Biff, email I sent to you about your bathroom bounced back to me. Contact me at westgate63 at yahoo dot com.

Posted by: dylanfan at November 2, 2009 9:37 AM in response to Open Thread

Biff, two emails to you at that yahoo address bounced back to me. Email me at westgate63@yahoo.com.

renomom, my guys do one job at a time and spring is too far ahead. So email me at that address when you are ready to start work.

Posted by: dylanfan at October 31, 2009 2:35 PM in response to Bathroom Reno - Any Opinions?

Mail sent to biff dot champion at yahoo dot com keeps getting bounced back to me.

Posted by: dylanfan at October 30, 2009 1:03 PM in response to Open Thread

Biff, I posted something on your bathroom query on the Forum.

Posted by: dylanfan at October 30, 2009 9:54 AM in response to Open Thread

Biff, I recommended a guy who has worked for me for over ten years to two Brownstoner readers recently and he did two baths for them in the past couple of months, so he has them as references as well as me. His work is incredible and his price would come in quite a bit less than the estimate you have.

I do think that both of those bathrooms took four weeks and change (couple of extra days), so the time frame seems about right. He only does one job at a time.

Give me a way to contact you.

Posted by: dylanfan at October 29, 2009 3:48 PM in response to Bathroom Reno - Any Opinions?

I've done what you want to do three times with the same people and it looked/looks great and it didn't cost an arm and a leg. My guys just finished two bathrooms for two different Brownstoner readers, so he will have references beyond me. Post your email and I will get in touch.

Posted by: dylanfan at October 22, 2009 6:34 AM in response to Kitchen Reno: Some D.I.Y.

I have a great person for tiling. Post your email and I will contact you.

Posted by: dylanfan at October 14, 2009 3:10 PM in response to Anyone Know a Glass Guy?

This is a beautiful building in a great location, but it's hard to believe that it's just the photographs making the place look so ugly--it probably is ugly. The description manages to make it sound like a lovely apartment, but the images just don't bear it out. Still, probably because of the astronomical maintenance, it's priced 100K below recent comps.

Posted by: dylanfan at October 13, 2009 12:52 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 39 Plaza Street West

That meatball recipe is the same as my Aunt Rose's and she was Calabrese to the core and a great cook. Not so much breadcrumbs (always homemade), quite a bit of grated locatelli, only difference is, we drop them into the sauce raw.

Posted by: dylanfan at October 12, 2009 1:19 PM in response to Columbus Day Open Thread

Seems to me it is *less* because it is all cash. People around here say 100K per floor for a complete reno. I think that's high, but let's say they are right. A million to purchase, 300K to renovate and you have a beautiful house in a great neighborhood for 1.3. You say comps sell for 1.6-2mil. Sounds like a good deal, if you have the cash.

If it's not habitable, though, financing the reno could be an issue. But maybe not with that kind of equity.

Posted by: dylanfan at September 29, 2009 1:49 PM in response to Cost of Run-Down vs. Reno'd

Agreed, Minard, though your figure may be a little low (depending), a million is way too high unless you MUST have it look like something out of Architectural Digest when it's done--as in, I haz six toilets and they're all Toto!!

600K cash anyone?

Posted by: dylanfan at September 29, 2009 1:27 PM in response to House of the Day: 329 Adelphi Street Reduced

Once upon a time, every Italian family in Brooklyn had a fig tree in the yard.

Great wrapped in prosciutto.

Posted by: dylanfan at September 4, 2009 8:46 AM in response to A Fig Grows in Brooklyn

Over the years, I have installed five IKEA kitchens. I even used their source for the countertops (several different surfaces) and they have always been delivered just perfectly measured and made. The kitchens have held up very well, and people love the way they look. My current kitchen is about five years old and still looks good and works well.

BTW, I mix IKEA cabinets with high-end appliances, lights, sinks, faucets, etc.

Posted by: dylanfan at August 31, 2009 12:54 PM in response to IKEA Kitchen

Thanks for a few good laughs today, DeLepp. Ugh, no, not their cash flow, though that's a great guess. Guess I should have spelled weeny differently....

Great memory about L-1011s and smoking sections. And everybody was all dressed up--

Posted by: dylanfan at August 25, 2009 4:44 PM in response to Greetings From The Big Island

DeLepp--lol! Did not know the sabena one, but I understand. Of course, US desp-Air.

TransWorld used to be Teeny Weeny. (Their jets were awfully big, in inverse proportion to....)

Posted by: dylanfan at August 25, 2009 3:19 PM in response to Greetings From The Big Island

DeLepp, how do you know about that name? It's an industry thing--

Here's another one: Continental=Constant Stressful.

