 Testimonial of the Month
"Just wanted to let you know that we went down to see the apartment and absolutely love what you did. Your selections were spot-on.
Lisa Wiener Koenig of Halstead just sent us the photographer's photos, and it looks phenomenal - can't believe it's the same apartment we started with. And I have to say you were 100% right about how much difference refinished floors and a paint job make.
Thanks for all your hard work."
Joan Lipton, 77 Bleecker Street, New York, NY |
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2 Offers 2 Days After First Showing!
Designed to Appeal was asked to stage a Junior one bedroom apartment
for sale at 77 Bleecker Street.
We recommended to the homeowner to spruce up the kitchen by:
- adding inexpensive but attractive linoleum tiles
- swapping out dated appliances for stainless steel ones
- adding beadboard to the brick wall to conceal an old doorway filled in with cinderblocks
- cleaning and varnishing the existing wood cabinets and changing out the hardware
The owner agreed and implemented all of our suggestions.
We also recommended that the apartment be repainted and the floors refinished as buyer's want to walk into a space that's fresh and clean and doesn't come with any projects.
At first the owner was reluctant, but finally agreed. As she said, "..you were 100% right about how much difference refinished floors and a paint job make."
So the the apartment got a facelift and Donna and her assistants came in. Donna decided to go with a modern approach for the furniture, accessories, and artwork after considering the area and building's demographic and what the target buyer would be.
To further create a lifestyle appealing to our target buyer, we used a bright orange and green color scheme and used coordinating original artwork from Designed To Appeal.
The owner had two offers two days after the first open house and accepted one of them at close to the asking price.
Here are the results:
Foyer Before
Foyer After
Living Room Before
Living Room After
Living Room Before
Living Room After
Bedroom Before
Bedroom After
Bathroom Before
Bathroom After
Kitchen Before
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Market Overview: New York, NY
According to Corcoran's April 2012 report: "April advanced this Spring's strong contract activity and price gains. Market-wide contract activity is up 19% from last April with strong activity from both condos and co-ops." Market Wide: - There are 8,435 units currently listed on the market.
- New listings in April represent 25% of the total number of listings.
The following is a comparison of April 2012 vs. April 2011: Condos: - The median sale price of $1,265,000 increased 12%.
- The average price per square foot of $1,529 is a 21% increase
- Discount from last ask to sale at 5.9% represents a 26% increase
- Days on the market decreased 1% to 183
- Listed inventory decreased 15% to 3,519
Co-ops:
- The median sale price of $668,500 decreased 9%
- The average price per square foot of $932 is down 2%
- Discount from last ask to sale is up 16% to 3.9%
- Days on the market increased 2% to 158
- However, listed Inventory decreased by 6% to 4,353
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Tips and Tricks of the Trade: How To Make a Bathroom Market Ready
Don't let a potential buyer feel like they would be showering in someone else's bathroom. Make the bathroom feel like a luxurous spa or hotel bathroom and remove any "ick-factor" with these helpful tips that Donna shared in a recent New York Times article:
- Make the bathroom sparkling clean.
- Regrout the tiles and recaulk where the tub meets the floor and the tile to cover mold and mildew.
- Add new light fixtures, faucets, and cabinet pulls for a more elaborate yet inexpensive fix-up.
- If you have an old, tired wood vanity apply a coat of dark semi-gloss paint.
- Put the toilet seat down during showings and replace it if it looks old.
- Hide used soaps, toiletries and towels and place new ones like you would see when checking into a nice hotel.
See what else Donna Dazzo has to say in this New York Times Article on making a bathroom Market Ready!
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Did You Know...
- ...Memorial Day is always celebrated on the last Monday of the month of May?
- ...it was formerly called Decoration Day because of the practice of decorating soldiers' graves with flowers?
- ...the name "Memorial Day" was first used after World War II?
- ...it was first celebrated in 1865 in Waterloo, New York?
- ...it was celebrated nationwide in 1868 in honor of Union and Confederate soldiers?
- ...the Indianapolis 500 has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911?
- ...it was declared a federal holiday in 1971?
- ...who started the custom of wearing red poppies? In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields", Moina Michael replied with her own poem and came up with an idea of wearing red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war:
We cherish too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies. |
Market Overview: The East End
Looks like East Hampton is the only town holding steady through the first 4 months of this year compared to last.
The following is a comparison of April 2012, annualized, vs. all of 2011, by town:
East Hampton Town:
- The median sales price decreased 0.5% to $870,000
- The number of sales remained relatively unchanged at 492
- The dollar volume of sales increased 13% to $809 million
Southampton Town:
- The median sales price decreased nearly 15% to $735,000
- The number of sales decreased by 7% to 909
- The dollar volume of sales decreased 16% to $1.5 billion
Southold Town:
- The median sales price decreased almost 6% to $415,000
- The number of sales increased 7% to 273
- The dollar volume of sales decreased 23% to $138 million
Source: Suffolk Research Services
Also, see Elliman's first quarter 2012 report on the Hamptons and North Fork for more information. |
