Mark, Just wanted to drop you an email to express my sincerest thanks on behalf of the Bella Vida HOA for giving us Michelle Lopez as the property manager. As you are aware, the new elementary school opened its doors on August 24th, which has caused a large volume of both vehicle and foot traffic in, and around, our community. Of course we have had some issues with all of this; however, Michelle has been on top of each issue and has responded promptly, professionally, and effectively. I can't tell you how much we appreciate her hard work and dedication to our little community. I am sure she has bigger fish to fry out there, but always seems to make us feel like we are a high priority. It is a pleasure to work with such a professional. Her knowledge of Home Owner Association rules, regulations and laws is impeccable. The day to day management, financial monitoring and her ability in being an effective liaison between the board and homeowners is outstanding. She always comes with a resolution when a problem arises. With all the negativity in this world, especially in the property management arena, I felt it very important to tell you that Michelle Lopez brings our HOA positivity and an optimistic attitude each and every day. Additionally, you should also be proud of Monique Mancillas, who supports Michelle's agenda and continues to be the hero behind the scene. Although we don't get to see her much, we fully understand how hard she has worked for our community and we appreciate her efforts and endurance, especially with the school issues. Thanks again for your time and for your incredible staff!! Sue Gonzalez read more

If I could give zero stars, I would. This is hands down the most incompetent and unresponsive management company I've ever dealt with. I've been unable to access my own home for four days because of their total failure to respond to multiple emails, phone calls, and messages. The lack of communication is absolutely unacceptable and shows a complete disregard for residents' basic needs and safety. Melanie Millsap Harriman in particular has been unbearable to deal with--unhelpful, dismissive, and completely inaccessible when it matters most. There is no excuse for this level of negligence. If you're considering working with or relying on this company for anything, I strongly urge you to look elsewhere. Your time, money, and sanity are better spent with a management company that actually does its job. read more

Been trying for weeks to get info. Called 4 times . Was never given any information. Was told I would get email. Was transferred and disconnected. On close of escrow day at 4:30 on a Friday they finally decided to help. Could help with gate access. I was then given an app. I downloaded and it was never mentioned I needed a password from them Called back again Christian is the most unprofessional person there. Hung up on me when I said repeatedly I couldn't hear him. I wear hearing aids. This is now 5 pm on Friday. Finally got a code from app Problem is nobody there knows what they are doing Not once during the process did anyone mention there is a second entry box about 5 feet forward from main box that works Not main box. Oh yah, they wanted to charge me for 20 key fobs so my workers could have access . No common sense. No problem solving initiatives. Just lazy and wait til last minute read more

It's like speaking to a wall. They do not follow AB-130 and they are always looking to fine and get cash from homeowners for every little thing. They treat homeowner like tenants! read more

As a property owner at Pinyon Crest, California I am VERY disappointed with Mark Dodge of Associa. At open board meetings,usually thru Zoom he says nothing, does nothing and offers nothing of value to the community. At at recent open meeting that took place on December 1, 2025, two of the Board members launched a vitriolic, verbally abusive attack publically berating a property owner for over 20 minutes. It was highly offensive and uncalled for. Mark Dodge sat there and said absolutely nothing, as did the currrent President of the Board. What exactly are his duties and responsibilities to our board? His primary role appears to only post notices and meeting announcements to Town Square, much like a secretary and bookkeeper. In my opinion Mark Dodge and Associa is providing nothing of value to the Pinyon Crest community. read more

This company serves itself. They have ignored HOA civil codes, ignored real infrastructure oversight (don't check their vendors work, leading to do-overs) and can't get ahead of an issue even if it sits right in front of them or is related clearly in emails. Their ignoring of emails has resulted in (at least) one lawsuit that is resulting in a special assessment, and the complete ignoring of another email detailing a serious threat from a Board Member on a female senior resident. Instead they sent a lawyer's letter to the resident and threatened her. Also, they will openly lie...and in emails. Presently, they are demanding payment of late fees (not owed as agreed upon by the Board ) before they can REMOVE the late fines from their statement. Apparently their adding machine is incapable of subtracting. This harassment and lack of humanity is being inflicted on a grieving family suffering from the tragic auto death of their mother, the Owner/resident in the HOA community. I could go on. It's a wonder this company hasn't been sued for Civil Rights violations, or been reported to the US Department of Labor. read more

