Do any people making comments about the A/C take the subway from these stops? I take it from Utica most days and it is 13-16 minutes to Chambers St on most days. I make it to Penn Station (In Newark, New Jersey) in about an 1:10, including my 15 minute walk to the subway. Occasional stops about 2 or 3 times a month.

Maybe I'm just lucky though, because I take it relatively early (before 7:30).

I'd guess it would take longer from Clinton Hill, because it seems like there is one C train for every 2 or 3 A trains in the morning.

On the house though, I think it's overpriced by about $100K. Someone looking for a mortgage would not be able to get it appraised at that asking price.

Posted by: HCarson at February 8, 2007 3:42 PM in response to House of the Day: 464 Macon Street

I've used MrLandlord.com/onlinechecks to run credit checks. You have to demonstrate that you're a landlord to run credit checks through these types of services, so it may take a couple of days to set it up. I found Landlord411.com a good source for forms. You may want to speak with an attorney too if you're a first-time landlord. . .

Posted by: HCarson at January 30, 2007 3:21 PM in response to Form Rental Application and Credit Check

I'd be interested in the coop idea too.

Posted by: HCarson at November 16, 2006 2:42 PM in response to Super school - Help for challenged handywomen

oops typo - 3-family tax class. I need some caffeine . . .

Posted by: HCarson at November 16, 2006 2:01 PM in response to House of the Day: 226 Hancock Street

I take back the 3-family comment. The tax class is 4-family, but the C-of-O looks like 4.

Posted by: HCarson at November 16, 2006 1:58 PM in response to House of the Day: 226 Hancock Street

1:57 - methinks you have a stake in the building. . .

Posted by: HCarson at October 23, 2006 4:15 PM in response to Details on the Stuy Heights House Auction?

I haven't seen them in person, but here is a cautionary tale about the counters. http://www.fire-slate.com/

There is also a company at Navy Yard that makes a recycled concrete/recycled glass material called Icestone (http://www.icestone.biz) that I would liek to use when I finally get a chance to do my kitchen. I figure the visual texture would hide marks that might occur on the concrete. . .

Posted by: HCarson at September 20, 2006 1:07 PM in response to Concrete kitchen counters

I have to give the broker credit for having photos that show it in it's best possible light . . .

Posted by: HCarson at September 11, 2006 4:03 PM in response to House of the Day: 81 Bainbridge

I agree with Anon 3:17. I went to see it back in May. Although it had some nice bones, it needed a ton of work. The current owner's contractor even started "improvements" by tearing out the great cedar closets that are common to these houses. Put in 300K and you'd might have a house worth $1.2M in this neighborhood. Not so good after closing expenses. . .

I love the houses on this stretch of Bainbridge, it's very convenient to the Utica subway stop, and I could definitely see spending over $1M on a place in Bed-Stuy. Just not this one.

They're hanging tough on the price though - it's been on the market a while, so why not raise the price $5K?

Hang on to your deal on MacDonough - there are definitely people paying more than you seem to think is appropriate for nice 1- and 2-BR brownstone apts.

Posted by: HCarson at September 11, 2006 4:02 PM in response to House of the Day: 81 Bainbridge

I used Gateway Plumbing (I'm sure it's on the right side of the screen). They were much more thorough than the previous company we had service the boiler. If you are new to steam heat, they can also do an assessment of your whole system (radiators, etc.) to see if it is sized and set-up correctly.

Posted by: HCarson at September 7, 2006 10:57 AM in response to Furnace maintenance

I really wanted to do this, but was told that I couldn't in the stairwell of our four-family. I even bought a couple decent-looking, interior motion-sensor lights. We were told that a light that dims/turns on full would be acceptable, but we couldn't find one. We weren't able to verify this either way, so just ended up going with CFLs.
It may be different with a 3-family.

We have a light sensor on the front lights, and it works like a charm. If lights are wired together, it's just an attachment to one of the lights. A handyman should be able to do it.

Posted by: HCarson at August 29, 2006 2:07 PM in response to Common Area & Front Door Light

TonyTone - I'm thinking of using the modular panels on our roof. As soon as I get the okay from a structural engineer, that is.

Most of the example projects are large facilities, but they now have a DIY system that runs about $9/sq foot.
http://www.greenroofs.com/guest_features.htm

Posted by: HCarson at August 29, 2006 1:36 PM in response to A Green Roof: Can You Dig It

Four families are exempt from the mansion tax, but the mortgage recording tax is at a higher level (more than 1/5% I believe). So it's about even in the end . . .

Posted by: HCarson at August 28, 2006 9:25 AM in response to Mansion Tax

Trex is pretty good but only "fire resistent" not "fire proof". A dense, oily hardwood like ipe has a better fire rating. I think it is actually the same rating as concrete. . .

Posted by: HCarson at August 28, 2006 9:01 AM in response to Trex Deck kosher with DOB?

The city shouldn't object. Just make sure that you don't build anything that will raise the level of the dirt around the tree - it can damage the tree.

