All Forum Posts by: Mathuw Chandler

This place is heated with a furnace only no heat pump.  I have two units up and downstairs,  My down stairs unit i use is larger and has a heat pump, my bills are about 200$ lower.  however i know my usage, one shower a day and have been keeping my house between 63-65 no higher.  

I assume they know that the place is below market rent because they said their cap was 800$ per month and they looked at 4 units and decided on mine.  I have not physically showed them my appraisal (which I have)  or told them.  IS this something that should be done?

Thanks elizabeth, i assume it is the opposite here

once winter hits and they use the heat their bill skyrockets.

though stl gets bad summer too, they started renting just after the bad summer months.

Thank you very much for the response Lee.  

I feel that i am doing all i can short of replacing the furnace, this is less than 5 years old and was installed a few years before i purchased the building, i am concerned becuase i dont kow who installed the furnace and how good of a job they did while doing so, also they used all of the old vents which compared to todays standards are not located in the best locations.

I have gone in to the basement and taped every crease or possible air leakage with foil tape, i am doing the best i can.  I am wondering if i am doing enough/ stressing over something i should not be.  Or if a different land lord would go the extra mile and/or do something extra.

I own a 2 family unit in st louis, this is upper level and lower level.  I used to occupy the upper level while the lower level was being gut rehabbed.  While living upstairs i had high electric bills winter only (all elec apts) like 300$ avg in winter time when running heat at about 65ish.

I have a feeling the furnace size is pushing it, not incredibly small and not oversized for the unit about 1100 square feet. 

I think when the furnace is on bills skyrocket, so im thinking the size (possibly) though it does not seem small, and the duct layout have a lot to do with it as it is a 1925 all brick home, with new windows.  

Recently (last week)  i added door sweeps, weather strips to all exterior doors and door sweeps to all interior doors which needed them, bought them plastic to install over (new) windows. and have scheduled to get the furnace cleaned professionally

The market rate of the apartment is 875 and i  am renting it to them for 800 should i be concerned that they are upset about high electric bills,  given i have done more than a slum lord to ensure they are happy and they are 75 dollars under market rat?  Only thing they par is their own electric and rent, i pay trash sewer water

I understand it sucks for a higher than average utility bill and i had to deal with it when i lived up there, i had the same high bills.  However i am doing more than avg for a LL and they got a good deal on the apt.

This is my first time renting only 3 months in i want to ensure that i am doing the best i can but also want to ensure that i am not over stressed for no reason.

Please let me know your thought, i can elaborate and give more details if needed.

Sorry for the unorganized post as this was stream of consciousness writing.

Only space for a washer and dryer in my rental property is in a fairly large closet.  This is over sized for a stackable but too small for a side by side.  Looking on getting insight.  Is is wrong to just provide hookups for stackable due to the increased cost of them and the fact that most people dont just have a stackable on hand when they plan to move in?  Will this decrease rent without including/ increase with including them?  Any thoughts?

2 Family Flat in StLouis City

BUMP! For STL! Great city and underestimated.  Keep interest and investment high here!

BUMP!

Thanks Marsh

I have to replace the HVAC system in my home.  This is a two family flat one unit up one down, i will be living in and replacing the downstairs unit.  I have narrowed my bids down to two, one includes a Coleman brand AC unit the other Carrier unit. I have heard of Carrier before, mostly due to their marketing but not Coleman. 

Location: St Louis, Coleman bid is cheaper.

1) can anyone give me some advice on which to pick, does anyone have any insight on these brands?

2) does it matter more who installs it?  does the company installing it matter more than the actual unit?