SOLD

Posted by: BrianR at November 11, 2009 1:43 PM in response to Exterior Door Handles/Pulls

Peter - Please email me at mileslou@hotmail.com. I am in Sunset Park - we can work out a meeting spot in Brooklyn or Manhattan.

Best,
Brian

Posted by: BrianR at November 2, 2009 12:29 PM in response to Door Handles for Sale

My brother did this years ago in Manhattan. He said it was an absolutely horrible experience and would never do it again. It lasts longer than expected and the crew will completely disregard your home, belongings etc. And, they will completely piss off all your neighbors so that your neighbors ultimately resent you for allowing it in the first place.

Definitely don't do it!!

Posted by: BrianR at October 29, 2009 11:07 AM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie

Here's more information...

Cronin Custom Builders Inc.

references available
845.430.8353

Posted by: BrianR at October 20, 2009 1:59 PM in response to HUDSON VALLEY?? Contractor?

Try contacting Ryan Cronin in New Paltz. He is very honest and does excellent work. Try the email address below...

cronartusa@gmail.com

Posted by: BrianR at October 20, 2009 1:54 PM in response to HUDSON VALLEY?? Contractor?

This place is definitely worth at least its ask of $720K. Renovated, even in this market, this house is worth at least $850K. It's the best block in the neighborhood.

Posted by: BrianR at August 26, 2009 7:01 PM in response to House of the Day: 552 47th Street

I live on 47th Street. In my opinion, litter is one of the biggest quality of life issues in SP. I don't doubt that there are other, political, issues contributing to Sanitation's cleaning schedule. However, until people stop throwing their shit all over the place, SP needs to be cleaned 4 times a week.

BTW - I have a car. I plan accordingly and only move it twice a week.

Posted by: BrianR at July 29, 2009 2:47 PM in response to Sunset Park Alt Side Parking

They're doing this to everyone - it's happening quite a bit in Manhattan too. They're then forcing borrowers (at their own expense) to hire appraisers to provide a value that proves Chase's "proven valuation method" wrong.

It's a ridiculous process and they're doing it to some of the best customers... but it's definitely not a form of red-lining.

Posted by: BrianR at May 22, 2009 10:18 AM in response to Chase Turns Off Our Spigot—For Now at Least

Call Joey at 646-345-6400. He did our basement - he was very good and very cheap

Posted by: BrianR at April 2, 2009 2:11 PM in response to Finally tackling the basement

We have a similar situation. Our mortgage is through Wells Fargo and our rate is 6% on a 30 year. Fannie is killing the multi-family owners (we wouldn't have these problems if we had a single family). Rates aren't moving on them and Fannie is trying to get the money up front; forcing homeowners to buy points in order to lower the rate. I have found that the rate is generally 5.375% but we have an option to go down to 4.875% if we pay two points. I wouldn't do this but if I stick with Wells we don't have to pay the city's 1.8% mortgage recording tax again. I can use the savings to buy the points.

Keep watching the rates - I can't believe you have to go to 5.6% on your multi, but I'm not sure %5.375 is worth it.

The other thing is, Wells is requiring a 75/25 LTV on our Brooklyn 2 fam. It's a difference maker depending on your equity.

Posted by: BrianR at April 2, 2009 10:46 AM in response to 1% penalty on 2 family?

We lived on the second floor at 78 PPW for two or three years. Believe or not, the noise was horrible from the traffic. I think it really depends on where in the building you are located.

Posted by: BrianR at March 11, 2009 1:43 PM in response to Prospect Park West Noise

Buy a house in Sunset Park for about a million bucks. While the neighborhood's services are still lacking, its the best value in Brooklyn.

Posted by: BrianR at January 21, 2009 11:41 AM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Call Joey of Beta Construction. He's very reasonable and does great work.

(646) 345-6400

Posted by: BrianR at January 14, 2009 12:58 PM in response to Need contractor for minor reno

Check my post above... (contractor recommendation)

Posted by: BrianR at October 17, 2008 2:05 PM in response to ISO Flooring Contractor for Parquet Floor Repair

This happened to me in Sunset Park about 2 or 3 years ago. I own a house on th block but was having a beer with a friend on his stoop down the street (he owns on the block too). The cops were very aggressive and were ready to bust for smoking weed to (even though we weren't). We were just "having a beer" and were not "partying at all". We got tickets and I actually went to the 72nd precinct the next day to compalin. I honestly think there are more significant issues to address in the neighborghood than us having a beer.

I had to go to court, but they give you an option to take a quick "quality of life" course. It lasts about an hour and the fine is waved. The whole thing was totally ridiculous. The logic is that your stoop is a public place because it is in public view - regardless of wheter or not you own it. And for the record we were behind a gate, so that's not an issue.

From talking to the cops I learned that the best thing to do is to have that drink on your stoop. Just pour your beer in a cup or glass.

Posted by: BrianR at August 29, 2008 10:51 AM in response to Is Your Stoop Private Property?

Same block, slightly smaller but better condition.

443 45th Street $1,050,000, closed 6/2/2008

Posted by: BrianR at June 24, 2008 3:41 PM in response to House of the Day: 467 45th Street

This place will easily sell for high 800s.

Although a bit overpriced, 462 45th Street just went to market at $1,075,000

This block is okay for Sunset Park. There are a few better but most are worse. It's convenient becuase it's close to the R train, but also gets quite a bit of traffic in the mornings.

