Customer Service and Sales

Real estate business has been booming especially in Metro Manila.  Construction sites are like mushrooms spurting out from each corner of the metro.  An individual's dream list would always include owning a house from a prestigious subdivision where his family is safe.  As you enter a mall, you will see agents and brokers giving out flyers to everyone they meet, wishing that that could be their next buyer.  But did you know what can a person cost him when buying a house?  One of which is paying the house all his life through bank financing.  Working up to his neck first for the government (taxes) and second for the bank (financing).  I thought this will be the start of fulfilling that dream under bank financing or PAGIBIG loan.  A friend referred to us Montville Place developed by Harvard Realty in Don Antonio Subdvision in Quezon City. A big mistake! I should have read the book RICH DAD POOR DAD by Robert Kiyosaki before I entered into this deal.  I thought it was an asset, but it turned out to be a liability.  I should have spent my money into something that would bring income into my pocket. It is not only financial considerations that a buyer has to be concerned about, it's the way they are treated as clients.   Please read on to know our story.  

We reserved the lot last January at a price of 3.035M.  I and my husband gave them the 12 checks for the down payment.  At first I wanted to pay the full down payment of 30%, but  my friend halted me.  She suggested that we need to have the bank loan pre-approved by affiliated banks because Multiland does not encourage PAGIBIG loans.
We were also informed that the Model House of Phase 1 is only available for a 12 month installment because that is only their model house.  Then why are they selling it? We complied with the requirements.  During this time, I was already self employed so my husband was the principal applicant.  The developer is affiliated with BDO, PSBank, Metrobank and Union Bank.  We were informed that feedback will be given to us by the bank within two weeks.  We initially forwarded our application loan to BDO and PSBank.  BDO was quite fast in processing the loan application. After a week investigation has started but they informed us beforehand that they are not processing loans if the applicant is less than 1 year old in his company.  My husband just transferred to his new company August of 2010.  We were not informed about it by Multiland employees.  Was this done on purpose? 

We still had another bank PSBank.   We were wondering why there is no feedback for almost a month already.  Our payments are running.  When I call the developer's office and I ask for Jean (she was the one who received our documents) she keeps on telling us that there is no feedback yet.  A month passed by and the same spiel, "no feedback and we are going to give you a call."  For the nth time,  I asked Jean to give me the number of PSBANK.  She gave me the number and the contact person is Judith.  I asked them about the loan application and found out loan has NOT been ENCODED yet which means there is no loan being processed.   Why is it that Jean of Multiland keeps on telling me that there is no feedback.  Does that mean there were no follow up calls made to PSBank for our application?  Reason why it is not encoded yet was  Phase 2 of Montville Place in Commonwealth, QC is not yet accredited.  It was so disgusting because the location of the townhouse was Phase 1 and it was their Model House.  Judith of PSBank told us that there is also no land title attached to our application.  So I called their office again, and initiated telling them of the development.  And it was only this time that they fixed the problem.  Was this done on purpose AGAIN? If I did not call them up, we could have waited for a year for the accreditation of Phase 2.  To cut the story short, we were also disapproved, but PSBank is know to be lenient in processing loans.  Will we still apply for a loan in Metrobank and Union Bank? That is the developer's suggestion.  We are going to wait again while we lose our money? 

After 2 months of paying the down payment, we decided to back out.  We submitted a letter of request to their company on April 16, 2011.  We asked for the remaining checks but refused to give us because Jean of Multiland said our request has to be forwarded to their legal department.  My husband wanted to call our lawyer but I told him to be more patient.  He felt like we are being forced to continue the purchase and I realized he was right.  Three weeks later I followed up and Jean told me that there is "NO FEEDBACK" from their legal department and she is no longer handing our concern.  His name is Iver Angeles.  She told me that she would ask Iver to call me about it but no call.  I called again but Iver is always not in the office.  Last June 10, I was in the vicinity of their office and I opted to give their office a visit.  I patiently waited for more than 20 minutes for Iver, Jean did not come out.  Finally when Iver came out, he told me, "Ma'am there is no REFUND." I freaked out, I worked hard for this money and this man will just tell me sarcastically that there is no refund.  "You signed in the contract that's why there is no refund! Did you not read it?"  How can I read it, I do not even have a copy.  I asked for a copy of the contract but he refused.  He was seeking approval from his colleague Irene Figueroa but my plea was not fruitful.  There was no sign that it was even forwarded to their legal team.  I believe it is my right to have a copy of that contract because he kept on telling me it's in the contract.  So I wanted proof.  Did I not read the contract? I did with full trust in them that there are no delaying tactics from their part when it comes to processing of our papers.  I asked for my checks and still no checks returned.  When Iver was seeking assistance I even over hear this Irene saying "kasalanan na nila yun!" Yes, it was partly my fault of trusting them but this is hard earned money.  I did not only earn it for a day, that I can just let it go just like that.  