And United=Untied.

Posted by: dylanfan at August 25, 2009 1:57 PM in response to Greetings From The Big Island

Whew! I thought the house was in Clinton Hill. Mistook the "Street" for "Avenue."

All righty, then. A veritable steal @ just under 3 million.

Posted by: dylanfan at August 25, 2009 1:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 182 Clinton Street

Great post Snappy! If I win the MegaMillions, I'll give you the blank check to buy that house!

Posted by: dylanfan at August 25, 2009 9:37 AM in response to Open Thread

Debate above aside I recommended my guy to a Brownstoner and she met him, hired him, and the bath is just finished (2.5 weeks, from gut to complete). His prices are very reasonable for the quality of work. He's done many baths for me over a ten-year period, and I'm sure the other Brownstoner will be happy to provide a reference as well.

Post your email and I'll get in touch with you.

Posted by: dylanfan at August 18, 2009 6:52 PM in response to Bathroom Reno?

Great piece once again, Montrose, and thanks too for reminding me of that wonderful Miracles' song. It'll be in my head for the rest of the night....

Posted by: dylanfan at August 11, 2009 5:58 PM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: Ooooh, Baby, Baby

I thought Montrose would know exactly what it was at a glance! Anyway, my thought is that it looks somewhat like some of the wallpapers my parents had in their Jersey City brownstone in the late '40s, and I think they renovated when they married and bought the place in 1948.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 30, 2009 11:18 AM in response to Period Wallpaper?

Bulls, bears...whatever! This is what was missing in the overheated market of late. When a property has some issues, it should be a bit of a buy for someone willing to wade through the problems. It should not be priced as if it were in pristine condition and 22' wide, which it was, at first.

This place may have some issues, among them the width (which can't be "fixed"), but what a location! For someone willing to take on the issues, opportunity knocks.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 29, 2009 3:05 PM in response to House of the Day: 156 Hicks Street Revisited

Post your email and i'll send you a reference for someone who's really good.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 28, 2009 6:01 PM in response to New Bath, New Wood floors,

I've grown quite fond of you too, 11217. And sixyears. Pouring that academic profile into teaching kids history in Brooklyn--wow--

He's a catch, Jessibaby. I hope you're still hanging out with him.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 28, 2009 3:46 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

"Miss Muffett, when and if you find your dream house in your dream school district at your dream price, whatever will you post about dozens of times a day?"

The inevitability of the market taking off like a rocket once again, so she can sell at peak, rent for a while (she'll be posting about catastrophes then) and at the lowest point point possible buy a bigger "modest" house in an even better location--and then she'll post endlessly just to remind us she did so.

"You know why people get bent out of shape dealing with MM? Despite the well crafted illusion of level-headedness, she sneaks in comments like, “too many sellers are too stubborn” to justify why her bold (and wildly inaccurate, usually) predictions of current prices will nonetheless be correct in the future."

Watch: What she encloses in parentheses generally is particularly self-serving and....to the moon, Alice! if you get my drift....

Posted by: dylanfan at July 28, 2009 3:26 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Case-Schiller reported an uptick in prices for April-May, first time in a long time. Isn't this the metric that BHO said is essential to his decision-making process? Doesn't that news undermine MM's argument--especially if it's a start on the other side of the curve?

Not saying CS has any influence on my decisions to buy or sell property, just reminding those who do hang on to that sort of data to justify (not making) decisions that it's starting to look like you better get moving (literally).

Posted by: dylanfan at July 28, 2009 1:28 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Thanks Dave. Will check back.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 28, 2009 11:22 AM in response to Open Thread

WonTon, can you recommend someone in Chinatown? I know Spring Thyme is too pricey for me.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 28, 2009 10:53 AM in response to Open Thread

Maybe Jane Jacobs never lived in the "Ghetto" but I spent the first eighteen years of my life there, and what "Ghettos" prove is that mixed age race class etc. etc. is best for keeping a neighborhood alive and preventing the clusterf***s like Washington. I'm not active in this stuff, so I don't know about that one; I was just commenting on this thread as someone who likes that little pocket of Clinton Hill a lot.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 28, 2009 10:50 AM in response to Lefferts Place Threatened by Healthcare Developer

Yes, bxgrl, you are right to point out that in this case the objections are more about looks than use. And I don't think it would be such a big deal to make this place look like it fits in. Can it really be that much cheaper to build some ugly box? I mean, I've made a lot of Ikea kitchens in my day, and people ask me to design theirs! They can't believe they are looking at a 5K kitchen.

