The Management Trust

The only service repair request I had was handled promptly and thoroughly. The neighborhoods always look great as well. Thank you Kocal.

I don’t know how the employees at this company got hired. They sound like they are either undereducated people or they simply lack some form, any form, of professional training. My neighbor said that they’re basically people who get hired because they can’t find anyone to fill the position since it’s such an awful workplace. Then when their bosses leave, the next person gets promoted (of course on the basis of… actually I don’t know how incompetent people get promoted.) Like a lot of the reviewers, I have no choice since the HOA chooses to stay with these people.
They claim that their job is to «enforce CC&Rs» yet they themselves don’t follow protocol. Long story short, my neighbor and I applied for approval to have a patio installed. They gave a different set of requirements to each of us. I asked for an explanation, they had no real answer other than «I’m new at this job». No answers, just excuses.

Kocal embraces the typical Folsom mentality of looking good on a superficial level but having some really deep issues under the surface. Their disregard for the environment is my biggest issue with them. The lawns are still green in the middle of the drought because they water 5 – 7 times per week despite a watering limit of 2 days per week. Their management is unresponsive to complaints about water waste. One of their employees, Jessica Pantel, even laughed at me when I expressed my concerns. They also spray chemicals on a regular basis for weed and bug control, and they are right next to a creek and nature preserve. They plant invasive species such as periwinkle and ivy that strangle out native plants that our wildlife rely on. Their rules don’t allow for responsible home improvements such as solar panels. All this for the sake of «home values» yet they don’t realize that the next generation of home buyers values environmental stewardship. Aside from the environmental perspective, they could also be saving a lot of money from our HOA dues by making more responsible landscaping choices that consume less water, chemicals, and maintenance. Their priorities are outdated (except maybe in Folsom where they are based), misguided, and irresponsible.

If there was a zero star I would chose that. Hands down the worst HOA. My family and I have been personally harassed by the HOA with «unanimous» letters, intrusive pictures taken into my bathroom window and other neighbors complain of similar situations. We live next to and across from the Vice President & President of the HOA, talk about Hell. Luckily we are renters so we are free to move after out lease is up… There is such great turn over in our complex due solely to the HOA. We have interviewed neighbors and it’s easier to sell and lose money than to live under the harsh rules and regulations of this company. I was told that we cannot get a parking pass unless we can prove both vehicles cannot fit in our garage (we have measured and its smaller width wise than other 2 car garages). I scratched my brand new SUV trying to park both vehicles in the garage and went next door to ask the HOA president to look and see that they both don’t fit (like they asked me to) and she stated «that’s not any of my concern». So now I’m looking at $ 1500 in damages and continued harassment. Counting down the days until our lease is up. Think twice before renting or buying in an area that is «managed» by Kocal. You have been warned.

I’m adding to the long list of bad reviews for this unprofessional management company. Not only have I experienced horrible customer service every time I call, I receive no calls in return, and have to call multiple times a day, which they are angry about. I am treated poorly when I finally do get a hold of someone, and they have the audacity to let me know about my one cardboard box out on my back patio and remind me that I will get a violation for that, but never help me or follow up on my original problem. I called in 2013 to let them know that they need to plant grass in one of the common areas that is bare dirt, and it’s never happened. They just take your money and hope you forget about any problems. I am shocked that a company that does business in this matter is still around. All I can say is, do not move into an area that they manage, and do not use them for your business! There’s a reason they have a one-​star rating!

Too bad you can’t give them zero stars. Supposedly this is a certified community management firms with a code of ethics and training in statutes that govern common interest developments. However they conveniently overlook the law whenever board of directors ask them to or if it benefits them to overlook a rule here and there.
They feed off homeowners like predators late fees, fines, dues then they send you over to their favorite collection company ATC that takes their inflated fees before they apply anything to what you actually owe and of course Angius and Terry LLC are ready to join in and get in on the gravy train. The entire industry looks at homeowners as a cash cow of increased billing opportunities.
Homeowners beware. File complaints with the California Department of Consumer Affairs and the California Association of Community Managers. I almost puked when I heard their new advertising campaign about what Champions these management firms are. Yeah they are Champions for themselves and every nickel they can scare out of homeowners.

I live in Lincoln crossing On Sierra View circle, where u can’t park on the sidewalk. Your only allowed 1 guest Parkin pass! which is fuckin stupid! I asked the sub division manager «so what if I wanted to throw a party and have some people stay over, where would they park?» And he told me «well that’s not my problem! So pretty much you won’t be able to have friends with multiple cars come cus if they park outside they will tow! the funny thing is the Guest parking spots are NEVER BEING USED, what a waste of parking spaces! Brian the Kocoal manager u can u fuck yourself

Horrible company, horrible service! They are determined NOT to help their customers! This company should be out of business by now!!!

Watch out! Most unethical double dealing out fit there is for HOA management. We thought Vierra Moore was bad (yes they are) but this dude and his «Crew» are some of the most unethical and down right fraudulent managers there is. Brent Kocal collects kick backs from businesses and is far from anything more than a crook in a suit and tie. No doubt he will have a few HOA’s in a law suit for fraud or at the least unfair business practices.
Steer clear of this out fit and their many subsidiaries affiliates. Kocal Trust, Kocal Managment, Kocal Magement Trust, Kocal Properties anuting with the name KOCAL watch out — the list is long but all are the same unethical folks.
Be sure to check out BBB ratings and yahoo reviews there are so many complaints that these Unilocal reviews are mild in comparison.

