grilledsardine's Profile
Author's Posts
November 3, 2009
Landlord Paying Broker?
Hi. I am trying to rent out my apartment. It's a great apartment, but I haven't had much luck with Craigslist.
I have asked two brokers to show it. They both said that the way it works now is that the landlord pays the broker the equivalent of 1 months rent instead of the prospective tenant. I guess things have gotten so bad that it has come to this.
Has anyone else had this? To me it opens a whole new can of worms. Who are these brokers really working for if they are being paid by the landlord?
Author's Comments
agree with the other commentators that this is a LL issue. i would not move all my stuff in there without assurance that there are no bed bugs. get the dog and maybe have him fumigate or whatever just to be on the safe side. it will be much easier to do this while the place is empty. if you move in and god forbid it has bed bugs you will have a huge mess.
Posted by: grilledsardine at November 5, 2009 8:33 AM in response to Bed Bug Early Detection
Um. There are no plants or flowers? Am I missing something?
Posted by: grilledsardine at November 3, 2009 11:19 AM in response to Excellent Landscape Designer!
Live nearby. Very excited about this place opening up. Menu sounds fab - inventive yet accessible.
Posted by: grilledsardine at October 9, 2009 4:26 PM in response to Streetlevel: Orchid Cafe in Bed-Stuy
Agree it's unacceptable and have them redo it. Hope you didn't give them any money.
Posted by: grilledsardine at October 5, 2009 9:54 AM in response to Penny Tile Disaster?
These kinds of articles are always annoyingly written from the Manhattan perspective.
Posted by: grilledsardine at October 5, 2009 9:50 AM in response to Boerum Hill: In a Nutshell
I think the landlord is right. You should have alerted her immediately so she could rectify the problem. At that point she could have agreed to use your cleaning person. How does the landlord know that your claim is correct?
You could have just told her as an FYI the apartment wasn't clean and we had our own cleaner do the work and given her the chance to pay you back, before demanding reimbursement. Considering she is a private landlord, this is off to a bad start.
Posted by: grilledsardine at September 29, 2009 10:44 AM in response to Does the landlord have to clean?
Those westboro baptist church people are so pathetic. i hope there are counter protests that completely drown them out.
Posted by: grilledsardine at September 23, 2009 10:14 AM in response to Wednesday Links
This article has no substance. If the number of celebrities moving to a borough is the measure of "where it's at" then Manhattan wins hands down. This writer entirely missed what makes Brooklyn great. It's obvious he didn't step foot here to write the article. But let's put this in perspective. The Daily Mail is the tabloid of all tabloids, think NY Post times 100 (consequently also owned by Murdoch.) Londoners don't read the Daily Mail. The audience is really more people outside of the big cities and ultra conservative.
Posted by: grilledsardine at September 22, 2009 2:00 PM in response to Brooklyn's Nod from the Daily Mail
They did it on my street in Bed Stuy and I was very pleased. It really adds to the charm. How do you measure economic sense? Maybe it helps to increase property values, maybe it helps keep crime at bay, maybe it would help you sell your house by making the block more appealing. And it puts people to work.
Posted by: grilledsardine at September 22, 2009 10:39 AM in response to Flatbush Streetlamp Project Draws Criticism
Oh and Freaks and Geeks. How could I forget that one. Loved it.
Posted by: grilledsardine at September 21, 2009 5:46 PM in response to HBO Does Fort Greene
I give them a pass on the location inconsistencies. I think TV/films create their own realities. If it's loosely based on a location and isn't entirely true, who cares? Cher's apartment in Moonstruck being that close to the Promenade had a charming effect.
The show doesn't really represent any neighborhoods, just an amorphous Brooklyn.
Dirty,
In terms of other shows with that type of humor, I guess I'd be hard pressed to find close matches, but I do like Curb Your Enthusiasm for laughs and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (though not laugh out loud funny). I guess Dead Like Me and Wonderfalls are similar to Bored to Death in terms of offbeat comedy. I enjoyed both of those.