DRM has been the manager of my HOA for years and has been a nightmare for the residents. I have documented over a dozen major mistakes so far and the mayhem continues. For the last 8 months, DRM has attempted to enforce an HOA rule, which has been barred by statute for 22 years. It sent me violation notices, sic'd its pathetic attorneys on me, threatened me with fines and attorneys' fees also clearly barred by law and repeatedly lied. Just before DRM recently capitulated, it sent a gardener to take photos over my private patio wall and through the windows of my unit in violation of the peeping tom statute. Do not let your HOA hire these people. read more

Desert Resort Management: A Mismanaged Maraud of Misplaced Priorities... As a former resident of Shadow Ranch, I feel compelled to share my experience with Desert Resort Management--a company that, quite frankly, deserves to be critiqued for its inefficiency and lack of communication. While I'm relieved to have moved on, my dealings with them have left a lasting impression, particularly concerning the mishandling of a substantial $2,000 refund that remains unresolved. The HOA's chronic mismanagement is not just a nuisance; it's symptomatic of a larger issue within the community. My decision to sell my home and relocate to another desert city was heavily influenced by the way Shadow Ranch was run. Issues are brought to the board's attention repeatedly, yet they habitually remain unaddressed. It seemed I wasn't the only one who realized this--a shared sentiment among homeowners. Despite having left Shadow Ranch, I find myself embroiled in a frustrating refund process with the HOA. The simplicity of my request seemed straightforward--on September 23, I requested a refund of the overpaid amount, with the check made payable to my husband due to a name change after we purchased the home in 2021. I expected this to be a routine procedure, but I was sorely mistaken. For clarity, I followed up on my initial request with an email on September 29. My phone calls and voicemails were consistently ignored, until at last, I received a response on October 8. My optimism was short-lived, though, as I encountered bureaucratic hurdles demanding I provide a deed showing joint ownership of the property. I complied immediately by sending the deed on the same day. Assurances were abundant; on October 14, I was told that the account name had been updated, with a promise of a check being processed by the end of the week. Yet the saga continues. The conflicting messages from Cristian, implying administrative confusion over basic details like our address and residence community, only added to my frustration. On October 17th, I reached out yet again, met with the same placating assurances that they were "doing their best to expedite the process." Ciara expressed confidence, projecting the delivery of the check for "some point next week," but this vague promise was merely a temporal kick down the road, unsupported by clear reason or accountability measures. The absence of genuine commitment compelled me to escalate the issue to upper management, who were included in the email correspondence but offered nothing more than silence. On October 22nd, I received a message from Ciara declaring that the check was ready for pickup at the Palm Desert office the following day. My husband, adhering to their directive, made the journey only to encounter the predictable disappointment of an unfulfilled promise; no check was available, with the staff indicating it still needed to be printed. Shortly after, a phone call informed him that they had "just received the payment," and that the accounting team needed to approve and issue the check. This begs the question: Why direct us to the office for pickup if no check was ready? The continuing silence from upper management is as deafening as their service is deficient. No apologies have been offered, nor any sign of service recovery. The irony lies in their efficiency in collecting payments, raising rates, and neglecting necessary repairs and upkeep at Shadow Ranch, juxtaposed with the Herculean struggle of securing a refund. Such a business model raises concerns about their priorities and business acumen--or lack thereof. This is not merely an inconvenience; it is an affront to the very concept of customer service and respect for homeowners. Their inability to communicate effectively, meet resident needs, or focus on maintaining the community's value is deplorable. Leadership at Desert Resort Management seems absent, disconnected, perhaps even indifferent to consequences, and that should give any prospective homeowner pause. We remain without our refund, and this experience underscores a larger issue: the potential for others to encounter similar fates. The importance of thorough due diligence cannot be overstated for anyone considering this or any HOA-managed community. Desert Resort Management demonstrates a failing system, living off the backs of those it is supposed to serve, with no regard for transparency or responsibility. This serves as a poignant warning to all--be wary of entities more interested in taking than giving. In summary, my experience with Desert Resort Management reflects a systemic lapse in professionalism and accountability. While I relish the freedom of moving somewhere new, I hope this narrative serves as a warning to others considering life within Shadow Ranch or any community managed by DRM. An HOA that cannot effectively manage finances or communicate with homeowners in a timely manner erodes trust, a foundational pillar of any community. read more

