Talk of The Villages Florida - The Villages Hometown Management "Rentals" are a racket

Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)

- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - The Villages Hometown Management "Rentals" are a racket (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/villages-hometown-management-rentals-racket-57930/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by aabuono (Post 536200)

Hi Everyone - I have a question - Does the renter get an inventory when they arrive? I was wondering if we should ask for one before we arrive. Do you think that I am being to picky? I was going to get my camera out when we arrive to document everything...

Anne

We started renting 2 weeks ago. The house was spotless, well furnished and equipped. We did not receive an inventory.

After what we experienced being told there were 3 washcloths 2 pillow cases and 1 towel missing and getting a bill for $92, I would suggest absolutely insist on signing off on an inventory and a walkthrough when you go in. Otherwise, they can, and will, say what they want. And you have no proof.

Has anyone considered that the cleaning person could have taken things and blamed it on the renter? Almost perfect crime since it's hard to prove. I believe I'd want the owner or rep there as I was leaving to verify everything was in order and sign a form saying all was OK.

We have considered that. As she was so angry screaming about the dog hair, she made up that story about my daughter and possibly decided to stick it to us with claiming missing items. We don't know what really happened but the other pieces of this dismal debacle lead us to believe the management is not on the up and up in general. It appears, in general, if you want to be sure no one will tinker with your deposit, you need to sign off on an inventory and film the whole house.

I wonder what the other side of the story might sound like?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 536355)

I wonder what the other side of the story might sound like?

Me too.

Obviously they are going to say there were missing linens and dog hair that isn't covered by the $150 deposit. Probably will poopoo the crazy maid. If you wish to rent from them, make sure you count your towels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shcisamax (Post 534656)

Wow. Thanks so much. It is really unethical for TV to allow them to use their letterhead, have keys picked up and dropped at the sales office so it appears it is a TV owned enterprises. I imagine that is why they are collecting a percentage. Lending their appearance of legitimacy. Very disappointing and very unexpected from what I usually consider TV to be a great company. I wonder if there are other "franchises" that TV is putting out there as "their" businesses.

I know at least two. The Villages Information Systems (IT Dept) was bought by its department head and is no longer affilated with the Villages although it retains The Villages name. The biggest surprise is I was told by my friends that are employed by the Daily Sun, that Phil Markward, the editor in charge has bought out the paper.

Little by little, the Morse family is trying to rid itself of all these depts and concentrate on retirement.

There really is no reason they shouldn't drop these collateral businesses if it no longer fits in their business model. The only caveat is that to lead people to thinking they are working with The Villages, and that means the professionalism and reputation, is just wrong.

Bill, where ever you are, we need some :popcorn: over here!

"Franchising" out a valuable name is nothing new and with the strength of The Villages name it probably makes sense for them to leverage it.

I don't know who owns The Villages Golf Carts, but if TV does, that could be a candidate too. A sign of the times.

Del Webb Sun City developments are owned by Pulte Homes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalecrenshaw (Post 535742)

As an owner of a home in the Villages, that we rent out when we are not there, for the most part, people leave the house as if it were their own home. Most people are embarassed to leave it untidy or dirty and do their best to shine it up before leaving. This has always been the case 99% of the time. Of course, some things are inadvertently missed or not a thorough as it should be , so it is necessary to have a cleaning person go in to make sure that the house is in tip top condition for the next tenant, or the next tenant will complain and feel obliged to leave it messy.

I did have a terrible experience with a property manager, who failed in her responsibility to do a walk through and failed to do an inventory after the tenant had left. This particular tenant left the place a mess....stained carpets way beyond normal wear and tear, 3 lamps that had been knocked over and broken, other things that were broken because of abuse, quite a few things missing, etc etc etc
The property manager gave back her deposit in full. When I arrived at the house from California, I was horrified to find the house a mess. Contacted the property manager and was told the tenant left the place in perfectly good condition. Obliviously, she could not have walked through or done an inventory check. Since the deposit was given back, we, as owners had no recourse to get back all the money it cost us to clean up the place and replace the missing/broken items. Needless to say, we parted company with the Property Manager, and are now managing the property ourselves.

We have had several property managers over the years, and find that most of them are too busy to do a thorough job.

been there done that manage on our own also

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disneychix (Post 536609)

I have never rented in TV. I am a home owner here and I have been following this thread. I did a little investigating about these companies associated with TV and found that yes the rental is outsourced and it is now owned by 2 gentleman who have both worked for TV villages for I was told well over 10 years each and I was told with outstanding performance to both and were offered this division. The shuttle has also been outsourced. I think that TV are slowly getting rid of different departments. I guess that these two areas are independently owned now and probably more to come as they start to weed out. I would suggest to you, since you rented recently, I would imagine that you are a new owner that instead of trashing an independent small business owner (as I see it) in your friendliest hometown...maybe you should get out of your home and see what TV has to offer and get out from behind your computer and get over it and move on...life is too short to worry about $100 bucks. From a former small business owner !!! Move on...maybe TV is not for you !!!

What??? This is not about $100!! This cleaning woman, employed by this company, accused the OP's 20 year old daughter of physically shoving the cleaner's niece! She also started screaming when they returned to the house to turn in an electrical cord, instead of tossing it or keeping it. Then the cleaning woman accused them of theft.
These men, who own the company, not only accept this behavior from the cleaner they employ, but they then illegally take more of the renter's money and cite law statutes that they are breaking themselves!
The person who got trashed here is the renter!!
How dare you suggest that TV is not for them because they object to this treatment! I suggest you MOVE ON!:pepper2: :pepper2:
As a small business owner, you must at some time have heard that good customer service is key #1 to a successful small business??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 536355)

I wonder what the other side of the story might sound like?

Hasn't the OP made it very clear what the other side's response was already??
I think that is the point of the thread!

Quote:

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 535935)

Just to clarify...Is thevillages4rent the same entity as The Villages Hometown management?

Let's blame the right folks here in the hopes that the powers who can effect change do read this forum (I think they do) and will straighten this out so that these people won't continue to bring down their " brand" which I consider a good one.

No GG thevillages4rent is run by two couples for the website and the owners post their house and handle everything themselves.. The villages hometown is a management company that rents your home out for you and you have no control as to what happens or who they rent to, and they used to charge you a fee when you used your own home......