I am glad he was good and reasonable. I'll have to copy his contact info for possible future uses. I can agree with you regarding bad and expensive electricians that have been recommend on this site.

Blaze Electric - Quoted over $3500, entire time he was talking, I was saying, "What? I can't understand you. Say again please." Wash, rinse, and repeat.

Super Charged - Nice guy, quote over $3500, won't fix drywall and prime/paint (combo mix) afterward.

Guy I am using right now - Nice guy, quote $1350, & fix drywall and prime/paint (combo mix) afterward. I will recommend him as well once all jobs are complete.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 20, 2009 4:29 PM in response to Great Electrician

I like that Shred Services lets you verify on the spot that the items are being shredded.

Does the UPS office let you verify that the items are shredded? Do they let you watch the items from the moment you pass it off to them to it's final destroyed form? I'd hate to think it possible for employees to rummage through your sensitive information if they wanted to. Takes the secure out of secure shredding.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 20, 2009 9:18 AM in response to shredding papers

Couple questions:

1. Why in the world did you spend over $20k for just a mattress?

2. Are you a billionaire?

3. Why are you selling this mattress after you just got?

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 19, 2009 12:45 PM in response to Carpe Diem / Hastens Bed

Burn it. It is the most secure method to destroy sensitive information. Not that is an option for most people in a dense, crowed environment - but I'm just saying. It's the cheapest as well.

Maybe outside the city... car?...

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 18, 2009 1:45 PM in response to shredding papers

^---- Only the studios on floor 2 - 9 and even on those floors there are I think 5 units per those floors with 1 & 2 bedrooms are not studios (read legal bedrooms). Floors above 9 are on the first setback and are more expensive and more light. The lamest units are 2 floor studios with a spiral staircase on I think floors 23 and 24.

I almost bought here. I still have the original sponsor offering plan with all the floorplans for every unit in the building. (It cost $300!).

I think for 9 is one of the best floors. It has I think 12' ceilings. Others are 10'6" and some of the 20th floor and up have 11'+ ceilings.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 18, 2009 11:32 AM in response to A Few More Sales Trickle In at BellTel

FHA loans, the new subprime.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 18, 2009 10:36 AM in response to A Few More Sales Trickle In at BellTel

"It was an office bulding and does have a lot of interior space- so not great for families..."

I don't understand this. A lot of interior space IS NOT great for families? For me a lot of interior space IS GREAT for a family, but hey, maybe that's just me.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 18, 2009 10:29 AM in response to A Few More Sales Trickle In at BellTel

Not only unenforceable, but illegal to start off with. Will never hold up in court.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 16, 2009 2:38 PM in response to Bedbug Clause in Lease?

I want names! :) Who are these greedy, self-entitled, a$$hat neighbors of hers?

At least with the lawsuit, their names will be known. And, their address! Let's prepare by taking your dozen eggs out of the frig and letting it get rotten just right for the lawsuit happy, f&*(tards!

j/k? kinda of, but would be happy if it happend - the rotten eggs I mean.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 16, 2009 11:32 AM in response to Cobble Hill Neighbors Irked by Norah Jones' Windows

Forgot to add, this is another of many reasons why anybody with a spec of public profile should buy real estate with a LLC and keep their personal names off of the public record.

Not that people wont recognize you on the street, but every little bit helps with nosy-evil-hateful-greedy people.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 16, 2009 11:08 AM in response to Cobble Hill Neighbors Irked by Norah Jones' Windows

Her neighbors are a bunch of crybabies. Hope the middle school kids egg their homes! haha!!

+1 = Norah Jones
-1 = The Douchebag neighbors

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 16, 2009 11:06 AM in response to Cobble Hill Neighbors Irked by Norah Jones' Windows

I could care less if Dan Goldstein is offered less money than before, besides, he's the one that didn't want to sell during the peak of the real estate boom. Now that we have lost trillions of dollars in this financial mess, he want's to be courted by Ratner again at above peak bubble prices?