Property values have plummeted simply due to the fact that it scares away future potential buyers because of the monthly dues and percentage increases. Sold at a lost. Good luck. read more

It's sad and vicious when company managers fabricate a story just to go after property owners. Just yesterday, Steffenie Tollette, who is the community association manager for DRM, made up false information about supposedly me renting my unit for 7 days. Steffenie sent me threatening letters about how I would have to meet before the board in order to resolve whatever issue she felt needed to be resolved. Her "proof"? She said "she heard". I spent half of a Saturday dealing with this, and had to get her manager involved, Rosie Galla. And even so, Steffenie managed to talk Rosie into building her case against me, all based on lies. Steffenie fabricated a story that she personally had spoken with my tenants at Casa de Oro. The problem with that is, my tenants have never met Steffenie, nor have they had any conversations with her. My current tenants are there for almost 4 months, but yet Steffenie insisted they were there for 7 days, just beause she felt she needed to fill her day with acrimony and misery. The threatening letters kept coming from both, and I even spoke with Rosie over the phone. But the instigator here was Steffenie, who lied about the entire thing, even to her boss, just to come after me. Why? I have no idea. I have never met Steffenie, nor have any desire to meet her. Sounds like a very imature and miserable woman. I will be celebrating the day when our HOA switches management companies, hopefully soon! Buyer beware, don't hire this company unless you want to be tied with all this unnecessary drama and thuggish culture. read more

Been trying to get in touch with him for over five days leaving several messages no response. I'm locked out of my unit and cannot get in due to the clicker malfunction. There is no one I could get in touch with so I could get a new one. This is ridiculous. How do these people stay in business? I have no read more

Our community has employed DRM to manage our HOA for many years now. At first, they were attentive and kept everything in order. Lately, we feel like we are not getting the attention we deserve. One of the things that may be happening is our manager has taken on more responsibilities than she can handle, she is in over her head.....IMNSHO!! Issues used to be taken care of immediately, now they just languish!! Case in point, one of our vehicle entry gates got damaged over two months ago and it's still not fixed!! When I was on the BOD, it would have been fixed within the same week it was damaged. Some of the residents yards, have been looking shabby and nothing seems to be happening to correct them in a timely fashion. If it weren't such a monumental hassle, it would make sense for us to find another property management company in the Coachella Valley!! I think they have gotten too complacent, knowing what an ordeal it is to switch companies. read more

Desert Resort Management is an organization that does not followup though on their responsibilities. When I called inquiring about late fees and finally got someone on the phone - I was told they were not receiving payments on time at certain points. I have all payments to vendors, utils, etc done via our banks automated online banking and no other vendors we pay have reported delays or misses EVER. This is obviously another org that looks for every opprutanity to pass to PASS THE BUCK that they can. Simply trying to update my mailing address was also impossible. Staff, including management (Mark Dodge) are perpetually unavailable to talk when there are issues and divert clients to leaving messages which are not returned or are responded to a week+ later if your lucky. Emails are seldom returned. If you need a management company that will do their job and stay on top of your operational needs, look elsewhere. These guys are full of excuses or just "not available right now due to high call volume"... read more

Awful management and terrible customer service. Community not getting what we are paying for. If the company spent more time focusing on providing quality service and keeping its communities running in a smooth and competent fashion rather than shameless self promotion and dishonest marketing, then they might get better feedback from its customers. My suggestion is that any customer or prospective client should rely on yelp for honest reviews on this or any other business as here you cannot pay to remove unfavorable reviews or leave five star reviews for your own business, practices permitted and taken advantage of on other sites (see attachment for example). read more

