Advent Properties

In 2010, Advent acquired a company that I paid to store my cherished 1983 Volvo. They assured «service beyond expectations». Hardly. They lost track of my car (!!!) but continued to take rental payments. When I recently asked to pick up the car, they disclaimed all responsibility. Saying that they had «ceased management of the Property ‘some time ago’. But he «property» that they were paid to manage WAS MY CAR. They cannot so lightly shirk responsibility. Benjamin Scott has been totally useless. I will pursue a claim and update this account. This seems irresponsible and dishonesty at the very least. DO NOT RELY ON THESE PEOPLE for anything you value. Be forewarned.

Our apartment building management has changed to them several months ago and I’m not so happy about them. First, they made a mistake about my rent amount. Not a big deal, it was an easy fix. Then I made a minor maintenance request and I was never notified when it would be done. I finally emailed them a week or so later that it was already done with no notification left. This had never happened before.
Last Saturday morning, I found the garage door broken and didn’t feel safe to get out, called the emergency line provided. He said he’ll send someone over to fix it, but they were not available until later in the afternoon. He asked me if I could call the door company and pay for it, they’d happy to reimburse me. Wait, isn’t it your job to have that taken care of? So I said no. Next day, nothing had been done, the door was still broken, this time, it was stuck open and beeping. I asked strongly that it needs to be fixed immediately. The door was finally fixed on early Sunday afternoon.
I shared that story with a former manager who lives in the building. She said that the half of the apartment lost electricity partially a few weeks ago and it took 4 days to get fixed.
I was at the laundry room today and noticed that the washier was raised by 25c with no sign or notification. The other machine was unplugged.
I’m pretty annoyed with this sloppy management at this point.

Agusia, the first Advent employee we met was super friendly and patient in answering all our questions. It took us one year before we finally decided to have the house rented. By the time we made the decision, Agusia left the company already. I tried looking for other Property Company Managers both in Oakland and SF but most of them are just interested if you have an apartment. I thought that Agusia is the only friendly person at Advent so I thought I should find somebody else. I was wrong. Advent team members are all very responsive and respectful. I called them a team because it seems they have a good working relationship. I only need to talk to one person. Tony, Trimaine, Darryl, Longson, Caitlin and of course Benjamin are great to work with. I will definitely hire them to manage our future duplex.

I called in last week for a couple fixes at the place I am renting with them. I think we had a slight miscommunication about when to meet. regardless Raul their technician came by, fixed everything, and was super pleasant. Thanks very much!

I just moved to the Bay area about a month ago and was having trouble finding an apartment that was within my budget and not a complete scam. I went to see a bunch of different apartments one weekend and was overwhelmed by the process. Trimaine showed me a place but unfortunately it didn’t allow pets he said he had another unit available that was in a better area, allowed pets, and was in my budget. He was very patient throughout the whole process and within a week I had signed a lease to a great apartment that I wouldn’t have found unless it was for Trimaine’s help. My experience with Advent Properties so far has been a smooth process and I look forward to continue working with them!
Thanks Trimaine you’re the best!

I have been a tenant under the management of Advent for almost 2 years now. After they first took over the management of the property, I had some relatively unpleasant experiences specific to the maintenance dept. However, following some staffing changes I have been repeatedly impressed with the timeliness and cordiality from the new Maintenance head, Horizon Kent.
A few weeks ago there was an issue with our electrical panel which needed to be replaced per demand of PG&E. I contacted Horizon, who immediately put the repairs into motion. In spite of the repairs being imminent, PG&E still discontinued the power. After contacting Horizon, the electricians contracted to do the job were at my house the next morning. They completed the job perfectly and quickly. Unfortunately, it still took about 5 more days to restore the power. This was a delay from PG&E and was no fault of Advent’s. During this time Horizon was in contact with me daily, and he even came by to check on things and meet with me. I truly believe that he was doing everything he possibly could to restore the power to our house. Given that we had no power in our home, advent agreed to put my family up in a hotel and reimburse us for the costs of the lodging and food we incurred. This part was handled by the general manager, Daryl Glass. Both Horizon and Daryl worked with me to get the power back on and to keep my family as comfortable as possible throughout the whole crappy experience. Sure, they were obligated to secure food and housing for us, and yes, it was in their financial best interest to get our power back on as soon as possible. But they did so in an extremely conscientious and professional manner and that should not go unsaid.
I cannot speak to what it is like to work with Advent from the point of view of someone looking for an apartment. They only took over management of our place after i had already lived here. But I can say that once you’re a resident, they take care of you. being a renter in the bay area unfortunately leads one to assume an often adversarial position with their landlord/​property manager. I can say from my experience that Advent works with their tenants to see that they get what they pay for. Both the GM and Maintenance supervisor (Daryl and Horizon, respectively) we very fair and helpful to me. I would recommend this company to anyone who expects a certain level of respect and professionalism in exchange for the hellacious rent we’re expected to pay here in the bay area.
A special thank you is in order for the young lady working the front desk at the advent office. She was very friendly and went out of her way to see that I was reimbursed for all my expenses immediately. Her name escapes me, but she deserves a raise.

