First Service Residential - SAMLARC Review

If I could give them zero stars I would, but I don't have that option.

Concur with other reviewer and would give 0/5 stars if I could. Multitude of issues. My significant other and myself both own units in the Newport Beach property and she had significant damage to her unit through no fault of her own and the HOA (which is not directly First Residential but their decision to switch management to First Residential which no one really understands) did take some credit but the repair was incredibly untimely and the work was shoddy at best, and was only done after enough legal action was threatened. This being on top of already incredibly high HOA dues around $450/month on properties worth between 350-550k with, in my opinion, little to show for the dues.

Second issue is when trying to pay dues or switch to automatic payments, I've had a conversation to no avail in trying to explain to not automatically draft more than double my monthly HOA as well as have the second parking pass removed. I'm sure it will be worked out in a credit and the parking pass and additional fee removed, but the act of talking to the Rhodes Scholars managing the phones, quite honestly, I almost don't care at this point and they can just have the extra $500/month as I am sure I will get the credit down the road. Long story short, very impersonable and mismanaged all the way around.

I am a Realtor in Irvine. The Metropolitan Condos is my area of sales for 10 years. This company is the WORST management company I have ever had to deal with. You can NEVER speak with anyone unless you're willing to wait on hold for a half an hour. Worse than DMV. The representative for The Metropolitan never returns his calls OR e mails

They charge they re customers a fee to make a payment! Unheard of and testament to what kind of company they are! Unfortunately, it s my homeowners association and I don t have a choice!

First Service Residential has been excellent with our community. Rachel Kievman is our manager and she is on top of all our requests, needs and issues for our residents in our community. Thank you !!!

If you own a home under them save yourself the time and money and get it sold. these people are the worst to deal with!

Garbage company out for themselves. Not looking to help the community.

Do not purchase property managed by this terrible company! I am with Riverbend Master Association and they must subcontract to this organization. You can't get a hold of someone. After more than an hour on hold over various days, I finally got to talk to a person. They said they had 48 hours to call me back. You guessed it, they never did call me back. I am now on hold once again for 20+ minutes. I will bet they will not pick up or if they do I get another major runaround.

Cant get through to a person. Dont buy a condo that has this company doing the book keeping.

Joshua Garrett of First Service Residential is a VERY rude person to deal with, doesn't keep his promises and when he does email you back its nothing but attitude. Ill be filing a complaint about him to our HOA board.

Awful response time, awful customer service, terrible employees, they don't get anything done and their answers to valid questions are pathetic.

Not responsive.
We pay for landscaping yards look horrible
Can t answer basic financially questions.
It s time to make a change.

Basically a scam for 400/mo that you cant opt out of. How are HOA's not regulated? I cant opt out of this scam

I wrote this review in two other FSR areas a well. Here's my general review from both. My family and I have lived in our community for over 10 years. In those 10 years, nothing but harassment. No communication, no responses on inquiries, constant change in where to send payments, threats and just terrible service in general. The list could go on. The fact remains that we are quiet, follow the rules people, like most of our community folk, but we tend to get treated like bottom of the barrel garbage. Unfortunatly, the only time we ever have gotten a response is from sending a "intent to sue" notice. If your going into a community that has this company as an HOA, beware and look at other areas prior, you'll end up getting extremely frustrated. This company loves to focus more on being thieves as opposed to helping make communities better.

I would rate this company with a zero if I could. Absolutely, worst customer service I have ever encountered with any property management company and I agree with other reviews, in which you are treated like "bottom of the barrel". I pay my dues on time, follow the CCRs, and in my experience, First Residential only address concerns they chose to address and actually only reply to those they choose. Really? I don't understand how these people are even in business anymore. They actually blocked my emails (I believe because I reported their lack of response to a major concern to the County). This responsibility ultimately lies on my Board of Directors for going along with their practices. I am repulsed that they get away with these practices. They have low ratings on Yelp and Google as well as Glass Door (written by employees of the company). I live in Ladera Ranch which has a reputation for being held to high standards and I feel this company from the manager of Ladera downward has fallen short on my part. According to reviews written by many homeowners residing in other associations managed by this company, I am not alone. I yet have come across a site in which they have an overall positive rating. I truly hope they are held accountable as they seem to play by their own rules.

