Kalles Properties of Puyallup
Kalles Properties of Puyallup, Wa is the most dishonest property management company that I’ve seen in over 30 years of being in the home repair/remodel business. I live at one of their properties, Parkway Gardens Estates in Tacoma, Wa and have personally witnessed the mismanagement of property maintenance resulting in this HOA community having some of the most excessively expensive monthly dues. When I first moved here I began to notice peeling paint on many homes, neglected caulking around window trims resulting in large amounts of rot that in some cases required the removal of windows for repair because the rot spread to the 2” by 4” construction framing around the windows. I have taken many photos documenting the neglect over a period of years. When bringing the photos forward to the board members we were met with a strange angry response accusing us of being liars despite having actual photos of the damage. After attending a contentious board meeting with residents, the board of directors, and Kalles Properties to share the photos and concerns (recorded meeting by us and a board member), we were again met with unreasonable push back that resulted in the “Minutes” of that meeting not aligned with the actual recording of the meeting. They outright lied and we were shocked because the board members recorded the meeting also. We still have the audio file from that meeting along with the many photos of the property neglected.
Eventually two different painting companies came in to address the failing paint situation, but shockingly didn’t address the major rot issues on a few homes likely because that’s not their scope of work, their painters. I did happen to ask the painter one day why the rot wasn’t being addressed and he said he was told to paint over it by the board president at the time.
I did not bring that info forward to the board, but instead continued to monitor and document because it was shocking to see rotten window trim etc being painted over because it’s not being “repaired”, just “masked”. As months went by I continued to monitor this particular home and when realizing it was a homeowner that mainly lives in New York, I took it upon myself to notify them of the rotten trip around their garden style window. This particular home is at the entrance/exit of the property, so was very visible for all to see making it even more shocking that it allowed to be neglected. Given my notification to the homeowner the rotten trim was brought to the attention of the board and was subsequently repaired at the cost of thousands to the the community that should ever have happened with “basic” observations and maintenance.
Parkway Gardens Estates is senior living community, where elderly people come to live and by paying a monthly maintenance dues are supposed to be able to rest at ease knowing that building maintenance will be performed as needed. Well, if no one on the board has any real knowledge of property management, or maintenance then they turn to a company like Kalles Properties to come in and help. The problem is Kalles is there to help manage financial issues, not actual property maintenance issues because it’s a clear conflict of interest. I have watched and documented several situations where Kalles Properties has cost this community greatly in bringing in companies to do work that no one here on the elderly board can follow up on to check for quality repairs because they have no knowledge to do so. A company was brought in to make changes to the tips of chimneys leaving screw and nail holes exposed to rain allowing water to leak in over years. Once I pointed this out to them they had a company come in and install a complete stainless steel cap to cover the entire topside of the chimney to prevent water from entering. There is likely mold now behind the siding possibly affecting the interior attic spaces of the homes. I’ve seen and photographed water stains in the concrete around the interior fireplaces of several home, so there’s must be mold. I’m writing this review to bring attention to the fact that our cherished elders move into these HOA communities to not have to worry about home maintenance, but if no one has knowledge? This country is terrible as far taking care of the elderly with all its scams and exploitations, and Kalles Properties is right there to jump on the bandwagon to exploit the seniors in any way they can. Bringing in non professional youth to climb ladders and apply moss kill to roofs? Yes, I have the photos of several of these situations along with the monthly board letters stating how much was paid for certain repairs that were being represented like it was a professional company doing the work, when in fact it was kids. So, senior living, 55 and up communities beware if no one has maintenance experience!