What a douchebag. Major Fail! And so to is the WSJ writer of this garbage piece.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 16, 2009 9:40 AM in response to Goldstein Offered Less Than What He Paid for Condo

Streeteasy is very handing:
http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/newdevs/downtown-brooklyn-brooklyn/has_listings:0

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 15, 2009 1:10 AM in response to The Toren's Competition

$300 is not a lot for advertising, heck, it's a pathetic amount and if you can't afford $300, what else can't they afford. I smell cutting corners quickly follows.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 5, 2009 3:01 PM in response to Brownstoner Directory Reaches Milestone of 50 Listings

1. How much is the class?
2. How many days a week, for how many weeks?
3. Do you need to bring anything with you to the classes (tools wise)?

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 4, 2009 5:01 PM in response to DIY Beginner Project?

This is more about the land and location. $150k tops.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 4, 2009 11:12 AM in response to Rate It: 513 MacDonough Street Sells for $420,000

Too much of course. This isn't 2006.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 4, 2009 10:43 AM in response to Rate It: 513 MacDonough Street Sells for $420,000

Yes, I get it now.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 2, 2009 9:46 AM in response to Where Are the Electricians?

Yes, I get now.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 2, 2009 9:46 AM in response to Where Are the Electricians?

Matching window sills and floors.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at October 31, 2009 9:19 PM in response to Creative Use of Leftover Floor?

ms - Thx, still not exactly sure about it in my condo building.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at October 25, 2009 10:52 AM in response to Exhaust Hood Necessary?

Does code allow for splicing a kitchen exhaust fan to a bathroom exhaust vent since they are right next to each other?

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at October 25, 2009 12:05 AM in response to Exhaust Hood Necessary?

^--- How much did he charge for the glass frameless shower doors installation? Ballpark figure would be nice.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at October 19, 2009 4:39 PM in response to Recs from Renovation

Thx for the heads-up. I've been interviewing and checking out contractors for the past 4 weeks and there are a lot of horrible contractors out there.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at October 16, 2009 8:39 PM in response to Nayci the Terrible Contractor

The white painted bookcases look really nice from the pic, but the yellowish-red stained(?) bookcases look very amateur DIYish. Perhaps I'm wrong and the lighting is off, but nevertheless, it's ok. I'm sure once the books are in the shelves will look that much better.

Can't wait to check it out. Hopefully, the book prices won't be 2x that of Barnes & Noble.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at October 16, 2009 3:34 PM in response to Greenlight Bookstore Renovation Blog: Week 11

Is this the Gothamist or brownstoner? I don't know... it's hard to tell.

fail.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at October 14, 2009 12:07 PM in response to McDonald's Robber Apprehended in Slope

I hope they have a decent bar and restaurant in there. It'll be nice just walking a few short blocks as opposed to a slightly longer (especially in the winter) trek to Brooklyn Heights or Smith Street or Atlantic Street for a little drink and snack.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at October 7, 2009 4:11 PM in response to Development Watch: Aloft on Duffield

^------- Since when? It's the law, the LL needs to remedy it asap. Cheap LLs, Brooklyn's full of them.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at October 7, 2009 4:08 PM in response to 373 92nd Street

Do it right with a boxed in concrete - bath... thing (sorry, don't know the definition), but you get the idea. No handyman special as the above stated.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at October 3, 2009 12:33 PM in response to Shower Advice Needed Urgently

I really like it as well and I have to give the sponsor/developer BIG thanks for not building another crappy fedders building or another fugly flat facade, box like crapitecture inspired by low ceiling projects. I think the round edges are a major plus as well.

Too bad more developers don't build or at least attempt to build beautiful buildings anymore.

MAJOR +

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at October 2, 2009 12:59 PM in response to The Venetian Unveiled

Of course bikers should be banned. There have been so many close calls with bikers going very, very fast and almost hitting people and joggers.

Riding bikes on the sidewalk is illegal and riding bikes on the walkway should be the same. Bikes belong on the road with cars.

Not very difficult to understand.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at September 29, 2009 10:37 AM in response to Bikes and Bodies on the Brooklyn Bridge

Welcome Bjork.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at September 28, 2009 10:23 AM in response to Confirmed: Björk and Barney Take the Heights

I'm interested; what did he charge for your projects?

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at September 24, 2009 10:34 AM in response to Great handyman plumbing/locks

Once again - "waaaaaaaaaaaaa" & "cry me a river". You win the biggest self-entitled p^&sy award. Stop by your nearest Duane Reade to pick up some tampons.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at September 22, 2009 10:17 AM in response to Sleepless on Livingston

What a complaining douche! Cry me a river - the city fixing the roads! at night! while the street traffic is at it's lowest! how dare they!

