Smooth Sailing Realty & Property Management, Inc - Sacramento, California

Tara H.

Oh boy, where do I begin.
We didn't end up renting from Smooth Sailing, and during our two and a half week application process (before it was even run, before we pulled out) we had no idea if we would even get a chance to rent.
1) While you can apply online (really nice feature!) they do not even look at your application until you have seen the property with the agent. There is nowhere on the website or the application process that asks if you have done this, so you spend time filling out the application and paying $40 per person ..... and then not even having your application touched until you call and ask for an update several days later and are told this rule.

However, there is only one agent.

So when we applied Saturday night after doing a drive by (and being allowed to peek inside by the couple cleaning) and I called Tuesday to check on our applications and make personal contact, I was told then that our application, while first come first serve, could not be run until we saw it in person. Wednesday, I received an e-mail and a phone call with a showing time..... for the following Tuesday. (I replied to the e-mail and never got a response.)

After viewing the property on that following Tuesday I called to reiterate interest and was told another application was run before ours (?! I wasn't informed of this the other two times I spoke to them?) but they'd let us know when ours started processing. In the meanwhile, we viewed other properties... and were run and approved for two other places within two business days. (Two weeks had passed by this point.)

In addition, the advertising on their website and Craig's List stated the inclusion of a refrigerator, which the agent said was not included when she showed the property (opened the door and let people wander without really saying anything about the home itself). One day short of two weeks after when we applied we received an e-mail letting us know the fridge was not included and asked if we were still interested.

The (one?) good thing was the friendly receptionist did refund our application fees right away when I called to rescind after applying somewhere else. Too bad, we did like the unit, but were so tired of the lack of communication and the runaround. Definitely does not speak well for managing-- I wouldn't expect any maintenance to be performed if there's this much trouble with the application process.

This poor overworked agent needs someone else to help show units if applications can't be run without that official showing, and they need to be shown closer to calls. There needs to be something on the website warning that the application will not be run until the unit is shown (like a check box "Have you seen this unit?" that can be manually verified). Smooth Sailing would very much benefit from streamlining their application process and are definitely losing quality tenants who just... can't get anything accomplished. Very disappointing.

Russell T.

I would give zero stars, but I don't think that's an option. I moved away, I don't use smooth sailing anymore and I have to say you don't realize how bad smooth sailing is until you move to another place that treats you right, I have only been at this place for 6 months, they are re glazing the shower to fix the AC. They clean the carpets. Professionally fixed the washer and dryer smooth sailing did none of this when I lived under their management, me and my girlfriend would call all the time trying to get them to fix stuff around the house, but that wasn't even the worst problem, they had us living with 2 kids in a Roach infested building. We kept our apartment very very clean, but we had no control over the neighbors. Lesson learned oh, and by the way, we clean the apartment very thoroughly bought new blinds for the Windows that they said they were gonna buy for us when we originally moved in 3 years earlier. They still took our whole deposit and actually came up. With the way that we owe them. It was the most unprofessional slum Lord type of experience imaginable. I wrote a review when I moved out about 6 months ago, looks like they took it down, it's ok, I will always give my review as long as smooth sailing has a website, thanks everyone.

Marie T.

The people at Smooth Sailing are great. They understand the industry very well and are very approachable. Edwin is reliable and he always responds when I need anything. Definitely a trustworthy property management company. I look forward to doing more business with them in the future!

William N.

Agents can't be trusted. Unfair rental practices regarding deposit monies. Do not do business with these people. I was a tenant for almost 2 yrs and would not do business with these people for anything never mind a real estate transaction.
I have never had ant of my deposit money retained after moving out from an apartment before. But these people like to do their walk thru's without the tenant present. I was charged for extras that were not done before I moved in. I'm sure their eskrow accts for properties are similar. I Don't trust Smooth Sailing Realty!! Watch your back in dealing with these people!! I won't again!!

Mary J.

Not So Smooth Sailing,

I should have read the Google review posted by William Nesbit prior to doing business with these people. Nonetheless, here I am, adding my two cents.

1) After our initial viewing of the home, we went online to look at the property within a few hours and the monthly rental had gone up a hundred dollars. I phoned the agent and his reply was that the owner had decided to increase the rent. I asked why he didn't call us and he said he was going to! ( I should have taken this red flag and jumped ship)

2) My spouse and I arrived to sign our lease and another agent informed us he would be signing with us, not the guy whom we had been doing business with all along. We asked where the other agent was and he stated he got tied up! The new agent proceed to go over the lease and had us sign it without doing a walk thru with us. He stated they already did the walk thru and we need to sign the lease then do our walk thru. We did sign this because we felt that this was common practice, but apparently its only common practice for those who are swindlers. (William Nesbit was right, "But these people like to do their walk thru's without the tenant present")

3) The online add stated "refrigerator", although there was no fridge in the picture of the add, the literature covered it, however the agent stated we would have a fridge in our lease to later be told the next day after signing the lease, there was no fridge and we would have to get our own.

4) The walk thru of the lease stated new carpet, new paint, etc. As we were doing our walk though we noticed the carpet was soiled with pet dander and pet hair and needed to be replaced, at the very least shampooed. The paint was not new and actually had brushes of paint strokes throughout the house. A screen door for our patio was missing, we had no key for our garage door entrance into the home. There was a bee hive inside the AC out on the patio. To their credit, the only thing they did fix was the leak under the sink, which turned out to be the garbage disposal wrapped up in duct tape.

5) Unprofessional - I initially received a call from one of the "management team members" regarding "more money" was due upon move in lease was completed wrong by our agent and we needed to come up with more money than we were told. (Make sure prorated amounts add up because 1 + 1 = 3 with these people.)

6) Tacky- I emailed that same woman regarding our walk thru we had done upon moving in. Since we were not receiving support from our agent, the old woman directed us back to that agent and proceeded to scold us via email as if we were one of her employees.

7) Be careful - Email all correspondence for a paper trail. Take pictures too and most importantly dumb down! The clientele for which this company usually rents too are low-socio economically disadvantaged persons, thus they treat everyone as though they have the brain the size of a snow pea; Especially if you have a bit of pigment to your skin. In short, get your money back first before you show your hand...these people are shady and honestly don't appear to illustrate a strong command of the english language as their vocabularies are remedial at best.

Shalean W.

I lived in this unit for 9 years, two years ago the landlord moved out of state and hired them. I have housing assistance and they have known that from day one. there is always a problem with them trying to over charge me. why do i need to email you info you should have already?They are rude and never seem to call me back on my issues. I have called them two times a day for three days out of the week and still haven't gotten a answer or an explanation of why they don't have simple answers. Every problem i have its the same thing!!! Aileen is a rude person. She sat there and cut me off for a whole phone call not letting me say anything. Her reasoning is that i keep calling back but if your not updating me and every time i call, you need to contact a new person for info, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? They are not a good business to work with at all.

Crystal J.

Quality of work was excellent. Only thing is, after replacing my bathroom sink, the hot and cold water lines were put in backwards. Hot is now cold and vice versa. Not safe when you have little ones. I let Smooth Sailing know and they came out to correct it right away.

Dina C.

Have been renting from Smooth Sailing for 2 and a half years now, never any problems, the property is great! If I do have any requests, they are dealt with promptly and professionally. Would recommend them for your property management needs.