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Refurbished Homes
Woodland Estates
4797 S. 4th Street
Kalamazoo, Mi 49009, US
www.gmchousing.com
My family and I moved in the the Manufactured Home Community of Woodland Estates in Kalamazoo, in the Spring of 2007. We were told the house we were sold was "REFURBISHED". After we moved in and everything was turned on we realized that not only was the issues of the home covered up but this home was not "REFURBISHED" at all. About the only thing that was "REFURBISHED" about it was a fresh coat of paint and new carpeting. Since move in we have experienced a leaking skylight, leaking toilets, mice, roaches, mold, mildew, fallen insulation (that was duct taped back but had fallen AGAIN), skirting damage, shower leaking, sinks leaking, drawers in kitchen falling apart (one part missing!), hole in one of our bathtubs (that we have still yet to use), back door doesn't latch properly, and recently found out our home was used as a meth lab at one time from a previous owner. They neglected to tell us that. We found out from a neighbor. We are still waiting on the "CLEAN UP REPORT THEY HAVE".
We have contacted them SEVERAL times for the issues to be fixed. They give the excuse "We are low on help." "We'll get to it ASAP".
BUT THEY NEVER Come down and fix anything. They last time the maintenance guy came down he "FIXED" the toilet. Next thing we know the bathroom floor is soaked! The toilet was now leaking MORE! They used "expandable foam" to fix holes and cracks in the siding that has now turned brown on my Yellow house. They "leveled" my deck with cylinder blocks... that is worse than before! I can hardly walk out my door without stumbling sideways!
Since move in we have replaced facets, piping, and used adhesive to fix the peeling counter tops. We have not been reimbursed for this!
For their Maintenance staff they have an older guy that smells to be drinking (he almost fell on me once... I reported it... and they confirmed he was an alcoholic!), the next guy REEKS of B.O. (I can't even stand to have him in my home... it takes your breath away!) And now it seems they have young kids for Maintenance now! NO WONDER WHY MY HOUSE ISN'T BEING FIXED!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Management Here is a joke! People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, Before they start sending out notices about things not getting done they need to get their own act in order. The Hitler comment is so right. I have been here a long time and never seen it so poorly managed. RIDICULOUS. Whoever owns this property needs to clean house and quit worrying about the almighty dollar and start caring about living quality. This use to be a nice place to live now they let any one move in as long as they have the cash to pay the down payment then when they get behind on payments they throw them out and let more trash move in BEWARE OF WOODLAND ESTATES! CROOKED
I live here...Do not move in here. This place is horrible...Been here well over a year almost two and it's awful. Wish i would of picked a different trailer park..Or a house! baught a brand new trailer..Brand new and it's a piece of crap do not move in here!
Woodland Estates is the WORST place to live. I have been here 11 years. It was great at the start but when Karen became manager my opinion changed. The maintenance men are LAZY! When I drive past her sons house every day and the maintenance truck is still sitting in the same spot it was at the night before there's something wrong. Even during work hours his truck sits there, he's getting paid to do absolutely nothing. Karen isn't any better than her "maintenance" men. She has her favorites around here. She's been harassing my neighbors for quite some time now. She says that she wants the neighbors to get along but when you sit outside and socialize with the neighbors you get accused of being a gang and told that people are scared to walk past or drive past your house. She tells you who can and can't be at your house. She has told people that my house got raided for a meth house when in all actuality it was her sons house that got raided. She talks about tenants to other tenants. Her "maintenance" manager drives around "patrolling" with his girl friend in the car (Very unprofessional, especially when she doesn't even work in here. Even more unprofessional when she's calling people white trash when she doesn't even know them ). Everybody's yard has to look a certain way except the "maintenance" manager, who's a major hoarder and his yard looks like crap. She takes pictures of people's houses and writes them up for stupid stuff. You're not allowed to keep stuff on your front porch or in your yard. Management charges you $50 dollars if they have to mow your lawn, but it states in the hand book $25. This place is just RIDICULOUS and TERRIBLE!
I can truly say that me, and my family hate living in Woodland Estates. Karen is a horrible manager, and every maintenance guy sucks as well. Don't hold your breath when you need something fixed and they say they'll come help, because believe me they will never show up. But as soon as they have a complaint for you, they are there in a heart beat. Living here is like living in a communist country. You are told what to do, how to do it, where to do it, and so forth. You must keep your property a certain way, and don't even think about hanging up a flag other than an American, you will be assumed racist. Karen herself, I referred to as Trailer Park Hitler. If I wanted to be told how to keep my home I would have moved into an apartment. I thought this would atleast give me some privacy and independence, but I have yet to prove myself right of that thought.
