Business ProfileforSound Choice Real Estate LLC

My wife and I, Natalie ********, signed a lease on 22 December, 2021 to occupy **** ******** *****. This home is managed by Sound Choice Realty. Upon signing, we were tasked with paying a $3,300 security deposit. Upon arrival to the home on 1 February, 2022 after our military PCS, we completed the move-in checklist and took over 200 photos throughout the home to annotate its condition and cleanliness. We were thorough and detailed with each and every item that was not cleaned or sanitary. These items included dirty bath tubs, showers, sinks, floors, drawers, windows, and even walls. We actually have a photo of a dirty footprint on the wall. The home did not appear to be cleaned at all prior to our move in, and Sound Choice seemingly wanted to get us into the home as soon as possible to avoid down-time in payments and occupancy. While vacating the home, my wife and I cleaned the home far beyond the condition that we received, and in accordance with Sound Choice Realty's Tenant Handbook. We wanted to be sure that we were not charged a dime for the cleanliness of the home, even though we received it in such poor and unsanitary condition. On 5 August, 2022, we received our deposit receipt and we were charged a $250 cleaning fee. When we questioned Ben (emails attached) he told us that the photos we possessed were filed under "wear and tear" and no tenant would be held liable for that. He even acknowledged that we returned the home in a better condition than we received it, but since they hired a cleaner, we had to pay for it. I found over 10 discrepancies against this in their Tenant Handbook and he would own the fact that the home was dirty, our photos, or our move-in checklist, which serves as protection against these kinds of charges. He then told us that we should consider ourselves lucky, as the cleaning fee is normally double. Sound choice has been dismissive, dishonest, and unethical during this process and throughout our stay. We did our part. I ask the same.