Crye-Lieke Hell

[Noway2]

Has anyone here ever dealt with this real estate / relocation company? If so how would you rate your experience?

Back in January I took a position with a company that required me to move to a different state. When I took the position I was told that they use this Crye-Lieke company to faciliate things and make the move easier. So far their involvment has done anything but.

First they refused my choice of relator to help sell my home and then pushed one at me that tried to get me to list it for sale significantly (~10%) below value. When I refused that relator they gave me another one that did a poor job. In five months time frame they failed to get anyone through the door. In addition to that they tried to get me to move my stuff out of my home and into a storage facility that is overpriced 10x, to get me to rent a $3000/mo appartment (can't afford that), and to buy a home in this area even though I haven't sold my current one. All told, I firmly believe that this was all an attempt to force me to sell my home at sever discount just to avoid bankrupty. I wouldn't be surprised at that point if they stepped in as the buyer.

In light of the poor performance the company agreed to get an appraisal in the interest of determinging the property value. Of coure my friends at Crye-Lieke immediately started pushing an appraiser at me. This weekend I allowed this individual to come into my home to do the job, which included photographing my home and its possessions. When I asked when I would receive a copy of this appraisal I was told that he had orders from Crye-Lieke that he was not to discuss the results with me and and under no circumstances was I to receive a copy of this appraisal.

I find this action exteremly suspect, given the one of Crye-Lieke's primary businesses is to purchase properties and flip them for profit or engage in property management and rent them out. Of course with this buisness model it is in their interests to make the property value as low as possible.

I am really beginnging to question this whole process and specifically their involvement. I have raised the issue related to the appraisal with the company and it is being investigated. However, my suggestion to anyone is that if you ever encounter this Crye-Lieke company that run, not wall, away as fast as you possibly can.

 

[JMirisola]

Have you contacted the Better Business Bureau? You might consider, too, getting in touch with your state's Attorney General. Their business practices seem rather suspect at best.
Also, it seems to me that you should be able sell your home, as well as purchase your new home, on your own. Unless you signed some contract stating you'd use Crye-Lieke, which would seem circumspect, I'd get them out of the picture.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP, Certified DriveWorks AE

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[TheTick]

In case you haven't watched the news in recent months, the real estate market is extremely depressed right now. Homes just aren't selling, even at large discounts.

Still, sounds shady.

 

[Noway2]

Yes, you are right, the market is extremely depressed now. It doesn't help that there are 3 other existing homes in my relatively small neighborhood for sale. To make matters worse, the city has something on the order of 750 existing homes for sale, which is more than the rest of the region (all the surrounding counties and cities) combined.

I agree that something sounds shady with these guys. I did not think to try the BBB, good suggestion. The atty general is probably a good one too, except as of yet I have no proof of wrong doing, just suspicious activity. I have been trying to dig up some dirt on them and have found a few cases where there agents "fail to disclose" key information and violate contracts that they have entered into. This does seem to be a bit of a trend for their employees.

My plan is to go to my company and insist that their involvement be greatly limited from this point forward. If the company wants to use them to facilitate the final transfer process on my house, fine, but otherwise I want nothing to do with their 'consulting' side of things.

 

[zuccus]

The reason why they want you to use their real estate agents and storage places is because I am sure they get kick backs from bringing them business.

I have never seen anything like the real estate business where everybodies got their hands in each others pockets. It just hurts the uneducated client in my opinion.

When I was buying my last house, everybody I talked to refereed me to somebody else. I always asked how much they would get if I used that person and if they were willing to kick back 50% to me. Made for some reall funny looks.

Zuccus

 

[EngJW]

When I moved to a city in TN around 10 years ago, the company recommended Crye Lieke and I went with them because I didn't have a better idea. Their relocation specialist found a decent apartment for me with only a 3 month lease, they set me up with some rented furniture, and found a temporary job for my wife. A realtor took us all over the place and we found a house that we liked, and they took care of most of the paperwork. The day after we closed, the van arrived. There were a few glitches with the moving company but nothing that you could not normally expect in a move like this. Also, I had some problems with the apartment and CL got on the management and they were taken care of.

I imagine there were some kickbacks along the way but the end result was very satisfactory. I have nothing but praise for them.

 

[edpaq]

I smell fish here. Real estate laws vary by state so I would recommend:

1. That you gather a list of questions and any documents you have signed or are about to sign and meet with a real estate attorney familiar with the laws of your state. You should have one anyway when it comes time to close, and depending on the state it may be required. It will be well worth the $$$$ and peace of mind.

2. Disscus this with your new employer, they may not be aware of this and may be able to take action on your behalf. I would do this after talking to the attorney. You don't want anyone talking you out of it and no one says you have to tell your employer about it if that is a concern.

Just another thing to think about. Any moving expenses you incur, from packing tape to air fare is tax deductable so keep every receipt. Conversely any reimbursment you receive from your new company is taxable.

Good luck to you and your new job.

Eddie

 

[Noway2]

Edpaq,

You and I are thinking along the same lines. In fact I did hire a lawyer to review the contracts that they presented me with (and have yet to have signed). According to him, the contracts are surprisingly straight forward, with only a couple of minor things that require clarification.

As far as immediate issue with the appraiser goes, I was given the explanation that an vappraiser can ONLY release the information to the person who contracted it and is paying for it. While this sounds reasonable, I still question why the guy had to go check his 'secret' instructions and said that his instructions from CL forbid him from providing this information. I also question why they would request such an action. For now, in the interests of keeping by blood pressure down I am accepting this, but I don't fully buy it. I have decided to do some CYA and am hiring an appraiser of my own.

My advise for anyone reading this thread, if you get involved in a relocation deal, obtain YOUR OWN appraisal of your property straight away. I wish I had done so.

 

[edpaq]

Before you spend $$ on your own appraisal. It's your house he took pictures of. Why not call your attorney and ask them about this so called "...can ONLY release the information to the person who contracted it and is paying for it". I don't think he would charge you for one simple question.

Eddie

 

[cvg]

I have to agree that the appraiser works for CL and is not under any obligation to share anything with you. However - your contract is with CL and as their client they must share with you. However ... read your contract, they may have some fine print

 

[SylvestreW]

"Back in January I took a position with a company that required me to move to a different state. When I took the position I was told that they use this Crye-Lieke company to faciliate things and make the move easier. So far their involvment has done anything but. "

Why can't you contact the new company and explain the situaiton and fire CL?

-
Syl.

 

[Noway2]

SylvestreW,

That is the dirction that I am trying to head in. Before I brooch the subject with the company I want to make sure that I have real, honest, and unrefutable reasons for my request. If I can't show that they are doing anything wrong, even though I suspect it, I don't have grounds for this. The company uses this service to make thing easier for them too.

In this particular instance, I am hiring my own appraiser. At worst, I am buying $300 worth of piece of mind. At best, I am saving myself from taking a $30K bath on the sale of my home.

As far as the other aspects of the their dealings, I am taking one thing at a time. I do intend to tell them I basically want CL out of here, at least as far as representing my interests goes. If the company wants to use them for the final closing, well thats their choice, but other than that I don't want their services.

By the way, in response to CVG's comment, the contract says nothing about appraisals. It is unfortunately very generic and leaves a lot of things wide open, including the door for them to act as a dual entity: helping you on the sale and acting as a buyer. I plan to state the conflict of interests here and use that as the basis for getting them out of the picture. I did pose the question to the lawyer I used to analyze the contract and who will be doing the final sale of my home, but so far I haven't gotten a response.