All in all, I hope with the Bankruptcy deal, they get screwed and everyone goes bye bye. I would love to get the hell out of here. Which brings up the ridiculous contracts! If you live here, and haven't completely read through yours and done your math, I highly suggest you do so. Believe it or not, your getting screwed over. Wish all luck!
WOW!
I was going to buy a home in Woodland estates...
WAS, is the operative word.
I'm horrified and could not live like this.
Tell me, does Karen and her crew still work at Woodland?
I used to live in Woodland Estates, and I used to hang out with John. He is on drugs. Used to be alcohol, then methodone, morphine, and cocaine, and now he's a full-time meth head. His mother knows about it, and covers his ### so that he can keep his job. He's such a junky that when cleaning empty houses out, he picks out what he wants and tries to sell it at the community garage sale. Dale (Karen's husband and John's stepdad), the other maintenance man drinks on the job (especially when plowing), and James is the third maintenance man, who is the only grounded person in the whole park.
As for the yellow house, they knew it used to be a meth house, and let you move in anyways. I used to clean house for the park... and Karen is very crooked. She smokes in the office. Also, when Jerry does come to Kalamzoo, it's usually on a Thursday. I called him a couple times because John steals gas from the garage that is supposed to be used for the golf carts and company trucks. However, I was ignored. Karen and Dale also pick and choose what they want out of empty houses (such as stoves) and trade them with appliances from the home they live in. The ONLY thing they do to empty houses is put in new carpet, and paint the walls, and sometimes the shed and decks. Anyone who lives in Woodland Estates should contact Jerry directly. Karen will ignore any complaints in order to make herself look better, and her employees (b/c most of them are her family).
It saddens me to hear you don't like it here. It saddens me even more that you would accuse someone (in a public forum) of drug use or sales with out first hand knowledge. Jon has not been charged with drug use or sales. I believe if you think that is going on you call the local police department. He might have a valid reason for not looking good that day. He may have been sick or working all night trying to keep the roads clear here in the park. As for the yellow house, did you have problems right away or was it a month or two after you bought your home. Sky lights and plumbing are common problems in a home. You must realize when you buy a used home there will always have problems sooner or latter. I recommend that you note all your problems, when they started and send that directly to Jerry. Send one to Jerry, one to the office and keep a copy for yourself. If you do not hear back with in a week send a registered letter to Jerry. Remember you will catch more fly's with honey. Take a deep breath before writing the letter. After writing it, re-read it and ask yourself, would I like it if someone talked to me this way. A push will normally get a push back.
I hope your problems will be taken care of. I have lived here for only four years and have found it to be very nice. Normally I have found the employees here to be very helpful. Good Luck!
All Complaints should be in writting and submitted directly to Germano Management company at:
Germano Management Company
Attn: Jerry Germano
32540 Schoolcraft Rd. #110
Livonia, MI 48150
Phone number is: [protected]
Please be prepared for a lot of double talk and empty promises. You might have to bring a small claims suit against Germano Management in order to get any action taken.
I currently maintain my own residence, I have however had the experience of plowing over my front yard, people parking on my lawn during the winter months and my drive being plowed in.
Another note about Woodland Estates, Jerry gets billed for water used and sewage by the city of Kalamazoo. The law does not permit for profits to be made on water usage. The water is marked up 3 - 4 times what the city charges Jerry and is passed on to the residents of Woodland Estates. This is why Jerry has been trying to work out the water so that he is not overcharging us. The next issue is that he pumps the sewage from the older section into the main sewage that flows back to the city of Kalamazoo. I do not think that Kalamazoo knows of this activity and therefore Jerry is getting away with adding sewage to the line without paying for it. The pump station is located in the rv storage lot.
If you desire to get a petition going for the water issue, please respond here and have others respond as well.
Any issues with the sale of your home, repairs and required maintenance will need to be sent directly to Jerry. You might be better off just asking for the material and doing the repair yourself. Make a list of all that is bad or needs to be replaced, keep one copy and send the other copy to Jerry and the local office. You will get a reply back from Jerry but it might not be what you want to hear. If you confront Jerry one on One, he will most likely take care of your problem or have it taken care of right away. but first put it in print and keep copies!
Tell me about it, I had issues with my house so I called Karen the manager and she sent her son Jon to fix it. And he shows up high as kite. Aginst my better judgement I let him in to show him the problem, and he's so high that he nods off in the middle of looking at it (GAS LINES). So after he left I went to the office to say something Karen, and she knows all about, almost like she approves of it. So basically we traded a drunk for a 20 year old junkie.
And further more I've been hearing that he has been dealing METH from his house off of Red leaf. I live down the street and I see cars coming and going from his house at all hous of the night. I've lived here since 06 and I'll be one of the 1st to tell you that I miss the drunk.