When the sky starts turning color at 4 p.m. and darkness hits by 5, it’s like a one-two punch to the mood. That post-Daylight Saving Time (DST) drop in light can leave even the sunniest among us reaching for extra caffeine or an early bedtime. It’s like nature just handed us all a ticket to […]
Conducting proper due diligence is a critical step in the New York City real estate buying process. It comes as the final step before the signing of the contract of sale and typically lasts 5-7 business days. Your buyer’s agent has advised you on the type of property, layout, and even some basic flaws. We […]
If you’re a responsible renter who does a reasonable job with the cleaning and upkeep of your place, getting your security deposit back after move-out day shouldn’t be difficult. Countless New Yorkers can attest, though, that the deposit battle between landlord and tenant can be a fruitless time-suck that feels weighted in favor of the […]
Look, obviously, we’re a bit biased. As an ethics-driven, woman-owned, small business that’s managed to survive in the hypercompetitive New York City real estate market for two decades, urging buyers and sellers to take a chance on a small business is a no-brainer. But you might be surprised by how much sense it makes from […]
The phrase “scam-based economy” seems to be popping up more frequently in online discourse — and it’s no wonder. Over the past few decades, scamming has become both easier and more lucrative for unscrupulous types given the relative anonymity of the internet. And when scammy internet-driven activity meets the decadent and sometimes shady world of […]
Your landlord is responsible for keeping your home and building safe and livable at all times. This is called the “Warranty of Habitability.” Having a record of notifying your landlord makes for a stronger legal case. If your landlord has already been unresponsive to your requests to make repairs, a letter is a great tactic […]
As a shareholder in a co-op building (especially if you’re an owner serving on the co-op board), it’s important you know about HDP violations. New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development issues these violations for infractions ranging from leaky refrigerators to heating system failure. And the enforcement of these quality of life laws […]
In a previous post, we discussed the basics of what landlords need to know about violations issued by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). And while regular maintenance and solid management are your best defense against notices from the HPD (sometimes easier said than done), their inevitability is part of […]
More than just being a nuisance, a heat wave can be harmful to your health. And with climate change causing rising temperatures, heat advisories during the summer are becoming the new normal. Here’s a heat advisory map for the U.S. Last week in New York, cooling centers—indoor, air-conditioned spaces for public use—opened up for use […]
It’s not just your imagination, summers really are getting hotter–especially if the current scorcher is any indication. Therefore, it’s more important than ever for you as a homeowner or seller to make sure your brownstone is equipped for record high temperatures if you want to attract high potential tenants. Here’s what you need to know […]
