Oh, I have turret envy. My turret is sooo skimpy compared to that!

Posted by: rh at November 6, 2009 2:17 PM in response to Welcome to The Albemarle Reno Blog

I can't go through 60 posts now, so my apologies if someone already said this, but if you click on the photo link and view comments....the guy is posing for his friend. Doesn't make him less of an idiot, but I knew he wasn't just some eccentric dude hanging off the platform....he was just trying to be cool. And failed.

Posted by: rh at November 6, 2009 6:51 AM in response to Subway Service on Weekends Is F@#%ed

I read that as "bageless" and got worried.

Posted by: rh at November 6, 2009 6:45 AM in response to Thursday Blogwrap

That's a great idea. Except we should keep it as "hide user".

Posted by: rh at October 26, 2009 4:18 PM in response to Gifted, Big City Style!

Martha, Martha, Martha!

Posted by: rh at October 23, 2009 5:13 PM in response to Closing Bell: Win Some, Lose Some

Rob, I think you're confusing Tower Records with Other Music. Sure, Tower had a great selection and I practically lived there at one point, but a huge store like that....not yuppie? You're living in la la land, baby!

Posted by: rh at October 22, 2009 1:25 PM in response to Ho! Ho! Ho! The Flea Takes Manhattan (For a Month)

CG, I think you're confusing Tower Records with Virgin Records.

As a vendor, I'm thrilled it's in Manhattan!

Posted by: rh at October 22, 2009 1:13 PM in response to Ho! Ho! Ho! The Flea Takes Manhattan (For a Month)

Saw Blondie with Pat Benetar at Coney this summer. She can still rock!

Posted by: rh at October 2, 2009 8:51 AM in response to Friday Links

I hung my own Bradbury. After paying for the paper, I couldn't afford to hire someone to hang it.

Posted by: rh at September 28, 2009 5:31 PM in response to Stencil Rec?

Why is it always midweek? You know, some of us are married, which means we don't have anything good planned for the weekend.

Posted by: rh at September 25, 2009 5:24 PM in response to IT'S TIME TO PAR-TAY!!!

I'm currently using Z Abedin. He was by a few people recommended here. He does a nice job, but man, is he dragging it out!!!!

Posted by: rh at September 24, 2009 4:47 PM in response to Browntone Steps Renovation

Bill @ Circular Stairs. You can find his # on the message board here if you do a search.

Dykes is new lumber. Nice molding....better than that Home Depot crap.

Posted by: rh at September 24, 2009 4:45 PM in response to Help wood moulding!!!!!

Yay! I've seen the sign on the door forever, but I thought it was never going to happen.

Now, if they would just open by 7am on weekends, I'd be happy.

Posted by: rh at September 15, 2009 6:10 PM in response to Streetlevel: New Coffee Shop Coming to Halsey

I was trying to navigate 7th Ave on Sunday and I just ended up walking in the street.

Posted by: rh at September 15, 2009 1:52 PM in response to Street Clutter in Brooklyn?

Ok, so it's not a joke? Guess I was fooled. Listen, I have plenty of experience with contractors (it's why I became a DIY guru). Trust me, consider yourself ahead of the game that he actually shows up!

Posted by: rh at September 4, 2009 5:56 PM in response to Fire This Contractor?

Wait, why is Rob "Butterfly" now? What did I miss?

Posted by: rh at September 4, 2009 5:48 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million

Sarcasm, right? This is a joke! OP got you!

Posted by: rh at September 4, 2009 10:23 AM in response to Fire This Contractor?

In my 44 years in this city, I've never been mugged. But I HAVE gotten a swirlie!

Posted by: rh at September 2, 2009 5:37 PM in response to Muggings in Fort Greene

Growing up in NYC in the "bad old days", we developed street smarts that is lacking in today's city. Even though crime is way down, I still cringe at some of the things I see people do. No matter how safe, it's still a city. Like that stupid tourist t-shirt with the gun says: This ain't Kansas.

Posted by: rh at September 2, 2009 2:01 PM in response to Muggings in Fort Greene

My tenant used these guys and it worked the first time.
http://www.brooklyn-exterminator.com/

I did a whole roach, if you want to know more about it....
http://reclaimedhome.com/2008/08/08/exterminators-and-cleaners/

Posted by: rh at September 1, 2009 4:04 PM in response to Exterminator Rec Needed

I haven't tried to rent in this market, but I never had trouble in the past. Good pictures are key. Creating a web page doesn't hurt, but if you know html, you can create a page for Craigs. Give details, tell a story...make it desirable. Yes, upload to craigs at least 2-3x per day. See if neighborhood blogs are willing to post. Brokers can't hurt!

Posted by: rh at September 1, 2009 3:59 PM in response to Question for Landlords

Thanks, all. I have WWA coming and Window Fix was already there.

The good news is, I don't think we're designated yet....just up for evaluation. Oh, I have all the time in the world! ;)

Posted by: rh at August 31, 2009 1:53 PM in response to Windows: Advice please

I've got a decent/inexpensive iron guy. Nothing fancy, but he's reliable. Email me, if you want his #. Don't want to post his cell online. infoATreclaimedhomeDOTcome

Posted by: rh at August 29, 2009 3:07 PM in response to Pesky window bars

We were earning less than $80k combined when we purchased our Park Slope house.

Ah, but that was a long, long time ago.....

Posted by: rh at August 24, 2009 2:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 141 Quincy Street

DIBS, I noticed the "sanitizing" comment and it didn't sit right with me.

I thought the article was fine, but I had forgotten about the way the Times fluffs things up. Gosh, so they must really hate Bed Stuy if they're being this realistic.

Posted by: rh at August 24, 2009 11:56 AM in response to Bed-Stuy: 'Experiencing a Little Bit of a Depression'?

Wearing the mask sucks in this heat, but it's not overly cautious. Assume there is lead paint if the house is older than 1978....you don't need to test.

I had some minor health issues after stripping 4 floors and that was with a mask most of the time. I detoxed and then I was fine.

I used Rock Miracle, but only found out about the SPR towards the end. It is much faster for certain things!

Here, read some posts..... :)

http://reclaimedhome.com/2008/02/12/stripping-paint-heat-gunspr-or-chemicals/

http://reclaimedhome.com/2007/09/14/silent-paint-remover/

http://reclaimedhome.com/2007/09/14/safety-first/

http://reclaimedhome.com/2008/02/11/your-restoration-your-health/

Posted by: rh at August 23, 2009 4:17 PM in response to Stripping Moldings

I was getting $2600 for my 3BR duplex last year, but my tenants renegotiated and it's now $2250. If it was empty, I'd probably try for $2350, but I didn't want to lose them over a hundred bucks.

The other tenants have been there since 2006. They pay $1450 for a 1BR on the parlor level.

It's a restored (as opposed to "renovated") brownstone within spitting distance to the A @ Nostrand.

I would think the northern end of the neighborhood should be less, therefore, I vote....

overpriced.

Posted by: rh at August 20, 2009 3:19 PM in response to Rental Picks: Bed-Stuy Edition

Bjork???!!! Wait, so it's not Morrissey?

Posted by: rh at August 19, 2009 2:17 PM in response to Björk Moving to Brooklyn Heights

It looks like a hotel! Not a boutique hotel....run of the mill chain hotel.

Posted by: rh at August 19, 2009 2:14 PM in response to House of the Day: 180 Washington Park

I can't think of anywhere too close to Carroll Gardens, but I can tell you that the fastest way to Coney is Ocean Parkway (although my husband likes Coney Island Ave). I'm not sure if there's anything sandy along the Belt near Bay Ridge, but then you can just take 3rd or 4th Ave all the way up.

Here's a suggestion: Put a sandbox in your backyard and exercise in place?

Posted by: rh at August 19, 2009 7:35 AM in response to Sandy Waterfront in Brooklyn?

I would walk out and take an anti-cigarette break every time she lit up. They can't force you to sit there and endure it, can they?

Posted by: rh at August 14, 2009 4:42 PM in response to Smoking in the Workplace

MOZ!MOZ!MOZ!MOZ!MOZ!MOZ!MOZ!

Posted by: rh at August 12, 2009 5:00 PM in response to House of the Day: 20 Grace Court Alley

MORRISSEY????!!!!!

Posted by: rh at August 12, 2009 3:57 PM in response to House of the Day: 20 Grace Court Alley

Sagging can be dealt with. The house can be jacked up and posts can be installed to support the beams. However, keep in mind that you may need to do re-pointing and joist repair in various locations throughout the house. These are things an inspector may not see because they're covered. The sag alone isn't terrible as the home may have already settled, but if it annoys you and you want to level the floors, obviously that could get pricey.

Bottom line, get the inspector if you're ready to go through with the home and you're prepared to do some work. If it's a gut job anyway, that makes it a lot easier.

Posted by: rh at August 11, 2009 3:08 PM in response to Settling and Sagging House

What's with all the centipede hate? I see them all the time in my upstate house and just send them back outside.

Bessie, I think you should take the cat in. Gemini, try harder and then take a couple of feral cats in. Count, get a cat. Everyone's problems solved!