Thank you! to Horizon from maintenance for being so quick to respond to my problem, even came to meet me at my residence. Thanks Advent.

Horizon at 381 Oakland Ave is so incredibly helpful. He’s gone out of his way to ensure that I get a package that I inadvertently sent to 381 (as I used to live there). I’m not even a tenant any longer yet he’s treating me like a VIP. I can’t say enough great things about Horizon and Advent!

This is a shout out to my very kind resident manager, Horizon Kent, for going beyond the call of duty today! I grabbed the wrong set of keys and was trapped in the building foyer, and called Horizon on the off chance he was on site. When he didn’t answer, I resigned myself to sitting on the steps until someone happened by. Instead, he returned my call within minutes and said he’d be «down.» Again I thought he meant he was upstairs, doing managerial things. But after about ten minutes, he called to say that he was two EXITS away. I was floored. This guy dropped whatever else he was doing, left his office on a freezing cold morning, probably an hour or two after he just got there, got in his car, and backtracked all the way home, and even phoned me when his route wasn’t as quick as he expected. All just so I could return to my apartment without having to call a hugely expensive locksmith. He did not have to do any of that. It was beyond the realm of expectation, but so very much appreciated. Thank you so much for saving my day!

As Property Management firms go, Advent is among the best in the Area. They seem to specialize in keeping safe, well maintained properties with residents who are happy. We love our apartment and feel that it is being cared for. We have lived in this flat now for a good while and can say that the management has been consistently responsive, pleasant and concerned with our quality of life all the way along. Our new maintenance Manager, Horizon is a good addition to an already stellar crew. Good job, Stay awhile.

I rent my apartment through Advent and in the past I have been pretty dissatisfied with the way that the maintenance system has been run. Lately, a new manager, Horizon, has taken over and is doing a wonderful job answering the maintenance calls. I used to have to wait 7 – 10 days for someone to answer my maintenance request and he calls me back in 24 – 48 hours. I’m quite pleased. I hope this stays the way it is!

Horizon from the Maintenance Department was responsive and got the job done. We moved into a property that had been abandoned for a while before we moved in so there was a lot to do – including fix electrical issues with the new gate, replacing a broken fence, and repairing a busted french sliding door. Horizon was capable and communicative.

Landlord Beware! Finally, a landlord is speaking up!!! This was our painful and costly experience with Advent…
1. Advent rented our newly remodeled units to Section 8 renters under the market rate in spite of our repeated request to rent them at the Section 8 market rate. We are not greedy people. All we wanted was the rent that Section 8 level. But Advent gave the renter $ 150 below the price point. Advent has done this to please the tenants and tried to get good reviews at the expense of the landlord!
2. Advent gave out a 3 day pay or quit notice without informing us the landlord. Later we found out this was a way to let the tenant leave without a proper 30 day notice to the landlord. So we lost at least a whole month of rent. On top of that, there was no move out inspection –was not done and we were painfully found out the Section 8 tenant trashed the unit. That cost over $ 5000 for both the loss of rent and repairs. Another costly expenses caused by Advent’s intent to help the renters not serve the landlord who pays the management fees month after month.
3. Advent told us to pay for all the Section 8 inspection repairs but later we found out by speaking to Housing directly that the tenant was actually responsible for any damages caused by her family. Advent tried to put the price tag on the landlord whenever possible because it was much easier for them to have the landlord pay for things than went after the tenants (requires hardwork and energy). By doing this type of unethical acts, Advent smartly could win the votes of renters at the expense of the landlords who actually pay for all the staff’s salaries.
Advent is all about winning the popularity votes of the tenants/​renter at the expense of the landlord. We finally figured out what they did: was to do as little work as possible by putting the price tags on the landlord who has money rather then going after the tenant for the money owed. Advent is all about big on winning the popularity votes of the renters and does not keep the best interest of the landlord in mind.
Landlord beware!!!

