Paterson Real Estate review: Never get deposit back 3

Hi,

I am Pat Paterson and my wife and I have owned Cathedral Apartments for over 20 years, and this is the first negative post we are aware of. I also apologize for the length of this response but this was a very confusing situation.

We received a formal complaint from the Better Business Bureau stating we had not refunded the full security deposit to a resident who moved out. They included the name the person who made the complaint, which is standard practice with the Better Business Bureau. We went to our records and we could not find where this person had ever signed a lease for that apartment. We also researched the correspondence in the file for and found the person who had signed the lease had asked if they could move a roommate in. Because it was a small studio apartment our policy is a studio is only large enough for one person.

We informed the Better Business Bureau that no one by that name was on the lease and we have no record of anyone by that name ever leasing an apartment from us. Several weeks later the Better Business Bureau responded and said the complaint had been corrected and it now had the tenants name who signed the lease.

We informed the Better Business Bureau we had done a walk-through with the tenant who had signed the lease and reviewed what still needed to be cleaned and why. One of the problems was the bathroom sink and faucet. As most people know after two years of living in an apartment if you don’t stay ahead of the Omaha hard water it will build up at the base of the faucet and on the faucet handles. It takes more effort than just wiping them down to get them clean. During the walk-through, the tenant, again the one who signed the lease, not the one who was illegally living there said something like, “I’m too busy with school right now to spend any more time cleaning. Have the cleaning company come in and deduct the cost of cleaning from my security deposit. We did that and sent a copy of our cleaning worksheet and a bill from the cleaning company. Apparently, the legal tenant did not inform the illegal tenant of our conversation.

We forwarded all this information to the Better Business Bureau and they dismissed the case.

Generally speaking, about 30% to 40% of all tenants receive a full security deposit refund. If the tenant would like a walk-through before they vacate their apartment we go over any additional things needed to be done for them to receive the full deposit refund. They are totally aware of anything that needs to be done. We do not charge the tenant to clean the carpet or wash the windows, we feel that it is our responsibility and we mentioned this in the information we provide to the tenants during the move out process.

After 20 years in business, we are aware of only this one negative review regarding not refunding the security deposit. You will also notice whoever wrote the review did not sign their name. Here are some referral letters from some of our past tenants who did sign their name. If you are considering renting from us, I guess you will have to make your own decision. We try to do everything we can to resolve issues with tenants but there are just some people you cannot make happy.

Thank you for your time,
Pat

Here are referral letters from a past resident:

Dear Potential Resident,
I rented from Sharon and Pat Paterson for two years, and they were the best land lords I have ever had! Initially I rented from Sharon and Pat because the apartment was close to school and affordable. However, as I started to make arrangements to sign the lease and move in, I soon realized that there were many additional perks to leasing from Paterson Real Estate.

First of all, when I went through the lease with them they were very honest about what they expected of me as a tenant when it came to taking care of their apartment and what they would do to make my living experience the best possible. Throughout the year, I found that because of this, there were no unexpected surprises I had not planned for. The apartments were extremely clean (as they will be when you move in), and no smoking or pets are allowed in the apartments. This ensures that all the other renters are comfortable and do not bother one another. It also ensures that no one has had pets or smoked in the place before you, which means you will not find those hidden marks and smells when you start to live there!

Another thing I appreciate about the Paterson's is how they do the "little" things that make moving in and out so much easier. For example, they made the key copies for me and helped me transfer my utilities; two things I have since learned are not standard when it comes to renting a new place. Throughout my two years with them, they were great at fixing anything that I needed - which was not much since they usually prevent anything from breaking and really take pride in keeping their places clean and working. One example of this includes how they spray for bugs in the fall to prevent any pests from entering as the days got colder.