So many issues with this HOA, but let me discuss the latest. Concrete driveway work is being done. Notice was put up June 26, 2020 and work was to begin June 29th giving us less than 3 days to prepare because they did not offer a parking solution. Work was to be completed by July 6th, 2020 according to the notice. That did not happen. I finally called customer service on a July 10th and was told there was no record of work being done and that a supervisor would call me within the next couple days. That never happened, but we were finally able to park in our assigned spot Monday July 13th. We were inconvenienced for over 2 weeks and nobody would help or give us an answer.

FirstService does charge illegally late fees and the customer service is horrible. I have called and left 6 messages with no return call. Companies like this give HOA's a bad name.

If I could provide negative ratings I would!!!! One of the worst companies to provide residential services. Most employees are completely inept in addressing the simplest issues. Simply incompetent and unresponsive ...:
- Simple repairs such as the knob for a firepit can take up to 6 weeks
- Other more major repairs can never be taken care of - Such as noise issues in the building that have been going on for over 6 months
- The company has a track record of hiring wrong people and companies to do work such as windows washing or fire inspection. Work is often done in an unorganized manner with destructive results

Stay away from hiring this company to do any property management / residential services.

JUST PAY YOU CANNOT WIN.

I paid my association dues, but the amount was credited to the wrong account. I called in to verify on the 15th of this month. I was told that the money was transferred to the correct account, but it looks like it was transferred after the 15ht. So I got a late fee per their statement.

Just got off the phone with First Service Customer Care in Florida. She said that I shouldn't have to pay the late fee, but she would put in a request with the board. But if I pay only this month's dues, I will owe the amount of the late fee on the 15th if the request to wave the late fees is not approved and processed before the 15th.

So I will owe late fees on the late fees, additionally they now charge a new Processing fee. I guess this money goes to FSR and not the association. Just noticed it on the bill:
"Please note should your account become more than 60 days past due a $75.00 processing fee will be charged." (Noted)

My Suggestions for those of us who purchased a home managed by FSR:

* Always pay by paper check, and write your address on the memo line. That way you have proof.
*Call in to check on the status of your account. If they make a mistake, or you don't know about the charges you are still responsible. I would suggest you pay on the first and call in around the 8th of the month so you can mail them another check before the 15th.

Really bad service, I usually try not to deal with them, but god if I need them, I should be expecting silent. I don't think they care.

I have a headache. I can't even formulate a sentence about FSR right now. They are HIGHLY incompetent and VERY disorganized! Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy...

I would rate this company ZERO (0).

Recently we had an issue with a deceased tree related to the association adjacent to the backyard of our house in Pacific Hills , Mission viejo. We had several correspondences with the senior HOA property manager of Pacific Hills. She is totally rode and unhelpful. Just giving nonsense excuses to us for not trimming the tree and proper tree fungus treatment.
The deceased unhealthy leaves from the tree falling in our backyard and contaminating our SPA, flowers and plants.

The property manager is totally careless and unhelpful and rude.

I would give ZERO (0) to this company.

First service residential is better off outsourcing management to foreign countries as the "property managers" they employ are worthless. P$mela B@!ley for example is worthless as a manager. I would like to warn anyone that is considering purchasing or renting a home in a community managed by First Service Residential. They are there to earn a buck and could not care less about the people who pay their fees. Employees in the Philippines can email templated messages for far less than the employees you pay like P$mela B@iley.

Run by a group of incompetent individuals. Friend was visiting out of town and got his car towed, had incorrect towing company signage legally required in CA, spoke to Sam and he even admitted that he knew this legal signage was required. This is the SECOND time this had happened, before they towed my car. Said they would call my friend back that same day and did not. When my friend asked Sam what the rules for guest parking were, he couldn't answer. Amazing that a company is trying to enforce rules their staff is too obtuse to even know. His mom had to call out of work drive out here from AZ since he's visiting and the car is in her name. A car they had no legal right to tow. Signs say the tow companies party to our association are "Beach Cities Towing" and "OC Towing", but his vehicle was towed by iTow (which is just OC towing who's changed their name for the 3rd time probably over these predatory towing scandals), all the phone numbers and information are invalid. Not only are they run by idiots, but they are breaking the law. Curious if anyone else has had a similar experience. We will be taking this issue to small claims. Zero stars to this entire joke of an establishment! Funny to see here this isn't the first claim of illegal activity from this place. Needs to be shut down