The possibility that an underlying cause of distress is that it also "just doesn't look good" to have all those old people out there sunning themselves on a summer day--

I'm a very aesthetically driven person, but the fetishization of a particular aesthetic I see on this site would include the banishment of old ladies--especially poor-to-middle-income ones!

I was so sorry to see the Graham Home for Old Ladies get turned into condos. I planned on rehabbing it for me and a few of my friends; commune, not condo.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 28, 2009 10:41 AM in response to Lefferts Place Threatened by Healthcare Developer

I was thinking of posting this question of the forum, but held off because it is not really appropriate--but since the subject came up here: Anyone know of a good acupuncturist in Brooklyn? There are a couple in Park Slope, but I don't know if they are the real deal.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 28, 2009 10:32 AM in response to Open Thread

Really, Mr. What? You think Lefferts between Grand and Classon is a "dump"? I love Lefferts Place. I do hear you about the green house and the yellow house, though. These are treasures as far as I am concerned, I don't care who lives in the neighborhood. But sometimes Landmarks makes things so difficult for people, treasures turn into trash, which is a loss for all of us.

Along with other biases you have detected on this site, I sense a bit of age bias here from time to time as well. I have to smile just thinking about the outraged denials that comment will provoke, but sorry people, it's embedded in your prose.

So I would think, along the lines of Jane Jacobs, that the best neighborhood is a "mixed" neighborhood, in every sense. That means some old folks around might be a good thing. But I also think that the folks who want to keep this building from being too tall, too large and too--yes--UGLY have a point. No reason why the place can't be built for the intended purpose and look like it "belongs" too. Lots of other cities do it the world over.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 28, 2009 10:15 AM in response to Lefferts Place Threatened by Healthcare Developer

First-time buyers questions are not ridiculous. Rather, smart to ask, I would say.

Anyway, I've bought and sold lots of properties over the years and things have generally gone like so:

First, decide what you think is a fair offer for the property you have found that you like. I have never had a buyer's broker. Just make the offer to the seller's broker, but do your homework and study comps so you don't over pay. In this atmosphere, I would bid under ask with room enough to meet in the middle should there be a counter-offer from the seller, but not so low as to have your offer dismissed.

You may go back-and-forth for awhile, but if/when your offer is accepted, you need to retain a real estate attorney. The contract will go to your attorney. Your attorney should do "due diligence" before you sign. A good real estate attorney will know what to look for in the offering plan and what contingencies to add to protect you should anything go wrong. When you are all satisfied it is time to sign the contract, you do so and add a check for 10% of the purchase price, which goes into escrow.

While your lawyer is busy with the contract and checking out the building's financials and the offering plan, you should be getting a more firm commitment from a lender, though a mortgage contingency is standard in most contracts (if you can't get a mortgage, the contract is void and you get your 10% back). I would say getting a firm commitment from a lender before signing a contract is more crucial now than it used to be, so whether you work with a bank directly or with a mortgage broker, make sure you have financing lined up.

Closing costs to buy a condo are higher than when buying a co-op because you own the four walls and a title search and title insurance are necessary. I don't know how much these are running these days, but the attorney's fees alone will probably run maybe $3000 or more (I am not a real estate attorney, so I can't say, exactly). Hope you get other comments from recent buyers of condos with more specific info about closing costs. Anyway, there could be "points" on the mortgage to buy you a better rate, for instance. Condo developers used to get BUYERS to pick up some or all of their closing costs, pushing them sky high. Now you may be able to get the developer/seller to pick up some of YOUR closing costs. About that you should first talk to the seller's broker and see if there are any offers. If none are forthcoming, ask you attorney to broach the subject with the seller's attorney.

Good luck to you!

Posted by: dylanfan at July 26, 2009 12:40 PM in response to Ridiculous First-Time Buyer ?s

HOBOKENROCKS, people thought Greenville was scary then too, but it wasn't if you lived there. I walked myself to kindergarten and to my grandmother's house on Ocean Ave., and fifty years later, I'm still here!

Thing about the high property taxes in Jersey is, you can reconcile yourself to them if they are a substitute for private school tuition (in the areas that have great public schools), but I don't think the public schools in JC have ever been any great shakes, so paying a lot of taxes there could be a problem. Then again, if you get a great brownstone in the Heights for under a million, your mortgage could be low enough to afford private schools.

Used to enjoy your posts about the stock market....

Posted by: dylanfan at July 23, 2009 4:46 PM in response to Open Thread

I *heart* HOBOKENROCKS. It does. Spent much of my misspent youth there, smellin' the coffee.

I lived in Greenville. Really. Sorry you steer clear of my old neighborhood--LOL. It was actually a great place to grow up.

