eman1234
since when is making a pass at a woman considered a culture?
You't can't imagine how many men bug the crap outta me on a daily basis.
Tis the season to be jolly.........

Posted by: Ysabelle at November 6, 2009 10:20 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

I agree with you about contractors being chauvinist. The profession attracts a great deal of misogynists as well.

I need simple work done in my kitchen. They talk to me like I am brainless. One guy who was mexican with no papers thought I should pay him $3000. for a job that will take 5 days. No electrical or plumbing. Just some painting and putting down vinyl tiles in a small galley kitchen.

The best part is I should buy all my supplies and materials.
He wanted $3000. straight for his personal salary. He will do the job alone.

The contractors in Ny are a nasty joke.

The job is still open.

Posted by: Ysabelle at November 6, 2009 10:02 AM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

Contact Public Service Commission; They will resolve it on your behalf. If there is actual damage get in touch with con edison Claims Department.

Posted by: Ysabelle at November 2, 2009 12:44 PM in response to Water Leak in Basement

MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A CURRENT INSURANCE POLICY FOR A HIGH AMOUNT. Ask to see it and call the insurance company to verify.

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 31, 2009 11:08 AM in response to Renting Your Place for Movie

A big advantage with a trust fund baby is you can make arrangements with the trustee to send the payment every month.
This is good in case the little darling forgets.

Trustees are highly responsible individuals.

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 21, 2009 10:21 AM in response to Co-Purchaser vs. Guarantor

Babs... that might be so but brooke astor is not responsible for whats in the trust. After all, she didn't set it up. She inherited it. Brooke probably had no clue just that she had it and got a nice income from it.

More than likely she probably never added anything to it either.

I wish you the best of luck no matter what decision you make.

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 19, 2009 11:21 AM in response to Co-Purchaser vs. Guarantor

Here is a good one.

The trust fund of Brooke Astor.......Does it consist of drug and prostitution money?

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 19, 2009 11:07 AM in response to Co-Purchaser vs. Guarantor

Hey Rob
Trust fund money is generational. It consists of a stock and bond portfolio.

Aristocrats, daughters of the american revolution, old line families etc., have nothing to do with drug money. This social class has nothing to with deriving income from drugs or prostitution.

You watch too much tv and read too many trashy novels. Trust funds have nothing to do with watching"Dynasty or "Dallas". These programs are strictly fantasy.

Do you discriminate against everyone that is not like you?

Divirsity is good for the economy.

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 19, 2009 10:53 AM in response to Co-Purchaser vs. Guarantor

Plenty of people have more than one name on a coop. What happens if someone dies? it is easy to remove one name on the document.

Tenants with right of survivorship, tenants in common, etc.
Somebody is being misinformed.

What is important is whether the board likes you or not. The names of ownership is irrelevent.
it is your personal choice.

Trust funds if substantial income is derived should please the board. It is easy for the potential coop owner to budget his money and pay on time. The monthly income of the trust might stay the same.

So whats the problem?

Trust fund bohemians are just as good as anybody else.
Money is money!

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 19, 2009 10:20 AM in response to Co-Purchaser vs. Guarantor

I would kill myself if I was named guikazoid

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 14, 2009 5:20 PM in response to Annual End of the World Party

I would kill myself if I was named guikazoid

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 14, 2009 5:20 PM in response to Annual End of the World Party

Call kraftmaid direcrly.
Call another dealer to hear what they have to say.

Post the question on the gardenweb.com under kitchen forum.
Plenty of knowledgeable people there.

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 9, 2009 8:35 PM in response to Kraftmaid Venecia-filler Pieces

Is it an apartment or a house?

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 8, 2009 7:12 PM in response to Cost of Kitchen & Bath Gut?

It is difficult to rent this time of the year. Maybe try a 6 month lease with an option to renew for another 6 months at the same rate.

