This has to be the slowest construction project in history....or by design....

Posted by: aabklyn at August 27, 2009 1:57 PM in response to Inside Third & Bond: Week 98

Try Mentor at Altina Tile - did our kitchen, similar job. very reasonable, licensed, insured and does a great job.

917-692-6234

Posted by: aabklyn at August 25, 2009 12:20 PM in response to Labor Cost for Kitchen Reno

Don't use Drimmers - bad service do not stand behind products. Better a bigger player who will replace something if you have a problem (Home Depot, Lowes, PC Richards) - I'm still getting appliances fixed a year later.....

Posted by: aabklyn at August 5, 2009 5:19 PM in response to Washer/Dryer Installation

On market $700/sf.

Bank loan $500/sf.

Value as rental $300/sf.

Another workout......

Posted by: aabklyn at May 26, 2009 11:04 AM in response to Vantage 238 Hits the Market

Altina Tile (Mentor) gut renovated our condo kitchen and did a great job.

917-692-6234

Stay away from Drimmers if buying new applicances - no service and lots of attitude

Posted by: aabklyn at April 15, 2009 3:45 PM in response to Teeny Tiny Kitchen

President St. House is three story with finished (nicely) basement.

$1.8MM at best.....

Posted by: aabklyn at March 27, 2009 2:15 PM in response to Open House Picks

This is a rental building, unless the construction continues so slowly that the market comes back

Posted by: aabklyn at February 12, 2009 4:08 PM in response to Inside Third & Bond: Week 71

It is easiest to buy the Bosch Dryer that does not need to be vented. $600-700. They work well. Try to get the developer to pay for it or he will have bigger problems with the AG.

Posted by: aabklyn at February 12, 2009 4:04 PM in response to Dryer Venting Outside

I bought from Drimmers. Their price was good but service was horrible. They are part of a buying service and have no control over delivery times so there was a one month delay for several of the appliances which caused complications with the contractors. They also do not back up the quality. If something arrives broken (I had this problem with the microwave) they do not replace but require you go to the manufacturer who sends out a repairman.

to boot they caused major damage when completing the delivery that they refused to correct/reimburse.

I would stay away from Drimmers.

Posted by: aabklyn at January 6, 2009 4:00 PM in response to ABT, A J Madison or Drimmers?

Its a nice thought guys but no new jobs here. The waterfront workers are already on the payroll whether there was work or not.

Posted by: aabklyn at November 24, 2008 11:47 AM in response to Red Hook Pier Is for Shipping, Not Shopping

IFTE CONTRACTING - he is in the book did a good job on my floors and painting also.

Posted by: aabklyn at November 20, 2008 4:54 PM in response to wood floor refinishing, recommendations

I also have had very bad experience with Drimmers. In particular they caused damage upon delivering applicances and after agreeing to pay for repairs won't return any calls.

Better to go with a large seller like PC Richards who worries about their reputation.

Posted by: aabklyn at November 6, 2008 4:59 PM in response to Unfortunate experience with Drimmer's

No financing market for developer to purchase for conversion, so a rental with eventual upside for occupancy.

$2MM range.

Posted by: aabklyn at November 4, 2008 4:27 PM in response to House of the Day: 44 1st Place Revisited

I bet he gets the height.

But will Capital One fund the construction loan?????

Posted by: aabklyn at October 28, 2008 10:13 AM in response to More 360 Smith Action at BSA Today

Provided the cap provider can pay......

Posted by: aabklyn at October 23, 2008 2:41 PM in response to Inside Third & Bond: Week 59

The mezzanine position has been wiped out and the mezzanine lender bankrupt. The construction lender, Corus, is expected to fail based on the large portfolio of for sale condominiums it financed, many in Florida and Las Vegas.

Until that plays out doubt much will happen here though many developers and funds are circling the property if it can be purchased "at the right price"

Posted by: aabklyn at October 17, 2008 2:18 PM in response to Development Watch: Little Progress on 23 Caton Place

Just finished a kitchen renovation and used Mentor (Altina Tile and Contracting 917-692-6234). He did a great job, was reliable and the price was right. The other main players in the project - Park Slope Kitchen (cabinets) and Drimmers (applicances) would NOT use again.

Posted by: aabklyn at August 19, 2008 3:48 PM in response to Nayci Contracting for Kitchen Renovation

Classic is excellent for help, price and service

Also Lowes if you can find what you want

Posted by: aabklyn at August 5, 2008 6:05 PM in response to Tile shops in Brooklyn

Well, I have something to add to Kensingtonian's post. My kitchen is the same size. Last year, my landlady paid someone to demo the existing kitchen, install top and bottom cabinets and a tile counter and a sink along one long wall, and disconnect and reconnect the existing stove and fridge. He also installed a tile floor. What's more, he also primed and painted the entire apt (about 800 sf) using one color for walls and another for ceiling and wood trim. He also refinished the floors throughout the apartment. Total labor cost: $2,000.