Posted by: BrianR at June 24, 2008 2:15 PM in response to House of the Day: 467 45th Street

Not sure as these were painted over time - they could very well have been painted after the 1970s.

The doors are "On Hold".

Posted by: BrianR at June 18, 2008 1:44 PM in response to Interior Double Doors For Sale

Hi Liani,

I just received this link from a client of ours who lives in Brooklyn.

We would love to chat and see what your needs are? We operate a full service construction company and specialize in custom work and renovations. We have several clients in the NY/Brooklyn area and are happy to furnish references.

Please feel free to give Ryan an a ring 845.430.8353.

Warmly,

Melanie Cronin
Cronin Custom Builders
New Paltz, NY

Posted by: cronartusa at October 20, 2009 2:01 PM in response to HUDSON VALLEY?? Contractor?

I have done a couple of jobs with an outfit based in Saugerties. For a substantial-sized job, they will work all over the Hudson Valley, and they are excellent contractors.

Porcelli Construction
845-246-4800
porcelliconst@aol.com

Posted by: brooklyn architect at October 21, 2009 12:14 PM in response to HUDSON VALLEY?? Contractor?

We had units scouted in our building...I believe the payment offered was $1500/day for the apartment owner and $500/day payable to the co-op directly. Fell through in the end (production company changed their mind about the shoot locations).

Posted by: arches at October 29, 2009 11:14 AM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie

Here's something very telling - people who work in film never let film crews use their home as a location. Because they know what happens.

Posted by: traditionalmod at October 29, 2009 11:15 AM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie

We've had our interior and exterior used twice by "Law & Order" (admittedly not a full-blown movie shoot, but you'd never guess it by the massive incursion of rigs and equipment), and they were WONDERFUL--so careful to replace your stuff that they used a Polaroid to re-situate the knickknacks. They were also just real nice folks, considerate and engaging; they have to be, given how much location shooting they do and how much "L&O exhaustion" some oft-used areas develop. Can't speak to movies or commercials, since we haven't had one of those (yet).
We did turn down two offers, btw: one for a Metallica video (that wanted to shoot on a Thanksgiving day and pitched us desperately the day before--now that would've been an amusing Turkey Day!), and one for a cheap ambush-style reality show called "I Hate Your House" (we don't,thank you very much!)
And of course, we aren't co-op'ers, so we don't have to worry about a Board...

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at October 29, 2009 11:54 AM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie

jeez brenda. you turned down metallica? ;-)

Posted by: CGmodern at October 29, 2009 12:02 PM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie

Interesting CH5! What are the details? I also liked reading the selection of horror stories and good reports. Do you think you'll pursue it? I guess I think that in a coop, the coop itself does deserve a fee, since most buildings are for residences (only, or pretty close to it), and film shoots can be pretty disruptive.

Posted by: Minmin at October 29, 2009 12:28 PM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie

A film crew used the interior of our parlor floor to shoot street views for that recent Al Pacino/Carla Gugino movie. There is usually a standard contract. It went later than expected, but then we asked for more money and got it. At my BIL's advice, we made the bathroom off-limits for crew usage.

Posted by: tiptoe at October 29, 2009 1:16 PM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie

I work in the industry and I wouldn't do it. The damage that kind of equipment can cause is huge. It may be little things but they are bound to scratch floors, ding up walls, etc.
If you do decide to go for it put hours restriction as part of the deal, make them pay you overtime. Any studio would do the same thing. If they aren't paying hourly they are bound to take longer.

Posted by: jo84 at October 29, 2009 1:51 PM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie

In my professional capacity I've hosted ~15 shoots in various properties (all historic, all with busy schedules) and in my personal life, we've had a 7 day indie release shot in our house. From my perspective, here's a short list of good/bad:

BAD: HUGE numbers of people on your site. A small/mid size motion picture unit is 5-10 trucks plus 50-75 crew. A large is 15 trucks and double the crew. Not all of the crew will be in your space at the same time but all of them will need access to your surroundings. Streets, sidewalks, stairwells, whatever. They'll need it and take it.

BAD: Many film people tend to ask for forgiveness instead of permission while they are doing their job. This comment isn't meant to be slanderous to the profession, it's just the nature of their job. They're under a serious time crunch and chances are that when they're on location, they're working 16 hours out of 24. Anything that slows things down is a problem that they want to solve in the shortest/quickest way possible.

GOOD: For the most part, the first offer of cash is the low ball. Even indie shoots budget much higher than the $1500/$500 offers. For the indie shoot (with major stars) in our house, we got $3k/shoot day plus $1500/prep day. Majors, depending on how invasive they are (I'm thinking special FX here. Pyro, blood, stunts) commonly settle for a LOT more than that.

GOOD: It's fun. Crazy but fun. And you'll have a momento for your grandkids to laugh at later.

The biggest piece of advice I can give is that you should never assume that their understanding of terms is equal to your understanding of terms. If you're not in the business, you won't have the same context for terms as they do. See my note about unit sizes. You might hear them say small unit and think a couple of trucks and they might actually be saying much more. Don't be afraid to ask many, many questions. The location folks that approached you will be more than happy to answer them and unless they're bad, they'll be inclined to give you a clear and honest (ish) answer. After all, there's nothing worse than having to talk a panic ridden location owner down from the ledge as their units are pulling up to the door.

Hope this helps.

Posted by: fauxvic at October 29, 2009 1:51 PM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie