thanks 8:04 . Note I am not at all handy (nor is my husband) so we def. need to get someone who knows what they are doing to do this. thanks for the tip 9:02. I trust you are not from Natco !If anyone has any other recommendations or comments on Natco pls let me know. Ill start to call around tomorrow.
best to all

Posted by: crownheights2007 at October 15, 2007 9:13 PM in response to Rec for residential heating co to turn on boiler pilot lite

Thanks again for everyones comments. We will call SOBOLOW today. We called QB mechanics which we found recommened a few days ago on this forum and they do not show up nor do they call to confirm they are (or not ) coming. I see that someone has recommended a service contract but after looking at a number of threads I notice that no one who is currently HAPPY with their current service contract provider notes the name of the co. I only see posts of co.s that people do not recommend (keyspan has received negative posts elsewhere)....well at least its a bit warmer today and we can go another day or so without heating....thanks to all

Posted by: crownheights2007 at October 18, 2007 10:46 AM in response to Rec for residential heating co to turn on boiler pilot lite

Call joe at ETNEA Iron (or is it "metal works") works. He does great work, efficient, and shows up when he says he will ( a small miracle in Brooklyn)

(347) 612-9816

Posted by: crownheights2007 at October 18, 2007 10:49 AM in response to Somebody to build an external balcony

Oct 3 9:13, BTW 20,000 USD IS outrageous. That is at least twice what it should cost (and maybe more). Get someone else to do the job for you and have your GC focus on other things... i still recommend Joe

Posted by: crownheights2007 at November 19, 2007 11:54 AM in response to Somebody to build an external balcony

Thanks for all of the comments and advice. I will look into to the above options..BTW we are not overweight, so a small space is not an issue ...though I am mighty pregnant...

Posted by: crownheights2007 at January 25, 2008 7:49 PM in response to Who can assist with Custom Shower 4 small space?

You can find a house, with rental income. We did. We found a great place in Crown Heights, just off Franklin. Unlike what people will tell you, this area is not crime-ridden - at least no more than what I hear going on in Prospect Heights. You need an area that is changing, gentrifying to find a nice house within your budget. Alternatively you will spend alot of money on an apartment in an established nabe, but know that in a few years those same houses in Crown Heights or Bed Sty will be out of reach - and new amenities seem to be popping up every few months. For example, we just got a new wine shop on the corner of Franklin and Prospect ! Lots of Rioja crianza, champagne - yumm. Note the sign hasnt yet been changed - it still says "Discount Liquors" but they told me they will change it soon. Good luck and dont let the nay-sayers scare you from Crown Heights North or Bed Sty....

Posted by: crownheights2007 at February 1, 2008 11:49 AM in response to home search: realistic expectations?

I dont know why some of you think this is impossible. Just last year - around Feb/March we were looking at limestones in PLG for 640,000-670,000 that were in move in condition. You may have wanted to redo the kitchen and bathrooms but the space was perfectly fine. We preferred Crown Heights North for proximity to the Brooklyn Museum, 2,3,4,5 trains into Manhattan, and amenities in Prospect Heights (2 blocks away) and Park Slope (15 min walk). For info - the New York Times is not the only place to find listings. I found it very helpful to go to the local real estate companies to find listings in the neighborhood. I would never approach the Corcorans , Brown Harris Stevens A&H (though I did initially). They all told me I would never find something in my price range, when in fact, they just didnt have listings in my price range ! The place we eventually bought needs a total of approx 40,000 work to get into good form (including the rental). We put in 30 so far and are slowly making improvements...Im glad we didnt get a finished house - this way we can do it to our taste and requirements....A corporate lawyer (another Manhattan transplant) on our street bought his house 2 years ago for a bit more than 700,000 - and it had been totally redone. With a million, you should be perfectly fine. The thing is these houses dont come on the market often and when they do the locals often go to local RE companies rather than the big buys. I would start there....

Posted by: crownheights2007 at February 1, 2008 12:40 PM in response to home search: realistic expectations?

Hmm the A&H site says it needs "TLC" frankly I think its overpriced and you could get a nice limestone, brick or brownstone house instead of a wooden house, elsewhere....Note I have a toddler and another on the way. The lawyer I mentioned above has two kids ages 5 and 9. We all use the playground on Underhill and Prospect (10 min walk away)...Oh and we do have a car and park everyday in front of the house. This is really needed for trips to a real supermarket here and there (Fairway in Red Hook is best). Parking availablity may change with the new condos that are going to be built up the street.....

Posted by: crownheights2007 at February 1, 2008 1:51 PM in response to home search: realistic expectations?

This house is a GREAT deal. There are many houses in this neighborhood that have been configured with kitchens in places where they are not supposed to be. We bought a place like that and just took the kitchen out - it really wasnt a big deal at all. This house has excellent features/details and for the price really cannot be beat.