I know that the reservation fee is really not refunded at all times.  We could have backed out earlier if we were informed right away that our credentials do not fit the bank's requirements.  But we were given false hopes.  Is this their business practice so they can lure buyers, they prolong the process until the buyer does not have the option to back out anymore because if he does, his money goes to nothing.  

Sales agents are working their asses off to sell, but the employees of the company doesn't care about their clients.  I was in the Customer Service world 1/3 of my life,  I make sure that I do my best to take care of the customer, because one way of the other these people are the sources of my income.  I represent the company not myself.  Customer's may not be always right but the respect should be given to every customer they meet.  Was I treated that way because I was not like their rich clients?  Or because I backed out?  We had a meeting with the agent and while approaching him, we noticed that one of the homeowners was following up something from him to be fixed, "Paki follow up mo na yun a, ang tagal na nun e!" (Please follow it up, it's been so long).  So it's not only me who's complaining.  August is nearing and my husband will be one year in the new company, I was given the option by the agent to continue paying and re-apply for the loan, why will we do that if I know that the people we will be dealing with will not treat us well.   Will I live in a place where I will always remember the way I was treated but still work for the bank loan for the next 20 years or so? 

I am not angry, I just wanted to express my feeling towards this big lesson I learned.  Everytime I see Multiland, Harvard, Montville or Don Antonio, I will always remember this experience. Just passing by Commonwealth avenue, (the killer highway) will always remind me of this lesson killing a portion of my money, going down the drain.
For those looking for houses, do not only consider the amount, consider the place, consider the company and the people you are dealing with. I hope not Multiland Realty Development Corporation.

10 Tips when Renting an apartment

I lived is an apartment for so many years.  Living in an apartment is  like living with other people you do not know who are just next door.  You may gain friends and enemies.  There are many considerations before choosing to live in one. I had my own experiences, lessons and observations so I would like to share them with you.
1. Consider the sense of smell of your neighbors.  Choose carefully the animals that you want to keep.  It is definitely an OFF when you are taking care of animals that can cause bad smell such as HAMSTERS.   When you want to take care of animals live in the farm.
2.  Noise?  Be considerate not only when having parties, also when talking to other people.  Noise is unbearable during the night especially if you have kids.  Videoke parties are fine as long as singing voice is great but not everyday please.
3. When there are misunderstandings, make sure that these are settled in the most proper way.  Not through facebook or any other multimedia sites.  Always learn how to negotiate with problematic neighbors.

4.  Never brag on things that would make you look stupid.  Like saying "Sky is the limit" when buying a second hard car.  Or bragging about building a new house but never moving out.

5.  Consider the environment for your safety and security.  In the apartment we lived in, there are warehouses and factories all around, I did not know that the squatters area was just nearby. It is where I lost my bag of jewelries.  We were trick or treating in the office, the burglar was trick or treating my precious stuff.  My neighbors also experienced theft.  One just left to have a Valentine dinner but when they came back, the electric guitar and laptop was gone.  Actually I saw the burglar when I passed by, I never suspected it because he was tapping the door acting as if he was a visitor, not knowing that he was trying to open the door forcibly. The other neighbor on the third door seldomly stays at their apartment, it was noticed one day that the locks were destroyed.  The neighbor at the last door lost his bike one early morning.  Come to think of it one of the tenants opened the gate for him.  She claims she has seen that man having drinking sessions with her father.
6.  When you befriend a neighbor choose wisely.  What characters they have, what is their source of income and others.  You never know these are drug dealers, prostitutes and the like.
7.  Never listen to chitchats of other people, stay away from gossips, this is where the problem starts most of the time.
8.  When there is a fight in the household, contain it.  It leads to shame.
9. Never asked fellow tenants to move out, because the units were never yours.
10.  Problems with neighbors are inevitable, when you can no longer handle it, move out.  Consider the lessons you have learned and move on with your life.
For landlords or landladies, learn to protect the rights of your tenants.  When you hear a complaint from one of your tenants find a way to correct it not just let the tenants handle it themselves.  Keep promises like maintaining the apartment facilities in good condition.  There were some stuff to be fixed inside our apartment but the landlady just had it checked but never fixed.  This is also for the protection of your housing investment, how can the tenants take care of the apartment if they see that you do not take care of it yourself.