Worse HOA management company ever. I can't believe that my hard earned money goes to pay their salaries. Very rude and incompetent. Usually when I call I get a "general voicemail" but when they do pick up they don't know the answers to any of my questions and put me through to a voicemail "manager" who doesn't return my calls ..yikes!!
I didn't like them when they were Merit Property Management either!! Same people same bad service :(

I called Firstservice residential 3 times and operator is not available. It is very hard to reach live person. I left a message but so far no one has called me back. I hope they improve their service to home owners.

TERRIBLE customer service. Not enough agents to handle the volume of calls they receive. Last class service.

It is the worst management company that I have seen in the past 40 years.
They Charge $450 a month for a 300-400 K Condo and they don't do anything in return. You have to wait month and month before they fix a problem...and they send you bills for things that is their responsibility...
Schaub is the worse in the office and extremely hard to get a hold of.
They give you the run around.
No Gym, a pool that is broken most of the time, no holiday decorations, VERY STRICT laws etc...
Just to keep things short...RUN FROM THIS COMPANY...Many of my neighbors moved out because of them.

I work with Mindy Dent at 100 S Doheny HOA
In Los Angeles. She is not only a joy to work with but. She handles her association with professionalism dedication and passion. I truly love working with her I see the way she treats and handles her Board as well if every homeowner within that association. I work with a lot of different onsite General Managers and I wish everyone was as fantastic as Mindy.

We have two properties with First Service Residential. The one in a different state has wonderful management and customer service. The property in La Quinta, CA has horrible customer service and the management is less than stellar. When you call Irvine for help, you wait 5 minutes or longer and then get a message that they are updating their systems and can't help you for at least another hour at which time you get hung up on. Perhaps they should do updates in the middle of the night.

Alex Geary is now the onsite manager for the association. The changes that First Service has made in placing Alex here has made all the difference. He is very helpful and responsive to the needs of the community

I moved into one of their communities and what a mess. I cannot get info an anything from my mailbox to fees, you name it. No responses, etc.

I would have given 0 stars, but it wasn't possible. Like others have said, it is impossible to get through to a person! The person I was directed to contact for help, Kim Dinh, was worthless. She would never call me to help even when I specifically asked for help with automatic payments.

Worst website ever to navigate through. Just to log on is ridiculous and cumbersome..

First residential community management is one of the worst in OC.
They will create a toxic environment for your community.

There is nothing positive or nice to say about this company. I learned recently that they have been illegally charging homeowners late fees.

Worst Property Management Company I have dealt with. I hope my HOA cancels with this company!

They are the worst association to deal with I tried to reach them for a plumbing problem it ends up costing me $525 they're not willing to help Kasidy schaub never returns but Kelli Komada is the only person good in that Ofice

It is very difficult to get in touch with a person and then they aren't able or willing to help. Awful customer service for the high monthly cost.

Very incompetent and unresponsive. We ve been calling and left multiple messages to Rana Alani re the wastewater leak in our unit but for the past 3 weeks, we never received a return call from her. We also emailed Dave, district/regional manager but no response as well.

All the reviews are accurate. THE WORST customer service ever!!!!!! ZERO Stars!!!!

There is no way to get a hold of anyone by phone, which is a nightmare since I m out of state half the time

After cutting our trees on Alevera St in Oak Creek, all privacy is good as gone! Now we get to see the noisy street behind our house and stare at our neighbors' windows which are too close anyway. Landscaping is plain and dull and makes the community less appealing compared to greener and better maintained communities such as Quail Hill

It has been a very negative and disappointing experience dealing with this company. I agree with another review on this page that their main function is collecting the monthly dues.
I wish there was a negative star to give to this company!
We submitted a complaint about an abusive neighbor over a year ago. Our contact A.S. mislead us for over six month about her communication (or lack thereof) with the neighbor. One year later she is still giving us the run around. Yet I am sure I would be fined immediately if my tree was not trimmed in time!!!
We had to call the police last week and they were surprised that the HOA is not taking any action on our behalf!!!!
NEGATIVE STAR review!