AJAS's Profile
- Alexander Sachs
- 2005
- Brooklyn
- Prospect Heights
- Condo
- Developer
- Male
- 35
- http://www.wildedge.com
Author's Posts
January 12, 2008
Need Furniture Restoration recommendation
Looking for a good furniture restorator in Brooklyn (Slope/Heights/Atlantic) -- or lower Manhattan ( below 34th st) to repair an antique game table. The leg is broken, some of the wood is buckling and other issues which need attention.
Also need to find a good upholsterer for a chair.
December 17, 2007
Red Oak Floor repair
I recently moved into a renovated brownstone which has new stained red oak floors. The developer of the unit installed 2 built in hip walls to create a dining area which we would like to remove since they aren't well placed for a proper sized dining area. The problem is that the developer didn't put the flooring down first before building in the hip walls, and therefore when we remove the walls, there will be gaps in the flooring. The floor was installed and sanded/stained/urethaned in place. We are looking for an expert floor person who could 'match and patch' the 2 approximate 18 sq/ft areas without having to re-sand the entire floor again. Is this possible? I have been told that in order to match the stain and height of the 4" planks, we will need to put in new boards ( patch ) and then re-sand/re-stain/re-urethanethe the entire floor again. This seems excessive and I am hoping there are experts who could do the patch and match work and make it look seamless without re-doing the entire thing....does anyone have experience with this and can you send me the number of an 'expert' floor person who could execute such a repair?
November 23, 2007
Rear retaining wall damage from tree
Our read yard has a lot line retaining wall which has been damaged by our neighbor's large tree root system. The wall is cement and over the years, the roots have pushed the cement wall into our yard (it's buckling).
There are a few issues here:
1) the neighbors claim that they have no responsibility for the damage
2) the cement wall is impinging onto our property and will need to be back-filled, the wall removed and re-poured with re-bar
3) they won't let anyone onto their property to inspect, even though the wall is on our side of the lot line
Who in the city can we turn to get resolution to both the lot line wall and how we can fix the damage without having to sue them.
Author's Comments
it's amazing the assumptions people make. i am the OP and I am not a tree hater....but to put things straight, the two yards are at different levels and thus the wall is a 'necessity' not a 'choice'. The brownstone I recently moved into has been around for about 100 years, and the tree appears to be younger than that -- maybe 30 years? If the retaining wall were not in place, I would have a ton of cubic yardage of dirt of my neighbor's yard in my yard since it's about 4 feet higher than our yard. We are on a sloping street (St. Marks) and we're on the downslope side. The tree is in his yard and the wall is on our side of the lot line. His roots have damaged our wall and all I want to know is what my options are -- simple.
Posted by: AJAS at December 17, 2007 8:54 PM in response to Rear retaining wall damage from tree
Yes Rick -- I do want a good match, and consensus so far is that we have to bite the bullet and re-sand. I am just trying to avoid it -- not because of cost -- but for the hassle factor of having to move everything into a back bedroom and then vacating for 5 days (repair - sand, stain, day off, urethane 1, day off, urethane 2....ugh....
Thanks 12:40 -- I will give Cortes a call and get his take as well....
I am dealing with Verrazano Flooring who did a great job on the original floor....I am just hoping to find a simpler solution.
Posted by: AJAS at December 18, 2007 11:49 PM in response to Red Oak Floor repair
As a follow-up I did find the perfect solution in a company called Summit Surfaces. They did a superb job and would recommend to anyone who needs high quality work. Email: Brewse at info@summitsurfaces.com
Posted by: AJAS at January 14, 2008 3:34 PM in response to Red Oak Floor repair
I believe Sorrell has finally closed. I live on St. Marks just off Carlton and it's been shuttered for over a week. This corner would be better as a wine bar with charcuterie plates and such or a great coffee house with fresh baked goods etc. You could easily address the fishbowl effect by adding frosted or designed windows -- add some inviting exterior lights and a nice awning and it would be a charming place to go.
Posted by: AJAS at January 18, 2008 4:01 PM in response to Restaurant Sorrell Closing?
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
Mark Gelb 1917-434-2839
Been using him for years. always gets me lower rates than i find from his competitors.
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 3:56 PM in response to Mortgage broker needed
With the mortgage market being as volatile as it has in the past few months, you must deal with a professional, someone who is knowledgeable and aware of the constant changes. This is a preferred lender for many new developments in NYC and BK. NO points, no Broker fees. Direct lender with Wall Street.
Robert Yusupov
Wall Street Mortgage Bankers
718 969 7171
888 541 7283
ryusupov@wsmbltd.com
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 11:23 PM in response to Mortgage broker needed
We have very few people to recommend from our buying/renovating/moving experience. However we were extremely happy with our mortgage broker, Hymie Serure at Trachtman & Bach. Hymie was not sales-y, was easily reachable, and gave the best rates. I found out about him on this forum.
Hymie Serure
(718) 623-1400 x207
(646) 775-7398
hymie@tbmortgage.com
www.tbmortgage.com
Whatever you do, do not look for mortgages or provide your contact info to lendingtree.com. I made that mistake and got on dozens of shady brokers' lists, who are still persistently calling.