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 6, 2009 10:06 AM in response to Advice on Rental Market

I strongly suggest you use Traemand the certified Ikea kitchen cabinet installer. There work is good and their prices reasonable. Everything else do by piece work. You will save money and getva better job.
If you are doing corian countertops go to lowes. Their prices are less expensive than Ikea corian installers. Lowes sends Installers direct from Dupont. They are the manufacturer.

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 5, 2009 3:13 PM in response to Contractor Estimates

Start again but don't use spacers. this way it will look like one piece not squares.

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 4, 2009 2:04 PM in response to Penny Tile Disaster?

You have to put in a lead pan. You don' know what you are doing. Now is not the time to be tighter than a frogs ass.
This requires a licensed and insured professional. Other wise you will have leaks all over the place/

I wish you the best of luck.

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 3, 2009 12:53 PM in response to Shower Advice Needed Urgently

what a nightmare. start documenting apartment info. proof of no c and o etc.
Bring it to the attention of the district attorneys office and the real estate board of ny. fraud is fraud.
keep records of all your monetary damages and any lawsuits brought b corcoran etc.

Tis a bad one....

The r.e.broker and firm were negligent.
They didn't verify landlords info before accepting the rental for a tenant

Posted by: Ysabelle at October 2, 2009 8:43 PM in response to Broker Rented Us an Illegal Unit

It is legal to add another name to your lease. Anybody can be added as long as they live there. You can also have a person who lives with you not to be on the lease. It is OK also. It's legal.
Don't call that idiot woman anymore. You'll get frustrated.

When you break a lease landlord can keep your security deposit.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 30, 2009 10:11 AM in response to Adding to/Breaking lease

as long as the rent is being sent and cashed......that is your contract right there

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 25, 2009 4:04 PM in response to Tenant Refuses to Return Lease

state farm gets my vote.
if you take a higher deductible you pay less premiums. don't forget to ask.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 25, 2009 12:07 PM in response to Renters Insurance

i have 45amps in an apartment which is 800 square feet. it is not enough. my power will be upgraded. Cooking is gas and no microwave.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 22, 2009 9:51 AM in response to 200 Amps enough for 8 unit Coop?

let the person stay on a month to month basis. written contracts between friends are silly.

Whatever happened to trust in friendship?

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 21, 2009 11:48 AM in response to Renting Room to a Friend

try a range from fisher/paykiel. Its from new zealand. Its great looking with luxury feautures at a good price. it should save you some money but its a high end look.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 21, 2009 11:44 AM in response to Range Suggestions (Part 2)

Call public service commission in albany and file a comlaint over the phone. It sounds like your gas bills are an estimation not a monthly reading.
In the meantime con ed is forced to provide service during the review.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 21, 2009 11:42 AM in response to Conned by Con Edison?

Ringo is right. Kall Da Kops!

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 19, 2009 9:33 PM in response to Ignoring Coop rules

its more oomplicated than you think. Don't do it.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 16, 2009 10:56 AM in response to Where Should I start?

Speak to the tenant in a casual way and find out why that person won't allow the work.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 13, 2009 11:34 PM in response to Intercom Problem/Safety

PV...I live in manhattan in a 40 year old high rise.
The bookeeper put my monthly payment in someone elses account which automatically put me in arrears. The bank said the check was cashed and I never got the credit. I chasd them for months over this. What happened was they kept on fining me each month including compounded interest.

Meanwhile i pay on time every month including during this mess. The bills kept getting bigger. The phony lawyer bills started to kick in and the building still continued to harass over their own negligence.

I got fined $1000 for having an overnight visitor in my place.
I was home at the time and alone. Remember this is private property not a dorm or hotel. Another costly mistake.

When I did a very minor renovatio a returnable deposit was required. Two years later they never returned the money when the work was done.

My records are accurate and I keep sending them copies of cancelled checks and they are ignoring it.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 11, 2009 1:15 PM in response to Condo By-Laws

Don't forget to ask for the house rules. different documents from by laws. You will be surprised at the house rules and the penalty charges if you break them. another interesting read is how much you are charged for day to day repairs.
Try to get a copy of the tenants rental package for subletting. it is all in there. house rules repair charges etc.

