Conquest Sac was a bust for us. Michael went. Vendors were scarce and the dealer's room got ghettoized; wished into the corn field. That will be our last one of those. The convention itself sounded like it was hopping, but I don't think Sacramento can support a dealer's room. It's a Sac thing. It sure won't be my thing again.
Surprise Bill. Because I love to talk about how much money I'm saving, let me share my utter disgust with my property management company that sprung a giant maintenance bill costing thousands of dollars. Along with it came a big rent increase, all due immediately, all given without any notice. This is not the annual rent increase that happens later in the year.
Property managers have a great deal of discretion according to most leases. They can charge fees for themselves, for maintenance of any sort they feel is necessary (using a company they own in my case) and for general repairs. Unfortunately, 100% of their expenses are passed through to the tenant, so while the stores that rent from them are cutting expenses, the property managers have no incentive to do so. We're contractually obligated to pay, so why cut costs?
I shouldn't act too surprised. I did my research into this company and I knew they acted this way. Expenses practically doubled each year during the first half of the decade and have only recently slowed to "exorbitant." The offset is in rent, which is fairly low. To me this means they're doing the actual owner of the property a disservice, taking too much for themselves and short changing their client. Shameful, pathetic and a slap in the face every time of their lackey's walks by with a paint brush to "touch up" the building or sweep the sidewalk.