I see Obama has finally commented on Professor Gates's arrest, though I have not yet read what he had to say.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 23, 2009 3:16 PM in response to Open Thread

In '69 he was 21, but he looked about forty in Prospect Park last night--Jackson Browne can still rock too. Wanted to see McCartney as well but I don't do stadium shows anymore. Love the atmosphere DH describes; that's usually the way it is when these old guys play.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 22, 2009 10:08 AM in response to Open Thread

I know someone just like the person mentioned above. Great work, fair price, nice guy. Don't like to publish his number on here without his permission, though. If you'd like to get a couple of prices for the job, let me know how to contact you.

He's done a lot of work for another PHfamily I recommended him to, so maybe a near neighbor can also give you a reference.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 20, 2009 3:50 PM in response to Sheetrock Rec Needed

There is a premium for a view, but that sounds like too much of one. Make an offer if you love the place. Ten of sixteen in contract is a good sign in this environment. Go in lower, leaving a little room to go up a bit if you are getting close to a price that is acceptable to you.

They do look awfully nice, and I think that area is underrated.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 20, 2009 3:47 PM in response to One Sunset Park Open House

Anyone have any information they would be willing to share on the Leffert's Place house? Has anyone seen it?

Posted by: dylanfan at July 17, 2009 2:10 PM in response to Open House Picks

Oops, sorry funstraw. Meant to say send me your email address and I will give you a reference for a great tile person.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 16, 2009 5:44 PM in response to Vestibule Tile Repair?

Well, I do agree with what you added to my remark @11:57, sixyears, but I also agree even more with what you said @11:54 and with what Montrose says above.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 16, 2009 12:04 PM in response to New Middle School Coming to Fort Greene

Maybe 113 has had "great success with its students" because its curriculum is traditional and very structured?

Posted by: dylanfan at July 16, 2009 11:52 AM in response to New Middle School Coming to Fort Greene

Prefer not to. Any contact info you could give me? Would be happy to supply you with more info.

You know how you can get a *great* dinner that astonishes in NYC for practically nothing? And also how you can go to a heavy-star place for a really special occasion and get food that's nearly inedible?

I don't think the people on this site understand that....

Posted by: dylanfan at July 16, 2009 11:49 AM in response to Labor Cost for Bath Reno?

Count me in as a skeptic too, sixyears.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 16, 2009 11:45 AM in response to New Middle School Coming to Fort Greene

Send me an email and I'll send you a reference for a guy who does great tile work.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 16, 2009 11:28 AM in response to Vestibule Tile Repair?

As an educator, I say, Thank you Pitbull.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 16, 2009 11:22 AM in response to New Middle School Coming to Fort Greene

I've lost count of how many bathrooms I've done over and these prices quoted astonish me. People on this site seem to equate "high-end" with high cost, but as most people know, it is possible to get great quality in this city for a very reasonable price--if you know where to look. In other words, don't expect a high estimate from a contractor to guarantee beautiful work. And vice-versa.

Get more quotes. If you want a reference for someone who has done great work for me and others I have recommended him to, let me know how to contact you.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 16, 2009 11:20 AM in response to Labor Cost for Bath Reno?

@sam: And, the funny thing is, that they're out there. And they may not mind buying a house near Flatbush because they have no idea what they're doing.

Maybe that's what happened last time around....

Posted by: dylanfan at July 14, 2009 2:37 PM in response to House of the Day: 14 Seventh Avenue

"Revolting" surprised me too. The interior looks really nice to me. Somewhat similar to the interior of the Clifton Place house, which I also found very appealing and tranquil.

Though over the long term I guess you could say I'm a bull, it's always with the qualification that mistakes in real estate investments--as with most any other--can be costly. If the always suspect prose in the broker's ad for Clifton Place is to be believed, the owners of that place paid too much and spent far too much renovating a house in an area that attracts first-time house buyers and the middle class, both of whom need rental income to make the deal work. Now they need an astronomical amount to recoup their outlay and make a little for their time and energy (and I think that's fair) and it's just not going to happen, imho. So for the first time yesterday, I voted way below what the widget would allow--750K.

This house probably also has too much invested in a house right off Flatbush on the main drag, 7th Avenue. Outside 321 too. I would not pay more than 1.8 in that location, even for a house in great condition, as this one appears to be.

In a way it does boil down to location, location, location.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 14, 2009 2:14 PM in response to House of the Day: 14 Seventh Avenue

Should have added that with my people, you will have to go by--though not every day--just to check in and answers questions that emerge as the job progresses. (And they do.)

Above posters are right: you can leave people to work in your place while you are not there, but you have to make sure you have references.

Posted by: dylanfan at July 14, 2009 9:44 AM in response to Renovation and Home Safety