Bruce Cohen - Rentals

I have a few rental houses in Old Town Erie. They are my retirement fund, I've owned them since the ninties, I maintain them with a long-term view, and they are not for sale.

My strategy is to provide high quality houses, with reliable lease renewals, and limited rent increases, so that I can attract & retain high quality stable tenants, and I live in the neighborhood.

I am a Realtor, with local knowledge since 1972, and professional real estate experience since 1995. I can help you look for your own place while you rent, and facilitate a smooth transition.

303-440-4838 cell

bruce(at)palecat(dot)com

My References- I will ask you for references. Here are some of mine, written by former renters after deposits were returned and all business matters were concluded.

Click here for a rental application (pdf)

Click here to review the lease and other agreements that I use.

I have no current vacancy

MY GENERAL POLICIES:

PETS- Pets are a part of life (I would never give up my cats). As a landlord, I have the obvious concerns. As a person with a life, you might have pets. We can talk about this. I've generally done just fine renting my houses to people with pets.

LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONS- I think that this works best from a friendly distance. Before I owned property, I rented for twenty-four years. Good landlords and bad ones, what I wanted from them was to be left alone. I have a wonderful life of my own, and I don't need to intrude on yours. I do live nearby and if I see you on the street I'll be friendly and say hello, but won't invite you for dinner.

RENT INCREASES- Rent increases, if any, will not exceed 3% per year (may be rounded up to the next five dollars). This means that on a rent of $2,000, any increase will not exceed $60. This is written into the lease. I have followed this policy since the mid nineties, and if I ever feel the need to change it, I will give you a year's notice.

STABILITY- Finding new renters is a hassle. If you're happy and settle in for a long time, that benefits me. It's a selfish plot to benefit myself by making you happy. I won't cook you dinner, but if your water heater goes out I'll replace it promptly. I've owned my property since the ninties, and I have no interest in selling it. It wouldn't make any sense for any of my family members to live in any of my properties. If you want to renew your lease, there's no reason for me to refuse.

PORTABLE TENANT SCREENING REPORT- I will accept this

SECURITY DEPOSITS- I keep these in a trust account, legally separate from my own funds. This protects you, in case anything bad ever happens to me.

LEASE- I use the Boulder Model Lease, written by the City of Boulder, and designed to be fair to both parties. It, and other agreements that I use, can be reviewed here.

YOUR PRIVACY- I will respect your privacy, and I am not judgmental about your personal affairs, sexual orientation, or lifestyle. If there is a reason why I need to enter your home, I will discuss it with you in advance. There could be an exception for an emergency, but to date I have never had such an emergency.

UTILITIES- Tenants pay all utilities, including gas & electric, water & sewer, cable, phone, trash.

YARD CARE- I will want you to rake leaves in the fall, shovel snow as needed (including sidewalks - please be a good neighbor), and mow the grass enough that the weeds don't get knee-high and take over. Beyond that, what you do or don't do in the yard is your business. You can water or not, garden or not, as you choose. I will supply a mower, gas can, snow shovel, and leaf rake.

LOCKS & KEYS- After each departure I re-key the locks, so you don't have to wonder who else has keys.

CARPETS- I or the departing renter will have them professionally cleaned before you move in, and I'll want you to have them professionally cleaned when you move out.

ABOUT OLD TOWN ERIE:

Old Town Erie is a small town, about seven blocks long and surrounded by open space. It is about fifteen miles east of Boulder. I have lived here since 1994, and in my opinion, it is a safe, friendly, and quiet neighborhood, where children can play ball in the street and cars drive slowly. I've seen tremendous growth in the area, but Old Town itself has changed very little. The growth has happened in a checkerboard fashion, and there is still a lot of open space around Old Town.