Draper and Kramer

Avoid these incompetent morons at all cost! They are constantly hiring new people because nobody wants to work with them. Any building managed by them turns into a nightmare.

The management is terrible. They like to lie about discussions about money, and will not work with you at all. The day after I applied for an apartment with them, someone started using my card information all around Chicago, this was while I was in San Francisco. When I talked to them, they got hostile and would not even work with me about the issue. I would steer clear of any DK Living building as their management is terrible.

When looking for a place to live in Chicago, stay clear of any building run by DK living. They can take what could be an amazing building and drive it into the ground.
Incessant noises, broken appliances, increase in rent with a decrease in maintenance and upkeep, bad smells…
The building I live in seemed nice when I first moved in.
Now i have come to notice all its MANY FLAWS.
— There is a constant humming noise that sounds like someone is starting a lawn mower outside my window. They said that is there heating. It goes on and off every 5 seconds (literally)
— The trash is all on the ground floor and smells and has bugs and flies
— The switched us to a electric company that does not have E-​pay. Yeah… it is 2015 and we have to mail a check every month.
— They do everything for as cheap as possible. If something stops working, they will tape it and glue it until you have complained 10 times– and then they will give you a used version of whatever you are asking for.
There buildings look nice at first glance but TRUST ME, DO NOT LIVE in a DK Living building.

HORRIBLE. Huge fees for anything they can imagine, rude, unhepful and they are just after your money. I have yet to have a positive interaction with these people

this is hysterical!!! why am i not surprised that this company has only 1 star reviews!!!
they are absolute crooks!

NOT TRUSTWORTHY. I sign 3 – 5 leases every year and have never dealt with a less trustworthy real estate company than Draper and Kramer. If you make the mistake of working with them, I urge you to proceed with extreme caution!!!
Here’s the longer story. My company was looking for industrial space in the Des Plaines/​Elk Grove Village area. Using a very good broker, we scoured the market to review our alternatives, touring in excess of 20 buildings over an approximately six month period. Among the alternatives we identified was a +/-45,000 sq. ft. unit in the Regent O’Hare Industrial Park (an approximate 1,000,000 sq. ft. industrial park owned by Draper and Kramer in Elk Grove Village). Our requirements entailed quite an extensive build out, and we worked closely on the details for months with D&K’s representative, Jim Elsman. After narrowing our options considerably, we settled upon two properties for final negotiations. We negotiated final term sheets with the landlords of both properties and presented the alternatives to our Board of Directors. As a group, we chose to go forward with the Draper and Kramer alternative. Big mistake!
Shortly after I informed Jim Elsman of our decision to move forward with Draper and Kramer, he presented us with an initial form of lease and architectural drawings to memorialize the buildout. We quickly gave comments that were mostly immaterial. Shortly thereafter, Jim went radio silent on us, presenting several less than compelling reasons for delays in finalizing the lease. Finally after our broker showed up in Jim’s office without an appointment for a status update, Jim called and left me a voicemail message in which he said that Draper and Kramer was pulling our deal because the terms (to which Draper and Kramer had agreed less than 60 days prior to this message) were no longer «market.»
Absolutely incredulous, I called Jim. He explained that some higher up committee of Draper and Kramer had reviewed the terms of our transaction and concluded it was not in their best interests to move forward. I asked on what basis they would move forward and Jim said things like increasing the rent per square foot from $ 3.65 to $ 4.50 and decreasing the rent abatement period (negotiated in exchange for our agreement to a ten-​year lease and paying the lion’s share of the buildout costs) from 24 months to 10 months.
I waited a few days to see if my blood would stop boiling. It didn’t. I reviewed the situation with our broker and Draper and Kramer’s broker (who was also totally blind sided). Both said they had never seen a landlord do something like this before. I decided to appeal to a higher authority and attempted to reach Forrest Bailey, Draper and Kramer’s President, thinking surely if the President of this 100+ year old, family-​owned business knew what had happened he would fix it. Mr. Bailey scheduled a call with me and Jim Elsman. I was encouraged.
When I got on the call, however, I was greeted by Ed Polich and Todd Bancroft, both Senior Vice Presidents of Draper and Kramer. They apologized that Mr. Bailey was not able to make the call and went on to reiterate the same line of reasoning earlier shared with me by Jim Elsman. The deal was no longer «accretive» to their portfolio. Was the deal accretive when they issued a term sheet less 60 days prior? Their term sheet review process needs work — sorry. What did they suggest I do to resurrect alternatives that I had foregone in relying on their term sheet? You seem like a good tenant — good luck. Did they at least intend to compensate me for my out-​of-​pocket costs including legal fees to review the lease? No.
What a group! I’m not sure how a company stays in business for 100 years conducting themselves like this. My guess is the original Mr. Draper and Mr. Kramer had a hell of a lot more integrity than the current cast of characters.

