I totally agree, please don't take it out! But if you must...I might be interested.

raisarex AT gmail.com

Posted by: RAR at October 6, 2009 11:13 AM in response to Butler's Pantry for Sale

oh ps, it has a dishwasher, AND a big tub, and is pretty darn nice if i may say so myself.

Posted by: RAR at May 31, 2009 5:38 PM in response to Looking for an Apartment

I have a large apartment I'll be renting in August (3 beds, separate dining room) in Park Slope, but it might be out of your price range (it's an upper duplex, sorry, no roof deck yet, we ran out of $ to put one up). What is your price range?

Posted by: RAR at May 31, 2009 5:37 PM in response to Looking for an Apartment

Hey me here, I mean something even weirder, that the tenant would pay in a lump sum up front in exchange for a large discount over time.

Posted by: RAR at May 27, 2009 2:20 PM in response to multiple year lease?

IS the poster above going to take off the tile, too? Cause I'd like both tile and mantel, and if not, I'd remove the tile if I could take the tile.

Posted by: RAR at May 19, 2009 10:30 AM in response to seeking someone to remove mantel

If it isn't already gone, I'm also interested. Can pick up as early as this evening. raisarex AT gmail.com

Posted by: RAR at May 18, 2009 4:22 PM in response to washer dryer for sale -- must go

Strongly recommend Rocco/Plumbing Works. 718-875-6262. Really, I have nothing bad to say. He's a bit gruff but his guys do great work, come when you ask them to/when they say they will, and he charges fair prices. MUCH cheaper than Gateway or Aladdin, and I don't see how I could have gotten better work.

Posted by: RAR at April 29, 2009 6:51 PM in response to Plumber recommendations wanted

Hmmm...Your budget might be a little low, but I'll be renting out a gorgeous 3 bedroom duplex in Park Slope 1.5 blocks from the Q train and 3 from the 2/3 around June 1st of this year. It's not 2 baths, but it is 1.5, washer/dryer, separate dining room, baths and kitchen new, total renovation, but with lots of old details still there...and that's my endorsement for Park Slope (great neighborhood...can't beat the park or, at least where I am, the subways...)

No doorman, top two floors of house, but we'll be owner-occupying the bottom and we work from home.

If you're interested, shoot me an email at raisarex AT gmail.com

Posted by: RAR at April 13, 2009 10:41 AM in response to Safe Neighborhoods?

I love the South Oxford House. Love it. The kitchens and bathrooms aren't necessarily what I would have done, but they're nice enough to live with for a long time. The garden is lovely and the house is adorable. I am not in the market for anything, nor could I afford it, but if I could...I have a thing for well-proportioned small houses.

Posted by: RAR at April 11, 2009 12:22 PM in response to Open House Picks

Hey
We can help!

We took up two floors of original pine boards (well actually one, the ones on the bottom floor were beyond re-use) to have the material to patch the other two floors, and have some leftovers. We'd be happy to let them go quite cheaply, knowing they'll go to restoring another house. You should know that they will need serious sanding--they've had some wear and tear, but we're planning on doing it and I do think they'll look great in the end. Also, if you're in crown heights, aren't your subfloors narrower heartpine boards (just judging from a friend's house...)? Ours are the typical 4ish inches wide, yellow pine. Shoot me an email if I'm wrong in my guesswork and you want to take me up on the offer.

raisarex AT gmail.com

Posted by: RAR at March 3, 2009 11:24 PM in response to 7x5 ft of old pine planks needed

I am, very.

raisarex@gmail.com

please send a couple of pics if possible, thanks.

Posted by: RAR at February 3, 2009 2:20 PM in response to Antique French Oak flooring

Ha! exception made only for the honor and reputation of a very dear friend. I will now return to posting only requests for architectural salvage items and work recommendations. And I will certainly never post pictures of my house here when it's done!!!

Posted by: RAR at January 28, 2009 11:37 AM in response to Interiors: Inside a Brooklyn Heights Brownstone Kitchen

Oh, also, those are promo shots done by the architect in which a large portion of the furniture and personal effects of the family have been removed. According to my friend, never looks like that ever on any of the occasions she's seen the finished product.

Posted by: RAR at January 28, 2009 11:29 AM in response to Interiors: Inside a Brooklyn Heights Brownstone Kitchen

Although I try to avoid embroiling myself in arguments of taste, I feel a need to interject.

