Goodwill hawking: Goldberg Company
Faced with fairly strong traffic, but an increase in skips, collections and leasing difficulties in a tumbling economy, the Goldberg Company created the Layoff Proof Lease to quell fear and uncertainty brewing among new and expiring renters.
The message from Senior VP Jordan Goldberg on the company's recently launched Web site, www.layoffproof lease.com invites renters to stop worrying and start living.
It goes on to explain that if they sign a 12-month lease and have paid three consecutive months' rent, residents are eligible to live for up to two months rent-free if they are laid off, and if they are unable to afford to stay after 60 days, can break their lease without financial consequence. Even if they are unable to stay after the free- rent period, they never have to pay the company back.
"Our thinking was these are people who might not otherwise rent or renew with us because of uncertainty about what the future might bring. Hopefully, the economic climate will get better, our residents won't be losing their jobs and hopefully this will be something to help give prospects the peace of mind to rent with us. But if they do need to take advantage of the program, we are now able to accommodate that," he said.
So far, none of Goldberg's residents, who pay an average monthly rent of $900, have been laid off after enrolling in the new program. But it already has paid off with a number of new and renewed leases and the company received plenty of praise for coming up with something that
