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Hard times or not, I can't say I'm surprised, because our experience with this office was dismal: we were seriously interested in one of their properties, and they really couldn't be bothered about it - calls not returned, 30 minutes late for appointments, etc etc. To say nothing about the above-mentioned quality of their ads. It's another lesson for all of us small-business folks: service is king.
Posted by: StJacques at June 29, 2009 1:40 PM in response to Slope Century 21 Franchise Calls it Quits
True, BrooklynGreene, some of the best deals (and most interesting properties) are in places that might well be next decade's most interesting neighborhoods, but some are in more conventional areas too. Some people (like our fellow reader 11217 - see last week's thread on the house on Decatur St) might think the house that my wife and I just closed on in Stuyvesant Heights is in some kind of ghetto, but we are thrilled. We searched hard for well over a year, so we think we're well informed, and we think we got a very good buy. A good deal does not have to be dreadful or depressing!
Posted by: StJacques at March 24, 2009 3:33 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales
While I love real estate porn as much as any reader here, I would like to see more info about properties in the real world that most of us non-bonus-pool NY'ers live in. How about a new feature: "Best deals of the Week"?
Posted by: StJacques at March 24, 2009 3:15 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales
StJacques wrote a review about The Grocery on January 21, 2009 3:29 PM
It's terrific. We've been a few times in the past year and contrary to what we had thought, it was wonderful every time. The garden in summer is totally pleasant.
StJacques wrote a review about Locanda Vini e Olii on January 20, 2009 5:51 PM
Apparently we forget life's painful experiences faster than the good ones, because we've been coming here for years - about every 8 months or so we remember how charming the room is, how mouth-watering the food sounds, and so we come back. And every time we leave unhappy because the management is distinctly unfriendly, and the food meager and mediocre at best - certainly nothing resembling decent value in terms of price/quality. Above this comment you will read many from happy customers - that's what makes horse races, after all - but following our last visit we are determined to remember and to resist any future impulse to go back. It was one thing 8 years ago when the Brooklyn picking were truly slim, but unless you live within easy walking distance I can't imagine why you would spend money here.
I have a recently installed ADT system at my business, and it took weeks for me to realize that because I hadn't bought the extra gizmo required, ADT was not monitering the security of the alarm system itself. They would answer an alarm signal, but had no idea if the alarm itself was working or might have been tampered with - for instance the phone line here was accidently cut and it took us a week to realize that setting the alarm wasn't going to prove much... If the alarm is on and the phone line is cut, ADT will not know it without the extra gizmo. The extra gizmo costs $200+/- and also adds another charge to your monthly bill. Sorry that I don't recall the correct name of the item but your ADT rep would know what I'm refering to. Overall I'm so annoyed with them that I can't stand to spend more money with them right now.
Posted by: StJacques at December 18, 2008 6:17 PM in response to Alarm question
We visited 241 Decatur about 18 months ago (the asking at that time was over $800k) and sadly the house is in really rough shape, at least cosmetically, with no or very little detail left. Even with points for being on one of the nicest blocks in the area it's still too expensive.
Mopar, have you seen 148 Bainbridge St (listed w Fillmore)? It's lot more money (asking 850, I think) but 10 times the house.
Posted by: StJacques at July 17, 2009 1:41 PM in response to Open House Picks