Question 1

How do I pay rent?

Accepted Answer

Most tenants pay via electronic check through the tenant portal, which is the fastest and easiest option. We also accept personal checks, money orders, PayNearMe cash payments, in-person delivery, and our office drop box. Rent is due on the 1st of the month with a grace period through the 5th.

Question 2

What is the lease break policy?

Accepted Answer

To start the lease-break process, email us through your tenant portal via the “Contact Us” link. The lease-break fee is 50% of one month's rent (see your lease for specifics).

Once the fee is paid, we begin marketing the property. You remain legally responsible for rent, utilities, and maintaining the property's condition until the property is re-rented or your current lease expires, whichever comes first. If we re-rent the property during a month you've already paid for, you'll be credited for the overlap days from your security deposit.

The deposit is handled the same way as an end-of-lease return: we inspect, deduct any damage beyond normal wear and tear, and return the balance within 60 days.

Question 3

Can I change roommates mid-lease?

Accepted Answer

Roommate changes aren't permitted during the lease term. At the end of your term we can work through the process as part of a new lease.

Question 4

How does lease renewal work for tenants?

Accepted Answer

About 45–60 days before the end of your lease, we email you a renewal proposal specifying the new start and end dates and the monthly rent. Email us back through the tenant portal's “Contact Us” link to accept or decline.

If you accept: we send a new lease for all occupants to sign and activate it on our end once signed.

If you decline: submit written notice through the tenant portal at least 30 days before the end of your current lease. If we don't receive timely notice, rent for the following month will be owed and you'll default to a holdover tenancy.

Question 5

What are the move-out procedures?

Accepted Answer

Notify us via email at least 30 days before the end of your lease. Notice must be effective for the end of the month — mid-month move-outs aren't permitted.

The property must be returned in move-in condition, including professionally cleaned carpets, a weed-free and mowed yard, and all trash removed. Anything that needs repair, cleaning, or replacement after move-out may be deducted from your damage deposit. A Bergan & Co agent will perform a move-out inspection once the property is vacant. The full move-out guide lives in your Buildium tenant portal.

Question 6

When do I get my damage deposit back?

Accepted Answer

Colorado law gives us up to 60 days to return your deposit after move-out. We perform a thorough move-out inspection, deduct for any damage or cleaning beyond normal wear and tear, and return the balance. Honestly, we don't want to keep your deposit — leave the unit in excellent condition and we'll return the full amount promptly.

Question 7

How do I reach you after hours for an emergency?

Accepted Answer

Call our main office line at 303-694-5116. The automated menu routes emergency maintenance calls to someone on-call who will reach out as soon as possible.

What counts as an emergency: active leaks beyond a slow drip, no heat in winter, safety-critical failures.

What doesn't: a broken oven, rent-payment questions, non-urgent appliance issues — these should be submitted through the tenant portal during normal business hours.

Question 8

Do you run background checks on potential tenants?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely — we take tenant screening very seriously. Every applicant goes through multiple verification steps before we present them to you:

• National eviction history
• Criminal background check
• Credit history
• Rental history verification
• Employment verification
• Income verification
• Bankruptcy search

This rigorous process is a big part of why our delinquency rate is under 1% — well below industry average.

Question 9

Where will my property be marketed?

Accepted Answer

Bergan & Co uses state-of-the-art listing software to syndicate your property across the web. The list changes periodically, but your listing is currently published to Zillow, Trulia, HotPads, Lovely, and Apartments.com — plus our own Rental Properties page at berganco.com.

Question 10

Who sets the rental price?

Accepted Answer

We provide you with a rent estimate based on our own market data and agent-level knowledge of your neighborhood. You, as the owner, make the final call on the price at which the property is marketed and rented. Want a starting point? Get a free rental price analysis.

Question 11

Can Bergan & Co help get my property ready to rent?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We're happy to coordinate basic repairs, maintenance, and make-ready work as you prepare your home for tenants, and we handle all repairs and maintenance between tenancies as part of our management service.

Question 12

Does Bergan & Co inspect the properties?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we inspect properties at the owner's request any time, at no additional fee. We also perform walkthroughs before, during, and after each tenancy to document conditions and flag maintenance items early.

Question 13

What are the benefits of professional tenant screening?