Desert Resort Management - Property Management Near Me - Palm Desert, California

If Google had a negative 5 that is what I would select for DRM. The level of unprofessionalism and no response is a pattern since they were brought on to manage Casa de Oro. I cannot list all of the indiscretions as there are too many. I will share the most recent situation, it over the top. A bank of mailboxes were damaged last year which required the replacement of the mailbox and new keys. This is no longer my primary residence so I did not have a need for the key as the mail was forwarded to my primary residence. We recently decided to lease the condo which required a us to request the new key. I went to the DRM office to get the key that was never picked up previously. I waited for a reply from Stephanie Tollette in the office for 15 minutes which never happened. I asked the Administrative Assistant to call me when a reply was provided, that did not happen (not even a email reply). Ms. Tollette did email asking if someone may have picked up the key previously. I restated that the key was not picked up by anyone. She did her "investigation" and said "So I went to see get the key and we do not have it. Are you sure someone else didn't pick it up previously. If not, you will need to contact a lock smith and have them replace the lock." I restated that we did not pick of the key. She then doubled down to say, "I have investigated this and honestly do not have any understanding where the key is. I understand it is unfortunate, but the key is not in the location with the rest of the remaining keys. I apologize for the inconvenience. Valley Lock & Smith would be able to change out the lock. You will not need to notify the USPS to complete this change for their access to provide the mail is a separate key. I apologize again." I replied stating, "Thank you for the follow up, I appreciate it. I have to say this is quite frustrating that we now have to fix and pay for DRM's error. DRM lost it, DRM should fix it." After this email exchange there was NO reply by Ms. Tollette, again a pattern!! As a result of DRM mismanagement, we had to pay $140 for a locksmith to replace the key DRM LOST. The pattern of how the run their business is a common conversation amongst several owners at Casa de Oro. If I were any HOA looking for a new management company, I would recommend steering clear of this company. If you want your HOA Dues to increase year after year they are your people. I have owned since 2012 and there have been more increases (EVERY YEAR) that the entire time we have owned prior to the Desert Resort MISS Management. I cannot wait to sell and get out this distrustful, disrespectful and corrupt company that steal and lies. Buyers Be Ware! read more

1 star is far too many for this "Management Company." Like being lied to consistently? Enjoy ABSOLUTELY NO ONE having the courage or respect to return simple phone calls? Do you relish in the thought of it taking 5-6 business weeks for a simple email response? Look no further, this is the company you have been searching for. In all seriousness, your dream home/long term rental is absolutely NOT worth it if it is run by this company. I would rather spend every day of my life at the DMV trying to register a vehicle with the wrong paperwork, than ever deal with any of these people ever again. read more

We continue to have issues that go unaddressed with this company. At the point I urge everyone to open a case with the Better Business Bureau, report them and contact their leadership team which is also complaisant and aware of how bad or community is being managed. Everything from security incidents, parking violations, robberies, maintenance tickets being ignored and many many more issues. jcarrol@drminternet.com MLayton@drminternet.com rgalla@drminternet.com kberryhillhood@drminternet.com mdodge@drminternet.com read more

Kimberly Lopez is Fantastic!! She is so quick to respond back anytime I have a question! I am so grateful for her! She is a Great Asset to the Desert Resort Management team and myself! Please give Kimberly a Big Thank You for me!! Thanks so much, Lori Bates read more

How about the worst property management company EVER. the worst at 1. Communication 2. Costumer service 3. Transparency 4. Lying There is no room for negative stars. They will be sued and big time. read more

Our HOA was with them for years, then they centralized their accounting. We never got an accurate financial report again. It was usually small things/occasionally bigger things, but it could be like pulling teeth to get something fixed. read more

I would like to extend my kudos to our HOA manager, Terry Wolfgram. When I brought to attention my concerns with lack of response from the office on Melanie Place he got right on it and things got done. Thank you Terry! read more

Very Friendly, helpful and professional. Just don't try and call, too much background noise, can't hear what they are saying. I had to go in. read more

