Kikumoto Real Estate

Gary is basically the face of this so called «Kikumoto Real Estate» and if I could, I would give this business zero stars. I don’t even know where to begin…
First let me start off by saying the property we were looking at, someone died in, and when my fiancé went to go look at it, he never disclosed it. How do I know someone died in the unit? My sister lives in one unit and my cousin in another unit. There are only 4 units, and recently, the tenant had died. Gary failed to disclose that information. I have an updated copy of the «California Tenants, a guide to residential tenants’ and landlords’ rights and responsibilities» handbook, and it clearly states under civil code section 1710.2 «Death in the rental unit: if a prior occupant of the rental unit died in the unit within the last three years, the owner or the owner’s agent must disclose this fact to a prospective tenant when the tenant offers to rent or lease the unit. The owner or agent MUST DISCLOSE THE MANNER OF DEATH… however, the agent cannot intentionally MISREPRESENT the cause of death in response to a direct question.»
OKAY. GARY FAILED TO DO THAT. Not only was he not personable with my fiancé he was vague every time he asked questions and kept giving us the run around about the status on our application.
Second, I just spoke to Gary a few minutes ago wanting to know the update on the application because my fiancé has been the only one in contact with him. My fiancé and I applied as ONE application, so when I call Gary to ask about the application, he was straight up VAGUE, said he couldn’t tell me anything because of the «PRIVACY ACT.» Okay, but I was asking about my part of the rental application, and then he kept giving me the run around again about how he can’t disclose any information because of the «PRIVACY ACT.» He pissed me off by then. BUT it gets better, I then ask him if I can apply by myself because unfortunately my boyfriends last rental place (which the lease he was on, he was helping his parents), Gary then told ME I can’t reapply by myself because I applied WITH my fiancé, and they say once you applied and were denied, you can’t apply again separately. Then I went off on HIM saying in the handbook it DOES NOT SAY THAT, and he responds with «That’s our policy.»
Thirdly, this is what REALLY GETS ME. Gary then tells me, (after 10 minutes of ranting) that the place HAS BEEN RENTED ALREADY. Then I tell him, Oh really Gary? Then why is the FOR SALE SIGN STILL ON THE PROPERTY AND WHY DIDN’T YOU MENTION THAT WHEN I FIRST CALLED.” Gary if you’re reading this, YOU SUCK AS A SO CALLED «PROPERTY MANAGER/​REALTOR.» You’re not personable, rude, unprofessional, and ignorant. And FYI, he didn’t tell the so called «NEW TENANTS» that someone DIED IN THAT PLACE.
EVERYONE STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE. THEY ARE VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND CLASS-​ACT BULLSH***ERS.

If I could give 0 stars I would. Stay away from kikumoto real estate. Gary Kikumoto is a con artist trying to swindle 30 $. Took my money for the application fee but said I can’t process your application without you viewing the property. Then why did you take 30 $? Thank goodness I was able to put a stop payment on it and got my money back. This guy is a jerk, rude, and the most unprofessional person I’ve ever dealt with. I truly hope he goes out of business because he doesn’t deserve to have a business.

