nybk01's Profile
Author's Posts
July 17, 2008
Brooklyn tree nurserys are rip offs
This is un real...went to Chelsea Nursery yesterday and was quoted $450-$550 for various street trees...today I took a trip to Western Mass to see the fam and decided to check out some tree nurserys here....Hmmmm the same Crab apple tree, Japanese Maple, and so on for only $80....same size and everything. I know that we live in a city and all but I am amazed by the markup of the Red Hook nurserys. Im thinking to come up here and take them back in a Uhall!
July 16, 2008
Brooklyn tree nursery
Does anyone know of a nursery in the Bay Ridge to Park Slope area that sells trees that I can plant on the street? We have obtained a permit, the Dept of Parks was not able to refer us to a place to buy the trees.
July 9, 2008
Hardwood floor recomendation
We are gutting our house and will be putting in all new floors. Can anyone recommend a type of wood? We were looking at bamboo, but have since decided against it, so now we need to start over! Our house will be very modern/urban...not over the top modern, but modern enough. We really want a cool looking floor too!
July 6, 2008
Radiant heat under Bamboo floor
We are renovating a house and are thinking to put in radiant heat and bamboo floors. I think this applies to any hardowwd floor, but is and "engineered" floor better to use then "solid"? I was told at iFloor that I am better off with a engineered bamboo...Anyone know better?
June 29, 2008
Website/store to buy kitchen/bath products
We are renovating a kitchen and a few baths. Yesterday we went to Home Depot Expo in LI. We looked at numerous items...one being the Kohler shower systems (Kohler DTV interface and the BodySpray tiles). I was surprised to find that Home Depot Expo sold the DTV interfact for $820 and each BodySpray nozzel for $155 each. I came home and did a quick google search and found the DTV interfact for $700 and the BodySpray nozzel for $135! Thats a lot cheaper then HD Expo. Does anyone recommend me a website/store to purchase from? HD Expo is clearly over priced.
June 24, 2008
inground pool!
We just bought a Victorian on a 125 x 40 lot. Is it possible to install an inground pool? Im trying to find the regulations but I cant find anything! Does anyone have any info?
June 23, 2008
Bathroom supplier store
We are renovating a bathroom and Im looking for a store here in NYC to go to for some ideas and to see the products displayed. We are interested in doing one of the Kohler Body Spa/bath spray showers or something on that line with multiple jets shooting water out. Can anyone recommend a supplier?
June 20, 2008
IKEA Kitchens
So we are doing a guy reno of a house we just bought. We wanted to do the whole espresso colored cabinet theme in the kitchen. I just found a flier on the street with a picture of an IKEA kitchen...exacally how we wanted to do ours. We are interested in their cabinets only...does anyone have these? They are a heck of a lot cheaper then anywhere else...are they cheap looking or something? Our house will be valued around 1.7-2.1 million I assume after we do the reno...Im not so sure that the IKEA cabinets would fit this house in case we ever wanted to sell it (I assume we should probably spend more money on higher quality cabinets to appeal to any potential buyer). So what is the catch with this IKEA stuff?
June 11, 2008
Solar Panels
Hi, I am new to "solar energy" and am interested in knowing if anyone installed solar panels and if they are really cost effective?
June 7, 2008
TERMITES!!!!!
We just has a 100 + year old Vic inspected and found the house has termite damage (probably on all floors but the Engineer could only see damage in the basement and 1st floor). We are planning on doing a gut renovation anyways, so I assume beams can be replaced and we can do a termite treatment...so this should not be that big of a deal. Am I correct in thinking this? I do realize we may need to pay around $50,000 to replace all beams if needed. I just need to be sure that is is possible to save the house.
Author's Comments
Thank you all for your comments. The owner is willing to sell for 1.7m (I only say this because we are not 100% sold yet on it!). The layout inside is kooky for sure! It is move in condition, but it really needs a complete gut reno. You are right...you really cant restore the inside because all the details are gone. The outside is in need of some serious work also. I think 1.7 is way too much still...we would need to put about $400-$500 K into this to get it up to par.
Posted by: nybk01 at March 24, 2008 2:37 PM in response to Does this house have any hope?
Sorry, Destri was the keyboardist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Destri
Posted by: nybk01 at March 24, 2008 10:54 PM in response to Bay Ridge Victorian 2
The reason I called it the mother of all Victorians is because of its HUGE size! When you think of what a Victorian is, you think oh a house like this. However, I have not been inside, which Im guessing is not the mother of all Vics. I check Zillow a few times a day for new listings. One thing I found interesting was that the Zillow estimated value is more or less always what a house sells for. However, Zillow estimates this Vic (220 78th st) at 1.9 mill and the other one on Ridge for 1.4 mill. But with all the reno that these places need, you should really knock about $300-$400 K off each. I spoke with Ed Davis, the broker for this one yesterday. He said the owner would let it go POSSIBLY for 1.7...still too much.
We have looked in Ditmas and Midwood. I just dont know...I feel there is not so much to do around there.
Posted by: nybk01 at March 25, 2008 11:53 AM in response to Bay Ridge Victorian 2
Also, here is the zillow link:
http://www.zillow.com/HomeDetails.htm?zprop=30696332
Notice the HUGE building right behind it. I think this is a big concern for most buyers.
Posted by: nybk01 at March 25, 2008 11:56 AM in response to Bay Ridge Victorian 2
12:19-
Yes, we saw all those too! The one on 81st is just in horrible condition...most of the main beams are rotted and need to be replaced...and for 1.7?!
