All Forum Posts by: Brandon Lowery

Sad about his accident.    Regardless of their business practices, I would not wish harm on anyone.

Sorry to hear you're in a bind with these guys.   i'm really surprised they're still in business.

curious, how did you find this thread?  i'm wondering if google searches for these guys would somehow be linked to our stories.

wow.  Did anyone find out if this was him?

Agreed.  Sounds like he comes through in the end, but getting to the end is painful.  I haven’t read anything to indicate he’s taken anyone’s money (I would be curious to hear from someone who tapped into his storage unit gig).  

Could just be as simple as a poorly run business, bad customer service, bad repeatable process and procedures, culture, etc.  

Thinking back when I was in the thick of my 1031 process and how frustrated I was with the lack of response, how or why we got to where we were, I certainly didn’t care.  

their business model is very sketchy. They advertise having offices all over the country when in reality they are $500 a month  desk sitting in a key man office. 

 They use subcontractors who work out of their house. The phone calls that come in to their offices been forward out to the cell phone‘s of those whom work at home. 

 As you stated, and the same thing happened to me, they bombard you with opportunities for storage unit investments. 

 So what happens, in my opinion, from a business model perspective is they use the 1031 as AN investment strategy to capitalize the storage facility business. 

 Is it illegal, no. Is it sketchy, absolutely. 

 If you have a moment, read through my ordeal. I started this thread. An absolute travesty.   I even had a friend of mine who lives in Jacksonville Florida go by their “office” to figure out what was going on. 

 Hey guys I did want to clear this thread up. I did indeed get my money after a lot of work on my end. 

 Now that I think about it, after I made the transfer I got to email after email after email that was an auto distribution email.     This email, or all of them, was referring to investing in storage unit facilities with the 1031 money.    My suspicion is he capitalizes the storage facilities with 1031 money. 

 Anyway, I just wanted to mention that I did get the money. However I will not be using his firm and will do more due diligence in the future on my next flip 

you're right John P.  I will delete.  Not sure if I can from my mobile.  If not I'll do from my computer tomorrow 

Thanks for the note guys.  Yes, the wire was handled the next day by 10am.  

Hi Robert and thank you for your response.  

To be clear, it is not my intent to hash this out via an online forum, however, this was my last attempt to contact you and/ or your company prior to engaging legal action.  Thank you for responding.  

I don't do 1031 exchanges, it's not my line of work, thus the reason I hired and paid your company to perform the process.  

I called, at minimum, 8 times today to your main office line.  I tried every single digit option available to reach someone, no answers.  My friend in Jacksonville (who subsequently came to your Regus office) called from a 904 number.  The call was answered.  To me this indicates you/ your company was dodging my calls. Additionally, my attorney called this afternoon, left a message that he was interested in performing a 1031 for a shopping center transaction.  Within 1 minute (I was still on the phone with him) his call was returned. Once we informed, (whom I guess was a sales agent) the gentleman what our situation was and that we have been trying to contact you/ your company all day, he said he would have to call us back.  Check your phone logs, it was  5:46 EST.  yet again,  no reply 

After googling your "office addresses" each one is a Regus keyman office.  The reality is, on many occasions, company can pay Regus a small fee so they can receive mail at the Regus office thus creating legitimacy of a business practice.  This, combined with my friend going by your Jacksonville office, lack of return phone calls, avoiding text messages, and no email responses set off red flags that something suspicious was happening.  Again, my naievity could have been in play, but this isn't what I do everyday and have trusted someone I don't know with $113,000.  

An additional google search by attorney uncovered the February 28th judgement of case number SC12-3727 where Hetsler Mediation and Valuation was prosecuted by the FL State Bar for unlawfully practicing law in the state of FL.  Out of respect, I will not post the link here.  

Subsequently, around 7:52pm est I received a call from someone in your office stating that he would send me an email with proof that the wire went through and was accepted by my attorneys office.  It's currently 10:26pm and I have not received an email.  I verified its not in my junk folder either. 

The only email I received from you was at 12:47 this afternoon saying you personally called the bank and the funds would arrive within the hour.  I emailed a response at 2:14 noting that the funds had not arrived.  Again, no response from you or your team.  (As noted above you have a smart phone and are connected electronically to your affairs).  

I get it, mistakes happen.  I'm sure I made plenty today myself; however, I didn't make a mistake with $113,000 of someone else's money then refuse to contact them when there is concern...   and it was not until I took to a fourm to discuss concerns and ask for council from others that I received a response from you.  

Again, I just want the money wired into the account and your company to perform the work in which it paid you to do.  (Speaking of payment, my credit card was charged twice and it took me reaching out on multiple occasions to get a refund for the "accidental" charge).  

I would anticipate this matter to be rectified by 10am tomorrow.  At that time I will gladly post on this thread how you kindly cleaned up this mess.  

Hi everyone...  I'm new to this forum, thanks for having me.

I'm in a little bind and need some help related to a 1031 exchange where a Qualified Intermediary is holding $113,344.93 of my money.   Looking for some advice.

It's this group- http://www.qualifiedintermediary.net/  (moderator, i hope it's ok to list the company, i would like to verify it's not a scam).

I closed on a new property today at 3pm (EST).   i told this Hetsler group last wednesday, 8/2/17 that today was the closing.   I reminded them on Friday, 8/4/17 and was told the funds would be wired into the account that night.   Didn't happen.   

I was told today by 10am the funds would be in the account.   Again, didn't happen.   Was told 2pm, didn't happen.    

They're dogging my calls and will not return emails/ or any correspondence related to this transaction.  I had a friend go by their "office" and it is a Regus key man office space.   

What are my options related to access to the funds to make sure they have not scammed me?   The dude's name is Robert Hetsler.   Apparently "Dr." but I'm not buying that is legit.  

Thanks everyone.