Gary Kikumoto demonstrated the worst customer service I have seen in real estate by far. My father and I inquired about renting out one of his properties in the Greenhaven neighborhood. We saw the property, loved it, and proceeded to meet with him at his small office. Upon meeting with him, he was not friendly, did not shake our hands, nor introduced himself. My father asked him various questions about the rental process and after getting some brief, dry info he said he could show us the property the following day. I took my lunch break and met my dad at the property the next day at the time he told us. We arrived early and noticed there were two other cars also waiting outside the property. We figured maybe they were just passing by to view the property but weren’t sure. When he finally pulled up to the home (about 10 minutes late) he pulled into the driveway, immediately got out the car, and walked up to the home to unlock it. He didn’t greet us or any of the people standing outside once we all got out the car and we could tell by his mannerisms he clearly had other things he’d rather be doing.
First off, we thought we had an exclusive showing and found it very unprofessional how he did not let us know other people would be looking at it or would at least stack the appointment times. But that’s not the worst part, once we walked up to the door he told all of us to take our shoes off because the carpet was new. There were 3 other poeple: a couple and a young guy and we all walked in and checked out the kitchen, living rooms, bedrooms, etc. all on our own. He stood outside the whole time. Didn’t walk us through the property or explain anything. My dad literally had to keep walking back and forth from the inside of the house back outside just to ask him questions. His mannerisms were horrible. He didn’t give us any eye contact and his dry tone showed that he was the least bit interested in even showing us the home. My dad and I were very interested in renting the property because we loved the home and the area and were desperately seeking getting into a new place. The day prior we went on his «website» and filled out the rental applications and included everything we needed (pay stubs, driver’s license, tax returns, etc.) and he let us know there was a $ 30 application fee per adult. Fine. We had the money ready to pay and everything however there was no link or option while doing the application to pay. So while at the property we asked him about it. His answer was simply, «Well no one has had a problem with it before.» First of all, what kind of professionalism is that. But because we were determined to get the place we asked if we could just give him the money at the time and asked what he needed (check, money order, cash, etc.) He said whatever would work. When my dad asked how the application process works, Gary replied «It’s first come, first serve» and that the application fee was non-​refundable. Fine. So I asked him if anyone had had a completed application yet, his reply was no. Then I explained to him that I could give him cash if he could allow me to just run to the ATM (which was right around the corner). He told us he didn’t have time to wait. Then my dad said is there any way he could just follow me to the bank real quick and he replied, «I’m going in the opposite direction». No incentive or willingness to work with us at all. So I left and ran to the bank real quick while I had my dad stall him with more questions. I literally returned 5 minutes later and handed him $ 60 cash to cover our application fees. I didn’t get any type of receipt or proof of payment but I guess that was a mistake on my end. He didn’t thank us or anything he just said he would be following up in a few days as the applications take «a few days» to process and got in his car, pulled out of the driveway, and sped off.
To sum it all up, Gary called my dad the following morning (less than 24 hours later). He said our applications were denied based on my dad’s credit history. This may have been the case, however based on his whole attitude and demeanor I feel he didn’t even adequately process our applications or look into our backgrounds. I feel as if we were scammed out of our money and it was even more of a disappointment that we took so much time and were determined to rent such a nice property but had to deal with such a rude, unprofessional person who shows he is less than interested in his job. He was very unfriendly, highly unprofessional, and I would NEVER recommend his company to anybody.

I contacted them to inquire about a rental property that I saw available on their website as well as another website. I mentioned that I saw it on multiple sites to which I was told well you could not have because we only use one site, ours! I scheduled a showing which it was obviously apparent that «Gary» was less than interested in showing the property. His lack of personality and professionalism was ridiculous to say the least. Oh, and prior to the showing he «needed» to verify that I was able to afford the rent. It was the way he went about it from the get go that was not respectful whatsoever. He began to list all the documents that I would need as if he was informing me, but then abruptly said, you do have these documents correct?
Additionally he was 45 minutes late to the showing. Parked his vehicle in the driveway exited and opeend the door and began a phone conversation. He never introduced himself and did absolutely no salesmanship of the property. I asked everything and received one word answers in between his phone conversation even getting the hold on a second finger motion at one point.
Overall I think one star is still too high of a rating, but Unilocal won’t allow less.
It apparently obvious that this company does a majority of it’s business on sales, not rental property. Stick to what you are good at and let the real property management professionals take your spot it’s apparent you could care less.

I called to view a property and the owner had a horrible, dry voice and did not give indication that he was looking forward to meeting me… which defeats the purpose of being in Real Estate. I then explained that I had a few things on my credit before I handed in my application and fee of $ 30. I have no evictions, liens and have never been late on rent. Not to mention never denied a rental application. In fact, I was just approved to buy a home for 250k and wanted to downgrade to a smaller place to save for a year. In any case, within a few hours I was told I was denied due to what was on my credit. Again, no evictions, liens, repo’s and no late rent payments. He didnt even call my current or previous landlords to verify. I felt like he tricked me and took my $ 30. He had no intentions of renting and even though I was honest about what he would see on my credit (an old cell phone bill by the way) he still took my money and denied me within two hours. He was unfriendly and unprofessional. I wouldn’t never reccommend this property management company.

I lived in an older building at the edge of Midtown that Gary Kikumoto managed. He was pleasant to deal with and promptly returned phone calls. Things were fixed in a timely manner and the property was well-​maintained. As I have recently begun the hunt for a new apartment, I’m hoping that he’ll have vacancies in any properties around Midtown.