Got trashed during spring break- to sue or not?

[Paula]

Going' Coastal. I've seen a rental with your name on it. Is that your rental?

Sad that people do these things to other people's property. I do think it's rare, though, but these stories are so disappointing (and a bit frightening) that it feels like it happens more often.

 

[goin' coastal]

Thank you all for the loving support and welcome. I am computer challenged! Hope I will learn how to get a fancy picture(avatar) like you guys.

I am not sure when this damage occured. I found it in early March. I had not been in the house since last June. Actually I did not change agencies. Some of the damage had been reported to the agency but they had never held the deposit or corrected it.It is a long story but I was scheduled for a big surgery . I just did not have the energy to deal with it this year. I already had booked some summer guests. I give folks many chances(too many). When I am feeling better something must change!

I love South Walton and sowal.com. It is my second home! Kurt did a virtual tour for us when the house was new.
I too, have had many wonderful guests. I always left homes in excellent condition when I rented--thanking everyone from the housekeepers to the owners for just allowing me to be there.

 

[goin' coastal]

Yes, Goin' Coastal on azalea street in Old Seagrove.

 

[Beachlover2]

Goin' Coastal

I would definitely not give up with trying to get it back from your management company. I have argued in the past with them when I have gotten charged for repairs that should have been taken out of the deposit or backcharged to the renter - in the end I have always gotten at least part of it credited back to me. Maybe this is why I am probably not our management companies favorite owner

 

[Destiny]

Goin' Coastal.
I lurked for a while too and still do sometimes.
Sorry to hear about your place. That makes it harder for the renters that truly appreciate a nice home and take special care of the property since it does not belong to them.
Enjoy the board.

 

[Sandcastle]

I just have to share my limited experience with vacation rentals. I can?t resist.

We owned a home on Cape San Blas for eleven years. One summer we decided to turn it over to a rental management company ? that was the first and last time.

The management company rented it to two middle age women who wanted to spend a nice quiet weekend walking the beach. No spring breakers, no wild kids. Sounds safe enough, doesn?t it? WRONG!!!

The ?girls? must have stopped in Port St. Joe for Butler?s buffet the night they arrived. The next morning one of them took a humongous cr** in the upstairs bathroom. Instead of waiting to see if our water-efficient toilet could handle the load, she just flushed and walked out of the door. Of course; the load was too large, but the toilet kept trying all day long.

By the time the women returned later that afternoon the dining room ceiling below the upstairs bath had caved in. Drywall (now ?brownish? wetwall) had crashed down onto the dining room table, ruining the chairs, carpet, etc. The place smelled so bad that it was enough to curl your fur! Bright Eyes, the Martini Time cat, was beginning to look like a French Poodle.

The ?girls? just requested another house from the management company and went on with their vacation. Our insurance company paid for the repairs (less the deductible), but the place always smelled a little like Butler?s buffet.

Another time that summer a renter forgot the code to the security gate in our development. He just crashed the gate and made himself at home in our house. All of this was captured on video tape, but we paid for it. The renter simply told his credit card company not to pay the security deposit ? and they didn?t.

We had two more problems that same summer, but my fingers are getting tired. I might have to get a job as a Wal-Mart greeter to pay my taxes and insurance, but I?m going to try my best not to rent.

 

[peapod1980]

Hello everyone,
I have been a lurker for sooo long.

goin' coastal! Sorry I missed your entrance this week.
So sorry to hear your story; I read almost every horror story with disbelief--just don't get how people can do the things they do to other people's homes.

 

[goin' coastal]

Sandcastle--So Unbelievable!!!!!

Yesteday, I get the check for the agency in the mail. I never want to open it it anymore. I know I am going to be upset! By the time they fininsh with me I am lucky if I get 40-50% of the rent. I have not had any success yet with the mess left in March. No mention of restitution in the statement.. Just do not have the energy to keep fighting. I am sure people count on this.

We invested in another house in the Seacrest area. We are just not risk takers, working for our wages taking care of the sick. Well, we stepped out and bought it , we held it(for tax purposes), we cannot sell, we are stuck! Do not think we are alone but it is depressing. I had planned on selling it and then not renting Goin' Coastal. I am not sure we could sell it either. Half the houses on the street are for sale. Oh no this is another tread. I am new new here-- sorry!
Sounds like guest like yours think the houses are disposable.

 

[DBOldford]

I am happy to report that Conch Out had a lovely family as guests last week and they left everything looking almost as it was when they went in. Our current guests seem like a nice family, too. Summer is never a problem. We are convinced that blocking the house out for March 1 through just before Easter week is the ticket. It is not worth the angst. Our concern isn't so much about stuff as it is the potential for danger to occupants and our liability related to same. One foolhardy moment can tranlate into tragedy for everyone when kids are so alcohol-fueled.

We were also encouraged this week with the annual recognition of what Conch Out does to our bottom-line tax status. Nice to find the silver linings and Conch Out makes me so much happier than monthly statements from Fidelity, Vangard, and Schwab.

 

[Paula]

As I've said before, we've had very good luck overall with our renters. (isn't this where I'm supposed to knock on wood?) As far as we can tell by the condition of our cottages whenever we go there, and their kind words, the guests have been wonderful. So, it's good to remember that most guests appreciate the places they rent and take care of them. I like our management company (they've earned the "cut" they take and save me lots of time and worry) and, like Donna, at tax time when we see the value added of owning those cottages makes the cottages (and the guests who help support them) even extra special.

We've left plenty of new cds, games, books, etc. for guests and lots of other things and I can't say I've ever noticed anything was missing. Normal wear and tear, that's all. (And our regular home gets a lot more wear). We did lose one bag of about 2 sweatshirts/1 coat that I had left in a bag on the top shelf of a closet labelled "owner". Of course, our management company sees what the places look like after guests leave and they may tell a different story. But whenever I've been there and walked through the places after a guest has left, they've always left it in good condition.