Check out http://treesny.com/index.html for more information.

Posted by: HCarson at August 28, 2006 8:53 AM in response to Sidewalk Tree Fence (with comments enabled)

I second yo's idea. Not on wheels, but it doesn't have to be anchored to the floor either.

Posted by: HCarson at August 18, 2006 10:06 AM in response to Garden level - now with expert drawing!

Is it a condo or co-op? What's the square footage? Where is it? Can't tell if it's a decent price . . .

Posted by: HCarson at August 7, 2006 11:45 AM in response to Condo of the Day: Loft at 248 17th Street

If you look at the fourth page, the average price of $1.5M in Fort Greene would suggest that it is well ahead of Bed-Stuy.

Posted by: HCarson at August 7, 2006 11:36 AM in response to Halstead Mid-Year Townhouse Report

For a good, watertight seal, the caulk should be removed before new caulk is applyed. A flat razer scraper should be used, not a putty knife, if you want to avoid damaging the tiles. It shouldn't take more than 1 - 1.5 hours, and a neat (emphasis on the neat) handyman should be able to do it if you don't want to do it yourself. IMHO, I find that running a finger along the caulk line makes the smallest, smoothest caulk line.

Be careful if someone recommends grouting the line - grout is not meant for 90-degree angles, and probably is not flexible enough for that joint. Lastly, don't be cheap on the caulk. A couple of extra bucks on one tube of the lifetime-guaranteed silicone may save you headaches in the future.

Posted by: HCarson at August 2, 2006 3:22 PM in response to Bathroom Caulking Job

I don't understand - it doesn't sound like they're really looking for buyers, yet they have a "For Sale" sign on the building. No internet advertising and no information over the phone sounds like they're really doing a disservice to their client. Or the seller isn't very motivated. . .

Did they try and tell you that they had something else you might be interested in, NewStoner?

Posted by: HCarson at August 2, 2006 1:37 PM in response to Under the Radar: 147 Greene Avenue

Not exactly digging the "Luxury Kitchen".

How (and why) did they fit 5 baths on two floors?

Posted by: HCarson at July 18, 2006 3:26 PM in response to House of the Day: 75-Footer on President

Interesting, the way they automatically excluded all places below 50,000 and above 300,000 people. No place in NYC stood a chance. It also explains why they classify Wichita as a "big city".

Posted by: HCarson at July 18, 2006 10:36 AM in response to NYC Not the Best?

You would lose more than a month's rent if you sign a lease for a year, break it, and it takes more than a month to fill the aparment.

Did you try posting on CL? Some people might be looking for a person who wants a month-to-month lease.

Posted by: HCarson at July 11, 2006 3:17 PM in response to Finding a sublet during renovation

I would also suggest speaking with an architect. We have 5 kitchens, but there wasn't any question of it being a 5-family - we were told we'd need a 5th full bathroom too for that to be questioned. I'm not promising that's true, that's just what we were told.

I also don't know how deep your basement is, but it may not be possible to make it a legal aparment if it is more than 50% underground and doesn't have at least two exits.

Renting out rooms should be fine if you are sharing living areas/kitchen/etc. That would be like taking on a roommate. If you are adding a kitchen on a separate floor, then it could probably be viewed as a separate apartment.

You may not have a C-of-O (we don't either), but what did your title search say the house was supposed to be? Changing to a 3-family may increase your taxes quite a bit. . .

Posted by: HCarson at July 11, 2006 3:09 PM in response to legal vs. illegal construction?

Thank you HC.

Posted by: Original Poster at January 30, 2007 3:32 PM in response to Form Rental Application and Credit Check

tenant verification service does all you described plus credit scorefor about$35 and is instant on the screen and printable. I used it to check my tenants.

www.tenantverification.com

Posted by: brooklyn butterfly at January 30, 2007 6:44 PM in response to Form Rental Application and Credit Check

The Landlord Protection Agency

www.thelpa.com

Posted by: at January 31, 2007 1:05 PM in response to Form Rental Application and Credit Check

www.Landlord2Landlord.com

Posted by: Quique Lopez at February 5, 2007 12:08 PM in response to Form Rental Application and Credit Check

Update . . .

I came across referrals for the NHS workshope here and got info on upcoming worksops. Turns out there was an open house last night for an upcoming workshop and it sounds great.

There will be a Level 1 class on Saturdays from 9-12 starting on February 17.

There will be a Level 2 class on Tuesdays (?) from 6pm-9pm starting next week or the week after.

There is room in both classes for a few more people. The workshops won't be offered again until September.

Posted by: SR at February 9, 2007 10:29 AM in response to Super school - Help for challenged handywomen

The Landlord Protection Agency has a new credit report provider called "Clearscreen". The nice thing is that the credit reports are cheaper and they there is NO onsite inspection for private landlords.

I have been a member for six or seven years and use the LPA forms all the time. It's made a positive difference for me.

Posted by: Jack Klein at June 20, 2007 10:04 AM in response to Form Rental Application and Credit Check