Terrible Management Company , I am one of Breamer apartments residents, I think it's one of the worse decisions our Board ever made to put our Life in the hands of such incompetent Unprofessional Company ! Every time we called to address an issue we're welcome with a very bad attitude by phone attendant they don't even hire a professional ! They keep sending you from on department to another To ovoid helping ! My last call I was on hold for more than 2 hours My opinion they only Cater to Breamer board i our case Don't ever use their Management services it's the worse ! read more

These guys have terrible customer service!!!! Their employees all have a bad attitude and are very rude to their customers!! They don't answer their phone. They don't respond to voicemails or emails. Antonio & Jenny were particularly rude and unhelpful!!! read more

We have been a customer of Desert Resort Management in two different locations in the Palm Springs area over the past 14 years. There may be number of (unknown to us) reasons property managers are not responsive. We have always been on auto-pay with the 1-week advanced billing cycle. I was told today that the mangers and staff are managing over 200 properties, this sounds like they're understaffed resulting in a less than positive experience for customers. I have never had my call answered without a significant wait time and when I leave a voice message they almost never return my call. Again, too much for the staff and manages to handle or just poor customer service or both? When I am able to get hold of the line staff answering the telephone, they have generally been very helpful. read more

Thought maybe it was just my property when I posted my review. well the response I received from Mark Dodge implied I had an issue with an infraction. So in the spirit of setting the record straight, and to resolve the actual issue. I reached out to Mr. Dodge, as he requested in his response; three times by email and I called and had to leave a message, and of course, I never heard back. The issue involves water intrusion from either the association or a unit being remodeled. Depending on who you ask. If you are looking for a management company for your HOA, my advice is to look elsewhere. read more

I think this company Associa and Mark Dodge have zero credibility!!! They are currently Operating and managing our Community in Palm Springs CA, with a SUSPENDED State contractors license. In addition to that they also have been conducting business with an expired Palm Springs Business License as of 11/21. If you tell them about issues with their on site manager giving incorrect planning and permitting information to our Board and Committees, they start a smear campaign against you and call you a troublemaker. I can't wait till we have our Board with El Dorado attorney fire them for gross mismanagement!. 10/10/22 They now have an Active State License. read more

Desert Resort Management - Property Management Near Me - Palm Desert, California

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Several people in my community have put in tickets, asked for their clickers and gate cards to be updated....it has been several weeks with no action from DRM. We pay them soooo muuucccchhhhh money, they cannot even get our gate cards, clickers and codes sorted. read more

Everything! Total failure virtually across the board, responsiveness, quality of managers, financial reporting, etc. etc.

This is frustrating. Our HOA apparently decided to dump our longtime Management company for this one. We tried calling today and was on hold then hung up on twice. We finally had to give up on getting in contact with them. I will be contacting our HOA president to see why they would select this company especially after seeing all the reviews! read more

This company is the poster child as to why these glorified bookkeepers need to be a regulated industry aka licensed by a state agency complete with regular background checks, steep educational/experience requirements, and proctored competency testing. They pseudo-straddle law, real estate, and accounting w/o any licenses. Unheard of when dealing with other people's money and investments- that never happens as a mandatory safeguard for consumers' protection. Without a license requirement consumers have no recourse for reporting companies or individuals' nefarious behavior; losing your license, and income, is a powerful motivator to operate ethically and honestly at all times. The person cutting your hair has a license ... but not this industry. If your goal is to jack up your HOA dues, get awful results, and lower your investments value this outfit is the answer. They are an extremely aggressive profit-driven company when it comes to siphoning money out of your community; coming at you in all directions with annual bloated raises to themselves, using their preferred *wink wink* out-of-area vendors who they'll assure you they don't get referral fees for, and of course, their own handyman service that gouges for simple repairs which are subpar. You can tell by the guy responding they have a disrespectful demeanor toward clients that transcends to their employees. That bravado is typical of an unregulated industry. My advice RUN fast and far from Associa. You deserve much better! *Those acronyms behind their names are not licenses, they are certifications you buy from the online certification mills that feign credibility for their business cards. Think a typical going price is $199 takes a few hours - open book, everyone passes, we all know the drill! RUN!!!! read more