One month ago to the day, I relocated to the Bay Area from NYC and was totally overwhelmed by the rental housing market. After two weeks of scouring Craigslist, competitive open houses and poor showing experiences, I got a call from Trimaine Eley who had an open spot during one of this showing. Frustrated with the whole process, I told him over the phone my exact situation and what I was looking for. I went to see the apartment, fell in love with it and immediately began the application process.
From showing to application to move-​in, Trimaine was amazing to work with. He was extremely knowledgeable, responsive and helpful. The best part about working with Trimaine is that he understood how stressful the process can be, he was understanding, patient and showed that he truly cares about the well-​being of his customers (I witnessed this not only for myself but through his interactions with others).
I would highly recommend working with Trimaine for anyone relocating to the Bay Area or just looking for a new rental!

After my mother moved out of state, we contacted several property management companies to assist us in renting out her home. Truthfully, I had already selected another company, but luckily, I contacted Advent before signing the papers. As soon as I spoke to Benjamin, he won my business. He was very knowledgeable about the rental market, and his management terms were very fair.
The first tenant fell through, but Advent worked hard to quickly secure another tenant. Along the way, they stayed on top of maintenance issues and lease renewals. They also interceded in issues with the HOA. My account statements and rental deposits were always timely received.
After 2 years of renting out the home (while the housing market recovered), we decided to sell my mother’s home. Again, Benjamin won our business with his warm demeanor, knowledge of the real estate market and familiarity with the property. I won’t bore you with the details, but Benjamin tackled a multitude of challenges that arose along the way. His patience and perseverance were instrumental in closing the deal.
I am very glad that we chose to work with Advent Properties, and I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for a property management company and/​or a realtor.

A little over a year ago, my now ex and I decided to buy a house together. Big mistake! But I won’t bore you with that here. :)
On the advice of a very good friend, I contacted Advent to rent out my house. Their service was exemplary from beginning to end. Upon my move out, Benjamin, Tommy and team swooped in to make the property look sparkling and new (and I’d been living in it for 6 years). It was rented the same day!
So, here we are almost two years later. I’m moving back. I was worried about the condition of my home but I should not have been. Here is the email I sent Benjamin:
Hi Benjamin and Tommy!
I want to mention that I could not be any happier with the move out service I was provided. It was equally as exceptional as that I experienced before the tenants moved in. When Tommy called me last Wednesday to inform me that the tenants moved out, I decided to «stop by» on my way home from work. Two cleaning professionals were already hard at work and their work was frankly amazing. One of the women (I wish I knew her name; she seemed like she was in charge in a good way) stated «The tenants cleaned but it’s not clean.» I need their telephone number! Truly exceptional work and such a professional demeanor… it’s sadly unexpected these days.
Tommy as an aside to you I can’t thank you enough. I really appreciate all of your efforts and when I moved in I felt like I was entering a newly renovated home. It removed a lot of the stress I was feeling. Your professional manner and willingness to work with me are most appreciated and will never be forgotten.
Benjamin you’ve assembled an amazing team. I know you realize that but I just wanted to confirm. Thank you for everything! I will never hesitate to recommend Advent (as you were recommended to me) and should I ever require your services again I need not look any further than your company.
Thanks again!
Should you ever need a Property Management company look no further. Advent went above and beyond. Seriously, all I had to do was confirm that my money was deposited each month for 15 months. AND MY HOUSE LOOKS BETTER THAN WHEN I MOVED OUT!!! Thanks, Benjamin, Tommy, and team. I can’t tell you how thankful I am.

