Bathroom Light Fixtures


We’ve got two bathroom light fixtures, each a three-bulb number, that we’re done with.

You want? Happy to sell one or both or to cannibalize the set for the shades ($5 ea).

The photos make them look a little cockeyed (at least the one on the far right). They aren’t.

They’re in great shape.

Photos at:

http://krrb.com/posts/2447-bathroom-light-fixtures

Categories: Architectural Salvage
By serpentor | 04/30/2011 8:21 PM | Comment

Artisan Art Reviews?


I’m looking into getting some things framed at Artisan Art on Prospect and Flatbush and wondering if anyone here has had experience with them. They’re not cheap, but the price is right if they’re good at what they do. Any tips? Caveats? Raves?

Curiously, the only Yelp review is someone griping about the lack of art supplies (presumably b/c Yelp has the frame shop mis-categorized as an art supply shop?).

http://prospectheights.patch.com/articles/artisan-art-and-healthy-nibbles-adapting-to-survive

Categories: Stores
By serpentor | 04/05/2011 10:05 AM | Comment

Landline Install $140?


We’ve moved into a big ole pre-war coop and Verizon is telling us that there’s no landline in our apartment (seems true as far as we can deduce) and that they need $140 to come install one.

I know that landlines are passe but I’m old fashioned and I like having a real phone. Preferably one that stays up even when the cable goes out (so no … I don’t want a VOIP phone/internet package).

Does anyone have experience with this? It seems steep for public utility service.

Categories: Utilities
By serpentor | 02/09/2011 10:15 AM | Comment

Stripping Trim?


We’ve got layers and layers of paint on the windowsills in our co-op. Does anyone have good advice about the best way to get them stripped? Should we just nut up and do it? I’m loathe to just slap a new coat on, as the stuff below is a bit cracked.

Categories: Painting
By serpentor | 01/13/2011 10:38 AM | Comment

Closing (Who Knows What?)


Okay, so we’re closing on a coop soon. Like, really soon. Aiming for before Christmas. Suddenly I’m looking at all these documents and getting a little dizzy.

Our lawyer came highly recommended but she’s impossible to get ahold of and hasn’t been much help. I’m done asking the realtor questions — he has no freaking clue.

So we’re in this situation. We’ve got a deposit in escrow. We’ve got money in the bank. We’ve got stacks and stacks of papers.

But … who is supposed to know what happens next? Does someone (who?!?) give us a list of cashiers checks that we’re supposed to bring to the closing? Should we just withdraw our life savings in small unmarked bills? Are we just supposed to know that, magically?

Seriously: we’re entering terra icognita here. Anyone want to walk me through the next few steps?

Categories: Real Estate
By serpentor | 12/13/2010 1:50 PM | Comment

And Then There Were Seven


… espresso options within range of the Classon G, that is. Bedford Hill looks almost ready to open.

Wonder if they’ve got any Bedford Hills connections? Or any idea that they named their coffee shop after a maximum security prison?

Maybe they’re connected somehow to Project Reconnect — http://www.correctionalassociation.org/WIPP/reconnect.htm — you know, helping women leaving Bedford Hills adjust to life on the outside?

That’d be kind of nice.

Categories: Retail
By serpentor | 10/20/2010 1:13 PM | Comment

HSBC vs Wells Fargo


Anyone have caveats/warnings/etc about doing business with HSBC vs Wells Fargo for a coop mortgage?

Categories: Mortgage
By serpentor | 10/04/2010 3:00 PM | Comment

Should We Worry About Lead Paint?


We’re negotiating a coop in a big prewar building and I’m wondering about lead paint. It seems like for a rental there are disclosure requirements. What about for a sale? The building is pre-war, so there’s obviously a risk that lead paint is present. The unit is renovated and doesn’t have any peeling paint. If we do find lead paint, what kind of ballpark are we looking at to abate it? We don’t have kids now but we plan to one day, and this is where we’d raise them.

Thoughts? Thanks!

PS. Yes … I did ask about engineering inspections earlier.

PPS. We’re probably retaining our trusty attorney today so we’ll ask him, too. Promise.

Categories: Environmental
By serpentor | 08/31/2010 9:45 AM | Comment

Inspecting a Prewar Coop?


We’re looking at a large (80 unit) prewar coop, and wondering how inspections work in this context. We’ve only looked at smaller property up to this point — do we call the same sort of building engineer? Should we expect it to cost substantially more? What else should we be asking?

Categories: Co-Op Related
By serpentor | 08/30/2010 11:45 AM | Comment

Researching Coop Owners


For private homes and condos, ACRIS shows both sale prices and mortgage amounts. This is useful in all kinds of obvious ways. For coops, however, there doesn’t seem to be any information available. Presumably this is because you’re buying shares in the corporation not real estate, but people are taking out mortgages, right?

So can those be researched?

Categories: Co-Op Related
By serpentor | 08/25/2010 11:45 AM | Comment