logo web
September 2013 Newsletter

 

Greetings!  

 

Watkins Glen The residential space real estate market remains strong with inventory way down from the same time last year and prices and contracts signed way up. Read more below. Market Overview: New York, NY


I just returned from a few days visiting the Finger Lakes region of New York and had the opportunity to visit the beautiful Watkins Glen State Park.  I highly recommend it if you have the opportunity to visit the area.  

Recently I was interviewed for an article on home staging in the Hamptons in the East Hampton Star. Click here to read what I had to say (highlighted in yellow).  

 


I was also featured in the August issue of "Nancy Knows" - a monthly newsletter by New York City Real Estate Broker, Nancy Kaminsky. 

 

Nancy is a long time resident of Manhattan and spent much of her career in advertising. These two factors combined enables her to serve both buyers and sellers with local knowledge and marketing savvy.

 

And it doesn't hurt she is a big supporter of home staging!

 

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Nancy if you are looking to buy or sell a home.

 

Welcome to Fall!

 

Warm regards,

 

Donna M. Dazzo, President

Designed to Appeal  
 
In This Issue
Testimonial of the Month
Featured Listing: 3 Bedroom/3 Bath with Terraces in Soho
Market Overview: New York, NY
Tips and Tricks of the Trade: Smart Investments in Kitchen Cabinetry
Did You Know...Columbus Day Trivia
F/REE Closet Organization, Open House & Moving Checklists
 
Testimonial 
Testimonial of the Month

 

  

"What makes Donna so unique is that she possesses both creative as well as business skills.  Most people either have one or the other. What this means is that not only is the design/staging process beautifully done, but it's done so expeditiously and efficiently"

 

Cynthia B., Homeowner

New York, NY

 
 
The out-of-town owner of this $4.75 million apartment in SoHo realized that the furniture he had in there was not up to par with the location and the beauty of his apartment.  He called in Designed to Appeal to decide what pieces we wanted to use and what needed to be removed.  Virtually all was removed.
  

We were left with an open space with great features:

  • Terraces off the living/dining room, master bedroom and additional bedroom
  • Three bedrooms and three baths
  • Updated kitchen
  • Brazilian cherry flooring throughout
  • A building offering 24 hour doorman and concierge, as well as a fitness center and resident's lounge 

Here are the photos of our transformation:   

  

Foyer/Dining Room Before 

 
Foyer/Dining Room After
 


Kitchen Before


Kitchen After


Dining Room Before


Dining Room After


Living Room Before


Living Room After
  

Guest Bedroom Before 
   

Guest Bedroom After
  
 
  
 Additional Guest Bedroom Before
 
  
 Additional Guest Bedroom After
 
 
 Master Bedroom Before
 
 
Master Bedroom After
  
 
 
Master Bedroom Before
 
 
 
 
 
Master Bedroom After
  
 
 
Master Bedroom Before
 
Master Bedroom After
 
   NY
  Market Overview:
       New York, NY


 

"Average price and average price per square foot increased for both condos and co-ops this August, and inventory continues to decline for both property types. Despite the lack of inventory, contract activity increased year-over-year by 21% for condominiums and 11% for co-ops. 

 

Strong demand is also evident in reduced buyer negotiability and a drop in average days on market. There were slight month-over-month decreases in average price and average price per square foot due to several landmark sales in July, but year-over-year the condo and co-op market remained very strong."

 
The following is a comparison of August 2013 vs. August 2012:

 

Market Wide: 

  • Listings on Market: 5,274, a decrease of 22%.
  • New Listings: 1,107, a 13% decrease.    

Condos:

  • The median sale price of $1,680,050 is a 68% increase.
  • The average price per square foot of $1,729 is a 32% increase.
  • The listed inventory is 2,149 units, a 26% decrease.
Co-ops:
  • The median sale price of $665,000 represents a 3% increase. 
  • The average price per square foot of $1,063 is an 11% increase.
  • The listed inventory of 2,519 units is a 24% decrease.
 

 

 
                       
   
The kitchen can be the most expensive room in the house to build, with a national average cost of a remodel being $50,000. This can vary widely, depending on where you live, the scope of the project and the materials you choose. Make the most of this big purchase by treating your new cabinets as an investment.  

  

Realtor Victoria Gangi offers insider tips on how to get the best return on your cabinet investment, even if you're not moving in the foreseeable future.
                   
                 
1. Create an optimal layout.
"Layout is the number-one feature home buyers are looking at in a kitchen," says Gangi. "You will lose your audience if cabinets aren't designed in a functional way with good flow." 