Posted by: rh at August 6, 2009 3:00 PM in response to Garden Apartments & Pests

If you're getting rid of EVERYTHING, an estate sale may be the way to go.

I buy bulk items, but don't have much space at the moment. Please contact me if you're selling piecemeal or if you're interested in someone running a sale for you.

infoATreclaimedhomeDOTcom

Posted by: rh at August 5, 2009 10:23 AM in response to Antique Furniture

Rob, they still make those "latches" today, so it's probably not some great historic find. LOL.

Posted by: rh at August 4, 2009 1:11 PM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: Tenement Living

Thanks, MM. Of all your posts, I've enjoyed this one most because it's so close to home for me. I've lived in apartments like this in my early 20's, as did my parents and my grandparents when they came to this country and landed on the LES.

Everyone really needs to check out the Tenement Museum if you haven't already done so!

Posted by: rh at August 4, 2009 10:58 AM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: Tenement Living

Interesting. Gotta experiment with this. My husband will be cursing you, but thanks for the tip! :)

Posted by: rh at August 3, 2009 10:03 PM in response to Contractor Recs at End of Reno

I third Eddie's.

Also, Vaccaro's near Lowes, Silver Fox in Albany (they come down for the BK flea sometimes), ReStores (check locations), Junk to Jems in Dix Hills (or near there)....

If you go to my blog, you can search articles on any of these places or just punch in "salvage" and scroll through those articles.

http://reclaimedhome.com

I just remembered that I have a slate mantle leaning against my garage awaiting faux marble painting. It's from a late 1800's house.

Posted by: rh at August 3, 2009 5:19 PM in response to architectural salvage places?

Thanks!

I love the walls. I can't figure out from the photo if that's concrete or weathered wood?

Posted by: rh at August 3, 2009 5:09 PM in response to Contractor Recs at End of Reno

Gothamist...just a ray of sunshine today.

Posted by: rh at August 3, 2009 5:05 PM in response to Monday Blogwrap

Second Hand Rose deals with antique and vintage wallpaper. They should know.

Posted by: rh at July 30, 2009 3:35 PM in response to Period Wallpaper?

I'm not too impressed with that vegetarian unfriendly menu, so I won't be eating there.

Why would a rooftop lounge/restaurant EVER go out of style? Backyard seating is awesome, but sidewalk cafes in NYC is just stupid. This isn't Europe...we don't have squares! Next best thing...rooftops.

Posted by: rh at July 29, 2009 10:53 AM in response to Inside Hotel Le Bleu's Restaurant

Why, The Kitchen Designer, of course! Susan Serra.
http://www.thekitchendesigner.org/
Tell her Reclaimed Home sent ya.

Posted by: rh at July 23, 2009 3:25 PM in response to Looking for Kitchen Designer

That's MS. Morris to you! :)

Posted by: rh at July 21, 2009 6:29 PM in response to Hancock at Troop and Tompkins?

Thanks, everyone. Brenda makes a good point about the dental picks. I should add that this was done without my stripping tools as I left them all in the other house. Once it was soft enough, I scrubbed with steel wool and a soft wire brush. Maybe a bit of fingernail as well.

Posted by: rh at July 21, 2009 9:52 AM in response to Spiff Up Your Old Hardware

That's my part of Bed Stuy. I haven't been paying attention to prices because I'm set for the moment, but IMO, that area is every bit as desirable as Stuy Heights....which is why I landed there. Near express A, Restoration Plaza, Tomkins shops, Bush Baby, walkable to Kush and Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, lovely tree lined blocks. I'm not on Hancock, but I'm close to Fulton between Nostrand and Marcy and I love it there.

Posted by: rh at July 20, 2009 2:09 PM in response to House of the Day: 141 Hancock Street

I've used Bill in the past and he was great! So much so that I recommended him several times on this blog. I recently called him for some carpentry work and although he showed up to look at it, he didn't get back to me with the estimate (after 3 conversations asking where is). He's probably crazy busy and trying to take on too much.

Posted by: rh at July 20, 2009 12:32 PM in response to Bill from circular stairs

The above posts mentioned how a post closing occupancy helped the seller (e.g. they had not closed on the property they were going to move to).

It could also help the buyer. Our buyer had a great mortgage rate locked in and the lock-in was going to expire. She would have had to pay $900 to extend the lock-in. We let her close early (and asked that she pay 50% of the per diem, since it was a lot more than our current housing cost would have been). We stayed about 2 weeks post closing until we could move in to our rental.

Everything was pre-arranged through the lawyers, just like the other posters have said.

Posted by: zargoth123 at October 6, 2009 3:21 PM in response to How common is post-closing possession?