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SAFEGUARD PROPERTIES

United States

Consumer reviews about SAFEGUARD PROPERTIES

zzzelda
Feb 1, 2012

Awful company

Well, I'm back. I am zzzelda, and I commented previously how I had not as yet had problems with Safeguard. Annnnd ta-da! I am now just about to quit.

The good points: They pay on time.

The bad points:Here are a few examples...

1. We were assigned a dewinterization. We are authorized on our work order to perform up to $500 in repairs to make the property hold pressure. We did one repair. As a result, the pressure built up to the point where we could hear that a valve was leaking farther away from the compressor. That was a complicated fix that would have put us over the $500, so we had to stop. Safeguard issued a chargeback saying that we should not have performed any repairs at all. Essentially we are supposed to find every single leak in the entire property- including those in the wall, and fix them all for less that the allowable, or don't fix anything because we won't get paid.

2. We performed a repair that caused a property to hold pressure for a dewinterization. Safeguard decided that it would pay half of our invoice. Unfortunately, after the cost of the items used to do the repair, we are making $2. I have appealed this, and the response was that I should have bid the item. However, our work order states that we are supposed to use up to $500 to do plumbing fixes (our bill was $300). If I do a bid for less than $500, I just get sent back to the property because the job is not complete, and I get dinged on my score card.

3. We did a bid at a property for 589 cubic yards of debris. Safeguard changed our bid before they submitted it to 394 cubic yards. It came back approved at the 394. We asked for a re-review. They like to support each other so the second review came back at 394 cubic yards also. They tried to get us to just go ahead and remove the debris, and use our load photos to show it was more than 394 cubic yards & said they would re-review it then. We did not, because we had just experienced the below:

4. We did a trashout that was 69 cubic yards. We had VERY careful load photos, showing 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, measurements of the van, etc. We were meticulous. They came back and said it was 53 cubic yards. All of our photos and PROOF that there were 69 cubic yards of debris were ignored. They implemented this new load photo program saying that it would be more precise. However they are cutting our payment despite clear evidence that supports our cubic yard count. There's $559 I'm not making, and I got to haul off that debris and pay dump fees without compensation.

5. Our work order instructions were to quality check a winterization. We did a pressure test (on 4 properties), to blow out the lines & make sure there's no water inside. Safeguard comes back & says they aren't paying for them. Now, there is no way for us know know if a winterization is intact unless we blow the lines. The vendor website asks us if the winterization is intact. If we say yes, then we are held liable for any damages that occur if the winterization is not, in fact, intact. I appealed this decision. I lost. We're not getting paid. I sent it in to the email address they say is to be used to appeal to the next level. In the past 1.5 yrs I have never once received an email back from that address- not even a negative response. It is, essentially, a trash can.

6. And one more for good measure. We provided a bid for 167 cubic yards. Safeguard came back & told us our bid was approved for 82 cubic yards. Let me just say that MOST of our jobs do not get reduced, so we're not that bad at calculating cubic yardage. I told them that I needed a re-review. They came back & told me that they would do ONE re-review, and that would be final. And that whatever that number came back as, I would HAVE to do it for that amount. Well, last time I checked, I was not an employee, and a bid was a bid. They re-reviewed at 93 cubic yards. The amount that I show on my load photos, which will be WELL above 93 cubic yards, will make no difference (we're usually pretty close, sometimes even low on our cyd counts). They like to tell me that I am the only vendor they have in the 3 state area who has this problem. Ha!

All of the above (and more!) has happened in just the last week! It is incredible! Our subs are working for free or very little, and I feel so bad! But at the same time, I feel worse about quitting Safeguard (pardon me, sneaking away because if they know you are leaving they will make you pay for your sins), because so many people depend on us. We've applied for work with other companies. So far nothing.

And the best part? We are now required to use their preferred insurance providers, no matter how much more expensive they are. That is illegal in some states. Not sure yet if it is illegal in mine. I carry the required insurance and have never had a claim. I should not be required to change to a preferred provider.

