Co-op of the Day: 141 Lafayette 2 Bedroom FSBO
What do you do if you’re an architect looking to sell your charming 2-bedroom apartment in one of the nicer co-op buildings in Fort Greene? FSBO all the way. The approach is nuthin’ fancy — just a blogspot site with the simplest, cleanest design template — but it works. While we’ve got no idea whether…
What do you do if you’re an architect looking to sell your charming 2-bedroom apartment in one of the nicer co-op buildings in Fort Greene? FSBO all the way. The approach is nuthin’ fancy — just a blogspot site with the simplest, cleanest design template — but it works. While we’ve got no idea whether he’ll get any takers at the asking price of $685,000 for 950 square feet, we were just excited to see the photo of the common garden (on the jump) that appears to be shared also with the neighboring townhouses. What’s the story with that?
Sunny 2 Bedroom Co-op [141 Lafayette] GMAP
My wife and I actually purchased the apt below and yes,it did need a lot of work, but it was mostly getting rid of the floor to ceiling salmon colored wallpaper and making smart decisions around the kitchen. We were able to get the prior owners to come down due to the fact that the “work of art” that was their apt made the place look half the size and scared off a lot of potential buyers. Once we skim coated the walls and painted them white the space doubled immediately.
We appreciated the help that our broker (Hi Rudy) gave us in the buying process, but you have be picky about who you go with if you do use a pro to help buy/sell a place.
Prior to him we used another Corcoran agent who kept trying to sell us places WAAAAY out of our price range and recommending we get ourselves into some pretty risky mortgage scenerios. Clearly she didn’t have our interests in mind and was looking only to increase her profit.
We are curious to see how our neighbors do with the FSBO approach because frankly in a market such as ours, I would rather put in the 10 hours to deal with the papaerwork than fork over 36K to a broker. Based on the feeback I heard yesterday on the success of the open house, I have a feeling we will sell it ourselves, but I won’t be convinced until money actually changes hands.
The 2nd floor didn’t really need that much work; it was just rather stylised. It wasn’t my taste but I did really admire the work those guys put into it. It was almost a work of art. I have not seen the currently listed place but I think the place I saw was not anywhere near 900 sf. Closer to 700. If even.
As for listing on one’s own versus with a broker, I felt that the 5% I paid my broker was well worth the price, if only in not having to deal with my co-op’s management company and board and getting all the paperwork in order. But if I were selling a house it would be a different story. (oh, and I’m not a broker, but I admit I am an architect.)
You agents really hate hearing the truth, don’t you?
I have nothing against anybody trying to make an honest buck. I realize it’s not easy to be a real estate agent. I’d personally hate to rely on the feast or famine pay structure.
I’ve used agents to sell property in areas with little demand since I knew it could sit on the market for months and months and I needed every edge I could get.
But in desirable areas, like Fort Green, where there’s still a lot of demand, I would do the same thing this architect is doing, and list it myself, except I’d list the place cheaper to sell it quick.
It’s my personal opinion that disgruntled real estate agents are responsible for most of the negative comments posted on this site.
I know it’s tough being an agent, but that’s not my problem and it’s not any other seller’s problem. It’s your problem.
“Standard calc is from outside of bldg. walls and a proportion of common areas includeing stairways.”
Bullcrap. Plain and simple. That is for (some) CONDOS. Standard calc on co-ops is for sq ft is the floorplan, including interior walls. Exterior if you really want to go too far, but not including stairways. Either way, this place is almost 200 sqft over-advertised!
“That goes for all bldgs, and even single family home across country.”
Wrong.
“To to compare apples to apples of course the architect will include in sq. ft.”
Wrong again.
Stupid question: is parquet flooring “hardwood”?
My wife and I used to own the apartment above this one. We sold it in 2005 for $595K. I thought we sold at the height of overpricedness, but maybe not. This apartment is on the third floor (2 flights up) and does have a nicely renovated kitchen and bath. The courtyard is shared among the coop units, not with other neighbors, and there is a small but very cute carriage house within the courtyard. It is a great location and the maintenance is low. But with one bath and a small second bedroom, the apartment only works for a single person or couple with no plans for children.
adding up the dimensions on the floorplan the owner himself has provided, the total sf (not including the little hallway and closets), is 652. even being generous in estimating those discounted elements, this apartment can’t possibly provide more than 725sf of livable space.
Jake the snake how many weeks did it take you to get your licsense as a serpent? I think I would like to use a real snakke instead. Oh and the woman who stereotypes people (brokers) as all basically parasites what are you? One final word…make the owner $100,000 more and in such a costly transaction the agent makes $1,000 more didn’t you just spell out why intelligent and professional sellers do choose professional agents. Sure you are experts on this blog thats why you all own property right? Not mad just highly amused.
oops..wrong apt @11:50PM