Our reply to Brandon's Complaint is as follows:
Date:…read more August 12, 2020
From: Mark Westlock, Managing-Member, Meramec Valley Properties management ("MPVm")
Subject: Brandon, Michael ("Brandon")
This is a response to the complaint made against MVPm by Brandon. I intentionally waited 11 months to reply in order that MVPm could evaluate feedback from prospective clients, past tenants or communication from municipalities that Brandon's properties reside at that could still be sending notices to MVPm pertaining to Brandon's properties. These findings will be discussed later in this letter.
To those reading this reply, first and foremost, let it be known that Brandon attempted to extort MVPm for $25,000 - yes we have this in writing and yes this is a felony under the Missouri State Law - or he would write disparaging remarks about myself, MVPm and related company's services.
MVPm provided Brandon with many property management services to assist him in breathing life back into his failing investment portfolio. Under the terms of the agreement between MVPm and Brandon's companies, MVPm could use the funds it was holding for Brandon to reinvest into the portfolio. Given the sheer volume of repairs and that needed to be made to Brandon's portfolio (most of which was in a serious state of disrepair), there was simply never enough money available to make all the repairs in the time desired by Brandon. In addition to the repairs, MVPm was also using the funds it held on behalf of Brandon to pay back taxes on properties in the portfolio. Some properties were at risk of going to tax sale because of this issue and the back taxes were preventing some municipalities from issuing Occupancy Permits for the properties. The lack of funds coupled with the fact that Brandon was often requesting that MVPm take actions that were illegal, such as placing tenants in properties that did not have occupancy permits, requesting MVPm to complete work without required permits, lead to frustration on all sides. Despite Brandon's frustration with MVPm on occasion, he also made many comments indicating that he was satisfied with the service MVPm provided over the course of this business relationship.
Background
In December of 2017, Brandon was referred to MVPm for property management services by a past client. Brandon had an investment property portfolio was failing. He reportedly acquired these properties in a "package" and he never had professional property inspection reports performed during the purchase. In other words, he purchased his properties, "site unseen". Most of his properties were located in the North County areas of St. Louis, and he was desperately trying to find a new Property Manager ("PM") - reportedly his 5th in 4 years. When we first met, Brandon was very frustrated with the present PM. According to him, the PM he was using when we met was not following his directives with respect to demanding tenants pay for utilities on his properties and Brandon was incurring financial losses.
After listening to Brandon's situation, I explained our present business structure (at that time the company was named "BLMW Management LLC dba Meramec Valley Properties management"), experience and dedication to our clients. I explained that like Brandon, I also own investment properties and that I treat clients' properties as I do mine to ensure the properties are safe, tenants are protected and federal/state/local laws pertaining to occupancy/housing are adhered to and that the lease is executed as written. In February of 2018, MVPm accepted PM services for Brandon by way of Property Management Agreements for his LLCs.
During the first year of providing PM services, MVPm coordinated and executed a significant amount of activities to benefit Brandon's properties. Some properties where in horrible disrepair requiring in some cases eight months of rent to turn the property sufficiently to pass inspection. In fact, one building had flooring that was so structurally unsafe that we had to request that the tenants vacate the property for their own safety. Problems such as compromised roofs, failed flooring, termite damage to foundations/flooring/decks, HVAC failures, electrical safety issues, structural damages, etc. were all too common. For instance, the very first property that Brandon told us was vacant and ready for market was anything but ready for market. Active termite infestation, damaged flooring, foundation leaks, etc. required the attention of our general contractor. We made the repairs, all of which were approved by Brandon, and obtained the required Occupancy Permits (all the while pleading with the inspector on Brandon's behalf to not force a repaving of the driveway - saving Brandon thousands of dollars).
Shortly into our contractual relationship, we discovered that Brandon was behind on St. Louis County property taxes - on some propert
