ComplaintsforCreative Management & Design, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  12/14/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I need assistance from the BBB to help resolve four major landscaping issues in my community that is the responsibility of Creative Management. I put in multiple work orders for these issues going back to October 2021. I have since put in multiple follow up orders throughout 2022 and 2023 with no complete resolution. I have also contacted the Managing Partner of Creative Management and my HOA President along with filing multiple services request to no complete resolution. To summarize, my major ongoing issues are as follows:**** between front door and garage hasnt been replaced since I moved to the community OVER THREE YEARS AGO.A large tree in the front that hasnt been replaced in TWO YEARS. Side bushes needing replaced from damage by children. This was TWO YEARS AGO AS WELL.When the tree trimming service came a few months ago, they left a tree *****, that hasnt been removed. This is a serious injury liability issue! All four of these issues are impacting my property value. I can not list my house for sale with the eyesore and liability of a tree ***** next to my home.I pay my dues to Creative Management on time and never been late on a payment. I expect that I receive the services I pay for. I've heard excuses and delays including seasonality, vendor issues, and autoresponders that include service estimates that don't authorize the work for several years now. This is no longer acceptable as the work has not been completed. I want to know in detail (with dates of service) when I can expect each of the four major issues to be completely resolved and a detailed progress report of what has been done in the community now that the community have switched back to ALLOT for several months now. I expect this to be completed in the next 60 days to fully restore my property value.

  Business response

  01/16/2024

  After reviewing multiple work orders that are in our system, I note that they are all closed and marked as completed.  We have worked on resolving these issues for the homeowner over for some time now and have been in communication with her on multiple occasions during that time.  We cannot authorize work if it hasn't been approved by the ***** of ********* for the Community since we take direction from them, often we need to wait for approval after receiving bids etc.  Sometimes the direction we receive from the ***** of ********* does not line up with the expectation of the homeowners.  I don't know if that is the case in this situation therefore I have asked for more specific feedback from our manager for this community to be able to provide some more information on what has transpired on the work orders that the owner submitted.  I will provide that feedback on this complaint this week.

  Customer response

  01/19/2024

   
  Complaint: 21004614
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  The statements in the response are not in keeping with the facts.
  
  Multiple work orders spanning several years were closed out without consultation or the completion of the work. Only excuses were provided for not doing the work that includes seasonality and vendor issues. Only now it is being stated that it is up to the ***** of ********* and lacks the expectation of the homeowner. This is not accurate and the work has not been done. This continues the pattern of arbitrary, capricious, and unfair treatment of my property from Creative Management and the *****.
  
  At the November 2023 meeting when we switched landscape vendors, I was assured that my work orders would be a priority. That was not the case. It was not until I initiated this BBB complaint that there any work done to the issues that had been brought forth for over many years. They did plant the **** next to the garage, that matter has been resolved.
  
  While I appreciate that one of these issues has been resolved, there are still three issues remaining with the landscaping. There was supposed to be a large tree in front of the yard around boxwood bushes, and it was replaced by more boxwood bushes. This is not in keeping with the uniformity of the neighborhood and other units have the large tree. I was never notified about this change in uniformity and why the plants / tree would be different. When I bought my unit there was a tree that Creative Management subsequently removed. Other units have the large tree, and I would expect it to be replaced with a similar tree.
  
  I still have a tree ***** on the side of the yard that was never removed. I have notified the ***** and Creative Management several times that this poses a serious liability issue for injury. It is also in the area with side plants, and given the large size of the *****, additional side plants will need to be replanted when the tree ***** is removed.
  
  This impacts my ability to list my house for sale with the eyesore and liability of a tree ***** next to my home. I pay my dues to Creative Management on time and never been late on a payment. I expect that to receive the services I pay for in an equitable and fair manner for all other owners. I expect this to be fully completed in the next calendar 30 days.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

  Business response

  01/22/2024

  The landscaper has completed $800 worth of landscaping that the ***** of ********* approved to be done prior to knowing about this BBB Complaint.  

  Because landscaping is the responsibility of the Association (Edgewater at Grand Oaks), the ***** of ********* is responsible for making decisions about what is planted, were it is planted and when it is planted.  They look at many factors when deciding what to do about dead or dying landscaping including the history of landscaping issues not only at the unit but in general in the community as a whole.  Over the years, the ***** has decided to use different plants in an effort to have plants used that will withstand the soil conditions and wildlife which both have impacted the types of plants used when replacements are needed.  There are areas in the community where certain plants and trees have thrived and other areas where they do not and changes have been made.   

  As to the tree in the front landscaping bed, the tree had been replaced 3 times over many years, possibly before ******************** purchased the unit.  Due to this, the board elected not to replace the tree but to put in extra plants in the bed.  This is in keeping with prior decisions of the ***** to not replace trees in front of other units.  ************************ unit is not the only one without a tree in the front of the unit.  I have included pictures of some of the other units without trees. As to the ***** on the side of the unit, the board had elected not to have it removed.  It is not uncommon to have trees cut level with the ground and leave the ***** if they are not intending to replant a tree in that location. 

  The ***** also approved and more pampas grass was planted in the bed on the side of the unit as was requested by ********************* 
  

  The ***** of ********* has addressed all the landscape issues for this unit and consider the matter complete and resolved.  