Note that I met Michael E. - one of the realtors - while looking for a house last year and he was one of the ONLY brokers I met who was absolutely straightforward and not pushy and knows the CH area well. I was intrigued by a house he showed us but we finally found another place, but Michael was a great person to deal with and very forthcoming with info, which was the opposite of my experience with most Corcoran brokers....If we hadnt already bought a place I would consider this one surely....the trick is to find out what the rental agreements are with the current tenants and talk to a RE lawyer.

Posted by: crownheights2007 at February 6, 2008 2:45 PM in response to House of the Day: 905 Lincoln Place

I would love to see some pictures of the work described above by posters. In Europe (Im thinking the Netherlands and Germany in particular) this kind of work is done on old townhouses all the time, but I rarely here about it in Brooklyn.

Also can anyone recommend a good architect for this type of work.....

Posted by: crownheights2007 at February 6, 2008 2:55 PM in response to blowing out rear wall in historic district.

the problem is that every tenant is on month to month rent unless you are going to chase them down once they move out.

Posted by: slick at July 13, 2008 10:51 PM in response to Renter hasn't responded to lease renewal - What to do ?

My lease from my apt. in Bklyn Hgts specified 2 months notice.I think that seems a more realistic time frame for both tenant and landlord.Whether month to month is better for either I guess just depends on the circumstances. But your tenant is wrong to ignore your requests to sign the lease.

Posted by: bxgrl at July 14, 2008 9:20 AM in response to Renter hasn't responded to lease renewal - What to do ?

OP, as a landlord, I'm not a big fan of MTM, but here I agree with VBP above because the alternative is you are blindsided by a last minute move out without a real chance to start showing the place. You can always do a new lease and convert back from MTM to a written lease, but this way you may have more explicit grounds to collect rent/withhold security if they don't respond to cover the month you may lose while looking for new tenants.

Also, check your lease. Did you include a rider as to when they have to notify you as to whether they are staying or moving? In future leases, you may want to include a provision requiring that they tell you no less than 45 days before expiration whether they want to renew. That way you are on firm ground to start showing it well in advance of expiration if they are unresponsive.

Posted by: slopefarm at July 14, 2008 9:33 AM in response to Renter hasn't responded to lease renewal - What to do ?

Yeah, I am not into MTM and avoid it at all costs, so in my lease I stipulate that I don't go MTM if the tenant decides not to renew.

I avoid this situation by pointing out this clause at the lease-signing. I get renewal of lease going 3 months in advance, and remind that it's either this or I start showing the place in 2 months.

But it sounds like OP has no such rules at the outset, which is OK, but effective landlording seems to be about never trusting people to do it your way, but never being an asshole about it.

Posted by: vanburenproud at July 14, 2008 10:02 AM in response to Renter hasn't responded to lease renewal - What to do ?

So sorry Elizabeth. Definitely talk to your landlord. As crownheights2007 says, cost are going up all around and I can understand them wanting to offset their expenses with a higher rent. And since they are within market, it s a good indicator that they are reasonable. If you are already walking the dog and watching the kid, maybe you can formalize those services and assign the value against the rent? Dog walkers and babysitters are well paid in this city. You should also think about signing a lease, whether you stay or move. A month-to-month arrangement puts you in a very vulnerable position. Good luck!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 1, 2008 10:36 AM in response to Standard rent increase??

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/nyregion/01develop.html?hp

Posted by: elizabeth455 at October 1, 2008 1:19 PM in response to Standard rent increase??

Insurance rates & water rates have also gone up. Some analysts think that, with fewer people able to buy, rentals will be more desireable & therefore rents will increase.

Posted by: Arkady at October 1, 2008 1:33 PM in response to Standard rent increase??

If you choose to stay and pay the increase, forget the dog walking and babysitting for free. As a landlord and pet owner (no kids) I know how valuable that is! A dog walk runs about $20-25 and God knows how much babysitting is. Not to mention, finding someone you like.

Posted by: rh at October 1, 2008 3:14 PM in response to Standard rent increase??

Elizabeth -

This is a troubling situation, especially considering the part about walking their dog and watching their kid. Landlords can really be jerks. May i ask for more details re: sq. footage? Im assuming this is a 1BR. If this apt is over 500 sq ft, 1850 isnt that far out of line in cobble hill. i know, it sucks, but cobble hill isnt a cheap area unfortunately...

Posted by: bktycoon at October 1, 2008 3:17 PM in response to Standard rent increase??

tell him you want to move out if he raises it. And see if you can meet in the middle.

Posted by: Santa at October 1, 2008 3:37 PM in response to Standard rent increase??