Under stress I began my apt. search very overwhelmed with the process. I met
Trimaine Ely at my first viewing. He was on time. personable, and informed. I
took the place and began the vetting. Trimaine was supportive and helpful to me
each step of the way. He responded to calls, was available and provided the
answers.
The personnel at the company was a pleasure to work with, both the
office and the maintenance crew. I had a key problem my first day and the locksmith
was here by 11a.m. There was a Comcast snafu and Trimaine came to the rescue.
This level of care and service exceeded my expectations. This is an excellent
local company and I will put the word out to all my friends and neighbors.
This is a hard market for renters. The competition is high. It is stressful to
try to relocate. Given all the factors finding people to work with who actually
provide first rate service is hard to come by… not the MO of real estate
management companies as a rule. So having a positive experience really
counts. I hope the company continues to serve and provide its clients with
this standard of service. It is a pleasure to deal with Advent and I highly
recommend this company for both renters and owners. Trimaine gets the
hero of the month award.

I’ve lived in the Bay Area all my life and the amount of growth and development in just the last 5 years has been tremendous. I was in a situation where I NEEDED to find an apartment in a great, safe neighborhood that would be for just me and my dog. I had very little luck during my hunt for two months around Dec 2014. Every apartment was either substandard or overpriced (or sometimes both!). I have to say it’s terrifying to give out your personal information to every landlord because you just hear horror stories of fraud or theft or whatever else.
I found a place that seemed too good to be true for it’s price. Fortunately for me, Advent Properties is very legit and was extremely fair and forgiving to my needs and situation. (I gotta say the stellar Unilocal reviews helped reassure me). I got lucky and managed to get my foot in the door with Tommy Suh. He was extremely responsive to my questions and concerns via email. They made sure all precautions were taken for both my peace of mind as well as theirs.
Once Tommy processed my paperwork and I was approved Trimaine Eley worked with me to ensure that the move-​in process was as smooth as possible. They even impressed me with their cool iPhone and iPad technologies that provided online documents, new tenant checklists and various documentation. I love that I was able to refer to this stuff easily in email and not have to dig around in piles of papers!
They keep their properties EXTREMELY well maintained and really care about their tenants. Trimaine was even so kind as to explain to me some of the Oakland rental laws and tell me that if anything goes wrong with the unit to report it right away so they can arrange to have a 24 hour turnaround repair. My past experiences with landlords and property managers have been QUITE the opposite.
All in all, Advent Properties is the most professional, courteous and attentive property management company that I’ve had the pleasure of working with. If I need anything I know I would not hesitate for a second to work with them again.

As a new resident to the Bay Area I was completely overwhelmed by the competitive and often unfair housing search, especially being a dog owner. I (along with many others) came across a 4 unit complex managed by Advent.
At the open house, I met Trimaine. He was not only very professional and friendly but quite knowledgable of the neighborhood and could answer all my probing questions about safety, neighbors, cool restaurants, etc.
While touring the property, I had asked Trimaine how they go about selecting their tenants and he said, «first come, first serve.» Because of past experiences, this made me skeptical but I dropped everything and ran home to apply and thankfully I was the first and even more thankfully, Trimaine kept his word and I got the apartment… but not without his further help! He’s like the agent that keeps giving!
From the begging of the application to the very last details of the lease, I felt Trimaine was my own personal housing advocate. I felt he really cared that I got the apartment and even pushed for me when the landlord came back with some uncertainties. He even pointed out something fishy on my credit report that I had NO idea was there. He said it didn’t make sense and I should check it out. Well detective Trimaine was right and I found out it was some kind of identity fraud.
Needless to say, I am truly thankful for Trimaines help and highly recommend his services. Advent Properties is lucky to have someone with such impeccable follow though and intelligence.

Advent Properties recently took over management of my apartment complex and they’ve been a breathe of fresh air!!! I really appreciate their service and dedication. I call the maintenance hotline and Tony answers right away. You can pay rent online and submit maintenance request, they are really ahead of the times.
My landlord was a slumlord and she didn’t want to get my carpet clean my carpet, but Advent stepped in an advocated for me and she reimbursed me for the carpet cleaning fees. I really appreciate them for stepping up for me.
Every week someone comes and does the landscaping and it looks so much better outside now. They also locked the laundry room and gave us all keys so raunchy people won’t come sleep in there.
Advent is an awesome company!!!