For other vendors: try us hardware supply for your locks. A good alternative to mfs supply.

rnjetc
Feb 1, 2012

Awful company

TOLD YOU SO! You get paid for wint checks? P&P doesn't even if we have to refresh. We don't get paid if we do a convey check and have to submit bids or to go and do any bids. Especially when the problem has been there and previous contractor never reported. We did a 1 cyd debris removal today but thrown in on the order it says to check the wint. Are they paying for the extra time and supplies that took, heck no. We did a rewint because it wasn't intact and orer said to use exhibit B if needed. They came back said they can't pay me cause it was all ready done once. They also told us to remove meters, I told them it was city property and we can't do it. They told me that's SG requirement. I said are you paying the fine? So emailed a few of the cities we service and forwarded the responses to SG. They played stupid, oh I guess we'll add that to the list. Another contractor bid 45cyds four months ago they reduced to 17cyds. This last month, sent them to do it . Contractor refused, sent another who removed 85cyds. They are trying to charge original contractor back for the difference. Who knows what got dropped off in 3mths time. They won't show them the pics either. I love it when I report something and then next time I go into web it's gone, like I never said a thing. They have reduced a few of my bids also, I am usually very close. I tell them they are incorrect and they say to late we all ready sent to client. Do you think the banks know half of what SG does to it's contractors or charges us for having the priviledge to work for them. Have you priced these new insurance companies? My insurance is coming up for renewal.
I seriously think all of us contractors need to get together on this board and when there's enough find a lawyer and do a large suit.

rnjetc
Feb 4, 2012

Awful company

Seriously, they want me drive 98 miles round trip at 15mpg(6.5 gallons of gas @ 3.59=$23.45), climb on a ladder to clean a 6' area of mold on a ceiling for $6.24 minus 25% disc.= $4.68 That doesn't include cleaning supplies. I bid it at $50 so I would at least break even if I did it myself.

josellama2000
Mar 10, 2012

Awful company

I am also a contractor for safeguard, who ever is trying to become a contractor for them, be aware that they are very very pushy, they have zillions of stupid steps in their procedures that make your cost much more higher than regular, finally they have specific personal that review all your report just to find any issue so they can fine you and reduce your payment.
In conclusion, safeguard is engineered to de-capitalize your company, they keep reducing their payments and implementing new procedures that increase your cost significatively all the time.
They said they deduct you 25% for any payment you earn from them, after more than 3 year as a safeguard contractor, I can tell that they received much more money from the jobs you do for them (just check Fannie Mae prices). They end up with more than 50% of all income you produce.
In few words, they expect you to give them an A+ service but paid you a price that will not cover your fixed cost and 30% of the time not even your variable cost. If you capitalize your risk (ie insurance, liability) these figures are even worse for you.
Do not work for safeguard, it is better to just give your money to a Non profit, at least you can deduct it from your taxes.

rnjetc
Mar 11, 2012

Awful company

I also checked on insurance from their brokers. 2 out of 3 want payment in full. The 3rd company will take 25%down then go on payment plan, I think that one was Brunswick. I recently reported debris frozen and snow covered that I couldn't remove the rest(which is how they told me to) and they wanted me to go back at cost to remove. Also, all ready removed 15cyds more than order said which they weren't paying for. "We can't charge the client anymore". They didn't have a problem charging me for 450 for removal from the other contractor they sent out, who also couldn't remove all the debris since it was frozen. From what I could see 9cyds was not removed and they won't show me pics of what the other guy removed either. No responses from any of my emails. This wasn't even my bid originally. So I was wondering if it was the other guys and they cut it then sent it to me. Then one of the reps told me "they don't cut your bids, it's the clients". Kind of strange when I get emails saying your bid was cut before sending to the client.

79aggie
Mar 14, 2012

Awful company

Thank you all for telling me about this vendor. They have contacted me to do work for them. We are a small business and cannot afford to absorb any costs from crooks. Last year we worked for a company that gave us the runaround, more pictures, sent us to properties that were occupied and by the time we added up everything we were making 12 cents an hour and then they did not pay us. So thank you all for letting me know I dodged a bullet.

Sonora
May 2, 2013

don't allow them to fool you!

Safeguard Properties is the worst real estate company ever! I used their services when I was looking for an office space. I thought I found amazing place with them and I made a good deal but later I discovered many problems with that place and this company never mention about them. After my complaints nothing was improved they just started to ignore me without a shame. Beware and better stay away from this company and don't allow them to fool you!

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