House of the Day: 137 Berkeley Place
We’re curious to hear from anyone who went to the open house at 137 Berkeley Place. The house is on a lovely block and has some nice woodwork left but the kitchens and bathrooms are pretty shlubby. It also looks like there have been some questionable decisions in the fireplace department over the years. Do…
We’re curious to hear from anyone who went to the open house at 137 Berkeley Place. The house is on a lovely block and has some nice woodwork left but the kitchens and bathrooms are pretty shlubby. It also looks like there have been some questionable decisions in the fireplace department over the years. Do you think $1.975 million is realistic?
137 Berkeley Place [Hieghts Berkeley] GMAP P*Shark
After reading some of your posts, I can’t help but feel saddened, as that was my grandmother’s home until the age of 99.
A fixture in the Park Slope community for 60+ years, I am sure many of you probably crossed my grandmother’s path. Warm and outgoing, she was akin to the “mayor” of Berkeley Place as you could find her on her stoop, on many an afternoon regaling passersby’s with accounts of her travels, tales of her days dancing at Roseland, or her all time favorite story the way in which she became the owner of 137 Berkeley Place…
Upon marriage to my grandfather, my grandmother moved in with her new husband’s family. Desperately unhappy in her new living situation, she begged my grandfather to move out, into a home of their own where they could raise a family. Every time she’d approach my grandfather, his response was always the same… “It’s impossible, we don’t have the money.†A woman of very clever means, my grandmother believed she could make the impossible, possible. Every week unbeknownst to my grandfather, she made sacrifices and cutbacks that enabled her to siphon a little money from his paycheck. Slowly, pennies turned into dollars until one day, my grandfather went off to work, and my grandmother went off to purchase 137 Berkeley Place.
Now, back to the present day…
I can’t deny the fact that yes the home does need polish to bring it up to our elite New York City standards. However, my grandmother was only the second person to own that home and in essence what you’re buying is a piece of Park Slope history. If you would have seen the home in its glory days, or the oasis of the garden in full bloom, I know your posts would be entirely different. I speak from experience when I say 137 Berkeley Place is truly a unique property that is most certainly a diamond waiting for the right person to make it sparkle.
Wow, My property 4 sale was actually mentioned during this rant. Not the one advertised; but thanks for the interest you obviously have taken in my home for whatever reason. Do you want to buy it? Pics or not, It’s got nothing to hide, take a look. You know the deal, and you are probably in the business. Are you even looking for a home in this price range?
…i would love to have my friends and family over, and say welcome to my 2 million dollar dump.
Sales people suck in general, but real estate salespeople suck the chrome off a trailer hitch.
If you’re dealing with them as a buyer you better be prepared to do a LOT of legwork yourself regarding the vitals of the property. Brokers can lie thru their teeth about extensive liens, buildings on leased lots, true sq. footage etc etc etc. They make huge commisions in exchange for almost no real work.
They’re lazy, I even read about one in a posting above that complained she had to go up some stairs with a customer because she had 3″ heels on.
I woulda bitch-slapped her right there.
Why would someone give a listing to this firm? They are a small uninformed agency. I heard they will take listings at 2% commission. They are that desparate
Likewise, I am suspicious when photos show only parlors, bedrooms, nice plaster molding etc. and omit kitchens, bathrooms and such. You can fill in the blanks yourself.
I saw it when it was listed at $2.2 million. Too narrow, IMHO (it’s only 16′ wide). I felt clausterphobic in there.
In response to Socrates: yes..fewer photos might tempt people to come look at a property in person, however, lots of poor photos turn people off. If you look at the photos onthe NYTimes site the photos are not complimentary…rather they look quickly taken by a lazy broker. It sounds like you are trying to stick up for the broker (probably one yourself); but, no excuse for a broker not doing their homework in knowing when mechanical were last updated etc. Its a shame more brokers dont realized what potential buyers want most is information (when the roof/furnace/water heater was last replaced, how long the sellers lived there, etc). .. and its the one thing most brokers don’t bother finding out…
In theory, sure, but when I see a photo of an exterior only, I don’t even bother calling because I know they’re hiding something.
As for the photos of this place…if you’ve ever dealt with this agency, then you’ll know that this is a case of incompetence and negligence, not sales smarts.