I know I am a bit biased since I live in St Paul’s Macalester-Groveland neighborhood but it is very evident that the residents here are proud to live in this highly desired area of St Paul, MN.
You have to love a community that has a “Beautification Committee”.
This committee conducts a competition annually in spring and fall (my 2 favorite seasons by the way….) Alley Garden Awards in addition to other “beautification” projects throughout the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood. The Alley Garden Awards, in my opinion, provide a benefit to everyone because, if you have ever driven through the alleys of St Paul (or most cities for that matter) you probably noticed that they are typically not all that attractive. But, this competition gets neighbors to at least think about what their alley looks like and maybe plant a few extra flowers or pull a few extra weeds.
The committe also hosts an annual plant exchange which is great because not only can you drop off your unused flowers and plants for “recycling” but you can also pick up some great items in return. And, this is a great way to get to know some of your neighbors which is also good for safety and crime fighting.
If you are interested in being a part of the beautification of St Paul’s Macalester-Groveland, the meetings are held on the 4th Monday of each month from March – October.

For more information about the Macalester-Groveland Neighborhood check out www.macgrove.org or call 651.695.4000

Interested in moving to Macalester-Groveland? Give me a call!
Jen McKinnon
Realtor/Investor
MN Real Estate Team
612.384.1073
jen[at]mnrealestateteam[dot]com

Let’s face it, winter is here….If you are like me, you love living in the Twin Cities but could do without the winter that we are blessed with.  I live in St Paul, the lovely Macalester Groveland neighborhood, and we all have OLD houses and old houses are not exactly air tight and energy efficient (unless you’ve done alot of updating….). 

Here are a few tips on how to reduce costs on your home heating this winter.

A few FREE and easy things to do but that we sometimes forget about are:
1. Make sure your storm windows are up and secure and or closed all the way
2. Open blinds / shades during the day on windows that allow the sun to shine in for natural heat
3. Close blinds / shades during the night to help insulate your home
4. Close heat vents in rooms that are never or seldom used
5. Wear an extra layer of clothing so that you don’t have to turn the heat up so high
6. Make sure the fireplace flue is closed when you are not making a fire

A few energy saving tips that will cost a little money up front but could save you big in the long run:
Block the Leak - use silicone or acrylic latex caulks to fill in cracks and gaps.
Plastic – put plastic over the windows. Easy to use kits from 3M or Scotch at most stores
Fill your Attic - insulate with fiberglass batts or blown in cellulose
Program your Thermostat - install a programmable thermostat and cut costs by 15%-30% per year. We have also done this at our investment properties – tenants love it!!
Cover the Ducts - check out the heating and cooling ducts in the attic, basement and closets. Cover the seams with Scotch Duct Sealing Foil Tape and insulate the entire duct itself.
Wrap your Water Heater - $30 will buy you a water heater blanket and save 15%
Service your Furnace - clean the furnace but get help from a professional

Questions? Need a great Realtor? Give me a call!
Jen McKinnon
Realtor / Investor
AGENT REFERRAL NETWORK
MN Real Estate Team

612.384.1073
jen[at]mnrealestateteam[dot]com