& shame on brownstoner for giving this complaining douche attention by posting his/her selfish complaint.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at September 22, 2009 9:59 AM in response to Sleepless on Livingston

Better design than the original proposal. Also, not having a "master plan" for the eventual buildings around this arena is a good thing. Do people really like the "cohesion" and uniformity battery park city? No, it would be better this way.

Serendipity anyone?

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at September 10, 2009 11:31 AM in response to Ourousoff Weighs In On Barclay's Center Design

Re: $750K-$1 Million Range: CARROLL GARDENS
95 Summit Street; Price=$900,000

Wow, I didn't think entire townhouses went for that low of a price, until I looked at the map. It's on the "wrong" side of the BQE.

BROWNSTONER:

Might I suggest using/linking onnyturf.com subway/gmap mash-up instead of the regular gmap? People get a much better sense of where the subways are in relation to a particular location.

e.g.:
http://www.onnyturf.com/subway/?Address=95%20summit%20street%2C%20brooklyn

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at September 10, 2009 11:24 AM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million

They're losers. Are you surprised by the number of a$$tard$ you see around here?

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at August 15, 2009 6:09 PM in response to Motorcycle Gangs on Fulton St?

Shouldn't the costs be split according to the % of ownership - 45%/55%?

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at August 14, 2009 5:05 PM in response to Safety in 2 Unit Coop?

Remind me again, how many stories City Point is going to be "this" time?

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at August 13, 2009 10:52 AM in response to City Point Gets Financing Boost from The Feds

TT: California Closets and the like quoted an avg of $3,500 for:

1. Closets that weren't very custom fitting. Shelves did not reach the ceiling.
2. The shelves are a fixed width. E.g. can't have 18" deep shelves.
3. The edges are cheap veneered and ironed on.
4. There are no backings for the shelves and closets.
5. Wood is particle board with laminate.

A decent carpenter built a very modern closet from plans and the total cost was $1,200, but that did not include the staining and painting (which I did myself).

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at August 11, 2009 1:20 PM in response to Closet Design

California Closets, Castle Closets, and similar companies produce really cheap and ugly looking closets. These options are fine if you're a renter but if you own, it really pays to hire a carpenter and do it right.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at August 11, 2009 12:04 PM in response to Closet Design

25 rentals in that building seems too much. I guess it's going to be just a bunch of small studios & 1 bedrooms.

Too bad developers don't build for family size units - meaning 3+ bedrooms & >1500 sf with >10' ceilings.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at August 6, 2009 4:56 PM in response to Development Watch: 307 Atlantic Avenue

Meant *title* person, not closing person.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at August 3, 2009 1:58 PM in response to Preparing for Closing

There will be something missed by your attorney and you will need to write more checks, but the catch is they will have to be certified checks from your bank, unless, your attorney will vouch for them and most likely s/he won't. So, you will have to get to your bank before it closes and get more certified checks.

And, be prepared to pay your closing person a tip of between $200 - $300 your attorney will tell you to pay. I guess this is the norm for NYC area.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at August 3, 2009 1:57 PM in response to Preparing for Closing

^------- great point!
"...I do not charge my tenant extra when she has a roommate by the same token I don't give her a discount either when she does not..."

This isn't directed at anybody in particular ;) but the LL's that "charge" extra for roommates; do you also deduct when they get rid of their roommates and live alone?

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at July 31, 2009 7:22 PM in response to No Rent Reduction: Stay or Go?

East New York - "It wasn't illegal. I had a perfect right to do this. It was in the lease..."

Really? Are you serious? Well then, according to your logic and thinking, I can then put "no asians, no blacks, no whites, no women, no men, you have to be over 6' tall, you have to be shorter than 5', ad nauseum.

Your lease broke NY State law. Hence, the douchebag title is you have earned is the least of your problems.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at July 31, 2009 1:04 PM in response to No Rent Reduction: Stay or Go?

^-------- There's nothing luxurious about Belltel. Just because their marketing material and sales staff say it is luxury does not mean it is luxury.