This house was done at least 2, if not 3 years ago (have lost track of time). I know this because my best friend was the interior design slave at Steven Harris who did all the work on this house before she went back to architecture school, which was about 2.5 years ago.
I think the cost is outrageous, but it was at the absolute height of the mania (06-07 ish), and you can't really knock someone for having a gazillion dollar kitchen in an 8 million dollar house that was renovated for over a million more.

Additionally, I think my friend did a kick ass jobs (seriously, it's her kitchen and bathroom, and she picked all the furniture and the lighting and designed the custom sofa too--though I'm sure there's no mention on the steven harris website of her). So, these people have money to throw around? I wish I did!!!!! Don't we all!

I happen to think this kitchen is gorgeous, and that the rest of the interior design work my friend did is equally so. But many people don't love modern kitchens/bathrooms in old houses, or wouldn't even like some of the modern furniture she put in. To each his own. But I feel compelled to defend here, for whatever reason, the (I think) beautiful work of a good friend of mine.

Carry on.

Posted by: RAR at January 28, 2009 11:25 AM in response to Interiors: Inside a Brooklyn Heights Brownstone Kitchen

Okay, alternative # 2--I need a carpenter to build a transom and the top of the frame (above the doors, below the transom) for said doors (I cannot afford new doors--not even a possibility). Can you, crabcakes, do this kind of work, and how much would you charge? Actually, I even have someone who can do the transom, I really just need someone who can do the frame and installation.

Or can anyone else recommend a carpenter who's cheaper than Heights, South Slope, or Omar at the Navy Yard?

Posted by: RAR at December 4, 2008 1:09 AM in response to Can I extend a door?

Yes, they are...same situation with all the plumbing in my house, same narsty smell. Smell disappeared as soon as venting situation rectified.

Posted by: RAR at December 3, 2008 3:06 PM in response to farmhouse vent (for plumbing)?

Hey, OWNHS, I am absolutely planning on posting about every workperson I have used (many who came from Brownstoner recs) when I am done, but yes, I would prefer to wait until after the situation has been fully resolved to name names. I only posted part way through to get some opinions on the situation. I would not want other people to have to deal with this.

Posted by: RAR at November 17, 2008 4:42 PM in response to plywood stair risers?!

oh, what if they get kicked and scuffed? My old steps in my other house had really beat up risers. Now I think it's too late since we already told him to get the material to re-do it...

Posted by: RAR at November 17, 2008 3:02 PM in response to plywood stair risers?!

Because of the amount he already got for a deposit it's unlikely that we'll find an estimate less than what he's asking for to fix the whole thing (cause our deposit will be lost)...it's just pretty frustrating, and it's someone who was highly recommended on these forums...

We were planning on staining the whole step, that's why we wanted oak. Everyone else who gave us an estimate seemed to intend to use solid wood, and in fact it does say in the contract "material solid oak"

Posted by: RAR at November 17, 2008 2:59 PM in response to plywood stair risers?!

Hi, yes, bayridgegirl, that's what we did, and they denied us the permit. to BMS, yes, also, i just got a call from the plumber that he can't pull his permit because the general construction permit hasn't been pulled. Very frustrating, but I guess we just have to wait for the appointment and go from there.

i guess what i wanted to know is--how common is it for them to deny a permit to a homeowner? is this just another hoop for us to jump through?

Posted by: RAR at October 24, 2008 7:56 AM in response to Pulling permits w/o GC

I'm also interested. raisarex AT gmail.com

Posted by: RAR at September 9, 2008 11:33 PM in response to Late Victorian/Craftsman Mantels

Thanks! it's the budget...those tubs are between $1500 and $7000 dollars. Stupid demolition depot prices!

Posted by: RAR at August 19, 2008 11:37 PM in response to 2-sided tub, once again!

I'm interested. raisarex@gmail.com

Posted by: RAR at August 6, 2008 10:18 AM in response to Free: Late 40s/early 50s white Caloric stove, four doors, works, pretty good condition

Hi, just tried to contact you, your email is wrong. Please correct! I want your scrap!

Posted by: RAR at August 2, 2008 4:38 PM in response to Scrap Available: Doors, Molding, etc

Oh, I'd also take the bathroom tile if you're getting rid of it.

Posted by: RAR at August 1, 2008 8:09 PM in response to Bathtub available

I'm also interested. raisarex@gmail.com

Posted by: RAR at August 1, 2008 8:08 PM in response to Bathtub available

Grew up on Park Place (hence 282). Think that end of the slope is the sh***.

obv, I wish that house cost $500k less, then I could buy it. Maybe on closer inspection, it will prove over priced. But I do think it will go pretty close to ask. Brownstoner, please tell us in 6 mos if it does!

