Taking Stock at the Two-Year Mark
Note: We’re moving this post up from yesterday to encourage more input. It’s that time of year when we ask you to tell us what you’ve liked and haven’t liked on the site over the past year and what you’d like to see more and less of going forward. We’ve said it before, but we’d…
Note: We’re moving this post up from yesterday to encourage more input. It’s that time of year when we ask you to tell us what you’ve liked and haven’t liked on the site over the past year and what you’d like to see more and less of going forward. We’ve said it before, but we’d like to have more architectural appreciation posts. Given our own lack of formal training, we’d be interested in hearing from anyone who would be interested in writing occasionally about the borough’s architectural past and present. Other than that, we have an exciting (we think) new feature coming out in January that will being some order to the service component of the Forum. Also on our wish list: Video house tours of brownstones. And while there are times we wish there were less bashing of new developments on the site, we feel duty-bound to continue to hold bad developers’ feet to the fire. And, of course, we wish people could be a little nicer to each other in comment threads, but that comes with the anonymity of the medium.
I don’t think TypeKey registration should be mandatory–when it was bit really cut down on comments.However, if it was available (which hasn’t been the case for many weeks) it would let people like me or Shahn Andersen, who use our actual names do so without fear that our identity will be spoofed. I imagine tyhat would also work for vpeople like CHP whom post under a consistant handle.FWIW I wish everyone would post under some identity, not necessarily their actual name, but the plethora of anonymous posts is pretty confusing.
I think it would be nice for brownstoner to do some sort of actual reporting on some of the insane things that some of the people posting on this site make about listings. I don’t think it’s okay for anonymous, uninformed people on this site just spreading lies about properties. It’s one thing to make an allegation, but it shouldn’t be published unless it is accurate. And if it is proved inaccurate then it should be taken off the site. Otherwise this site is doing just as much harm as it is good, if not more. Part of the problem is that much of what is written is about money and value. And nobody knows more about what a property ought to be worth than a real estate agent. And so while it seems like a fine sport to just trash a property that doesn’t mean that it’s not actually worth its price. It could be that you are an uninformed person who thinks you know more than you do. I know I sound incredibly grumpy. But the better route would be for brownstoner to provide more information about what things actually sell for that he’s talked about. I can’t tell you how many listings I’ve seen trashed on this site go for quite a lot more money than was originally asked (yes, even in this market.)
it looks like the trolls took time off for the holidays. how nice! i agree with the idea of including a little reminder about being polite so that everyone has to read it before they post, maybe even put a little picture of an eye and a “this site is checked frequently for trolling and any inappropriate comments will be deleted by mr b himself…” or something similar. i dunno. i read a study that said that that kind of thing works more often than you would think.
but other than that, good work! thanks for all your hard work, and happy hannukwanzmas!
Agree with many of the other good suggestions made so far but I just wanted to add another kudos to the list. The posters here are usually chock full of nastiness for other posters as well as Mr. B himself so its nice to see everyone being generous with their praise.
Signed,
another addict 😉
As a NON real-estate broker, I would LOVE to read discussions about the market between such professionals. Nobody knows real-estate better than, you guessed it, realtors. I would especially love to see a debate (heck, maybe I’ll start one now) on the bizarre, selfish, disservice-to-your-client practice of refusing to co-broke. Sooooo annoying to have a seller refuse to work with your buyer-broker. Bad mojo.
I love your site and I think you’re doing a fabulous job. I’ve turned several friends onto Brownstoner.com and they’ve since become regular readers. Well done!
Cheers Mr. B. Keep up the good work!
One thing I long for is a real holding of feet to the fire… how can you really turn up the heat?
I would love to see interviews with “good” architects and developers and get their insights on how to influence development in Brooklyn.
Insights from HDC, Landmarks, and other preservation groups. Insights from other cities that have dealt with growth in a positive fashion.
And I think there needs to be action items, not just complaints. There needs to be that list of 10 things everyone can do today to make sure bad things don’t happen to our neighborhoods… like at the end of Inconvenient Truth. Certainly if there are 10 things everyone can do today to help Global Warming, there are 10 things to do to stop bad development.
In other words, I’d love to see you use the power of this forum you’ve created to help push and prod the powers at be even more.
Thanks and Happy New Year.
Seamus
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: As a real estate agent, this site has been and invaluable resource. I haven’t missed a day in the last two years. I can’t tell you how many times a customer has asked me a question about something I’ve just read about here. The comments are fun too (although we agents can really take it on the chin sometimes…which is okay).
Is there any way to set up a real estate agent forum? A place where agents could anonymously express their thoughts on the market? It’s tough for us to speak freely; our intentions can easily be misconstrued. Maybe a monthly market report from agents invited by Mr. B to contribute. That might be fun, I think. It would no doubt inspire lots of debate.
All-in-all a great site. Keep it coming.
Thanks, Mr. B.
Nick Ferrone
Brownstner, a huge thanks to you for all the effort you put into this site. I’m utterly addicted to it and think you do a great job. Suggestions: 1 – what about a meetup for all the Brownstoner fans? A 2nd anniversary party, perhaps? 2 – Along the same lines as RiCH’s post above…I love the NYTimes RE audio/photo slideshows…if you wanted to offer content like that, I’d love to work on it. Reply back if you want to discuss.