If you're considering TripForth for property management, RUN AWAY. I actually lost money by renting my property through TripForth! I'm not really a review person, but this has been such a horrible experience that I feel compelled to report this clown company, TripForth, which after costing me thousands of dollars had the guile to bill me for expenses I never approved and for services that never occurred. I am convinced TripForth's business model is to charge as many needless or otherwise hidden fees as possible; meanwhile, TripForth clearly prioritizes its more lucrative properties at Massanutten resort (I couldn't even find my listing on AirBnB). I'll try to list the numerous problems with TripForth as follows:
- The marketing, numbers and sales pitch all seem very good, but when you drill down on the numbers, your margins are nowhere near what you think. The initial "deep clean," which was anything but deep: $700. The recurring cleaning fee: $240. There was a light snow. I don't have a driveway. Charged me $150 for snow removal. I assume that was for my deck? It really adds up.
- Before I decided to eat the $1,000 to get out of my contract with TripForth, their dashboard showed me that I was netting $800 on about $2,100 gross. This is not feasible. When I cancelled, TripForth tacked on a bunch of charges and sent me a bill for $2,800. I will be fighting this.
- My home is older, on a well and pump system. I was very clear that when there's a freeze, you need to run a drip on the faucets. TripForth's team didn't do this. After a big freeze, I get an email that a pipe had burst, and the cost to fix it will be $1,800 (not to mention the cost of it not being rented). The pump also wasn't working, they said. Estimates were in the thousands. I drove out to Shenandoah and replaced the pipes and hot water heater myself, for about $500. I was looking around for estimates on the pump when, without my permission, TripForth apparently just paid someone to do it. And guess what? Now they want me to pay for it. Cost? $1,275. Oh, also the bill they just sent me is charging $429 and $385 for "work order." (see photos) It's non-specific, but the $385 states "plumber hooked up tankless water heater." This did not occur. You know how I know? Because I hooked up the heater myself, and I have photos to prove it! Even if they had done this, that's a crazy fee to connect two pex lines to shark bite fittings.
- You have to book your own home with TripForth if you want to use it. Fine, I thought. Problem is you have to pay TripForth the $240 cleaning fee each time you turn it over. The alternative is to clean it yourself and pay a $45 inspection fee. Just before I fired them, I opted for the latter on a short stay (to fix the plumbing). Without any discussion, I get an email from Tripforth claiming that the cleaning was not "up to standards" and I would be charged an additional $240. So $285 to stay in my own home to fix stuff caused by their failure. They claimed the linens weren't cleaned. I'm certain they were because, aware of the fees, I did not use the linens. I slept on the couch! The place was very clean. They just wanted more money. Because of that charge, I actually lost money on a four-night booking.
- Electric service in Shenandoah Valley is quite pricey. No matter, according to TripForth. Their crew left my two mini split AC/heat pumps on full blast 24/7 when no one was there (see photos).
- On the last day of this nightmare, at the end of the only remaining booking, I politely asked for confirmation that the place would be cleaned when they turned it over (since I had already paid for it). I asked when it would be available and got no answer. So I arrived at 5 p.m., assuming it would be done by then. When I arrived, a woman, the cleaner apparently, was sleeping on my couch. She and another person left later ... without taking the trash in the bins and debris on the deck. I wasn't shocked, since this was a recurring problem, to find a bunch of towels in the washer. Also, there were children's pants in the laundry room? Wouldn't have been a good look for guests.
In conclusion, I strongly caution against working with TripForth. The person I just hired to take over the property confirmed to me that reputable cleaners and contractors refuse to work with them, too. I'll be lodging complaints wherever I can and anticipate fighting their bogus bills in small claims court. read more