make and send me another copy. I have reported them to the Better Business Bureau. In an email from March, 2015, SSPM said I owed them $1,300 (which includes $750 plumbing deductible I asked SSPM to pay the plumber) as well as $517.50, which is tied to the same work order to purge the sprinkler systems ($51.75). It?s completely fabricated. They moved the decimal point and made up a $517.50 charge!. In SSPM?s response to the BBB, they said the amount I owed was approximately $1,700 ? with no additional expenses. In fact, I had taken over all utility expenses directly at that point. Then when SSPM sent me a letter to terminate their service with me, they sent an invoice of $2,300. They just kept adding to the balance, but failed to provide any legitimate supporting documentation. In summary, Service Specialties were negligent in protecting my property from damage or theft; repeatedly charged for services without providing supporting documentation and in some cases were completely fabricated; and generally took advantage of my living out of state ?knowing that it was unlikely for me to check up on the property, with or without tenants. Further, 90% of all correspondence was initiated by me. SSPM didn?t even call or email once between December, 2014 and April, 2015, when Catherine Bott called me (after the BBB complaint) after hours to threaten me with a law suit - a lean on my property for $1,300. . She cursed, interrupted, insulted and generally exhibited bully behavior with little interest in my concerns. I would say working with Service Specialties continues to be one of the worst experiences I have ever had. Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you, Mike Nolan 704-302-6951 [email protected]

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