None of this has to do with the by laws. get that before ypu bid/ What happens if you don't like the dictatorship way the building is run and all the penalties?

If you don't pay the petty bullshit fines they will put a lis pendens on your condo and drag you to court which is more expensive. Another trick for the building to increase their income. Everyone knows its cheaper to pay the phony fines than go to court.

It is called intimidation by the board. They screw up their ledger and you the owner pays.

In NY it happens all the time. It happened to me twice.

My 2 condos are paid for with no mortgage and I pay my common charges on time and I pay my 2 property taxes one year in advance. I never owed money or took out loans in my life.
No pets, no kids, no musical instruments etc. but they still find ways to harass the shit outta me by digging into my pockets.
In addition to defective repairs made to my units which brings them more money by fixing twice.

I am a single female living alone.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 11, 2009 11:29 AM in response to Condo By-Laws

I thought your homeowners policy covered it.

When people work for you in construction make sure they are licensed with department of consumer affairs.
Make sure they have a workers compensation policy.
Don't forget a minimum of one million dollar liability insurance.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 10, 2009 11:52 AM in response to Renovation Insurance

To guest poster john Ife get a life.

Are your balls the size of raisins?

If it is not John Ife I apolagize. for the remark.

If it is john Ife the remark sticks like crazy glue.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 2, 2009 11:08 PM in response to Contractor Recommendation

I had an appointment with jamie grubb. He never showed up or called.
About a month later he calls and says he is 2 blocks away can he stop by. Believe it or not he still never showed up.
Unprofessional fruitcake just like the fruity colors on your wall.
By the way the fruity colors look nice.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 2, 2009 3:21 PM in response to Excellent Painter

Please share the name of your contractor who knows ikea kitchen installations.
If you want you can email the info.

ysabelletheloon@yahoo.com

Thank you.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 2, 2009 10:33 AM in response to IKEA Kitchen

my situation is similar. my condo is in a highrise building. The problem I am running into is people don't want to show their income or they don't make enough money to cover the rent.
Meanwhile i dropped the rent $600. a month. Still no tenant.

It is a tough crowd out there with no inocme.

Last year I got the full amount for rent. This year not even a nbble.

Posted by: Ysabelle at September 1, 2009 2:28 PM in response to Question for Landlords

The Ikea installer Traemand has a website. it is self explanatory. They accept all credit cards.

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 31, 2009 9:47 PM in response to IKEA Kitchen

If you bought it at lowes or home depot and have your receipts it can always be returned for a refnd

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 31, 2009 9:29 PM in response to 3 x 6 Subway Tile for Sale

Did your contractor have a department of consumer affairs license? if he did not you will have an easier time with the money.

If he puts a lien on yout property the judge will remove it because he worked with no verifiable license.

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 22, 2009 7:57 PM in response to fight with contractor

Try the mailorder companies for shades. I just bought some white room darkening roller shades from selectblind.com.
They were reasonably priced ad showed up in a week.
I gave the measurements and the order was not screwed up.

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 20, 2009 10:21 AM in response to need window shade recommendation

I think the the tile pattern is harlequin.
It is sorta like what clowns used to wear or maybe puppets.

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 19, 2009 8:56 PM in response to What kind of tiles are these?

First find out if the apartment is rent stabilized. If there is a minimum of 3 apartments in the building it might be.
If it is stabilized it is easy to resolve.

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 19, 2009 11:31 AM in response to Landlord Problem

Running to the DOB reminds me of running to the bathroom.

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 18, 2009 5:47 PM in response to Bathroom Reno?

PS
Don't forget to rip up the lease and get something from the person stating she has the money and rheir is no contract.

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 17, 2009 9:52 AM in response to Tenant's Deposit

PS
Don't forget to rip up the lease and get something from the person stating she has the money and rheir is no contract.

