lmk2101's Profile

  • Leah
  • 2003
  • 2005
  • Brooklyn
  • East Williamsburg
  • Condo
  • Social Worker
  • Female
  • 28

Author's Posts

April 29, 2009

Security camera

Hi,

My building was broken into again last night and we are now looking into installing a security camera of some sort. The building is a condo so it is the responsibility of the residents. Has anyone installed a camera? How are cameras installed? Can this be done by a super or should it be professionally installed? Any other advise regarding this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Leah

Posted in Forum by lmk2101 at 4:52 PM | Comments (4)
Categories: Alarm

April 7, 2009

Garden Apt Egress Laws?

Hi,

I hope someone in the Brownstoner community can help me out with this. I am considering buying a two family, three story house. The garden floor is set up as the rental. The problem is that the previous owners created an extension off the parlor floor that completely blocks the rear windows and door of the garden apartment. At this point they are just sort of there looking out to underneath the extension. I was thinking that we could build a wall where the windows are and leave a door to use this space as storage. My concern is whether or not it is safe or legal to not have a rear exit. The only door would be under the stoop. Does anyone have any insight?

Thanks,

Leah

Posted in Forum by lmk2101 at 9:53 AM | Comments (14)
Categories: Building Code

Author's Comments

I love huaraches! Getting them at the ball field is a pretty special experience. Glad to hear that the flea has them too! Also glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has a hard time keeping it all on the plate!

Posted by: lmk2101 at August 19, 2009 11:02 PM in response to Vendy Vini Vici!

I'm jealous of the lady in the picture. She has a dog, a baby and a glass of wine. Nice.

Posted by: lmk2101 at August 4, 2009 6:19 PM in response to Tuesday Blogwrap

The BQE is a mess! The lines dont' make sense and are completely missing in parts. The city really needs to do something about this!

Leah

Posted by: lmk2101 at July 9, 2009 7:18 PM in response to BQE Rehab Comments Due Later This Month

lmk2101 wrote a review about MonkeyTown on July 9, 2009 6:57 PM

I haven't been in a while. I've probably been about three times in the past four years. Every time I found the food good and interesting. It's a pretty cool spot with really interesting design. I would say it's worth checking out!

I have always liked this house and I think the location is great. It's about a five minute walk from the Graham Ave L train and right near cooper park. I have heard that this block was once called "doctor's row" and that it was all impressive single family homes. Some of the houses have been broken up but it's still a really cute block. I'm not quite sure what dittoburg was referring to.

Posted by: lmk2101 at July 8, 2009 8:13 AM in response to 59 Orient, Half-Butchered, Is Back on the Block

lmk2101 wrote a review about Naidre's on June 27, 2009 9:49 AM

I eat at the one in Park Slope about once a week. Good salads, sandwiches and vegan muffins. I'm glad it exists.

lmk2101 wrote a review about Naidre's on June 27, 2009 9:38 AM

I eat here about once a week. Good salads, sandwiches and vegan muffins. I'm glad it exists.

lmk2101 wrote a review about Caracas Arepa Bar: Brooklyn on June 24, 2009 5:07 PM

This place is amazing! I went a few weeks ago with my boyfriend. I had never had an arepa before! I was very pleasantly surprised by how great they were! Highly recommended.

The lot pictured is on Driggs between N8th & N9th.

Posted by: lmk2101 at June 18, 2009 6:32 PM in response to Bedford Avenue Cesspool Continues to Fester

I bought in a 15 unit condo a few years ago. We have been self managed for the majority of the time. We did hire a management company for a while though. They were a nightmare! They really just didn't care much about our small building and made a lot of mistakes.

We realized that we were better off saving our money and self managing. We happen to have an accountant and another owner who is quite skilled in home repair. It works out nicely. We have hired one of the owners who is going back to school to serve as the super. He's pretty dedicated to preventative maintenance so it works out well.

I think self managing is a good option for small buildings. When we did have a management company we just ended up managing the management company.

Leah

Posted by: lmk2101 at June 9, 2009 8:53 AM in response to self-managed condo?

Wow... you all are so nice! The law totally protects the landlord!