2. Invest in quality cabinetry.
Once you've got a plan for where everything's going to go, decide on a style and quality that will age well and withstand trends and changing tastes. 
 
3. Integrate the door style.
Choose a door style and color that integrate well with the rest of your home, especially rooms that look directly into the kitchen.
 
4. Choose light colors.
Lighter-colored cabinetry will appeal to more buyers. 
 
5. To integrate the appliances or not?
Integrated appliances significantly increase the cost of a kitchen, not only because of the added cabinetry door fronts, but also because the appliances needed to facilitate this option are more expensive.
 
6. Choose cabinet details that matter.
What's inside the cabinet is just as important as what's on its outside.  
 
7. Opt for clean-lined hardware.
If you like ornate hardware, go for it. However, should you sell your home, expect to replace those fancy pulls with a more streamlined set that will appeal to a broad range of buyers. 
 
To read the entire article click here!
 
 

Didyouknow   Did You Know?......Columbus Day Trivia 

 

 
 
"In fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue," is a popular poem inspired by voyages Christopher Columbus made that year on behalf of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. 
 
He took three voyages in total, with the first being his most famous. Many Americans have learned about his travels in school, but take this quiz and learn some fun facts you may previously not have been familiar with.
 
1. How old was Christopher Columbus when he first became a sailor?
 
A. 20
B. 15
C. 10
D. 23 
 
2.What was Columbus' intention for setting sail in 1492?
 
A. To become a rich man
B. To chart the quickest trade route to China
C. To capture slaves
D. To bring back riches for King Ferdinand and Isabella

3. How many days did it take for the first sighting of land to be made?

A. 16 days
B. 24 hours
C. 35 days
D. 121 days

4. On October 12, 1492, Columbus landed in the Bahamas. What did this mean for him?

A. He could relax and have a cocktail.
B. He became the first European to explore the Americas since the 10th century. 
C. He was closer to discovering an efficient trade route to China.
D. Nothing at all.

  

5. How many of Columbus' three ships returned from his first voyage, and what were their names?

  

A. The Ni�a

B. The Ni�a and the Pinta

C. The Pinta and the Santa Maria

D. The Santa Maria

 

6. Which U.S., President proclaimed Columbus Day a national holiday?

 

A. Jimmy Carter

B. George W. Bush

C. William Howard Taft

D. Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

7. Even with its status as a "national holiday," which three of the United States do not celebrate Columbus Day? 

 

A. Texas, Florida, New Mexico

B. Hawaii, Alaska, South Dakota

C. Illinois, Georgia, Mississippi

D. Ohio, New York, Oregon

 

Find the answers to these trivia questions, and more fun facts here!

 
 
 

 
     EastEnd
   Market Overview: 
          The East End




The following is a comparison of July 2013 vs. July 2012 for The Hamptons and North Fork, according to Suffolk Research, Inc.
   

East Hampton Town:

  • The median sales price of $940,000 was a 1.57% decrease.
  • The number of sales of 855 was a 42.26% decrease.    
  • The dollar volume of sales of $1,419M was a 27.50% decrease.

 Southampton Town:

  • The median sales price of $850,000 was a 6.25% increase.
  • The number of sales increased 1,344 was a 20.54% increase.
  • The dollar volume of sales $2,402.4M was a 29.36% increase.
Southold Town:
  • The median sales price of $456,112 was a 4.85% increase.
  • The number of sales of 348 was a 2% increase.
  • The dollar volume of sales of $197.1M was an 2.2% decrease.  
      
 
Quick Links
For More Info
 During the Month...

Visit my blog
 
Follow Me on Pinterest

 

Follow me on Twitter

 

Like us on Facebook

 

View my profile on LinkedIn

 

View my videos on YouTube 

 

   

FREE Closet

Organization,

Open House, and

Moving Checklists

Checklist  

Download your  

FREE Closet

Organization,

Open House, and

Moving Checklists. 

Home Staging Savings Calculator Instructions
Try our new
Home Staging Savings Calculator developed by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)

 

 

Click on the calculator above, which will launch in a new window. 

 

For more detailed instructions, click here.


HomeStagingConsultationHome Staging
Consultation
(occupied homes) 
 
For Manhattan and the Hamptons from Montauk to Southampton:  $350 for the first 2 hours, $125/hour thereafter

Other Areas:
  A travel premium will apply.

Click here for more information and to schedule a Home Staging Consultation.


FREE VACANT STAGING ESTIMATES IN MANHATTAN AND THE HAMPTONS