WATER SAFETY - YOUR WATER HEATER

In the March/April issue of Smart HomeOwner magazine, there were several recommendations for protecting your health. The most surprising I found was the direction to always keep your water heater above 140 degrees (Fahrenheit.) Studies have shown that the virus responsible for Legionnaire's Disease grows well above 50 degrees F and below 140 degrees F. Years ago it was recommended that people turn down their water heater thermostats in an effort to prevent scalding. According to this article, the risk of contracting a deadly disease outweighs the relatively rare event of scalding.

If you live in an older home, installing a pressure balance valve in your shower can prevent those pranksters from scalding you while you're in the shower. Code has only required the mixing valve in the last five years. If your fixture is older than five years, you may want to call Henry Plumbing Supply (314-773-3636) or another plumber and provide them with the name of the maker of your faucet. They may need to ask additional questions and then they can advise you as to whether you should replace your valve.

EXTEND THE LIFE & EFFICIENCY OF YOUR AIR CONDITIONER

Gently hose the outside of your air conditioning unit. Be sure to use LOW water pressure so as not to bend any metal. Make sure that no weeds or plants are growing into your unit as well. Keeping your condenser clean will extend its life as well as keep your cooling costs down. The cleaner it is, the less it will have to work.

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1031 EXCHANGES - WHY EXCHANGE REAL PROPERTY?

Why exchange real property? To save taxes, yes, but said more succinctly, to build your estate with pre-tax dollars. Using proper exchange techniques will result in what is effectively interest free money from the government. Taxes you owe can be paid later, allowing you the use of that money today to buy more or more expensive investment property. Other reasons to exchange include.....

For the full article via email, email a request to penny@wesellstlouis.com

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FREE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT - MAP

The Management Assistance Program was created by DeSales Community Housing and St. Louis Development Corp. to help stabilize the rental markets in the Fox Park, McKinley Fox, Tower Grove East and Benton Park West neighborhoods. MAP provides free professional property management services, including tenant screening & leasing, rent collection and delinquency monitoring, eviction assistance, maintenance repairs, 24 hour answering service, inspections and monthly owners statements. The MAP program gives owners advice on the latest regulations affecting your property and tenants. We also offer suggestions on how to help control costs while continuing to deliver the necessary services to your residents. The MAP program is funded annually through Community Development grants. An owner is eligible to stay in the MAP program for a two year period. Upon graduating from the program an owner may opt to manage their own property or continue to use professional property management.

For more detailed information, send an email to penny@wesellstlouis.com

To receive a list of available properties in the neighborhoods served by MAP, send an email to mark@wesellstlouis.com

And of course, feel free to call Mark from 8 am to 8 pm at 314-772-HOME (4663) or toll-free at 1-866-971-HOME.

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WE'VE MOVED - NEW ADDRESS & PHONE NUMBER

As many of you already know, we moved to the City in May. We bought a great, 2nd-Empire 3-story building with lots of room - and as we knew before we bought it, it needs a little TLC. See the article "Our Old House" for tales of our project. :)

Our phone numbers have changed. They are as follows:

• Phone - 314-772-HOME (4663)
• Toll-free - 1-866-971-HOME
• Fax - 1-888-534-7589

Our new address is:

We Sell St. Louis

3424 Missouri Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63118

Feel free to come by and visit our offices - be warned, though - it's still a 'work in progress.'

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"OUR OLD HOUSE"

We bought a brick 3-story, two-family Second-Empire Victorian home in the City knowing it needed a little work. It's a great old house - 110 years old! We have almost 3000 square feet to ramble around in. The first floor is all office space. We started out by cleaning throughout and painting the old pine floors before moving in. We thought we could paint all the floors AND all of the rooms in just over a week! We got the first coat of paint on the floors done with almost enough time for it to cure before moving in. During the move, Mark seriously sprained his ankle and was in a brace for nearly two months. Further painting was put on old.

Now that Mark is mobile again, he and Jen evicted the pigeons from the roof. It took several days and quite a bit of ingenuity. Once their nest was removed, Mark & Jen devised a way to string fishing line along the gutter so 'trip up' the pigeons. They can no longer successfully land on the gutters. :)

The house didn't have central heat and air, so that was our next big task. Mark & Jen have been working with our heating and a/c contractor to install ductwork throughout the second and third floors of our building. There's plaster everywhere, but the 2nd floor is cool now. :) The third floor will have a/c within the week.

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MEET OUR NEW AGENT - RHONDA LEMMON

Rhonda Lemmon joined us last week and we are SO excited! Rhonda's a native St. Louisan and a local investor. Rhonda comes to us with a background in marketing, computers and graphics. She's already showing properties and will be writing her first offer in the next few days. Join us in welcoming her - check out her new website www.RhondaSellsStLouis.com  

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