I’m fed up here at Lake Meadows. No real response from management about the frequent marijuana smell and now I’m often dealing with the smell of trash in the hallway…

I contacted DK Condo to get a quote to keep my current management company honest and little did I know they called my current property manager the minute I got off the phone with them and told them that I was shopping their services. Given their horrible reviews and lack of confidentiality, I wouldn’t bother getting a quote from DK Condo.

This is by far the worst management company I have ever interacted with. They are not helpful and charge outrageous move in, move out, transfer, elevator, and admin fees. They have a fee for everything. The management specifically at 111 W Maple Street is by far the worst I have seen. Extremely rude. The property manager should be fired for the way she treats tenants.
Don’t rent D&K apartments!

Renters BEWARE of properties owned by this management! This is a review regarding The Wheaton Center that was managed by Draper and Kramer. It is unfortunate that we have to leave such negative feedback to what at once long ago (2000) was a honest and good place to live. Times have changed and current managemt Draper & Kramer have let this place crumble– literally. We were forced to move due to rennovations. 8 years later we were contacted by the collections agency stating we owe thousands!!! we were charged hundreds of dollars in fees we were not aware of. During our stay — us and the many residents you’ll see reviewing here as well, endured endless daily construction, leaks, power outages, closed off balcony. Draper and Kramer do not prioritize your safety, your satisfaction, and your basic rights as a tenant. They have refused to give us documentation/​copies of our lease/​payment records with these «phantom charges». Those who live here now, KEEP ALL documentation and letters!!! If you are offered financial compensation or early termination of lease with no charge, get it in writing! You will need it for 10 yrs! After 2007 The Wheaton Center has fallen into the hands of corrupt people.

Terrible management company. Stay away. They must get a kick back from service providers because they seem to always over pay for sub standard work. A large management company should be getting good deals for good work not the opposite. They do not care about the home owners best interests at all. Pick another reputable company to manage your association.

While cleaning out some old files in my office I was thrilled to find the card of Mr. G.L. of Draper and Kramer. Mr. G.L. is a Senior Project Manager.
Draper and Kramer is quite possibly the least honest and technically qualified company in the business. These people are terrible from both a technical and ethical standpoint. It stands to reason that their leadership is horribly unqualified and ineffective. It would be impossible for an effective management team to not understand the depth of their teams ineffectiveness.
Their work is shoddy, they cut corners, they are disrespectful to property owners while on the property and they are dishonest about their work.
Whatever you do please do not hire them them to manage or work on your property. If you are thinking about moving into a building that is managed by Draper and Kramer I strongly suggest that you reconsider. I can assure you that you will become frustrated and regret that you did.
My bad experience with them goes back almost ten years and I was still compelled to write this comment after all this time. That is how bad our experience was with them.
Simply stated… In our opinion they are the worst in the business at what they do, and a fancy address in Chicago can’t change their total negligence and disregard for quality and ethics.
Run if you see the names Draper and Kramer on anything.

They have repeatedly damaged my property and tried to cover it up and when they are caught refuse to pay, even erased tapes with evidence. DO NOT LIVE IN ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES YOU WILL REGRET IT.
its so bad I am taking a big financial loss just to get out. When they started walking into my condo (I am an owner, not renter) with NO PERMISSION, I think you would agree its time to go.
I have never lived in such a poorly run, dont care about its tennants building, EVER.
DO NOT LIVE UNDER DRAPER AND KRAMER YOU WILL REGRET IT
*if I could go zero stars i would

Beware! Beware! Beware!!!
Draper and Kramer practice fraud, manipulations with assessments, racket and bogus collecitons against homeowners.
They charge HUGE fees for services not provided. For example, Draper and Kramer whose management fees are around $ 90K per year, charged Carl Sandburg Village homeowners $ 200K per year for «landscaping» which was not visibly changed for years. They also charged $ 75K per year for «snow removal» services. Last two winters, 2012 and 2013 had very little snow, still Carl Sandburg homeowners were looted with $ 150K for «snow removal» .
I currently sue D&K for fraud and manipulations with assessments. Draper and Kramer, along with other management Company, Chicagoland, and dishonest lawyers from Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, act as accomplices to exploit US Court system for extrotion racket to collect unlawful debt and expropriate units, place owners under the mountain of bogus debt and keep possession as long as possible. Units are gainfully rented and profits are camouflaged under bogus fees and charges. I have first-​hand experience with their extortion practices.
Drape and Kramer, Chicagoland and Kovitz lawyers sue elderly homeowners to death around the City of Chicago to get possession of their units, and after unti sold, claim non-​existing debt from the new buyer. For example, Carl Sandbrg HOA#1 sued to death Roberta Barnes, claimed bogus debt $ 12,486.71 while her unit 1355 N. Sandburg Ter. #1707 was rented for $ 1,100. Mrs. Barnes was sued 10 (ten) times, whice after she died. Mrs. Barnes had surplus $ 4,023.45 as of 01/​01/​2010. Her assessment was $ 305.00.
Former Chicagoland manager, Mrs. Lori Blake (now Draper and Kramer) and Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit put on death bed 81 y. o Willie Riddle Mae, in Lake Terrace managed by D&K. This elderly person was sued 7 (seven) times, once after his death, with 5 orders of possession. His unit was rented for $ 650 per month.
So, please beware of Draper and Kramer and its practices! Stay away from their «management services».