I had a landlord who kept my entire deposit even though I had completely cleaned the apartment and didn't leave a thing. I ended up brining him to small claims court where he told a completely fabricated story about the apartment having, "holes in the walls and trash all over the place". Anyway, the judge split the difference. Then the landlord didn't pay and I had to have the sheriff collect my $600. It was crazy.

As a landlord, I wouldn't worry too much.

Leah

Posted by: lmk2101 at June 3, 2009 5:33 PM in response to Security Deductions

Thanks everyone! I appreciate you all taking the time to help me out!

Posted by: lmk2101 at April 9, 2009 6:36 PM in response to Garden Apt Egress Laws?

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to answer!

I will try to clarify a little more. The rear part of the garden level is set up as the kitchen/ bathroom. The front room has two windows and the exit under the front stoop. It would obviously be nicest to dig out under the extension and extend the room back, add windows, a door etc. Does anyone know how much a job like that would cost? Jfss, the extension does cover the full width and overhangs by about 10'. The back windows currently just look out to under the extension with no exterior light.

How would I know if the extension was legal or not?

Lastly, this space wasn't actually in use as a rental before but we would need it to be to cover the mortgage.

Thanks for your time!

Leah

Posted by: lmk2101 at April 7, 2009 7:41 AM in response to Garden Apt Egress Laws?

Responses to Author's Forum Comments

Thanks everyone! I appreciate you all taking the time to help me out!

Posted by: lmk2101 at April 9, 2009 6:36 PM in response to Garden Apt Egress Laws?

Call a pro. Be sure they are licensed by the state.

Posted by: Bklyn Fire Alarm Guy at April 29, 2009 8:18 PM in response to Security camera

It differs from broadcast television in that the signal is not openly transmitted, though it may employ point to point wireless links. CCTV is often used for surveillance in areas that may need monitoring such as banks, casinos, airports, military installations, and convenience stores.

In industrial plants, CCTV equipment may be used to observe parts of a process from a central control room; when, for example, the environment is not suitable for humans. CCTV systems may operate continuously or only as required to monitor a particular event. A more advanced form of CCTV, utilizing Digital Video Recorders (DVRs), provides recording for possibly many years, with a variety of quality and performance options and extra features (such as motion-detection and email alerts).
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mukesh251
Car Rentals - Car Rentals

Posted by: mukesh251 at April 30, 2009 7:56 AM in response to Security camera

Are they breaking in, busting windows? prying open doors? Or is someone leaving the front doors open or ajar?

Home Depot and CostCo sell CCTV-like systems, but unless people close and lock doors and windows, capturing the crime on video is of little use.

Posted by: bmfesq at April 30, 2009 10:25 AM in response to Security camera

Vinca, there are many creative ways for someone to openly and notoriously harbor a cat in their apartment for 3 months. A LL would be crazy to try to remove the pet if the tenant had any street smarts regarding this issue. See Tenant.net below for suggestions for proving 90 "harboring" of a cat.

http://tenant.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=25480

Posted by: mod squad at June 4, 2009 8:21 AM in response to Security Deductions

So what do you do about tenants who don't pay their last month or two of rent and intend for the security deposit to cover it? Has anyone successfully gone to court to recoup in this case? And what are you recouping, if there aren't any actually damages?

David

Posted by: intheheights at June 4, 2009 5:12 PM in response to Security Deductions

It doesn't sound like anything more than normal wear and tear to me. Did you repaint before they moved in? Did they live over two years? then you'll have a difficult time recovering if they painted. and they sound like good people if THEY paid for the exterminator. So to make them pay twice seems really unfair, and if they contested you'd lose. Further, you can't prove a pet lived there if you never saw it live there, end of.


Keep the interest from the security, you did put it in an interest earning account, right?

Posted by: redhookreject at June 4, 2009 9:21 PM in response to Security Deductions

Great question and some good advice here. I would say first document everything. Every single penny.

I have spent 12 years doing nothing but look at files of previous tenants who left owing the landlord money. The condition some tenants leave apartments is terrible.

My blog has several articles about tenant debt and what to do about it. Here is the link for anyone who is interested:
www.thelandlorddoctor.com

Bill

Posted by: Bill Gray at July 23, 2009 12:17 PM in response to Security Deductions