Accepted Answer

Starting with the right tenant pays off across the entire life of the lease. A well-screened tenant gives you:

• Rental income stability — qualified tenants pay on time, reducing missed or late payments.
• Better property care — responsible tenants treat the property well, reducing damage and repair costs.
• Lower turnover — good tenants renew, keeping your vacancy periods short.
• Stronger cash flow — all of the above means your investment performs closer to its potential.

Question 14

How & when do lease renewals occur?

Accepted Answer

Bergan & Co reaches out to the owner approximately 60 days before lease termination with a proposed renewal rate based on current market conditions. Owners always have final approval before any renewal offer is sent to the resident.

Question 15

What is your rent collections policy?

Accepted Answer

Most of our tenants pay via electronic check through our tenant portal. We also accept personal checks, money orders, PayNearMe, and in-person or drop-box payments. Rent is due on the 1st with a grace period through the 5th. Our collections timeline:

• If rent isn't received by the 5th, our collections process starts on the 6th.
• We contact the tenant directly to establish a pay plan.
• If needed, we serve the state-required 10-day demand notice at the property on your behalf.
• If payment isn't received by the end of the 10-day window, we initiate the legal eviction process with our eviction attorney.

Our Controller monitors delinquencies daily. We also refer struggling tenants to local rental-assistance agencies — it often resolves the issue without any legal filing. The result is a delinquency rate under 1%, well below industry average.

Question 16

What is the eviction process?

Accepted Answer

Eviction is rare but a reality of property management, and we're experienced in handling it. We manage the entire legal process on your behalf — from demand notice through court and, if necessary, the physical lockout with the sheriff. Eviction costs are ultimately the owner's expense, but we withhold the damage deposit and pursue the former resident through collection services to recoup what we can.

Question 17

How does Bergan & Co stay current on state and local laws?

Accepted Answer

Colorado and Denver-metro rental law changes frequently, and compliance isn't optional. Our staff attends ongoing legal-update classes covering Fair Housing laws, habitability requirements, licensing procedures, tenant and landlord rights, and eviction law. Our lease is reviewed annually by our legal team, and amendments are added as legislation changes.

We're deliberately sized to hit the sweet spot — large enough to have dedicated legal resources, small enough that no property gets lost in the shuffle. Property owners running on their own or using a one-or-two-person shop are at real risk of missing legal requirements; we're built to prevent that.

Question 18

What is the maintenance procedure?

Accepted Answer

Per our management agreement, Bergan & Co cannot spend more than $300 of your funds on any single maintenance item without prior approval. You're notified any time maintenance is being performed, and larger projects can be put out for bid at your request.

Question 19

What happens in a maintenance emergency?

Accepted Answer

Tenants call our 24-hour emergency line, where a Bergan & Co representative takes appropriate action to resolve the issue immediately. Active leaks beyond a slow drip, a furnace outage in winter, or any safety-critical failure qualify as emergencies.

Question 20

Whose responsibility are the utility payments?

Accepted Answer

We set your property up on a landlord account with your energy and water companies. For most single-family homes the resident is responsible for all utilities during their tenancy; we switch energy into the tenant's name at move-in and back out at move-out, and monitor water bills to ensure tenants stay current. You don't need to do anything — we handle the entire process.

Question 21

Is smoking permitted in the rental units?

Accepted Answer

No. Smoking of any kind is prohibited per the lease.

Question 22

Does Bergan & Co allow pets?

Accepted Answer

Pets are allowed with owner approval. Colorado law permits us to collect an additional $300 pet deposit and a $35 monthly pet fee per household (not per pet). Note that ESA and service animals cannot be charged for and must be accepted under Fair Housing law.

Question 23

When will I receive my rent payment?

Accepted Answer

Owner deposits are made via EFT on the 8th of every month. If the 8th falls on a weekend or holiday, funds are sent on the business day prior. EFT transactions typically take 2 business days to reflect in your bank account.

We run a second EFT on the 15th of each month to capture any rents collected after the 8th, so you're never waiting until the following month for late payments.

Question 24

Does Bergan & Co provide financial statements?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You'll have real-time access to all accounting and invoices through your owner portal. At year-end, we also provide an IRS Form 1099 for your tax reporting.

