davester's Profile
Author's Posts
December 7, 2007
Can I enlarge windows on a landmarked Victorian?
Can you enlarge windows on the front of a Victorian home in Ditmas Park on a landmarked block?
We would keep them in the same style as the existing ones.
What about the side of the house?
Any guidance would be great!
November 30, 2007
Lis Pendens experience and "Realty Trac"?
On www.trulia.com, this service called "Realty Trac" claims to have 19 "Lis Pendens" properties in Ditmas Park. Lis Pendens is a pre-foreclosure status.
Of course Realty Trac wants you to sign up for their service to find out more....
Anyone know if these listings are real and/or if this is a scam?
http://www.trulia.com/foreclosure/2000014822--Marlborough-Rd-Brooklyn-NY-11226
Anyone have experience with Lis Pendens properties?
November 27, 2007
Anyone renovate a Ditmas Victorian?
A broad question, but has anyone done a full renovation of a Victorian home? What's the ballpark figure for renovating?
electrical
plumbing
roof
kitchen
baths
November 19, 2007
Thernostat for "Ice Air" PTAC unit?
I'm looking into buying a condo that has PTAC units in each apartment. (PTAC= "Package Terminal Air Conditioner" - those AC/heating units often found in hotels)
There is no thermostat set up in the room for these units. They do have a low/med/high knob but no thermostat.
How difficult would it be to hook up a wireless thermostat that would shut the unit off when it reached a certain temp?
I called "Ice Air," the company that makes the unit, and they said it would be about $500 per unit to add a thermostat -- that's totally CRAZY since a new unit is about that price!
Any advice/help would be great!
Author's Comments
I can see how this is disconcerting. Makes you wonder what else they fudged that not as visible as appliances.
Posted by: davester at November 20, 2007 4:23 PM in response to Items missing from condo that are in the offering plan?
The heat is produced by furnaces in the basement of the building, so for heat the PTAC is just a fan. A/C comes from the unit though.
Does that change things?
Posted by: davester at November 19, 2007 3:23 PM in response to Thernostat for "Ice Air" PTAC unit?
please excuse the typo (thernostat=thermostat)
Posted by: davester at November 19, 2007 1:57 PM in response to Thernostat for "Ice Air" PTAC unit?
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
PTAC's are so 1980s. Get out of there. You'll spend a fortune on energy bills.
Posted by: guest at November 19, 2007 2:13 PM in response to Thernostat for "Ice Air" PTAC unit?
The heat is produced by furnaces in the basement of the building, so for heat the PTAC is just a fan. A/C comes from the unit though.
Does that change things?
Posted by: davester at November 19, 2007 3:23 PM in response to Thernostat for "Ice Air" PTAC unit?
Run away. Fast. Seriously. I know what it is like to have your heart set on a place and to want to just get it done, but you'll regret it. As someone else said, if they are going so blatantly off the plan with stuff that's easy to see, what did they do where nobody can see?
Amy
Posted by: Amy at November 20, 2007 5:24 PM in response to Items missing from condo that are in the offering plan?
you can get your money back if the unit does not match the offering plan.
if you really do like this place and want to proceed, do do get an inspector to check out the place. this is money well spent.
after the inspector's comments are given to you, write a list to include those comments and your comments and have the broker give to the sponsor. double check waterproofing, mechanical rooms, venting, electrical, HVAC, the works.
we did make a list and got everything.
after moving in, we were lucky with our board. they got the sponsor to do a ton more work on the general building. in fact, try to meet other buyers now if possible. you can set up a yahoo group or a blog for everybody to write comments.
our brokers hosted a cocktail party pre-closings that interested parties came to as well as the buyers. we met people there, and now, having lived in our building for a year, have formed great relationships we people we actually met that night.
with the market slipping a bit now, you may get it all.
Posted by: guest at November 20, 2007 8:59 PM in response to Items missing from condo that are in the offering plan?
We are just finishing an almost complete renovation.
$25K to replace roof and gutters, add $15K b/c we literally "raised the roof" about five feet to expand the top floor. $5500 for blown in insulation, $25K for new siding. 30K to finish basement and add bathroom. $170 to redo second and top floor includes two new bathrooms, new ceilings, walls, redo floors . . . Also $20K for CAC, add in $15K for architect and 5K for self certifying expediter if you decide to file with DOB. You can email at mholden0@lycos.com if you want an estimate from our contractor who has ben a godsend.
Posted by: guest at November 29, 2007 10:50 PM in response to Anyone renovate a Ditmas Victorian?
Hi 6:09, please send the estimate to davester909 (at) gmail.com
thanks!
Posted by: davester at November 28, 2007 9:59 AM in response to Anyone renovate a Ditmas Victorian?