Posted by: lizpic at November 24, 2007 9:49 AM in response to Mortgage broker needed
Gotta second the rec for Hymie Serure from Trachtman and Bach. My wife and I used Hymie for our condo through a referral from our real estate agent. I think most mortgage brokers have the same mortgage products available to them, but this guy was approachable, he returned calls promptly, and he somehow found us better terms for our mortgage than friends buying at the same time who used a friend of theirs at Manhattan Mortgage.
Posted by: guest at November 24, 2007 6:47 PM in response to Mortgage broker needed
We have used Lance Tarhan with Avistar Mortgage. He's diligent, prompt in replying to us, and has always done a great job. He also has great reco's for other real estate professionals: 718-238-7222.
Posted by: guest at November 24, 2007 7:46 PM in response to Mortgage broker needed
To all the people who responded to the inquiry:
You should take a course in finance.
You are obviously not
well versed on the subject of money.
To the OP.............There are many different ways to solve a problem.
Why go with the most expensive?
There are high commisions on all sides internally.
.Please think twice before you decide.
Posted by: Ysabelle at November 24, 2007 11:29 PM in response to Mortgage broker needed
This is what happens and it is legal....the Mortgage broker gives the real estate broker 6% commission from the total of the loan.
In other words the real estate broker gets 6% from the seller and 6% from the mortgage broker. 12% for practically doing nothing.
In addition, to the same broker renting the property for you, they get 15% of the years rent from the tenant.
If some of these R.E. brokers cannot make a living they must be really stupid!
Both professions are snarky.
remember this.......You might be able to negotiate a lower sale price from the owner directly if you do not use a r.e. broker.
Another possibility is, if you are a first time buyer, there might be legit programs that can help you with all of this for much less.
Posted by: Ysabelle at November 25, 2007 10:41 AM in response to Mortgage broker needed
He's amazingly good and can get a mortgage processed in record time! Highly recommend him.
Jonathan W. Meadors
Loan Officer
(212) 692-8396 Office
(917) 687-9074 Mobile
(646) 843-2712 Fax
Preferred Empire Mortgage
205 East 42nd Street
6th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Posted by: guest at November 25, 2007 7:54 PM in response to Mortgage broker needed
ysabelle, once again, you've shown that you have no idea what you're talking about. as a real estate broker who has been in the business for seven years, and who now, after years of hard work, sells about $12-15MM in property each year, I can tell you that I have NEVER been offered a nickel from a mortgage broker to steer clients to him/her, nor would I accept it. agents DO NOT receive a percentage of the mortgage financed when referring a mortgage broker to a buyer. it's JUST NOT TRUE. I am curious where you get your information from. I work my ASS OFF for my clients to provide them excellent customer service and can assure you that I would only recommend a mortgage broker (or a contractor, or plumber or painter or architect) who I was convinced would adhere to the same work ethic as do I - good customer service and nothing less than excellent results. look deep into your insecurities and explore why you have such hostility and suspicion regarding real estate professionals? (ditto anyone else who harbors the same hostility.) did you try selling real estate and find yourself a failure at it? did you get receive a post-graduate degree (as have many of us brokers at the big firms, by the way) and consider yourself underpaid and resentful? could there be a tinge of sexism sub-surface which convinces you that only Wall Street women should earn six figures? (many of us came from Wall Street jobs to sell, so surely that's not the case). is it the potentially high-paying service-oriented nature of the profession you find distasteful or "snarky" ("snarky"??)? or are you really that misinformed? are there sleazy agents? oh hell yea, waaay too many, as there are sleazy mailmen, teachers, physicians, artists, doctors, writers -- well you get my point. the majority of us have integrity and are hard-working individuals trying to pay our bills and feed our children in a difficult, unpredictable, over-saturated field and we do our best at it. if you prefer to sell your apt FSBO and then go to your local bank for a mortgage for your next home, God bless ya. go for it. but don't fabricate stories or critcize the people trained to make or save you money on the transaction, instead.
Posted by: guest at November 26, 2007 1:29 AM in response to Mortgage broker needed
To 1:29 AM
The commission the mortgage broker gives the real estate broker
or company is legal.
You do not need a college degree to become a real estate broker.
I bought several pieces of property in ny from private sellers where the transactions all went smoothly in a timely manner.
Yes, I am happy with all my purchases and the sellers were happy not to be tied up with a middleman (woman?)
It is called freedom of choice.
Real estate brokers are a good resource for people not familiar with the area.
There are several creative ways to do business as long as all parties agree.
That is the purpose of a contract.
It is all spelled out in writing with all parties involved.
I am glad I did not go to a university.
Life taught me how to think and accept differences in people.
Everybody has a right to make a living as long it is legal.
PS
All my property is paid for in full.
I am not in debt.
Are You?
Posted by: Ysabelle at November 26, 2007 8:01 PM in response to Mortgage broker needed
Manhattan Mortgage is great as well.
Posted by: AJAS at November 23, 2007 2:01 PM in response to Mortgage broker needed