Question 25

Does Bergan & Co collect a damage deposit?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the damage deposit is generally equal to a minimum of one month's rent.

Question 26

Who holds the damage deposit?

Accepted Answer

Typically Bergan & Co holds the damage deposit on your behalf, in a separate trust account per Colorado law. Owners are welcome to hold the deposit themselves, but if they do we're legally required to provide the tenant with full contact information for whoever holds the funds. In practice this is rarely a good idea, and we recommend letting us hold it.

Question 27

What does “Rent Ready” mean and how do I get my property there?

Accepted Answer

“Rent Ready” means the home meets the Colorado Warranty of Habitability (C.R.S. 38-12-503) and our internal standards so it can be advertised and leased. The core list:

• Professionally cleaned inside and outside, free of trash and debris.
• HVAC in good operating condition with a new filter installed.
• All appliances and mechanical systems operate as designed.
• Kitchen and bathroom caulking clean and free of mildew.
• Doors, locks, windows, and window screens all functioning properly.
• Fire extinguisher present.
• Smoke detectors on every floor and in every bedroom.
• Carbon-monoxide detectors within 15 feet of each bedroom (hard-wired or battery — no plug-ins).
• Locks changed or re-keyed between tenancies.

Full requirements (carpets, paint, landscaping, blinds, safety railings, etc.) are provided to every new client and walked through together before we market the property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started (Owners)

Payments & Financials (Owners)

Leasing, Renewals & Legal

Maintenance & Property Policies

Rental Ready Requirements

For Renters

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started (Owners)

Payments & Financials (Owners)

Leasing, Renewals & Legal

Maintenance & Property Policies

Rental Ready Requirements

For Renters

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started (Owners)

Do you run background checks on potential tenants?▼

Where will my property be marketed?▼

Who sets the rental price?▼

Can Bergan & Co help get my property ready to rent?▼

Does Bergan & Co inspect the properties?▼

What are the benefits of professional tenant screening?▼

Payments & Financials (Owners)

When will I receive my rent payment?▼

Does Bergan & Co provide financial statements?▼

Does Bergan & Co collect a damage deposit?▼

Who holds the damage deposit?▼

Leasing, Renewals & Legal

How & when do lease renewals occur?▼

What is your rent collections policy?▼

What is the eviction process?▼

How does Bergan & Co stay current on state and local laws?▼

Maintenance & Property Policies

What is the maintenance procedure?▼

What happens in a maintenance emergency?▼

Whose responsibility are the utility payments?▼

Is smoking permitted in the rental units?▼

Does Bergan & Co allow pets?▼

Rental Ready Requirements

What does “Rent Ready” mean and how do I get my property there?▼

For Renters

How do I pay rent?▼

What is the lease break policy?▼

Can I change roommates mid-lease?▼

How does lease renewal work for tenants?▼

What are the move-out procedures?▼

When do I get my damage deposit back?▼

How do I reach you after hours for an emergency?▼

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started (Owners)

Do you run background checks on potential tenants?▼

Where will my property be marketed?▼

Who sets the rental price?▼

Can Bergan & Co help get my property ready to rent?▼

Does Bergan & Co inspect the properties?▼

What are the benefits of professional tenant screening?▼

Payments & Financials (Owners)

When will I receive my rent payment?▼

Does Bergan & Co provide financial statements?▼

Does Bergan & Co collect a damage deposit?▼

Who holds the damage deposit?▼

Leasing, Renewals & Legal

How & when do lease renewals occur?▼

What is your rent collections policy?▼

What is the eviction process?▼

How does Bergan & Co stay current on state and local laws?▼

Maintenance & Property Policies

What is the maintenance procedure?▼

What happens in a maintenance emergency?▼

Whose responsibility are the utility payments?▼

Is smoking permitted in the rental units?▼

Does Bergan & Co allow pets?▼

Rental Ready Requirements

What does “Rent Ready” mean and how do I get my property there?▼

For Renters

How do I pay rent?▼

What is the lease break policy?▼

Can I change roommates mid-lease?▼

How does lease renewal work for tenants?▼

What are the move-out procedures?▼

When do I get my damage deposit back?▼

How do I reach you after hours for an emergency?▼