If a car salesmen describes a honda and a ford as luxury brands, I'd laugh at them to their face. Some of the units might be expensive, but not really for a luxury building in NYC.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at July 31, 2009 12:55 PM in response to Belltel Joins the FHA Club

Posted by: East New York at July 31, 2009 12:03 PM

You are a douchebag LL for illegally charging your tenant extra rent for having a roommate.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at July 31, 2009 12:37 PM in response to No Rent Reduction: Stay or Go?

"also cats draw vermin because they need food out all day."

Really? From what I have seen cats eat all their food (canned food) in one sitting, leaving nothing in the bowls. I have also heard they are good mousers and are good at getting rid of "vermin". (shakes head, rolls-eyes)

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at July 31, 2009 10:43 AM in response to No Rent Reduction: Stay or Go?

We used Shred Services: (718) 875-1200
They were great. Easy to arrange. Driver brings you a 92 gallon bin...you fill it up (can use as many bins as needed), the driver takes it to the truck, and puts it on a lift. The documents get shredded as they go into the truck, and you can watch the process on a monitor that's built into the side of the truck.

Posted by: hulburt230 at November 18, 2009 9:31 PM in response to shredding papers

OP here. Thanks for your posts.

1. Why I am selling this mattress? A fair q.
Many people like a Swedish-style bed. My wife really likes this bed, she gets a great night's sleep in it. I liked the idea of it too. They feel great in the showroom.

But I have a bulging disc in my lower back and this mattress seems to make it worse. Salespeople of Swedish beds will say that this kind of bed is better for bad backs but I have not found that to be the case for me. I have no general opinion on the matter. I am going to back to a firmer American-style bed.

I am not trying to convince anyone to buy a Swedish-style bed or a Hastens or Carpe Diem in particular. But there are people who do buy these beds, and this could be a chance for such a person to buy one for much less.

This will end up as an expensive experiment.

2. I'm not not a billionaire and I didn't pay a full $20k.
But I have bought into the bed industry's marketing of paying up for a premium bed (half you life in bed, etc). I have always had a premium-priced bed (not as pricey as this though) and thought it was worth it. Not trying to convince anyone that they should too. My post is only targeted at people who are already in the market for this kind of bed and price-point.

3. Disposable.
I wouldn't call a mattress a "disposable" item. I think many people use theirs for 5-10 years.

4. Body oil, fluids, bed bugs etc.
We definitely do not have bed bugs.

But in general you are right that these are concerns. Yet people do regularly buy pre-owned items (sofas, clothes, furniture). If you never buy used items, I respect that. But there are people who do and such people check thinigs for such issues, and my post is directed at them.

Thanks.

Posted by: renoishard at November 19, 2009 5:24 PM in response to Carpe Diem / Hastens Bed

I just found out that the UPS office down the street from does shredding. You can do it yourself or have them do it. They charge by the pound.

Posted by: hancockone at November 19, 2009 6:02 PM in response to shredding papers

Well, we are not in the market for a Carpe Diem/Hastens bed right now (nor will we likely ever be). And most certainly not for a used one. But I must say, Renoishard, that was one damn good response! Good luck on nailing your target!

Posted by: Brooklynista at November 19, 2009 7:56 PM in response to Carpe Diem / Hastens Bed

I like that Shred Services lets you verify on the spot that the items are being shredded.

Does the UPS office let you verify that the items are shredded? Do they let you watch the items from the moment you pass it off to them to it's final destroyed form? I'd hate to think it possible for employees to rummage through your sensitive information if they wanted to. Takes the secure out of secure shredding.

Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 20, 2009 9:18 AM in response to shredding papers

I see ProShred Security around a lot at the co ops in manhattan, guessing for the boards etc. Never used them personally.

Posted by: invisible at November 20, 2009 9:51 AM in response to shredding papers

Thanks theklahy for writing all that up. Usually people only take the time to rant, rarely to rave.
At cookiecutterbrownstone, it is very unusual for an electrician to handle repair of plaster and paint. I always exclude it in my contracts, and if it's mandatory I sub it out. You wouldn't expect your carpenter to run power to the lights on your new cabinets would you?

Posted by: Bklyn Fire Alarm Guy at November 20, 2009 7:30 PM in response to Great Electrician

Oh my goodness. I sympathize with your plight. In my experience, the better (fluffier) a bed feels in the showroom, the more it squishes down and sags and gives you a backache in real life. Good luck.

Posted by: mopar at November 20, 2009 10:59 PM in response to Carpe Diem / Hastens Bed