Posted by: RAR at June 13, 2008 4:45 PM in response to Open House Picks

sorry for the nearly triple post there. you get the message.

Posted by: RAR at June 13, 2008 3:57 PM in response to Open House Picks

oooh, who's this great defender of 10th street?

English basements are HORRIBLE as living spaces (have one now). Dank and gross. Much worse than garden floors under stoops. Who's going to put anything other than a "rec room" or an office down there? I'd certainly never sleep there, or put my kids down there, or have my living room there.

pine subfloors are nice. and the floors on 10th clearly needed refinishing,too.

Posted by: RAR at June 13, 2008 3:50 PM in response to Open House Picks

oooh, who's this great defender of 10th street?

English basements are HORRIBLE as living spaces (have one now). Dank and gross. Much worse than garden floors under stoops. Who's going to put anything other than a "rec room" or an office down there? I'd certainly never sleep there, or put my kids down there, or have my living room there.

pince subfloors are nice. and the floors on 10th clearly needed refinishing,too.

Posted by: RAR at June 13, 2008 3:50 PM in response to Open House Picks

ps i like the floors, you floor snobs! and no english basement ever makes a nice living space (i know, i've got one right now). esp. not in PS, land of flooding basements.

Posted by: RAR at June 13, 2008 3:46 PM in response to Open House Picks

10th street is about 1.5 ft narrower, and width certainly does matter ;-) Not to mention the whole stoop vs no stoop question.

As for 107 vs 282, I grew up here. Sure, 282 was NOT GOOD 15 years ago, but it's good now. And I know many a 282-er who has gone on to great success, and those were kids who went there 15 years ago.
On to proximity to the park--whatever. Sterling is minutes from GAP, farmer's market, and park entrance. Stop defending the F train. Everyone knows it's better to be by the 2/3 and Q...not to mention walking distance from Atlantic on those not-so-rare weekends when train service goes out at various brooklyn stops.

And finally, if you think it costs $300k to put in a kitchen, a RENTAl kitchen and some bathrooms, you people are crazy! Why are you even LOOKING at this house for (relative) bargain hunters!? And if you are looking, why are you complaining! You can clearly afford the work! Or better yet, go buy yourself one of the damn 3 million dollar houses, then. Leave the cheap(er) ones to those of us who think an ikea kitchen with a nice countertop is just fine. I hear the one for $4.1 million on first street is just gorgeous!!!!!!!

That having been said, I will admit this: gotta see the shape of the walls in person. One thing that does cost a TON of money is good skim coating on all the walls...And my caveat about disasters in inspections still stands.

Posted by: RAR at June 13, 2008 3:42 PM in response to Open House Picks

Sterling is only 3 stories (hence the slightly too good to be true price). There is a floorplan, BTW. On Warren Lewis site.

That having been said, while slightly out of date on the kitchen and bath front, and horribly painted, it doesn't seem to REQUIRE renovation to be liveable. Not like there simply aren't any kitchens and baths, just ones that are not the most fancy shmancy. Seems like a good price, barring nasty inspection surprises.

One thing I would do is fix that bizarre room re-arrangement they've done on the top floor. But other than that...like I said, live in it as is, slowly fancify over time. Best part of the slope, pretty darn good price. (think of the brklyn properties three story on 10th street that just went fast listed at 1.499. This is WAY nicer location, nice/bigger house, etc).

Posted by: RAR at June 13, 2008 2:30 PM in response to Open House Picks

I have the same feeling. Honestly, the contractors are wrong (but it seems you should know that if you already did your kitchen once). Just don't listen to them, be patient, and do your thing. It really depends on how much/long you can live with what's there as you replace things, and what your skill level is. My dad and I installed an entire kitchen with minimal help from contractors (they cut the countertops and installed the sink) and I can assure you I am not skilled at all (he is, a bit), it did not cost $50,000, and it turned out, with a few minor glitches, just like we wanted. That having been said, it was not custom, with marble countertops, etc.

Posted by: RAR at June 3, 2008 4:47 PM in response to slow and small renovations?

Hi
I'm using Darwin Berry as my consultant. Tel. 718 469 1130/ email darwinberry@channelrealty.com Usually,however, as I understood it, your FHA loan originator has someone they prefer to work with (that's how I ended up with Darwin). Anyway, if they don't, I think Darwin's great. You can tell him you were referred by Raisa if you want.

