Subject: Disappointing Experience with Property Management - Avoid Brookside Properties
I regret to share my poor experience with Brookside Properties and Mrs. Lauren McDonald, who manages their operations. After putting down a $500 deposit for a property with a planned move-in date of 12/5, I found myself dealing with a series of miscommunications and a lack of professionalism that led to me losing my deposit, despite never moving in.
From the start, things felt off. I initially spoke with an employee named Andy, who assured me that the lease was set up for my needs, including accommodations for my dog. However, when the lease arrived, there was no mention of my pet. After weeks of back-and-forth and unclear communication--at one point Andy had been replaced, and I was dealing with someone new--I discovered that the property wasn't even in the Williamson County school district as implied, but in Maury County. This alone raised serious concerns about their transparency and management.
In the meantime, my company's needs changed, and I had to adjust my move-in date. I contacted Mrs. McDonald directly to explain the situation and request my deposit back, especially considering that I hadn't even moved in. After multiple messages and delays, I was told that I wouldn't be receiving a refund. Mrs. McDonald went as far as to reference listening to recorded conversations to confirm what her former employee "didn't" say--completely ignoring the fact that my work-related situation had shifted, making the 12/5 date unfeasible.
As a business owner with several colleagues and families relocating to the area, I would have appreciated a more business-savvy approach. Instead, I was left out $500 for a deposit, plus over $200 in application fees, with no acknowledgment of the larger opportunity for business collaboration. Brookside Properties, a company specializing in both residential and commercial real estate, could have leveraged our ongoing relocation plans, which will involve more than 10 families and significant commercial space needs. Unfortunately, they chose to prioritize a small deposit over potential business worth six figures annually.
In short, I cannot recommend doing business with a management team that prioritizes short-term gains over long-term relationships. If this is how they handle potential clients, imagine the headache for anyone already locked into a lease. read more