We really are interested in 7701 Ridge, where can I check the zoning on this?
Posted by: nybk01 at March 25, 2008 12:40 PM in response to Bay Ridge Victorian 2
If we buy this place we will be renovating it.
Posted by: nybk01 at March 25, 2008 8:06 PM in response to Contacting the owner directly to buy house?
Ray,
Where do I obtain this application from? Do you have a direct link?
6:16...
We are putting in our offer tomorrow...the house has not been formally listed on any site yet...so I dont want to tell anyone which house it is until our offer is accepted :-)
Posted by: nybk01 at May 20, 2008 6:36 PM in response to Street tree planting - Do it yourself!
Sweet! Im looking forward to having a bathroom door that changes colors! Im sure everyone that comes over will think we have the coolest bathroom door!
Posted by: nybk01 at May 21, 2008 12:26 PM in response to Where do I get a door like the Bar 89 bathroom door?
7:22...
Ya, you right...I highly doubt anyone will give me a hard time for planting a few trees on the weekend. I just sent in my permit to plan trees in the Fall...I dont see why it wouldnt go through. I called the forestry department and they told me I just had to fill out the permit, send it in, then they send someone to the street...if all is good they send me a letter saying I can plant the trees. So Im not sure if I need consent from the dept of transportation....but I wasnt told that.
Posted by: nybk01 at May 21, 2008 8:39 PM in response to Street tree planting - Do it yourself!
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
You are best to check out both. A large mortgage broker will have information on way more lenders, their requirements and rates, than you could possibly contact yourself. See the best they can get you, and see what banks offer you directly - there's no obligation to go with a broker who's quoted you a rate anymore than there is to go with a bank you've talked with.
Posted by: guest at July 10, 2008 5:26 PM in response to Mortgage Brokers
Mortgage broker endorsements are trolls. Every mortgage broker still has to go through a bank and the banks' qualification process. Especially now after the ol' meltdown. Trust me, all a MB does it add another layer to the process. F*** 'em. Complicated does not matter, it's not like the MB can vouch for you. The bank is going to see the same thing, or require the same thing
Posted by: guest at July 10, 2008 10:52 PM in response to Mortgage Brokers
Is it common for a broker to go outside his firm?
We've got a rate on offer from a bank that is much lower than what our broker came up with, but we did pay him ($450) and he's got all our paperwork in a nice stack. I want to say "Please fax the stack to Chase." I have no idea whether or not that is "done" though.
Posted by: guest at July 11, 2008 9:29 AM in response to Mortgage Brokers
seabag21 how many mortgages have you gotten?
I mean, if you've gotten mortgages often enough to have a representative sample, you're probably somewhat special, no?
Posted by: guest at July 11, 2008 12:28 PM in response to Mortgage Brokers
Don't you have all the paperwork you've given him yourself? I mean, you gave him copies, not originals, right?
Posted by: guest at July 11, 2008 2:13 PM in response to Mortgage Brokers
Take a look somewhere else. Wells and that Brian scott cohen closed my loan in 15 days. Anyway, bankrate has rates that are not amrket rates they are a week old and go by national avergaes. Try the major banks or a broker, but a broker has to go to the bank anyway go direct..Next time if you like the rate lock it try wells 718 780 9132
Posted by: VfromR at July 15, 2008 10:43 PM in response to Mortgage Brokers
He wasn't sitting on our originals but we did pay a fee and he did have everything in a file that he could have flipping walked over to the bank had he chosen to. We had to spend a lot of time at the copier preparing another application.
Though ... we did give him originals, originally. We sat down with him turned over the originals and he was like "my copier is really slow. instead of making you wait I'll fed ex these to you." He did FedEx them (he's not a scoundrel at all) but if I had it to do over we would have shown up at his office with originals and copies side by side. Hopefully, I won't have to do this over!
I'll let you all know how it plays out.
Posted by: amanda at July 16, 2008 9:17 AM in response to Mortgage Brokers
Parks Street Tree request: Street trees planted free-of-charge on sidewalks in front of homes, apartment buildings, and businesses in all five boroughs. To receive a free street tree, fill out and submit form at: http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.a57f189830ce7553e333cd5701c789a0/index.jsp?subView=request_street_tree
Also contact the Council on the Environment of New York City, 51 Chambers Street, #228, New York, NY 10007. Tel: 212-788-7900
Posted by: hakonechloa at July 16, 2008 1:06 PM in response to Brooklyn tree nursery
Yes, we did this...but we have 1 tree on the street and the city only has the budget to put 1 in as I was told by someone from there.
Posted by: nybk01 at July 16, 2008 1:12 PM in response to Brooklyn tree nursery
Just don't try and plant it until late september. Planting in midsummer is extremely stressful to a young tree.
Posted by: Frederick Law Homestead at July 16, 2008 3:03 PM in response to Brooklyn tree nursery
Yes, you are 100% correct...this place can not really be cute, but grand. The inside is in need of a complete gut....the room layout is horrible. Unfortunatly, there are not many original delails inside. I am most concerned with the outside...I have heard of large Victorians of this era being bricked...I dont know if that is such a great idea though...(maybe brick it half way with a redish color brick?). I would deffinatly want to open the porch on the front.
Posted by: nybk01 at March 23, 2008 4:13 PM in response to Does this house have any hope?