Posted by: RAR at June 3, 2008 10:15 AM in response to Need HUD 203k inspector

It depends on how much you're planning on spending, really. I know, I'm doing the same thing, and even with a down payment of 50%, excellent credit, other cosigners, we're struggling to get financing because of "low" income). ANything above conforming is nearly impossible. And they do calculate usable rental income in a weird way, so 75% of it is bundled in with your income, and then you can use 30% of your total income to count for the mortgage payments (rather than realizing that for most people, 100% of whatever rental income they get will go to the mortgage)

Depending on the condition of what you buy, I'd try for an FHA loan or an FHA 203k rehab loan/ mortgage bundle. FHA conforming loan limits were raised on 2 families to $900+k(Fannie Mae/ Freddie Mac weren't) There's a place in Manhattan called First American Mortgage Trust that originates them (found it on the HUD website). But beware, it's the government, so things take forever. You have to get the process started as soon as you have an accepted offer, basically, and you'll need 60+ days to close the thing.

Hope this helps!

Posted by: RAR at May 20, 2008 9:20 AM in response to Financing strategy?

My house growing up was all old subfloors, and we never bothered to lift them up, put plywood down or anything. Yeah, they squeak sometimes, but it's part of the charm!

BTW if you are getting rid of the oak, I need some old flooring--provided it could be refinished and isn't totally junked. Let me know.

Posted by: RAR at May 19, 2008 1:46 PM in response to Subfloors - Opinions...?

Hey all--thank you again.

RE stairs, I'm not sure if they've pulled away or not. See, the current owner sheetrocked those walls, which now (in light of this new info) might explain the space between stairs and wall...perhaps the reason why the bottom two sets of stairs didn't do that is because the wall up from the parlor was replastered, not sheetrocked, and the garden stairs have been stabilized.

As for how many floors of mess, well, I think you probably don't want to know how bad it is. And I say that having seen a lot of bombed out former crack houses in my day. Top two floors have been semi-competantly sort of made liveable, but bottom two floors have received the trashing of a lifetime...plywood floors on garden level sinking due to termite damage, can see the basement through the holes, etc etc. It's a long and sad story.

Posted by: RAR at April 24, 2008 12:54 PM in response to Various renovation questions, help!

WOW! THanks all for comments! This is so helpful. There's no rush, we won't even be in the house to start work for a few months, but I just wanted to start getting ideas so that when I talk to contracters/handymen I can really have a sense of the materials, etc. Fred from silver fox, I have time on the flooring, so the next shipment will certainly be fine. Could you email pictures, by chance, of the trim?

Does it hold true that the stairs (stringers?) are probably okay even if they seem to have separated from the wall a bit?! It's seriously scary to get up to the top floor...

Posted by: RAR at April 23, 2008 6:58 PM in response to Various renovation questions, help!

Hi Park Place. THe house is on Sterling.

As for the money issue, no, we don't have that much, about 200-300k I've found if you look around, a lot of reclaimed wood places sell remilled old pine on sale for about $2-$3 a ft, you just have to be willing to search and salvage and ebay and craigslist...and to change what you want based on what you can get for a deal. Sure, there are really expensive and cheaper versions of EVERYTHING, but you have to look. Also, you have to be willing to have a small ikea kitchen, non-luxury appliances, simple bathrooms, not gut where you don't have to, and not change layout as much as possible...

As for staircase, who said anything about all detail? If I thought I could just afford to do that, I wouldn't be asking for input. Maybe the staircases will end up totally modern, maybe they won't.

Yes, we've got the old house compendium, it is good...

Posted by: RAR at April 23, 2008 1:23 PM in response to Various renovation questions, help!

Ha ha, of course we're not buying the house we WANT, cause the house we want would probably cost 3 million dollars and we can barely afford this junker. Sweat equity + lifelong commitment = future house of our dreams! There's no saying one day I won't get rich and be able to put everything back in totally perfectly, but I'm excited to save a house as best I can from total neglect even if it doesn't end up totally perfect. Some condo developer would just gut it and turn it into a monstrosity, and no-one who could actually afford to make it perfect would want to buy it, they'd buy a house that was less trashed!

Posted by: RAR at April 23, 2008 12:37 PM in response to Various renovation questions, help!

Aaah, sorry for the TERRIBLE grammatical error above, it's "I think they're rubber," not "their."

Posted by: RAR at April 23, 2008 11:28 AM in response to Various renovation questions, help!