  Customer response

  01/24/2024

   
  Complaint: 21004614
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  First and foremost, I want to thank the BBB for their ongoing support in facilitating this complaint.Creative Managements claim that they addressed all the landscape issues for this [my] unit and consider the matter complete and resolved exemplifies that I continue to be subject of ongoing of arbitrary, capricious, and unfair treatment of my property. This is especially true as Creative Management and the Edgewater of Grand Oaks HOA Board are in breach of contract in multiple areas of the community CC&Rs as outlined below:
  
  1) Creative Management claims that $800 worth of landscaping was done prior to this BBB complaint. In full transparency, please provide copies of the invoices reflect the alleged $800 in landscape corrections that was completed on my property.Approximately $40 a month of my *************** goes to landscaping. I have been an owner / resident for 3.5 years. This means so far I have contributed approximately $1,680 towards landscaping. I am not receiving the full value and equable services compared to my fellow owner / residents in return.
  
  2) Creative Management provided an image they say contains no tree. Yet the same image they provided does indeed show an outline of a tree and upon closer inspection in person a few days later shows that the tree was recently cut off with a ***** remaining. Thus there was a tree at one point in that location. Creative Management claims my tree has been replaced three times, yet failed to provide dates,  any communication, and documented proof of completion. They need to provide those dates and proof. The ongoing lack of uniformity is a breach of contract in the community CC&Rs under Article 7.2.
  
  For the BBBs reference,Article 7.2 states: 7.2. Maintenance of Common Maintenance Areas. *************** shall maintain the Common Maintenance Areas in accordance with the ************************
  
  As provided in my last response, there are trees around the boxwood bushes for other units I am the only unit on my street without a tree for an extended period of time (this has gone on for years). I have included it again for reference along with additional photos. There was one when I bought my unit. There is currently one across from my unit and directly on the other side of my unit with even more in the neighborhood. The tree around the boxwood bushes is the community-wide standard.
  
  3) I would also like to see the contract from the tree company as failure to remove the tree ***** means the Edgewater of Grand Oaks HOA Board and Creative Management are in breach of contract with the community CC&Rs per Article 5.1 (b) (i). This should have been handled in partnership with the Board / Creative Management and the tree removal company at the time of their services last year. This contract is missing from the resident portal whereas the majority of the other contracts are available to owners. I was assured by Creative Management at the November 2023 board meeting that this would be handled. It continues to be an issue.
  
  
  For the BBBs reference: Article 5.1 (b) (i) states: *************** shall preform or cause to be performed, the following on Lots:
  
  (i) maintenance (including, mowing, fertilizing, watering, pruning, and replacing, and controlling disease and insects), of all lawns and landscaping installed on the Lot as part of the initial construction on the Lots,specifically excluding landscaping within any enclosed area not readily accessible from outside the dwelling
  
  The tree that was cut down was full of diseased canker and thus leaves behind a diseased ***** and roots that will over time cause the nearby pampas grass to become diseased. I never asked for this tree to be replaced, only to have the entire tree including the remaining ***** and roots removed to prevent injury liability, preserve the remaining plants, and most importantly maintain my property value.
  
  Currently, the ***** poses a serious trip liability as the ***** is above the ground and is prime for a serious injury. Covering the area with more pampas grass will make it harder than it is now to see the ***** that is above ground and will continue to grow increasing the odds for injury. The ***** is also a serious eyesore (that can be seen from my dining room window) that is negatively impacting the property value and gives the impression to prospective buyers that the Board along with Creative Management does not care about the safety and maintenance of the Edgewater at *********************
  
  Given that the tree ***** is in the same area as the pampas grass and needs removed, it would make sense for the ***** to be removed first and then have the additional approved pampas grass planted. I pay my dues to Creative Management on time and never been late on a payment. I expect that to receive the services I pay for in an equitable and fair manner for all other owners. I expect this to be fully completed in the next 27 calendar days. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  09/17/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I am seeking advice on how to get the HOA to take care of their responsibilities as it relates to landscaping of my property. In addition, there is a dangerous hole as a result of a drainage ditch at the side of my property which has not been addressed for over two months. I have spoken to and emailed pictures regarding their negligence and received emails and calls that this would be handled. It has not...if I withhold my HOA payments- they will place a lien on my home. I am seeking assistance on how to best to handle this situation going forward.

  Business response

  10/25/2021

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2021/09/22) */ Our landscaper has been notified and did go to the property last Tuesday and review the owner's concerns. They were to make contact with the owner but only knocked on the door and did not get a response. The landscaper has stated they will be hand pulling the weeds in the planting beds. Our landscaper has experienced a lot of delays in providing complete services to the property in the recent months. We have tried to keep the community updated via e-blasts. There has been a lot of rain and they have had staff out with Covid - including the owner and office manager. They put a new foreman on the community last week. He seems very responsive. This community, with all the large oak trees, seems to hold water which causes: depressions, weeds and inability to mow weekly. The depression on this property is located by the irrigation controller box. It has been repaired once - with bags of concrete place within the depression to harden and create a level surface. This has not resolved the problem. The Landscaper was at the property yesterday and determined there may be a potable water main line leak in the area and confirmed there is no irrigation leak in this area. We have asked the Drain Team to come out and evaluate for a potable water mainline leak.

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