Kent Palmer

You have some very tough questions. Most of us would not go quite this far out on the limb, but I'm an idiot so I'll give it a shot. If you take the advice of a self proclaimed idiot without consulting an attorney, I'll waive you membership dues and you can join the club for free.

1. 30 days is 30 days. Give your notice.
2. "Before the expiration of any rental period." That could mean any Month or any lease term. I would need to read it in context. But in either case you are month to month, your lease term is the month.
3. A 50% discount on club dues for paying a bill the landlord agreed to pay. If the water department made a billing error, they would still be owed the money for any water used. If you paid them too much, the water dept. would owe you a refund. If you paid for the water you used and you failed to abide by the terms of the agreement, you may have legal action against the landlord, but you would be fighting an uphill and meaningless battle.

Back to the lease; it sounds like you are well within the terms of your lease to give 30 days and vacate. Try pointing a few things out to your landlord.

1. If you leave on the first, the property will most likely sit vacant the whole month, waiting for the typical peak in rental activity around the first of the month.

2. He is missing out on valuable marketing time. He could be looking for his next tenant and doing any minor repairs that he can get done while you are still in the property.

3. It will be much easier to find the next tenant if the two of you are working together. You will keep the place presentable and accessible for showings. Try setting the latest and earliest you would be willing to vacate the property for a showing. And keep it clean. You are asking this guy to take a monthly pay cut equal to the amount of your rent for what could be as long as 3 months. You gotta try to make this sound less painful. Up sell baby, up sell. It’s that or fight.

Good luck! If you would like the name of very reasonable and reliable attorney, I’ve got the guy. - Wed Mar 12 2008, 21:08

You can do a search at the courthouse, make friends with a top producing REO broker or agent or you could call me. I have lived in Colorado for 37 years many of them in Colorado's most desirable neighborhoods. Not only do I know which million dollar homes have been foreclosed, I know who used to own them and who the builder is and what year which designer won awards for which home. I know Colorado Luxury, I am a fierce negotiator and I know a deal when I see one. If you are serious, I look forward to hearing from you. - Fri Mar 7 2008, 10:28

What is your draw to Broomfield? Help me get some ideas about what your family is looking for in a location, besides safe and family friendly. Access to trails, Rec centers or colleges? Do you have family in Broomfield? Do you have any idea about where you will work? - Thu Mar 6 2008, 09:05

You can offer any price you like. But I would be willing to bet that the seller will reject your offer and not even bother with a counteoffer. - Thu Mar 6 2008, 05:33

You should stay with single family detached properties, they appreciate faster and the demand will always be greater. I see the most upside, over the next 5 years, in the DSE area of the local MLS system, great schools, public and private, and really strong, high end neighborhoods to support growth. There are also some great things happening just North West of Downtown, two years might not be enough time for these areas, but $250K would be a great price. Basements are almost a standard feature in Colorado homes, I would avoid homes without one. Attached garages are more desirable. Split level homes are harder to sell. The demand for Ranch style floor plans is only going to increase. If you buy in the city of Denver, your lot size should be over 6250 square feet. If your lot is less than 6250, a new house can not be built on the lot and this limits resale. Snow always melts faster on the South side of the house. Pools are not typically seen as assets. We have soil issues, so I like homes that have at least 5 years of occupied history. Be sure you have 2 years and borrow accordingly. Hire somebody that knows what they are doing. - Mon Feb 25 2008, 22:11