This posting is a joke. Nobody in their right mind would remove that awesome mantle.

Posted by: IronBalls at May 19, 2009 9:12 PM in response to seeking someone to remove mantel

Call Manny LaSalle. His name is in the archives. He'll probably buy it from you or take it out for a low cost. Maybe there is a fireplace you can swap with him, since he has a lot of fireplaces which he bought from Eddie Hibbert.
I can't believe some of the comments here. I think it is ugly too. People worship old stuff because it is old. That fireplace was ugly in 1880. So get another fireplace which fits with the house that is nice. I bought fireplace pieces from Eddie and Manny installed two marble beautiful fireplaces with cast iron grills in the style of the neighborhood in the 1880s. They are gorgeous and yes, they did not come with the house. I think it is your house and that you can improve on the original. Do whatever the hell you want. How is THAT for sacrilege?

Posted by: donatella at May 19, 2009 10:28 PM in response to seeking someone to remove mantel

are you getting rid of the tile? If so i would be willing to take the tile

Posted by: meme at May 19, 2009 11:39 PM in response to seeking someone to remove mantel

Call Manny LaSalle. His name is in the archives. He'll probably buy it from you or take it out for a low cost. Maybe there is a fireplace you can swap with him, since he has a lot of fireplaces which he bought from Eddie Hibbert.
I can't believe some of the comments here. I think it is ugly too. People worship old stuff because it is old. That fireplace was ugly in 1880. So get another fireplace which fits with the house that is nice. I bought fireplace pieces from Eddie and Manny installed two marble beautiful fireplaces with cast iron grills in the style of the neighborhood in the 1880s. They are gorgeous and yes, they did not come with the house. I think it is your house and that you can improve on the original. Do whatever the hell you want. How is THAT for sacrilege?

Posted by: donatella at May 20, 2009 12:54 AM in response to seeking someone to remove mantel

Thanks to those who offered words of support on removing the mantel! To those who think I'm crazy: I was strongly preservationist when I bought this house but living here for 12 years has changed my attitude a bit. I no longer feel enslaved to the tastes of the people who lived here over a hundred years ago. The place has SO much detail, it looks like a Victorian bordello. And it was dark and rather grim. So I've painted some woodwork (gasp!), which has made it so much more cheerful, and am now editing some of the architectural details. (For one thing, who has time to DUST all that stuff? I don't have servants like my predecessors in this house must have.) I have to live here, and if it doesn't suit me, I don't feel like I have to keep it.

Anyway--
To theklahy and the others who are interested in taking the mantel: I'm very happy to pass it along, but I was hoping to sell it for something (to pay in part for having Manny LaSalle convert the fireplace to a wood-burning one). I don't know how to contact you directly--but I can be reached at tullis at nyc dot rr dot com.

Donatella--Thanks for the suggestion about Manny--maybe he'd be willing to do a deal on the mantel and fireplace work!

Thanks for the suggestion about Manny taking it

Posted by: frabjousday at May 21, 2009 6:39 AM in response to seeking someone to remove mantel

i would be willing to buy the tiles

Posted by: meme at May 24, 2009 8:45 PM in response to seeking someone to remove mantel

"Hey me here, I mean something even weirder, that the tenant would pay in a lump sum up front in exchange for a large discount over time.

Posted by: RAR at May 27, 2009 2:20 PM"

That's even more insane in my opinion. All the previously described issues aside you'd have to come up with a ton of cash to lay out. Why not leave it in your account and gain interest on it? Or, if you have that kind of cash buy something...

Figure $2k a month (after discount, say a $3k a month place normally). Without yearly increases you are looking at $240,000! You'd want to write a check for $240,000, minimum, for a 10 year lease on an apartment? Why?

Maybe lump sum for 1 year, 2 possibly, but 10? Why? Wouldn't that money do better for you in a 1% interest savings account?

Posted by: christopher at May 27, 2009 2:44 PM in response to multiple year lease?

Echoing what Vinca said, about multiple-year leases going for commercial spaces. Never heard of it for residential.

Posted by: meerkatz at May 27, 2009 5:15 PM in response to multiple year lease?

RAR, sounds like monkey business to me! Be careful!

Posted by: meerkatz at May 27, 2009 5:17 PM in response to multiple year lease?

oh ps, it has a dishwasher, AND a big tub, and is pretty darn nice if i may say so myself.

Posted by: RAR at May 31, 2009 5:38 PM in response to Looking for an Apartment