New Boxy Babe gets and overhaul! 4132 Oleatha BEFORE.

The latest property to hit the market from Starke, Inc. has gone from drab to fab. This little Mid-Century Modern Bungalow needed a little TLC. Clearly, it was neglected and not loved like it should have been, but things happen and owners get busy. We had been scouting for a new property in Tower Grove South for a while now. The goal? Buy the ugliest house on the cutest and most stable block possible, and then turn it around for an affordable price. Too often people think that a renovater/rehabber buys a property and sticks a little bit of lipstick on the "pig". Often, people are right. That is not the case when Starke and his team (myself included) gets involved. The name of the game for many people in the renovation game is, get in and get out with as little updating as possible. While it is smart on the pocket book, it isn't great for the neighborhood. Starke focuses on one geographic area at a time and then attempts to help the whole hood by raising values. This is easily accomplished when the renovation appeals to a wide audience and has stellar updates. 

Here are the before pics:

Into Every 'Hab Some Water Must Fall, or SPEW

Today, the copper thieves struck. After gutting this bath and replacing bad lines, those jerks came and cut them. This newest acquisition is is one of my favorite hoods to renovate, Tower Grove South. A perfect bungalow with a garage, on a sleepy street with awesome neighbors has been robbed. Now, I know what you are going to say, "Leigh, doesn't that mean it is in a bad neighborhood?". The answer is, "NO". I don't like defining neighborhoods in those terms anyways. In fact, it is against the law and besides that, some of my best friends live there. Good and bad are subjective, unless you are a copper thieve. Then you are just bad for business. Copper jerks are everywhere, looking to pull of the most cowardly crime in the world. For a little bit of money, they damage thousands in property and YOUR property values. 

Have you ever wondered why that foreclosure next door has sat so long? More than likely, it can't be financed because lenders don't like to loan on properties that don't have working plumbing. No copper=no loan in most situations. So, the property sits until someone willing to take on a project like that comes along with CASH. 

Unfortunately for me, the owner was out of town. Which meant, I was in charge. GREAT, I know it sounds fun in theory, but it's not. I don't get to stand around and be bossy bossy. Besides that, a good crew won't respond to a leader that won't work with them. Luckily, Dan (the contractor man) was there early and called me to tell me they had stuck and the water needed to be shut off. Fabulous, they didn't turn off the water before snipping  away. He then called the cops and made a report. I showed up while the Crime Scene Unit was there taking pics ('cause that helps). They didn't get much, which means they more than likely will be back. We than shut off the water  and Dan pulled the stain glass (they love that too) , boarded up the windows, secured the doors and started to paint the copper. You paint it and it is worth less at the scrap yard.


The neighbors LOVE the board up look, let me tell you. Hey, it isn't our fault. Blame the thieves...


Bottom line: You see someone suspicious, call the COPS. Make noise, turn on your lights. Every single house that is sold more cheaply in your neighborhood due to crimes of destruction perpetuates low property values.  Good renovations, help to raise the values. A lot of projects are abandoned due to the fact the contractor/rehabber has ran out of money because of going over budget from these shenanigans.

It's a Jungle Out There

So, after switching companies ( I went to Re/MAX Results) and hiring an awesome new assistant (more to come on her), I am back to blogging. I fell off, not thinking anyone was reading them. I couldn't have been more wrong. Problem is, since I am not on the job site everyday, the fun hi jinxes the boys get themselves into seem to be less. Or maybe, they are reporting about them less? Or maybe, just maybe... the boys are not having anymore issues. Things are sailing along as smooth as a boat on a lake of glass, NOT! That couldn't be the answer.

True,  Stärke, Inc. has come a long way, and the guys who work there have set into a routine. Not to mention, they are able to handle much more work, and do it with more precision. However, rehabbing/renovation in itself is a HI-JINX. You never know what is behind the wall, what the previous owner had rigged himself, what lies beneath, what lies in the fridge, who has hidden what where (the things we have found, lemme tell you) and so on. So, here I am. Stuck between trying to be entertaining and provide real substance in these blogs.

The funniest "Incident"  I have to report right now is the winky-dink that the recent lawn person pulled. He was getting paid to do the lawns, twice a week. Which he was kind of doing. Sorta. OK, not really. Not thinking, we would drive by the properties and look at the lawns and make note. They looked OK, we knew he wasn't there as often as he said, we knew that. Guess what was happening? He was only  mowing the FRONT lawns. Mean while the backyards of properties we were trying to sell looked like a cougar could come out of the grass and snatch your face off. Lesson learned here? Supervision is a constant must in property management, rehabbing, renovations and the like. While the cat is away, the mice will play.

Next Blog: I will introduce you to the newest member of  Stärke's inventory, who is almost ready to hit the market....SHE'S a BRICK HOUSE. Mighty, Mighty in Tower Grove South.

Soon to be followed by our "NEW PROJECT"- Hopefully, I can get the guys to take more pics on that one as they go.