09/30/2026
I have always been transparent and honest with my clients, and today I want to share my story.
I renewed my lease in March of 2025. Shortly after, in August, the owner of the plaza decided to hire a management company to run his many plazas. The tenants, immediate saw changes that raised some concerns: the removal of the security guard while still being charged for it, the ongoing problem with the grass not being cut 2x a month (which I call this The Grass Chronicles as I’ve been sharing those issues on my stories) and just the overall maintenance and parking issues of the plaza, and the increase of $412 for CAM (Common Area Management). I immediately called the management company and spoke to our rep for the plaza in regard to these things that were not being handled. She proceeded to threaten me, and most of the tenants that raised a concern, by telling us that she was going to look at our contract and are to use as common areas. This has been the in going response.
In January 2026, we saw a CAM increase from $412 to $617 plus an additional charge of$1000. I immediately called the rep and she proceeded to tell me that the $412 that had been charged from August-December was not enough to cover the expenses of the plaza and therefore the $1K was back pay for those months. 😳 This August, between my rent, insurance and CAM, my increase was of $800 more a month.
For a few months now, I’ve been trying to sell my business. I’ve reached out to a realtor, place ads on Facebook Marketplace, on Craigslist, to no avail. Recently I thought of just sending it all to sh*ts, and forfeiting on my contract. Unfortunately, that is not an option I can take.
I’m tired of working by myself, to just make enough money to pay rent. I’m barely making enough to pay myself. ’m just surviving. There has been plenty of months that I’ve had to use my personal savings to cover the rent and other expenses to simply just be. Some months are better than others and are not as slow. I am tired, I want to quit. I am overwhelmed.
Continued in comments…
