Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie dream tenants
House owner jumped at chance to rent to Brad Pitt, even moving out
current renters
By BROOKES MERRITT -- Edmonton Sun
Jay Henitiuk didn't bat an eye when asked to rent his house to Brad
Pitt and Angelina Jolie - despite having already promised it to another
couple.
"I thought it was unusual and kind of cool, but I'm not easily
starstruck," said the 47-year-old Calgary landlord.
"But (the deal) was complicated because a young family had moved in
four or five days before (Pitt and Jolie) were set to show up."
But the Hollywood money Henitiuk was offered proved too much to pass
up, and he bounced the new renters in favour of the celebrities.
Pitt and Jolie stayed for two weeks while Pitt was in town filming The
Assassination of Jesse James.
"It was a pretty easy economic choice for me, but it took some coaxing
to encourage the couple to move out after just getting settled."
Henitiuk said the husband had been planning to host a 30th birthday
bash for his wife, and was excited to show off their new digs to
friends.
"He was a little bit harried - he had to move in with the in-laws in
the interim. But we came to an agreement and split the money up between
us."
Henitiuk wouldn't say how much cash he squeezed out of the rental deal,
but described it as "very worthwhile.
"When I first got the call, I laughed. How do you figure out a rental
price for (celebrities)?"
He said he usually rents the 3,220-square-foot bungalow in Osborne
Acres near Spruce Grove for around $3,000 a month.
The couple who got bounced moved back in Saturday night, after Brad and
Angelina gave paparazzi the slip early Saturday morning.
Henitiuk said they reported everything in order: no indications of wild
parties, no bloodstains left over from late-night fight-clubbing and no
short-shorts autographed by Lara Croft left lying in the hamper.
He said he doesn't expect Brangelina's taste will bolster the property
value of the home.
Currently for sale, the house carries a price tag of $850,000.
"Bumping it up to $1 million just because they stayed there? It's not
likely, but a little (recognition) never hurt."
Shooting for Pitt's movie was scheduled to resume in Calgary yesterday,
but was delayed due to weather.
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