Friendly and competent. Open and honest. Would recommend without hesitation. Hope they keep up the good work. read more

My husband, Bob, and I recently received a letter from Randy Zakrajsek at Re/Max Bayshore in Manistee Michigan requesting if we decide to sell to list with him.It is truly laughable!He introduces himself as someone born and raised in Manistee. Then he goes on to brag he's a full time agent.   We purchased a home in Harbor Village last March using Heather Barker,with Lighthouse Realty, as our agent.Whether she works part time or full time I have no idea,but I do know that she responded immediately to all my inquiries not just until we had signed the purchase agreement but  throughout the messy details  that followed when we took possession.Our experience with Randy Zakrajsek was beyond horrible!   Let me start from the beginning.Bob and I saw a listing we were interested in so we called Lighthouse Realty and were connected with Heather Barker.And while that house didn't work out, when we saw another listed by Re/Max we contacted her again. After several conversations with Heather (who was out-of-state and on vacation at the time) we made an offer. We had inquired if the sellers might leave furniture and she said she would contact their real estate agent, Randy Zakrajsek. Heather got back to me and said Randy had indicated yes.We specifically added that we would like to have main floor furniture, bedroom furniture and bunk beds included. The deadline for seller to accept agreement was 5 pm on Feb 7. At 6:52 (nearly two hours past the deadline) Heather texted me that sellers had accepted our offer. I realize Randy has only lived in Manistee so he might not understand that in many places missing the deadline could result in negating the purchase.  We inquired of Heather exactly what items would be left.Heather texted me pictures of eight items in the condo adding, "These are the only pieces seller wants to take with her." We expected ALL items except for those 8 things shown in pictures to be left in house. That is also what our real estate agent believed would be the case!  The day before we were to move in Heather called me saying that she had done a walk through and was shocked by all the items that were gone.She called Randy, left a message about the missing items and asked he get back to her.The following Sunday she wrote to me and said she had not heard back but had sent another message and also called. Still no response.The following Sunday, March 27, Heather left a voicemail with the seller asking them to call her. Heather asked the sellers why they took all the items when they had specifically sent pictures of the items they wanted. They said Randy never followed up on that conversation.Heather said the sellers went on to say when they were packing up, they asked Randy what they could take and he told them anything they wanted!.  Finally on Tuesday, March 29, Heather said she texted sellers and asked if they had heard from their agent.They said yes.Heather texted Randy and his response was he was working on logistics to get the stuff from Illinois.  On Wednesday, March 30, Bob went into the Remax office to learn details of the logistics.He was told that Randy was not in and wouldn't be in the rest of the day.They wouldn't provide any contact info. On Friday, April 1, I emailed Randy asking about progress.Again no response.The following Tuesday, Heather sent me a screenshot of the text she received from the sellers saying, "No word from Randy.We are ready once he is.Glad they like the place."  Heather followed up with a screenshot of a text from Randy saying, "I'll be picking up the items this coming weekend and depositing them in Manistee the 9th or 10th."  But unfortunately the dates came and went and there was no communication. We had to leave Manistee the following week and still had no idea when things were going to be delivered. Heather later texted Randy who said he would meet her at the condo on the afternoon of  Wednesday, April 20.   Heather sent the photo from the garage on April 20 showing most of the items still not returned. Bob tried to call Randy that same afternoon.The call went to voicemail.He requested a call back.No response.He called again on Thursday. Left a message.No response.He called on Friday.Again, no response.   We knew Remax to be a reputable company.  We hired them to sell our home decades ago in East Grand Rapids. We had no reason to believe that Randy wasn't a man of his word.  In his letter Randy says, "LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT MEETING YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS AND EXCEEDING YOUR EXPECTATIONS.  I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!"  Really?  My experience says otherwise!  Our condo is lovely!We really enjoy Manistee.This whole ordeal could have been avoided if as Randy Zakrajsek bragged in his recent letter, he really did focus 100% of his efforts on selling real estate.In this case I think 50% would have been sufficient to avoid this whole kerfuffle! If you're thinking about purchasing a place in Manistee my advice is to avoid Randy Zakrajsek! read more