House of the Day: 297 Cumberland Street
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we will once again ask the rhetorical questions, Why in the world would any seller use a real estate brokerage firm that didn’t have a good website? While on the Fort Greene House Tour on Sunday, we noticed the For Sale sign out in front of…
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we will once again ask the rhetorical questions, Why in the world would any seller use a real estate brokerage firm that didn’t have a good website? While on the Fort Greene House Tour on Sunday, we noticed the For Sale sign out in front of 297 Cumberland Street, a charming Civil War-era wooden house between Greene and Lafayette Avenues. First we Googled the broker listed in the sign, Cornerstone Properties, only to learn that it either has no web site or the worst search engine optimization in the history of the Internet; we tried calling the phone number listed on the sign once in the morning yesterday and once in the afternoon only to be greeted by a message saying we could not leave a message. Finally, after combing the NY Times, we found the listing—only it had been posted by a different broker, Prospective Properties. Whatever. At least we now know that the asking price is $1,499,000 for the 2,800-square-foot house that needs a lot of work. Annoying marketing aside, kinda interesting, no?
297 Cumberland Street [NY Times] GMAP P*Shark
To answer the rhetorical question posed: A seller using a broker with its own website versus one without gets equal or the same exposure of the property if both are using the same or similar marketing, i.e., the New York Times website, et cetera. If the broker is not a major (Corcoran, Douglas Elliman, maybe Fillmore (in Brooklyn) and the like) no one would look for their website in the first place for the “lastest” listings. If you merely google a property/address that is listed with a broker with a website there is no assurance that it will “easily” show up — without multiple attempts. The BL – a website is only valuable if the broker is relatively known as a source. Its a useful tool in your pitch to get the listing. But, in the case of most brokers, if they limited their exposure of the property to their websites, mailings, et cetera — to use an overused term on this blog their listing “would sit”. Just my opinion – save the stabs.
These are very special houses. The high double porches remind me of houses in Charleston. I’m just drawn to the old clapboarded houses. So prim and proper.
Just beautiful I must say.
…and think of the money the owner will save on not having to redo a brownstone facade.
Get a clue 2:17, 2:18. People aren’t overpaying for fort greene’s potential anymore. If the place isn’t already in good shape, nobody will pay a lot because it may turn out to be nice once they put a lot into it.
Beautifully renovated brownstones have sold for LESS per square foot in the same area just recently. REmember the 5-story gem on Adelphi?
http://bstoner.wpengine.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/01/house_of_the_da_441.php
They’re asking $535 a square foot for a gut renovation, in this market?
Try half that price.
The price is not that high. You could make this house extremely nice for 300K and I dont see this house selling for under 1.8 in renovated condition. This is one of the best blocks in Fort Greene in light of its proximity to all the best the neighborhood has to offer. Its close to both Dekalb and Fulton and is close to all subways without being too close to the busy downtown brooklyn streets.
The price is not that high. You could make this house extremely nice for 300K and I dont see this house selling for under 1.8 in renovated condition. This is one of the best blocks in Fort Greene in light of its proximity to all the best the neighborhood has to offer. Its close to both Dekalb and Fulton and is close to all subways without being too close to the busy downtown brooklyn streets.
The price is high, but not that high. You could make this house extremely nice for 300K and I dont see this house selling for under 1.8 in renovated condition. This is one of the best blocks in Fort Greene in light of its proximity to all the best the neighborhood has to offer. Its close to both Dekalb and Fulton and is close to all subways without being too close to the busy downtown brooklyn streets.
In my experience you pay either way, not that you can’t negotiate with Corcoran or anyone else. But if you give your listing to some friend who’s dabbling in real estate, which is what this looks like, you’re likely to lose more than 6-8%. This listing, espeically the pictures, is pathetic.
This is one of the best blocks in Fort Greene in light of its proximity to all the best the neighborhood has to offer. Its close to both Dekalb and Fulton and is close to all subways without being too close to the busy downtown brooklyn streets.