This review is specifically for the building located at 899 S. Plymouth Crt.
I don’t know exactly what has happened to the woman who sits at the front desk in the office– but she couldn’t be more of an ASSHOLE if she tried. I want to let whoever owns unit # 2104 that I specifically went to her –face to face– so that she would know a leak in the unit above #2104 had caused/​was causing at that moment major damage to the bathroom tile, walls and texture. She couldn’t have cared less. She was rude, mean and sent me away because I asked her to call maintenance and she said that they couldn’t do anything until Monday. I asked her to call an emergency plumber… she couldn’t do that. I was staying in the unit as a paid guest of the lessee while he was away.
I don’t know what exactly was transpiring between Mr Strle and his condo association– wait yes I do. HE WASN’T PAYING HIS RENT. That does not however make her somehow immune to call for help. I was a homeowner, I would have wanted someone to be vigilant over my property… this woman, WHY she has a job I DON’T know. Is this how you people ‘do’ things in Chicago!!!
I was waiting for her assistance and she told the man in front of me that he could only ask 3 questions– … WTF? If you all are hiring for Ass Hats I’d love to apply… my ‘dream job’ of treating tenants and homeowners/​the public like shit. You know who was always nice ALWAYS — the maintenance crew. ALWAYS w/​a smile and a ‘how are you’? I even spilled a bottle of Murphy’s Orange Oil in the mail area and the guy was super nice-​. He told me not to worry-​. He got right on it. I mean just a real good guy– both of the guys I saw were always busting their rears. NOT that woman. She was too busy being EVIL.
THE upside of this building:
Clean, great area, walk to everything, great laundry (they take packages for you), pool, secure parking!

I live on the top floor of a Draper Kramer managed condo development. I own the unit.
The roof is currently leaking into my unit, and there is no emergency maintenance resource at all. The front desk told me I cannot have access to the roof to put plastic down myself.
My hands are completely tied, and the on-​staff maintenance person Carlos shrugged and said «can’t do anything» and walked out.
Pathetic.

I sold my condo managed by this company. After the sale and having been notified by myself, my attorney and my real estate agent, the condo association took (I had been on autopay, but had cancelled it thru the condo office) they took the monthly assessment from me. This assessment was AFTER the sale and I was told by my attorney and real estate agent that I need not worry because DK would promptly refund my payment that they took in error. Two months have passed and not only have I not been paid but Scott in the office doesn’t answer my messages or — please that he would — just return my money. If someone would communicate with me perhaps that would help clarify the situation of why they do not refund my money. It is not theirs and I would like to have it back.

I live with DKLiving at 1360 N Lake Shore Drive. I have had nothing but unpleasant experiences with the management.
The only positive review on here is that they managed too many people to notice an individual, and that is my problem with them as a tenant. They treat you like a number, and there is no one that wants to be kind to you as a person. Everything is a problem to them because they do not have staff that has the ability to make a decision based on logic instead of some set of rules that needs to be applied to everyone. I can not tell if the management just does not care about the people they work for, or if the structure is just set up to be inflexible.
I don’t think this should be acceptable, even in a big city like Chicago. I was happy with the door staff and the maintenance staff, but I would not live with this management again.
#DKLiving, DK Living D&K Draper and Kramer

I live in a condo association managed by Draper and Kramer. When I first moved to the building, it was managed by a different association, and when D&K took over, I saw the impact of their bad service.
The D&K staff assigned to my building are slow, unorganized and unhelpful. Answers to many questions are «I don’t know, it was like this when I got here» or «It’s against condo policy».
Well, I guess letting someone into my unit without my authorization is totally ok. I was gone on a business trip and came home to a note on my desk from a cable company saying that the couldn’t fix my problem. This cable company also tried to turn on my computer! Hello invasion of privacy! Who the heck let them in (I know the answer) but am really irked that this would even happen.
I’ve also seen the property manager taking suntanning breaks on our rooftop deck and doing her laundry in our laundry room.
I love the building I live in, but D&K makes me want to move ASAP.
If you are looking for a management company for your condo, I have a group of monkeys or 5 year olds (or even 5 year old monkeys) who could manage your property better (and cheaper) than these people.

My condo building is managed by D&K.
They are expensive, and apply funny fees that I still do not understand:
If moving out from my condo and rent it out, it will cost me a fee of $ 300 + $ 85 for a mandatory security guard.
The $ 300 are to cover potential damage i could do to the building while moving. Ok.
The funny part is that on top of this $ 300 flat non-​refundable fee, I need to leave them an extra check — a deposit — in case I break something in the building while moving! Go figure!