I wish I could give less than one star. This company is the worst, most Nazi like attitudes and unprofessional run business in the area. Our neighborhood has dealt with these jokers for quite a while and we are in the process of firing them. All they care about is stealing money from the homeowners in bogus fines that they pocket and not put back into the community. They selectively enforce rules and try to bully others. They find homes that they know are ready to foreclose or short sale and put huge daily fines against the properties to attempt to defraud the banks.
They lie to their board members and enforce only the rules that benefit their bottom line. When the members rule upon something that Kocal is not in favor of they veto the ruling and change it in their favor.
This company is far beyond crooked, please do your homework before ever using this organization to protect your community.

I have never before had the experience of talking to people about a company that elicits universal hatred from everyone who interacts with them. But that’s basically Kocal. It’s not that they’re in a difficult business, which they are, as enforcing community management practices doesn’t make for a business that’s going to generate vast amounts of goodwill. No, that would be reasonable, and as reasonable people, we could find room to accept that. This company isn’t reasonable, or even evil. Evil would be easy to deal with.
They are worse. They are hypocrites –they stand for nothing and care for nobody but themselves. This company is the embodiment of the kind of uncaring, corporate bureaucracy and short sighted self-​interest that Americans have become so exposed to in recent years. You see, the worst kind of company isn’t evil or bad, it’s the company that operates without genuine care of it’s customers. And the business they are in – mandated homeowners associations that are deeded to exist and extremely difficult to make changes to – allows it. They are entrenched in the legal existence of condo and homeowner associations, and that allows them to not have to care about their customers.
They don’t keep their agreements with home owners in discipline situations and «lose their memory of what was said» when it suites them (I’ve seen it first hand), they encourage favoritism on boards, they mislead board members in efforts to maximize revenue on mailings, and more. This is only what I have observed first-​hand, as I don’t believe rumors easily. Basically, this business will do anything to extract revenue from the communities they manage. I’ve never had the impression that this is from the younger generation in the business, but it’s nevertheless the way the business functions.
Let me offer you, dear reader, some example. If one receives a notice from Kocal for some minor yard infraction, you will continue to be billed and receive notices on that item irrespective of whether you remedy the problem. If you do not show up for a board meeting, or reply via letter, a majority of the infractions you incur will continue to snowball against you. This lead one of the homeowners in the community I live in, in a clear effort to tell Kocal where to put their fines, to amass more than $ 50,000 worth of direct fines. Oh, and they’re now trying to foreclose on those fines (many, many homeowners here in my community have foreclosure threats over minor fines from Kocal). One day his mortgage holders showed up to inspect the house. They said, «We expected it to be falling down with holes in it. We’ve never seen fines like that before. You’re place is nice!» The home is a two story, $ 200,000+ home on a private lake that’s in good shape. How Kocal even managed to amass $ 50,000+ in fines is beyond me, and was so extreme Wells Fargo came to see for themselves. That’s a small example of the hypocrisy of Kocal Management.
This is one of the worst companies I have ever dealt with, and I’ve been on their boards. I hope this company manages to find a way to not be a part of my life, and I’m actively doing everything I can to replace them in our community. People HATE them here, like no other company I have ever dealt with. We’ve had many people sell their homes and leave the community because of «The Kocal Nazis.» Imagine a business that actually ends up with a nickname like that! But thats what people call them here in casual conversation. It’s difficult to imagine, but people that live here will come up to me and say, «I just got another letter from the Nazis.» It’s literally the common vernacular of living in a Kocal community.

I wouldn’t use them if I had a choice but unfortunately it’s the HOA I’m stuck with. They don’t follow through when I call to let them know that the pond has a broken bubbler that aerates it — with this broken, the pond gets extremely mucked-​up with algae — the birds don’t even want to land on it anymore. I’ve called multiple times and they say they will take care of it but it’s been broken for months. I realize it’s not a top priority thing but it’s their job to fix it and I get the distinct feeling they are not even writing it down — they are just blowing me off and hope I will forget. I agree with the previous review that they don’t have their landscapers maintain the area very well. Makes you wonder what our HOA money is going towards.

I too can’t think of anything positive to say about this company. First off I can’t help but to see Kocal Management as a cash cow for its founder Penny Kocal who resides in Folsom Lake Estates on who’s HOA board Penny Kocal sits. The integrity is seriously compromised when you sit on the board for your community and your own HOA management firm is managing the finances. Living in a community managed by Kocal Management, their sense of principles are questionable and I’ve had nothing but headaches with them when dealing with rude neighbors who make unwarranted complaints. I recommend anyone considering moving to an HOA community stay away from communities managed by Kocal Management or the Management Trust.

I have to report a business that practices horrible customer service by hanging up on their customers. Who does that? This uncouth company does… How unprofessional can you be? I would be ashamed of myself Jennifer and Connie… You really are showing the owners of this company how much you really hate your jobs…
Let me tell you, this company does not take care of our neighbourhood that each house pays a fee for. The apartments next to our Housing Community look better than the gardens here. I watched the Landscapers take out all of the flowers, take them away and they have never been replaced. The front looks horrible…
I would never use this Company if I had a choice in an HOA. Like I said It is obvious the people that work their hate their jobs and they are not knowledgeable. They are a division of Management Trust, so if you want to go to an unprofessional company that takes your money and does nothing, come here…