Posted by: grilledsardine at September 21, 2009 5:41 PM in response to HBO Does Fort Greene
Dirty hipster,
it has nothing to do with being fussy. i like to watch what i like to watch. i'm just saying why i didn't like it. it's not like i'm looking for all the continuity goofs or something.
Posted by: grilledsardine at September 21, 2009 3:09 PM in response to HBO Does Fort Greene
I watched it and was sorely disappointed. I also thought it was Park Slope, not Fort Greene, but whatever. The show just tries way too hard. All the gratuitous cultural references grated on me. Someone already mentioned the strollers at the cafe (which made me think Park Slope), but also the iPhone, Craigslist, the self-hating Jew reference, the slacker friend who doesn't want a regularly paying job, etc. Very contrived.
It was trying to hard to be clever and it felt empty. Even Jason Schwartzman who I loved in Rushmore didn't do anything for me. Why is this Brooklyn hipster type interesting anyway? The show certainly doesn't answer it.
Posted by: grilledsardine at September 21, 2009 2:10 PM in response to HBO Does Fort Greene
generally well done and simple, but also not mind blowing, which is what you'd expect at that price. don't like the kitchen at all or the paint on the fireplace wall. the best part about it is the artwork, which i'm sure doesn't come with it.
Posted by: grilledsardine at September 21, 2009 1:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 135 Lafayette Avenue
Scam.
Posted by: grilledsardine at September 18, 2009 11:21 AM in response to ESCOs: U.S. Energy Savings
Unfortunately, there aren't a whole lot of good restaurants in Bed Stuy, a common complaint. Most of them have been mentioned: Peaches, Saraghina, Brooks Valley. There used to be Solomon's porch, but the food was just average anyhow.
Shame on Brownstoner for not shining the spotlight on Sunset Park restaurants. The nabe surely have a great selection of Chinese and Mexican spots.
Posted by: grilledsardine at September 18, 2009 11:01 AM in response to Bed Stuy Restaurant Suggestions
I live around the corner from here and this place is a welcome addition. The atmosphere is great, but the food isn't quite there. It's off to a great start, but I think they need to work out some kinks. My pizza was pretty watery. I don't think they drained the bufala mozzarella, thus the whole pizza was soggy. I also tried the octopus salad. Sorry, but the ingredients were uninspired and the octopus too chewy. They should try the one at Convivium Osteria to see how to get it right. Overall, I would go back because I think they are on the right track.
Posted by: grilledsardine at August 14, 2009 12:17 PM in response to Streetlevel: Saraghina on Halsey
I don't see moneyed baby boomers moving to that part of Fulton St. Also, those buildings look totally vacant except for the shops. Renovation to that part of Fulton St. would be most welcome. What the hell are they waiting for?
Posted by: grilledsardine at August 7, 2009 12:04 PM in response to Goldman Sachs Buying Up Fulton Street
I think a museum is a great idea, especially a hip hop museum or some sort of music museum dedicated to jazz greats like Lena Horne and Eubie Blake. Both lived in Bed Stuy. Something like that could (depending on the success) anchor small businesses, help keep them in business.
Let's face it BS needs just about everything. Food options have to be at the top of the list, then a nice neighborhood bar.
Posted by: grilledsardine at July 30, 2009 6:14 PM in response to What Does Bed Stuy Need?
grilledsardine wrote a review about Belleville on July 20, 2009 6:06 PM
This place is about average. Not comparison to Balthazar in my opinion. And separately I hate it when publications try to categorize the people in a neighborhood as if French people don't use briefcases or baby strollers.
I agree with WonTon. Atlantic Station belongs to the public. Selling naming rights disgusts me. Once they do one station they will have to do them all at which point NYC will have sold its soul.
4 mil isn't enough to sell your soul. Who even knows if Barclays will be around in 20 years.
Posted by: grilledsardine at June 24, 2009 3:37 PM in response to More Naming Rights for Barclay's
try edwin at 516-477-2904. he's very hardworking and experienced.
