Got trashed during spring break- to sue or not?

[TooFarTampa]

TFT is going to need black out drapes for sure, and maybe some earplugs!

It was really bad last summer, because they had the cranes, beams, concrete going in etc. The noise according to our renters has not been bad in recent months, but they do start at 7 and they have been working quite a bit lately. I am hoping that the windows going up means they will soon be working inside, doing drywall etc. and it will be even quieter. We have been very honest with our renters -- especially as we have a better handle on what is going on -- and they all agree we are giving them a fair deal but it has been killing us for more than a year, and I am so over it. Cork, I can only dream that that 6/30 date is going to work out.

I had not thought about the lights issue. Do you really think it will be bad? The Alexander is 21 high-end residential units. I'm sure they'll have outdoor lighting, but I expect it won't be blinding. It will be a beautiful day when the Alexander and the Inn get some nice landscaping. That will go a long way to soften things up. The Inn is pretty scary looking. I do know the Alexander will hold up in a hurricane -- the thing is solid concrete. The Inn meantime went up in like 4 months.

Sorry for the tangent Mango! That's just what we do around here. I hope you are feeling better.

 

[swantree]

This is a problem across the board in all the rentals on 30a, the problem comes in where you have no real idea whom is really staying in your home. solving this for me has come from actually greeting people face to face at the door! I do this with my VRBO and VR.com people. In doing so, no one can con-you so quickly because you are seeing the car,persons,dogs,cats,beer etc right then and there. not some office and "here's the key". I do the follow-up call and drive by's to double check. And have had to lay down the law and keep some money from the deposit. If it's in the original contract and they sign off on it then you have the advantage and can keep it. for said damage; then they (the renter) is forced to try to recoup the money from you and try to prove that it wasn't warrented!

 

[Mango]

I have had young people under 25 call and say that they are couples about 23 or 24, in medical school, yadda yadda. I have even had these well written letters from seniors in college stating they want to just have a friendly get together on the beach. I always say NO, NO, NO! I have told the couples though that are slightly younger that I will take them with a large deposit, $2-3K and they never call back. Which just goes to show you that if they weren't looking to party and leave your place in reasonable condition, they would pay it! Bottom line is we got duped once and it aint happening again!

On the other front, it isnt just spring breakers. I can sleep 12 in my house (no sleeper sofas or bunks) all beds, and last year I had a family decide they would put 16 in it. I found out about and they lost their deposit money.
They left bubble gum on my headboards, a magic marker genious had a party on my bedspreads, they broke my lamp and the leg on my dining room table.

I also can not figure out why people do not think babies are people! You still have to bathe them and wash their clothes, all expenses to the owner. I know some rental companies exclude babies from their head count, but I find that ludicrous. They could be changing their diapers on your bedspread, like I had one do. Then they take them in the pool without swimmies on, and last week my guests called me to tell me that a large group by the pool left a turd behind! Had to close the pool, drain some, then clean and leave close until the chemicals took hold. No to mention the same rentors were caught breaking in to the lockbox for pool keys to turn up the heat on it! This was all during Spring Break, so its not only the kids! the adults need some supervision too. Fortunately 2 owners next door to both my units are moving in full time and they will be my eyes and ears.

Donna

 

[DBOldford]

Oh, my...this sounds dreadful. You truly had the renters from hell. As I have posted, the vast majority of our guests take care of the house as if it was their own place. Some of them tell us they think of it that way and some have actually stayed there longer than we have.

The flip side of the good guys is the stuff we read in these posts and, I must say, things so unspeakable that I can't repeat them in polite company. Oh, how I wish that parents of these young people could know what their children are being exposed to, if not actively involved in. And let me tell you, any uninvolved person would leave the premises. So I'm not too impressed with the standard line that it was someone else's kids. (Isn't it always?) That one goes into the same hat as "Someone put something in my drink." Right. Give me credit for having just a wee bit of intelligence.

Most of us have been there/done that during the college years, especially. But if my early life escapades had included the trashing of someone's home (not to mention some of the more outrageous conduct), I would have been terrified and quite certain that there would be a huge price to pay for it. Instead, many of these young people have their parents defending them against the most obvious evidence to the contrary. Does nothing but create a repeat offender.

I will say it again...parents, if you don't want your children involved in this kind of thing or exposed to significant danger, do not let them go on these group trips unless there are multiple parents along who intend to be on the premises at all times. Better yet, you should chaperone. These trips are not a good idea, in general.

