security

So you're a landlord who has decided to allow pets into your apartment. Even so, that doesn't mean you should simply allow any pet to stay at your property. To ensure the safety of tenants, other pets in the building and your property, you should always run a background check on a pet, just like you would a tenant. So what are the ingredients to a good pet policy? Breed The first thing you need to do is...

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...

Keeping your properties safe and secure is one of the most important responsibilities of a property owner. Failure to maintain proper security can lead to expensive vandalism and property theft or even leave occupants open to potential violence. One of the most efficient and cost-effective ways  to ensure proper security is to have proper security lighting....

Nothing hurts a landlord's pocketbook or pride like being the victim of theft or vandalism. Prior to PEX plumbing the main security issue facing landlords and homeowners in St. Louis and around the country is copper theft, but there are many other temping targets at any property. One particularly expensive and "easy to steal" component are AC condensers. With thousands of dollars of materials and labor...

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....

Over the past few years, the St. Louis Board of Alderman have debated the prospected of a vacant property registration system numerous times. One bill almost passed about a year ago. Not taking no for an answer, Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett brought the issue back up recently. The new bill corrected many of the issues with the previous versions, but many in the real estate industry felt the bill still...

A drive down the streets in the City of St. Louis after dark can be a telling thing. Some streets that seem great during the day show a different face at night. One of the most telling things about an area during the night is not the curb appeal of a house, but the quality of  lighting along the street. As a property owner, you don't really have much too say about the streetlights, but lighting your own...

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....

Frequently visiting vacant, sometimes unsecured buildings, I must admit that at times I have been quite uneasy when entering a property. Especially by myself. That's why I bought a mace gun....

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....

I saw this painted on the front of a building on the 37XX block of Pennsylvania this morning and thought it really summed up the current copper theft situation. On one hand the message is funny, while on the other its just sad. I'm never one to advocate for the government to get involved in peoples lives, but this theft has to stop. This is beyond a local issue. We need to get scrap yards in both Missouri...

Just like radiators, I've always thought window air conditioners get an unfairly bad wrap. They are relatively cheap (usually between $100 and $300 per unit), most models are efficient if properly installed and there is no need to install expensive ductwork throughout the building....

When you’re standing on a deck or any man-made structure, do you ever wonder who built it and if they knew what they were doing. When looking at properties, these questions should be considered. And if you’re doing the work yourself, it’s always important to make sure that it is being done right. Failing to do so can cost a lot of money and even lives....

*NOTE - This article was originally written in October of 2006 for the newsletter. Salvage yards across St. Louis rarely ask where their customers get the scrap metal they bring in. That’s a shame, because they might be getting it from YOU! Copper thieves can turn a great rental or rehab building into a nightmare. Replacing the pipes can be costly and time consuming. Water damage caused by the...