Posted by: grilledsardine at June 3, 2009 4:16 PM in response to Gardener Needed
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
I'm also severely allergic to cat dander so I understand how you feel. But I think it's not really setting a precedent to eat this cost. This precise situation is not ever going to happen again and there's no need to begin a renting relationship with this level of conflict. I know, it's the principle of the thing, but escalating this means more difficulty in getting repairs done in a timely way, having her mediate conflict with other tenants, etc. It's just not worth it. And also, why fill a new home with bad memories? If you rented a $2600 apartment with old appliances and cat hair, there must be something you *really* liked about it because you certainly had other options. Enjoy your place and let it go.
Posted by: bitterlikehoney at October 5, 2009 2:38 PM in response to Does the landlord have to clean?
DoorSixteen.com might have some advice on installation. They did theirs themselves, looks great.
Posted by: mopar at October 5, 2009 11:25 PM in response to Penny Tile Disaster?
That's just lack of attention to detail. People are giving the contractor too much slack. Yes it is more difficult to install these types of tiles, but not very hard (I've done mini hex tiles myself in an area this size). It's such a small area too. Need's to be pulled up and redone.
Posted by: 1842 at October 6, 2009 3:25 PM in response to Penny Tile Disaster?
Since 1956 we are italian supplier of every kind of marble,granite,onix,travertine for any type of projects directly from our own quarries or exclusivity.Check our Catalogue and find what's your material that can suit your project (private or commercial) and we can supply you that.
Some of our own product are Bianco Carrara,Bianco Statuario,Verde Malachite,Erika Red,Costa Smeralda,White Onyx , rosso damasco in blocks,slabs,tile or cut-to-size directly from our factory.Please check where the tradition meets the tecnology.
Posted by: musetti at October 14, 2009 4:28 AM in response to Penny Tile Disaster?
Grilledsardine-Planting will be done in the Spring.
Posted by: BB at November 3, 2009 2:27 PM in response to Excellent Landscape Designer!
bedbugs can remain dormant for up to 18 months. they hide in cracks and crevices in your flooring and walls. they hide in electrical outlets, etc. they will not be visible during the day. I would definitely get a dog for peace of mind.
Posted by: CHM at November 5, 2009 11:38 AM in response to Bed Bug Early Detection
Agree, brokers are not usually very helpful for either the landlord or the tenant.
Posted by: mopar at November 5, 2009 11:47 PM in response to Landlord Paying Broker?
I had the same situation and before this becomes a headache, nightmare, etc. take the necessary measures of ensuring that the apt has been thoroughly exterminated. Ask the LL for a receipt from the exterminator that it was exterminated. Obviously they have to pay someone to do it so they should have an invoice. make sure its detailed and get the number of the exterminator from the invoice and call them yourself to make sure they did your apt. When you move in, make sure you check thoroughly. At night take a flashlight and business card or credit card and scrape the floor boards to pull out any BB's that are hiding there. Alcohol can only kill BB's on the spot, its not a lasting solution. trust me when I tell u to confirm everything because BB's are a life altering situation. regular cleanings or even roach spray does not kill them. A professinal has special chemicals that kill.
Posted by: BrooklyNights at November 6, 2009 10:01 AM in response to Bed Bug Early Detection
less white people??!?!?!!
Yes that's EXACTLY what Bed Stuy needs more of:
more intolerance, fear and xenophobia.
THAT will make things better.
Posted by: bryanx at November 6, 2009 2:04 PM in response to What Does Bed Stuy Need?
Hi,
I am starting work with a bed bug dog in the Metro NY area and would gladly come to your apartment free of charge. Let me know if you are interested at lbrowning@discoverydogs.net. Thanks and good luck.
Posted by: Lee Browning at November 19, 2009 10:36 AM in response to Bed Bug Early Detection
Thanks for all the comments. Seems I was able to find someone through Craigslist afterall. The brokers didn't pull through. They really only showed it a handful of times and then tried to get me to come down significantly in price for the tenant. I felt like they were working for the tenant. Also, one of the brokers didn't tell me I had to pay until after they had already found a "great" tenant for me.
Posted by: grilledsardine at November 5, 2009 8:43 AM in response to Landlord Paying Broker?