Leasing from the Paterson's definitely beats renting an apartment from a large company where the owners do not live in Omaha. Because Paterson's live near the apartments they own, they are able to get to know you as well as quickly answer any questions or concerns you may have. When I wanted to move in with some friends, I made sure that we stayed with the Paterson's because they are so kind, helpful, and really care about their tenants.
Overall, Sharon and Pat are very personable and friendly landlords that I will greatly miss! I have never seen any landlords take more pride in their apartments or take better care of their tenants. I highly recommend renting from them - you will not be disappointed!
Sincerely,
Sara Walz

Dear Potential renter,
I freely and gladly write this recommendation for Paterson Real Estate. I had had a very negative rental experience in another state, so when I moved to Nebraska and was looking for apartments to rent in Omaha, my experience with Pat Paterson was a welcome change. I rented an apartment at the Newport complex from December 2010 until March 2013, and I only left when my fiance and I needed more space and bought a house.
I found Pat Paterson to be a very fair, honest, and conscientious landlord. He was very clear and upfront about the expectations placed on renters. He was very good about maintenance (e.g. checking smoke detectors, replacing furnace air filters, painting the halls, etc), both in keeping up the maintenance on a regular schedule and in notifying residents about when that maintenance was going to happen. The one or two times when I had a request for repairs in my apartment, it was handled promptly.
If you pay your rent on time and treat the apartment well, you will have a very positive relationship with Pat, and you will find the kind of rental experience that many people can only wish they had.
Sincerely,
David Scholl

To Whom It May Concern:
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I am pleased to write a letter of recommendation on behalf of Paterson Real Estate. I have lived as a resident in one of the apartment homes managed by this company for the past five years. I first rented with Paterson Real Estate because the apartment was clean, affordable, and in a location near the downtown area and my college. I stayed in the apartment, however, for several reasons. First, and foremost, I felt very safe in the apartment. The complex is well lit and the building entrances are secure. Second, the apartment is well maintained. The common areas are kept clean including the hallways and laundry room. The grounds are also well groomed. Any time I had an item that needed repair, it was taken care of in a timely fashion.

Finally, I was able to generate a good relationship with the managers of Paterson Real Estate. Unlike some larger apartment complexes and management groups, the managers of Paterson Real Estate actually know who I am, along with the other tenants. This personal aspect of the company makes it more comfortable when I need to ask for repairs or have other general questions addressed. There was not a single time during my five year lease with Paterson Real Estate that I contemplated moving to another apartment, which speaks for the quality, safety, and cleanliness of the complex. I would highly recommend Paterson Real Estate to any person looking to rent an apartment in the area.

Sincerely,

Jocelyn A. Rowe

Dear Potential Tenant,
I am grateful to Pat and Sharon Paterson for providing me with a safe, welcoming, well-maintained place to live for the past four years. I can say with confidence that Pat and Sharon are the best landlords I have ever had. They take pride in maintaining the highest standards for their apartments, and they go above and beyond to keep their tenants happy. I feel very fortunate that I had a wonderful place to stay from the time I started school at Creighton University in 2009 until I graduated and moved out of state in 2013.

When I first moved into my apartment at the Newport location, Pat and Sharon greeted me with a big smile and made me feel welcome. This was my first time in Omaha, so they helped me get acquainted with the city and patiently answered all my questions. They explained the lease and the community rules very clearly and thoroughly. Their expectations of the tenants were clear, fair, and realistic. When I entered my apartment for the first time, I was impressed with how clean and spacious the one bedroom apartment was. The carpet and stove were brand new.

I was very comfortable in my apartment, for the complex was very quiet and the other tenants were friendly and considerate. As a Creighton student, it helped that I could study in a safe and quiet environment without having to worry about anything in the apartment going wrong. In the coming years, I noticed that the tenant turnover rate was very low, attesting to the high quality of Paterson apartments. There were many long-term tenants (included many college students), and I soon became one of them as I happily renewed my lease for a total of four years. I almost never had maintenance requests, for Pat made sure that the apartments were in great condition. I often saw Pat performing maintenance on the apartment complexes, and he would always greet me with a friendly smile. On the rare occasion I had a maintenance request, the response was quick and thorough.

Throughout the year, Pat and Sharon sent out notices of upcoming maintenance schedules and helpful tips for the cold winters. They always kept me updated on anything that might affect my apartment, so I never had any unwanted surprises. The complex was well-lit, and there was always off-street parking available for the tenants at all hours. I knew I could always count on them if I needed anything and that peace of mind made my student life much easier.

I highly recommend renting from Paterson Real Estate. You will enjoy a safe, quiet, clean, and friendly environment. Pat and Sharon are very accommodating and helpful, and they always have the tenant's best interest in mind.
Sincerely,
Hiroki Motokubota

Room stinks. They try everying to make money from you.

This is so true. They are nice in the beginning and by the end of the lease, all they want to do is get as much money from you and literally sue you for everything.