Anderson Howard

 

Here's my story. I've worked abroad for the past five years -- returning to the states two are three times a year. While looking for this investment property, I found myself in a crunch and had to close (July 10, 2007) right away. The house needed about $10k in repairs to get it ready for leasing. I only had 15 days remaining on my R&R before having to return to the Middle East. I had contractors lined up to do the work but it wasn't happening fast enough for me to meet my deadline.

 

My brother asked me what my plans were on completing my house while in the Middle East. I honestly had no idea what I was going to do. That's when my brother introduced me to Laura. She's been a customer of my brother's for about 10 years. I met Laura to discuss her managing my property on my behalf; since I was up against the clock.

 

Laura met me at my property and laid out what she could offer in the way of property management. I had a good feeling about her mainly because she knew the area so well. I also grew up in the neighborhood as a kid and she knew it better than I did. Plus she came highly recommended by my brother. 

I hired Laura as my property manager and then stepped out on faith by handing her a cashier's check for $10,000.00 and asking her to get my house ready for leasing by August 1st. Laura said, she had never had a customer to do this before, but she understood my predicament and accepted.

 

Three days later I'm back in the Middle East; Laura had already listed my house on her website. She placed flyers in the University of Texas area and listed it also on the Internet. 

Some of the contractors I hired prior to leaving were complaining that they were getting too many visitors due to the media blitz. One of them even took her sign down so that he wouldn't have to answer any questions. The house leased within five days of her putting it on the market.

 

It get's better, I gave Laura $10k not expecting her to give me anything back in return or even coming back to me for another infusion of cash to close out the rest of the restoration and make-ready work. To my surprise, she was able to refund me $1800 with a complete itemized accounting of every cent she spent. 

Since then the house has only needed a few things done to it for the tenants, for instance, leaky water faucet repair, garbage disposal clogged and back-gate hinge latch broke. She has a guy for every situation. My elderly parents are now using Laura's handy men to do work around their house because she's been so helpful to me. 

I can tell you this; I haven't had to worry about one thing with this piece of property. Welcome Home Leasing deposits a check into my bank account no later then the 10th of every month along with emailing me a monthly statement of charges. My tenants have never been late one time.