Associa is the security/management company for the community I live in. Rather than spending time addressing real concerns the homeowners and tenants have, they focus on minutiae that doesn't protect the residents. It would be wonderful if Associa would focus on real problems in the neighborhood rather than leaving citations on residents cars, even after they have been emailed or notified about circumstances. read more

Sharing some excerpts from an email sent by Mark Dodge, President of DRM, to all HOA clients during the most recent tropical storm event. Mark was recently appointed to the Associated Board of Directors. Judge for one's self if this company is a value add for your community. The emergency after hours call service is overwhelmed, and is not able to accept any further call......If you are experiencing a roof leak do your best to contain the water. There is nothing which can be done today. E-mail your manager to be sure your address is on the list. Safe to say most every home in the valley is experiencing some sort of water intrusion problem....... Again, please do not call the after hours service. We are experiencing a natural disaster. Today, you must help yourself. read more

We have called and written numerous times with zero response. We live in Province and have asked for transponders since we moved in to this community in September. I am beyond angry and frustrated. Neighbors that have lived here for a few years and now they are saying it is up to a board and Lennar to build a south tower for cell service. Really?? So we are paying HOA for what? To pull up to a dysfunctional gate to punch in numbers? read more

My personal experience with Desert Resort Management has always been poor "at best". They have a very high turn-over of employees at my personal HOA. My personal interactions with their employees and on site managers is so frustrating. They have demonstrated to me a lack of knowledge and understanding of the HOA property they are responsible for managing. As someone who has owned properties at other HOA's managed by other management companies, I can tell you from my personal experience and apparently the experiences of others that have written reviews on this website that they are the worst management I have ever dealt with. I wish my Board of Directors would contract with a different management company for our HOA. read more

I have dealt with a few property management companies in AZ and California, over the years, for rentals I own and this management company is the absolute worst. For six years they have managed my second home in La Quinta and while I have met some nice staff at their office, I have learned that if you have a question or need help by phone, they are absolutely terrible. Good luck getting through or getting a callback, they will completely ignore your call and frustrate you. The latest example was today when I called to get the new code for the pool gate. My daughter stayed here last weekend and the gate code I gave her did not work, so her weekend of relaxing by the pool was ruined. I do not remember getting notice of a code change so when I got here today, to spend time relaxing by the pool myself, I called the Associa DRM office at 9:21am, got a recording, so I left a message to call me, rather than wait on hold. I waited all day and didn't receive a call, so I called again at 3:20pm and left another message to call me. When I didn't receive a call, I called again at 3:52pm and decided to just stay on hold until someone answered. The recording said "you are caller #4" every 2-3 minutes, until 4:20pm, when I was informed I was "caller #3". I stayed "caller #3" until I hung up at 5:00pm, which is when they close. No, they didn't have phone problems, which is the typical excuse a company uses for poor phone customer service, unless they've had these same phone problems the several other times I've tried to call them over the years. At least in a couple of instances I have had to drive to their office to get the information I need. I can't understand why any community would use this ineffectual and unprofessonal company to handle their business... read more

Disappointed on the quality of care, responsiveness and follow thru. Change of managers, ( heavy turnover) employees leaving. Times are tough right now, and finding qualified managers is obviously very difficult for this large management company. Patience is wearing thin at this point. Be careful if you decide to use this company. Read the contract carefully, make sure you are not stuck with an auto renewal clause and excessive fees if you are not satisfied. read more

Over the years our complex has had numerous property management companies and managers. Desert Resort Management has assigned us an exceptional manager, Terry Wolfgram. Terry is amazing he walks our property on a regular basis, he is accountable and promptly addresses our issues. John, resident at Caballeros Estates, Palm Springs read more

This company is the absolute worst management company I have ever dealt with and all of my working career. I have extensive experience and customer service management, which they were severely lacking and it starts at the top of the company and goes all the way down if you're looking for a management companyrun away from these people read more

Our new property manager from DRM has been a breath of fresh air. Terry Wolfgram has been responsive, proactive and highly visible since joining our community as DRM's representative. In the short amount of time Terry has been assigned to Caballeros Estates, here in Palm Springs, we have already seen a visible difference in our community. Thanks Terry and DRM. Dave and Lisa #226 read more