|
Testimonial of the Month
"Donna and Designed to Appeal made the staging process seamless and SUCCESSFUL! Our apartment had been on the market for several months prior to our decision to stage it; we did not receive a single offer. After we took a step back and decided to make the investment in staging the apartment, we re-listed and almost immediately received multiple offers - all of which more than paid for the costs of staging. Donna was very knowledgeable and helpful and her team made our apartment shine! We highly recommend Donna and Designed to Appeal!"
Jon & Rachel K.
New York, NY
|
|
On the Market Over 4 Months With NO Offers!
Sold in Just 29 Days After Staging!!
This 3 bedroom/3 bedroom apartment in the Gramercy Park area had been on the market for 4 months without a single offer. When I went to meet with the homeowner, I could see why.
- The furniture was drab and mismatched.
- The dining table had seen too many meals with small children.
- The sofa was way too big for the small and awkwardly sized living room. They couldn't fit a coffee table.
- The master bedroom furniture was a holdover from earlier days.
- One of the bedrooms had a crib in it and a queen size bed - and it looked neither like a sweet baby's room nor a comfortable guest bedroom.
- Toys were in the living room indicating to buyers there wasn't enough space in the children's bedrooms.
Apartments for sale are supposed to appeal to a lifestyle that buyers aspire to, and this apartment wasn't appealing to anyone.
The homeowners were smart enough to know that they needed to do something to spruce it up, but they ultimately decided it was better to move themselves, their furniture and their personal belongings out of their apartment and stay with parents so that we could work our magic.
Upon our recommendation, the apartment was freshly painted one neutral color throughout and a proper light fixture was purchased for the dining room.
So after being on the market for 4 months with no offers, just 29 days after the staging the owner accepted an offer at close to asking price out of the multiple offers they received.
Living/Dining Area Before
Living/Dining Area After
 Living Room After
Boy's Bedroom Before
 Boy's Bedroom After
|
Market Overview:
New York, NY
"Manhattan registered a solid Third Quarter 2014 performance as strong sales and persistently low inventory continued to drive prices ever-higher.
The number of closed sales was the second highest figure seen in over five years. Because only Third Quarter 2013 was higher, Third Quarter 2014 registered a 10% year-over-year drop in sales. Inventory is rising.
Third Quarter 2014 was the third consecutive quarter to see a gain in active listings, the first sustained, non-seasonal upward trend in inventory since 2008. With 10% more listings available now versus the same time last year, buyers are finally seeing more options on the market. Average price per square foot continued to climb and has now risen year-over-year for eleven consecutive quarters."
The following is a comparison of Third Quarter 2014 vs. Third Quarter 2013:
Market Wide:
- Listings on Market: 6,223 is a 10% increase.
- New Listings: 4,665 is a 2% increase.
Condos:
Co-ops:
- The median sale price of $715,000 is an 4% increase.
- The average price per square foot of $1,043 is a 12% increase.
- The listed inventory was just over 2,882 units is a 2% decrease.
|
Tips and Tricks of the Trade: Fun Ways To Use Pumpkins!!
Over one billion pounds of pumpkins are produced in the United States ever year. That's a lot of pumpkins! Check out some of the creative uses of one of Fall's favorite mediums: The Pumpkin.
Candle Holders
Using mini-pumpkins as candle holders is a great idea,
and couldn't be easier to make! All you need is a carving
knife to cut out the top to fit your candle, and voila!
Floating Candle Votive
Another fun way to use miniature pumpkins.
The creation of this holder involves the same hollowing
out process described above, but with the addition of a container
of water for the finished pumpkins to float in.
Hanging Pumpkin Lanterns
A more versatile twist on the traditional jack-o-lantern.
Vase
Using a pumpkin or gourd as a vase is a nice
way to celebrate the rustic beauty of the season.
For more ideas and details about these projects click here!
|
|
Did You Know......Halloween Trivia!!
1. Which of these names is not an alternative for Halloween?
a) All Hallow's Eve
b) All Hallowtide
c) The Day of the Dead
d) The Feast
2. Which animal is a popular Halloween image dating back to Medieval Europe?
a) A rat
b) A bat
c) An owl
d) A cat
3. Which colors are associated with Halloween?
a) Black and red
b) Orange and black
c) Brown and yellow
d) Brown and red
4. Halloween is recognized as the 3rd biggest party day after which of these days?
a) Superbowl Sunday and New Year's
b) Christmas and Thanksgiving
c) Easter and Fourth of July
d) St. Patrick's Day and Valentine's Day
5. When did the tricks aspect of trick or treating become replaced with kids going door to door for candy?
a) 1900s
b) 1920s
c) 1960s
d) 1930s
For the answers to these and more read here.
|
Market Overview:
The East End
According to George R. Simpson, President of Suffolk Research Service, Inc., "the real estate market on the East End of Long Island is showing a healthy trend. For single family residences, two of the three market indicators are up 3rd Quarter 2014 over 2013."
East Hampton Town:
-
The median sales price of $1.050M was a 17.3% increase.
-
The number of sales of 174 was a 21% decrease.
-
The dollar volume of sales of $264 million was a 17.7% decrease.
Southampton Town:
-
The median sales price of $837,336 was a 7.4% increase.
-
The number of sales of 430 was a 16% increase.
-
The dollar volume of sales $657 million was a 17.4% increase.
Southold Town:
- The median sales price of $480,000 was an 11.9% increase.
- The number of sales of 130 was a 2% increase.
- The dollar volume of sales $88 million was an 21% increase.
|
The beautiful colors of Fall are finally upon us. I spent last weekend at the Finger Lakes in upstate New York, and while the trees were a little past peak, some brilliant colors popped here and there! 
