It's ironic that I so often blog about proper security at properties, when I can't even follow my own advice. Last Thursday at 5:30pm I had to rush out of the office for a quick appointment. Normally, I close my laptop when I head out as it can easily be seen through the window from the street, but I was in a rush. Upon my return about 20 minutes later, I was shocked to find my office door kicked in and my...
by Matt Kastner When I began rehabbing the apartment above my office, I promised myself I was not going to cut corners. I was going to make the place all it could be, no matter the cost or time it took. One of the things I was always unhappy about was the handles and back plates on the original doors. Most of the door hardware for my mortise locksets had been damaged or replaced through the years and the result was...
by Matt Kastner When it comes to managing properties, its generally best to keep things as simple as possible. One of the most common "emergency" issues many landlords encounter is a tenant locking themselves out of their apartment. Even if you live nearby, having to deal with such problems can be a major nuisance. Thankfully, there is something you can target to help cut back on lockouts: handleset locks on entry doors....
by Matt Kastner Last night at 2am I got a surprising wake-up call: the alarm was going off at my rehab project in Tower Grove South. The police were already there and requesting a key-holder to come over. Upon arriving on the scene I witnessed the sobering site of a backdoor kicked in....
by Matt Kastner I'm certainly no stranger to visiting shady buildings. I have been going into vacant houses all over the area for years. Mostly by myself. I understand the risk and accept it. But that doesn't mean that property owners and their real estate agents don't have some level of responsiblity in making sure the property is safe....
by Matt Kastner