Isn't that insane?

Unsurprisingly, the contractor complained he cannot make any money at these prices and charged her more for the same job upstairs six months later (I don't know how much).

I feel bad for the contractor.

But it does go to show that things don't always have to be as expensive as you think.

Posted by: mopar at August 25, 2009 1:10 PM in response to Labor Cost for Kitchen Reno

Note on filing: if plumbing fixtures are just being upgrade (and will remain in same locations), it isn't necessary to file the work.

that being said, make sure your plumber is licensed and has proper credentials.

Posted by: bk_bobb at August 25, 2009 1:24 PM in response to Labor Cost for Kitchen Reno

Note on filing: if plumbing fixtures are just being upgraded (and will remain in same locations), it isn't necessary to file the work.

that being said, make sure your plumber is licensed and has proper credentials.

Posted by: bk_bobb at August 25, 2009 1:25 PM in response to Labor Cost for Kitchen Reno

Mopar...That's truly unbelievable. If I were to break down costs for each trade I don't know how it's possible to come to 2K for that work unless it was an unlicensed contractor, not filed with DOB, and poor craftsmanship. I've never had labor costs that low for a kitchen renovation, even with modest renovations...and I've done dozens for a variety of clients.

Posted by: 60designers at August 25, 2009 1:31 PM in response to Labor Cost for Kitchen Reno

60designers, I had very wide range of estimates. For my bathroom for example, I had qoutes ranging from 4K for the work to 22K for the work. That's a HUGE difference.

Also, just past week our co-op got estimates for cement work outside the building. We had 2 guys give us quotes for 16K and one guy came in and quoted the SAME EXACT work for 2.5K. We took him. Quality work was done as promised, on time, with no hassles. He was licensed and insured with all of the paperwork necessary for department of building. As mopar said, yeah its possible to find someone less expensive to do a good job.

The guy I hired to do the kitchen works for a very high end contracting company in the city that does a lot of multi-million dollar penthouse apartments. He is not a "contractor" per se so he did my job on the weekends and some plastering work on evenings and that worked out for me because his boss would charge me 15K for the same job and pocked 13K of it for himself. Meanwhile, this guy charged me what he would have made for the job with a little premium for himself. Nothing wrong with that.

Posted by: Kensingtonian at August 25, 2009 1:33 PM in response to Labor Cost for Kitchen Reno

perarch...I misread. I thought you were changing plumbing. You certainly don't need to file even a plumbing repair application unless you're moving or adding 2 or more plumbing fixtures.

Posted by: 60designers at August 25, 2009 1:34 PM in response to Labor Cost for Kitchen Reno

Why would hanging cabinets and detaching and attaching stove and fridge need filings with DOB and contractor needs to be licensed?

Neither was done for me since I didn't move ANY electrical or gas lines and my work was spotlessly done. Trust me, I am very anal when it comes to these things and the guy who did my work was great and actually loves what he does so he is pretty anal as well.

I did do some mistakes trying to save money. I paid very cheap ($1,600) for my formica kitchen cabinets and countertops which I saw in the showroom and they looked great there BUT when I actually got em, they were horribly made and didn't really fit and were supposed to be custom. I wouldn't recommend the guy who made them to my worst enemy. They do serve their purpose though and I was 26 years old when I bought the place and learned from my mistakes. For the money that I spend on them, I can still afford to throw them out and get it redone nicely now but I wont bother for this apartment.

Posted by: Kensingtonian at August 25, 2009 1:40 PM in response to Labor Cost for Kitchen Reno

Kensingtonian,

Most co-ops require licensed contractors to perform work, even simple kitchen renovations. And, some of them even require DOB filing whether the DOB requires it for that scope of work or not. Perarch should confirm their co-op's requirement.

It's a different story if it's not a condo or coop.

Posted by: 60designers at August 25, 2009 1:50 PM in response to Labor Cost for Kitchen Reno

Thanks for the clarification regarding the permits-our understanding is that for this type of reno we will not need any permits at all. Our co-op requires a licensed contractor, so there is really no way we can go with someone who is unlicensed. I suspect that could prevent us from getting some of the deals people have listed here, perhaps the discrepancy in estimates here is partly based on whether a licensed or unlicensed contractor was used? Or am I way off on this?

Posted by: perach at August 25, 2009 1:58 PM in response to Labor Cost for Kitchen Reno

Kensingtonian - I want your guy's number.

Posted by: Deda at August 25, 2009 2:04 PM in response to Labor Cost for Kitchen Reno