Complaint Review: Service Star Realty

Based on my own very recent experience, I recommend you NOT do business with Service Star Realty.  I sold my home 9/17 and needed to rent a house while my new one was under construction. 18 months of construction.  I signed a one year lease on a house in Scottsdale (4bd/2ba).  My first property manager, Andrea, was wonderful.  

Several months into my rental, I was notified that Lisa Sassi would be my new property manager.  It all went downhill very fast from there.  Lisa was rude, unprofessional and just plain unhappy and it showed in every conversation I had with her.  Lisa was released from her duties right at the time I was negotiating an extension on my lease because as noted, I needed a place for 18 months.

 SSR ghosted me for 3 months, I finally heard from Debi.  She seemed nice, we discussed the pro's and con's of doing month to month or signing a new lease.  She said, "If it was me, I would just sign a new 1 year lease, you can always break the lease, its really simple".  I should have known that was the death of a positive experience with SSR.  

On 1/20/19, I provided a 93 day notice to terminate my lease, providing an April 15th move out date.  I was only required to provide a 60 day notice.
Never heard a word from anyone at SSR until I received a cryptic text message stating "are you aware of your financial obligations, you may want to rethink your decision".  I was like what??  Who is this?  Then I get "Service Star Realty".  Are you kidding me?  

What kind of company sends a cryptic text message with no identification?  This was just beyond unprofessional!  An email dated 1/28/19 stating my disgust for their lack of professionalism.  I also question why the house is not listed on their site as available yet.  I gave notice 8 days prior to this email, this was plenty of time for them to list the house available.

 In her response to me, also dated 1/28/19, Debi says "Thank You, Michelle for reviewing the information.  I will be setting up the marketing of the home today."  I then respond "great, please accept this as written notice that I want to be present for the video move-out, per the lease requirements.  As of 1/31/19, I still do not see the property being marketed by SSR, per the lease.

 I send another email to Debi who responds on 2/1/19 that "upon speaking with the owners, they have decided to take their time and consider their options."  This goes against our ability to find a new tenant and release me of my financial obligation to the property.  I let Debi know, this was unacceptable and not within the rights of the lease to delay any potential marketing of the property.  I hear no response, nothing until 2/25, when she tells me the owners have decided to go ahead and find new tenants.  

Now we have lost over 30 days of marketing the property, she then also proceeds to tell me that she won't begin the marketing until mid March.  This is after she had already told me she was setting up the marketing on 1/28/19.  All lies and deception!  After many messages of disgust back and forth, I alerted Debi on March 3rd, that because of the nonsense going back and forth and SSR's inability to timely post the property, we would be moving up the move out date to March 31st and that the property will be clean and ready for a new tenant on April 1st.  and she should look for a renter for that date.

She didn't respond back to me until March 5th, and just asked what I already communicated to her.  "whats your move out date".  I AGAIN, said "the property will be available for a new renter April 1st.  I want out of the property and as far away from SSR as soon as possible!" On March 6th, Debi once again committed to listing the property.  Upon searching, it didn't get listed until March 8th.  

Upon review of the listing, Debi listed the available date as 4/26/19.  This was NOT the date we agreed upon, and I let her know.  i had to contact her 4 more times about the available date, and it still did not get corrected.  My presence at the video move-out was not accommodated, that's a breach of lease, their video guy, Brian, refused to provide me with a time to meet him.  Debi then agreed to walk thru the house with me. 
We did and she verbally told me everything looked great and the house was in excellent condition.  She told me she didn't see any problems.  But still did NOT accommodate my request to be present for the video walk-thru, despite my written notification.  and now they are telling me they have a renter for 5/1, costing me one month's rent and this is after I provided a 93 day notice.

 PLENTY of time for them to find a new tenant.  SSR stole April's rent from me, SSR never had any intention of renting it in April.  UNPROFESSIONAL I plan to contact AZ Dept of Housing, AZ Board of Realtors and file suit if not remedied.  As of today, it has been more than 14 days since I turned in the keys and I still have no return of my security deposit or my April rent money.  This company is unethical!!