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 17, 2009 9:52 AM in response to Tenant's Deposit

Return the persons securiy deposit in full. Consider yourslf lucky the person never moved in. You would have had a headache for the duration of the lease. in addition to rent being late always.

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 17, 2009 9:50 AM in response to Tenant's Deposit

Thanks Denton. Now we all learned something new and valuable.(performance bond)
Why don't they say performance bond?

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 15, 2009 11:34 PM in response to Bond for renovation work

Thanks Denton. Now we all learned something new and valuable.(performance bond)
Why don't they say performance bond?

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 15, 2009 9:39 PM in response to Bond for renovation work

The less the public understands the more things cost. The more profitable it is for someone else. It is ridiculous!

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 15, 2009 9:58 AM in response to Bond for renovation work

i think the phrasing is confusing. It might mean in simple english that the contractor has to be licensed and insured for a certain amount.

Call Utica first insurance company for a clarification of the definition of the phrase. They insure many contractors in the ny area. They will tell you with no obligation to purchasing a policy. Maybe this will solve the mystery.

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 15, 2009 9:56 AM in response to Bond for renovation work

WHAAAT?

Posted by: Ysabelle at August 11, 2009 9:26 AM in response to Bathtub nonslip strips

Sort of off the topic- As someone who lived in NY her whole life I find it so weird that the OP called it the accent a "Bensonhurst" accent. In my day everyone in Brooklyn/All nabes had a "Brooklyn" accent. It was never differentiated by nabe.

Just an observation, not trying to make light of the post as I find the behavior of the store clerks sexist.

Maybe this should have gone under the "signs of gentrification" thread that was posted earier this week - The abscense of a Brooklyn accent as a sign of gentrification.

Posted by: italiana71 at November 6, 2009 10:15 AM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

"you should respect the values of the supply house when you go into their place of business, no matter how foreign it seems to you" - Are you kidding me???

If you're interviewing contractors and get any attitude that you don't appreciate (whether you're male or female), end the discussion there, telling them they just lost any chance of the job. Money - or the absence thereof - talks.

BTW....I work in construction, BIG construction, and spend lots of time on site with the trades. When I get attitude I remind them that I'm a representative of the people that pay their (very big) contracts. I don't mind being called "ma'am" when it follows "I'm very sorry."

Posted by: CHMomma at November 6, 2009 10:28 AM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

It's a real problem- maybe some women are more sensitive about it than others, but it is still a real issue. I deal with it depending on the person- some I'll joke back with. Others- I remind them who is paying whom. We had nightmare contractors from hell gut reno'ing the building next door and they treated us like we were totally stupid when we complained about things they were doing- like coming into MM's back yard and peeing against her wall. That stopped after a phone call to their boss with a rundown of who I knew and who I would call.

There are men who have no problem abusing or trying to intimidate women but would never dream of trying it with a guy. I'm dealing with such a situation now- and the sad part is some women buy into it too.

But I do find most people don't mean anything by it and especially with construction people, they like testing you. If the make you uncomfortable, walk out or fire them, if they compliment you, thank them and then get back to a discussion of business. If they tease you, tease back but make sure you set the limits. Mutual respect is genderless.

Posted by: bxgrl at November 6, 2009 11:50 AM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

I am going through the exact same thing with my renovation. I got estimates from numerous plumbers and electricians, and some of them only wanted to deal with my husband. Despite my telling them all that I was paying for and managing the entire renovation, and that I should be their point of contact and my husband had no decision making authority, some of them still couldn't get it through their heads that they should call me, not him.

Aside from it being annoying to be treated like an after-thought the contractors who acted like this didn't get hired because I could just forsee endless games of telephone in the future, where they called my husband for a decision, who would have to call me; who would call the plumber/electrician, who would then call my husband back instead of me. This has happened a few times to me before, and has caused needless delays and aggrevation.

