The Gold Coast

[jackie f taylor]

I want America to be great again, it's not going to happen with $600. a month rent. The neighborhood deserves more, I deserve more, the community deserves more, we all deserve more. Your not going to tear me down telling me how wrong I am. BOTTOM LINE: low rents = low class. More often than not, prove me wrong...

[jackie f taylor]

Imagine, 2 bedrooms, in western Lakewood, a tenant moved out, I replaced the carpet, painted, new stove, fridge, dishwasher, washer/dryer, stainless steal, $600.00 a month. how many applicants will apply, how many are worthy? what am I going to get? What applicants have you gotten? Are you happy? Did it work out for you? If it did, good for you.

The average rent in Lakewood is $650.00, it should be $850.00, and you should make sure it is worth it. invest folks, every dollar spent brings back 2 or 3 dollars in return. Please tell me what is so wrong with what I have done? I didn't evict an elderly couple, or the mother with 4 kids, with no father, it was vacant, I couldn't get a tenant. So I went high, replaced everything, ask $850.00, I got it, now it's rented, I'm happy, everyone is happy.

[Dan Alaimo]

I think that if I had properties to rent, I'd be talking like Jackie.
On the other hand, if I were looking for an apartment to rent (or one of my adult kids were), I'd agree with his critics.

[Bridget Conant]

I think we are misunderstanding Jackie. His premise is, provide a clean, updated rental unit and you will attract enough interest that you can choose a good tenant and command a good rental income. He is contrasting HIS method versus what many landlords do - which is "as little as possible."

I've seen plenty of Lakewood properties that are pretty nasty. The landlord wants the rent but is unwilling to spend any money to keep the unit updated and nice. Jackie is saying, if you spend the money and keep the unit nice, you are better off in the long run and can get a quality tenant. IMO, quality tenant isn't just one who pays more, it is a tenant who cares enough to keep the unit nice, pay on time, and follow all rules. I do not see where that is anything ANY landlord wouldn't want.

So I'm cutting him some slack. I think he is just not expressing himself well.

[jackie f taylor]

Thank you Bridget, what you say is true, before I redid my place, the rent was $500. and I had awful tenants, after court and eviction I completely renovated my place, plumbing, electric, windows, everything, I advertised the apartment for a $1000. a month, I got 3, applicants, all of which begged and hounded me to rent to them, but I felt at home, all the work I did, I was home, I kept it for myself. I would not have had a problem with any of the applicants.