 

[SHELLY]

Oh, how I wish that parents of these young people could know what their children are being exposed to, if not actively involved in. Instead, many of these young people have their parents defending them against the most obvious evidence to the contrary. Does nothing but create a repeat offender.

It begins in grade school when Lil' Johnny or Mary get disciplined by a teacher at school for talking back, tardiness, or cheating....then mummy comes flying to the rescue and "rips the teacher a new one" in the presence of their "innocent" offspring. From that point on they get the sense that their actions are "bullet proof" and that their parents will always take their side--no matter what.

"Back in my day" I was terrified to bring a note home from school--right or wrong, my parents always sided with the school and I would get double the punishment. Lesson learned: Follow the rules and take responsibility for my actions.

Problem is, that my generation seems to have forgotten the lessons learns and failed to pass it down--we've now got a rash of parents today who are content to be "best friends" and defense attorneys for their kids.

 

[kathydwells]

It begins in grade school when Lil' Johnny or Mary get disciplined by a teacher at school for talking back, tardiness, or cheating....then mummy comes flying to the rescue and "rips the teacher a new one" in the presence of their "innocent" offspring. From that point on they get the sense that their actions are "bullet proof" and that their parents will always take their side--no matter what.

"Back in my day" I was terrified to bring a note home from school--right or wrong, my parents always sided with the school and I would get double the punishment. Lesson learned: Follow the rules and take responsibility for my actions.

Problem is, that my generation seems to have forgotten the lessons learns and failed to pass it down--we've now got a rash of parents today who are content to be "best friends" and defense attorneys for their kids.

I have to agree with you here SHELLY. I see it all the time at my son's school. My son knows all too well, that I will side with teacher. I will make that dreaded phone call to said teacher to get her/his side of the story. He knows I will call them, so I usually don't have to question him too much about whether the truth is being told to me about something they "said" he did. I started this early on in his education and it has helped to this day.

 

[goin' coastal]

Hello everyone,
I have been a lurker for sooo long. I feel like you are family. Especially Miss Kitty. I wish I had a sister just like her!

Anyway --could not pass this thread up, even in shyness. We have a house in Old Seagrove. It is our dream. We have rented it for 4yrs. Recently I found it in a mess! Someone urinated on a $1700 mattress( I do not think it was a little one either), vomited on a comforter, broke 4 blinds. Evidence of smoking everywhere!! Of course, none of this was ever reported to me by the agency. That is a whole other story. I worked my entire vacation to get it back in order.

The first year I had the house I placed fine linens--sheets, towels, blankets,quilts, comforters kitchen items(napkins etc). I wanted it to be so comfortable!! The agency lost ALL of them. The head housekeeper told me she thought my housekeeper stole them--she had to fire her for another reason. To this day I have never been compensated.. It is heart breaking.

 

[kathydwells]

Hello everyone,
I have been a lurker for sooo long. I feel like you are family. Especially Miss Kitty. I wish I had a sister just like her!

Anyway --could not pass this thread up, even in shyness. We have a house in Old Seagrove. It is our dream. We have rented it for 4yrs. Recently I found it in a mess! Someone urinated on a $1700 mattress( I do not think it was a little one either), vomited on a comforter, broke 4 blinds. Evidence of smoking everywhere!! Of course, none of this was ever reported to me by the agency. That is a whole other story. I worked my entire vacation to get it back in order.

The first year I had the house I placed fine linens--sheets, towels, blankets,quilts, comforters kitchen items(napkins etc). I wanted it to be so comfortable!! The agency lost ALL of them. The head housekeeper told me she thought my housekeeper stole them--she had to fire her for another reason. To this day I have never been compensated.. It is heart breaking.

goin' coastal!!! Don't be shy around here, if you have lurked long enough, you know most of us don't have a shy bone in our body!!!!

I am so sorry about this situation. It broke my heart reading it. I am glad you got it back in order, and hopefully this won't happen to you again!!!!!

 

[seagrovelover]

Goin' coastal !!!! we just love the Old Seagrove area
how lucky you are to buy a little piece of heaven.....enjoy and dont be shy!!!

 

[Miss Kitty]

goin' coastal...like Darlene, your post made me so sad. I could just feel your pain of making a place for others to enjoy only to have not just bad renters ruin it, but your own management company as well! Was this a bad Spring Break rental? I hope you have found a better company to deal with. Once again, I must add that most renters treat homes as if they are their own (or in my case when we rented...even better!) It's such a pleasure to read about all the great times our guests have had when down here.


;-) ...I would be happy to be your "bad" sister!!! Join in the funn...it's that first post that's the hardest.