I even had a company explicitly tell me that they would NOT come to my house to give me an estimate unless both me and my husband were home. Even though I told them that the house was in my name alone, and that I was the only homeowner, they still refused to deal with me without my husband being present. Unbelievable.

I'm just saying that this kind of nonsense happens a lot more than most men realize, and this attitude can have a substantive impact on your project. It's not just something that we should deal with and get over, it can cause serious delays that impact inspection schedules, quality of life, and have financial consequences when construction gets seriously behind schedule due to communication telephone tag.

/end of rant.

Posted by: brooklynstyle at November 6, 2009 11:52 AM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

I've worked for architecture firms, developers and a construction company. Things have gotten a lot better since the days when the head of the development firm I worked at called me honey all the time and constantly tried to give me shoulder massages, mostly in front of the other predominantly male staff, and wouldn't let me go out into the field without a male escort, often the oily staff of building managers. I remember applying for jobs and getting call backs and having firms hang up on me after they heard my voice (my real name could either male or female).

At work now, I definitely notice that construction staff talk more nicely around me than they do when they're with groups of guys, so they are guarded. It also probably stacks the cards differently that I'm now in charge of the project purse, but I've also noticed I've become alot more firm and decisive about how things are to be done.

I did have a recent problem with some Time Warner guys that came up on my low roof to do something for one of my neighborswith that spaghetti of wire they have draped everywhere. They were very rude and dismissive with me when I asked about what they were up to and whther all the wires were active; inexcusable!

Posted by: bessie2 at November 6, 2009 1:16 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

"where they called my husband for a decision, who would have to call me; who would call the plumber/electrician, who would then call my husband back instead of me."

Seems like your husband's fault here, lol. Why didn't your husband just tell the contractor you were in charge, and refuse to discuss it?

Ask him that tonight over dinner :-)

Posted by: denton at November 6, 2009 1:31 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

Hang in there Argentina. I have been lucky in that I have not had a problem with this with the contractors I've used (I'm a youngish woman). I have been asked many times by various tradespeople where/who my husband is, but it simplifies things that there is no husband, ha ha, so there's no option but to address things directly with me. I am also very hands-on, which over time has won the respect of some tradespeople (the rest probably think of me as the crazy lady who asks a lot of questions). Most of the people who worked in my house saw me there dirty in my work clothes painting, fixing, or building.

Posted by: BHS at November 6, 2009 1:40 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

BHS, you sound like me! except no matter how much I do, or 'prove', the dynamic only improves temporarily; then it's right back to the you're-just-a-female-attitude even when I have to explain to people how to do their own job... so ridiculous. But I look at it more like a stupid-people problem than a sexist-issue, even though I know there would never even be a discussion if I was male.

Posted by: townhouser at November 6, 2009 1:47 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

Townhouser, I think with certain people there's nothing you can really do to "prove" yourself and change their attitude. I was lucky enough to work with a GC who treated me with respect (that should not be a question, but I'm sure there are lots out there who might be problematic for a single female client). There may have been things said by the subs to the GC, that he thankfully dealt with and did not pass on. I see this all the time in the corporate world so I was pleasantly surprised with my experience with construction. I would certainly be up in arms if I had a husband involved in the project and he were treated differently than I was.

Posted by: BHS at November 6, 2009 2:05 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism

this reminds me of something that happened recently in my new nabe, Bay Ridge: I went to a hardware store on 3rd avenue to buy a bag of steel wool to plug up radiator holes. I walk in and the 20 something guy asks may I help you? I said, " I need a bag of steel wool please". He responded, "well what grade steel wool? What is HE planning on using it for? Because that makes a difference...." My jaw dropped! No way in hellz would anyone say that in my old 'hood (cobble hill) not even the old timers. And hellao, i'm in my 30's not some frail little old lady. Damn!

Posted by: bowl of dicks at November 6, 2009 3:33 PM in response to Contractors & Chauvinism