I live in CA, I own five properties in AR, Julie Winn/Aelous Realty and Management CO. Have managed them for a few years now.
In June a couple of my tenants moved out without notice. Ms. Winn sent me a handwritten invoice totalling $1280.00 for repairs and clean of my Springdale property. So, I emailed her auhtorizing the repairs.
In July I got my report showin that she had rented my Rogers home plus she collected the other rents and deposit totalling $2300. And change. This report showed that there were repairs totalling $2718.70. So she kept all of my $2300. She took it upon herself to use the funds collected from other properties to pay for repairs to my Springdale property and she was only authorized to go off the $1280. Bid that she provided.
I emailed her questioning the charge and she said "well it cost more" I sent her an email instructing her not to do any repairs whatsoever without my prior consent. She emailed me back confirming that she understood.
I got my August report on 8/31/07 of the rents collected for August. She combined my July and August report for some reason. She collected $1387.00 bringing the total between July and August to $3687.00 Except that this time the repair and other misc. Costs totalled $4098.24.
She while she collected $3687.00 of my rents for two months, I still owe her the balance of $411.92 according to her.
She has managed my properties for about 4 years, I never knew that her husband does most of the repairs and this is why the invoices are not from a contractor or a company. I found out by speaking to three other management companies in AR who know Julie Winn. When I asked her she confirmed but said that he only does very minor repairs.
I have since fired her, she told me yesterday that she will take her $411. Plus the additional costs that are owed. Don't know what they are.
I have asked her to provide the bussiness/contractors license of these contractors of which she has provide hand written invoices from. She has not responded as I don't believe they are licensed, I also asked for their tax identification number.
This woman also told me via email that she has every right to do any repairs at at cost. She says that our agreement allows her to, alledging that AR Law says it is OK.
I'm not sure if it is worth it to hire an attorney for this case or to simply file a small claims action against her as well as reporting her to a applicable governmental agencies. I also want to place an ad in the paper where she has her ads.
I'd love to hear any other ideas.
Edwin M.in CA
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