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Hot Topic | renovation

NYC Renovation Chronicles: 5 cheapish ways to improve your apartment before you sell

by Yoel Borgenicht, General Contractor | 10/12/11 - 10:00 AM

The Situation
People who are concerned about their economic future do not want to buy an apartment that looks like it needs a lot of money to fix up...
The Board Room: How to "sell" a hallway (sponsored)

10/12/11 - 7:00 AM

Converting common spaces to private use isn’t an everyday occurrence in a co-op or condo, in part due to political and legal complexities.
But when it comes to hallways,...
NYC Real(i)ty Speak: Renovation lies we have known

by Veronica X. | 10/07/11 - 1:19 PM
Your dream bathroom/kitchen/apartment is about to become a reality....Or is it? The dream plans are in all-too-human hands now...
- "The tiles will...

NYC Real(i)ty Speak: Decorator decorum

by Veronica X. | 9/30/11 - 3:43 PM

You have spent the better part of the last year together getting to know each other, visiting marble yards, going to furniture shows, picking out faucets and fabrics...
NYC Renovation Chronicles: 7 tips for finding a great contractor

by Yoel Borgenicht, General Contractor | 9/28/11 - 12:58 PM

The Situation
The cost of construction in New York City makes hiring a bad general contractor very expensive. Finding a skilled, trustworthy, responsive...
Dear Ms. Demeanor: Should I tip the plumber?

by Jamie Lauren Sutton | 9/21/11 - 1:10 PM

Dear Ms. Demeanor,
Settle an argument for me - Do you tip a plumber?
Signed,...

Cash vs scotch renovation bribes; call for co-op/condo political platform, and more

by Teri Karush Rogers | 9/19/11 - 7:34 AM
- Is it better to pay off the neighbors in cash or Scotch...
NYC Renovation Chronicles: 5 tips for figuring the cost of a fixer-upper

by Yoel Borgenicht, General Contractor | 9/14/11 - 1:50 PM

The Situation
You are looking to buy one of several apartments and want to get an idea of what the construction costs will be to renovate. Accurate...
Best of Brick: "My condo was corrupt"

by Anonymous as told to Teri Rogers | 8/31/11 - 2:07 PM

A few years ago, my wife and I bought a 700-square-foot duplex in a 150-unit condo building on the Upper East Side. We found out pretty quickly that the super, Alek, was...

NYC Renovation Chronicles: 5 things to do when your contractor slacks off

by Yoel Borgenicht, General Contractor | 8/31/11 - 10:52 AM

The Situation
Your contractor seemed professional before your renovation project started. Now you are seeing signs that something is wrong: The...
Running like hell from your renovation can be cheaper as well as saner

by Teri Karush Rogers | 8/19/11 - 10:21 AM

Over on StreetEasy.com, an apartment owner has posed a common...
Best of Brick: Ask an Expert - The best kitchen countertop material

by Teri Karush Rogers | 8/15/11 - 2:46 PM

Q. What's the best surface for a kitchen counter that is indestructible and beautiful?
A. There's a reason why white Caesarstone has been showing up...
Best of Brick: The hidden costs of a NYC renovation

by Teri Karush Rogers | 8/08/11 - 1:40 PM

In real estate as in groceries, pretty much everything is more expensive in New York City.

So it's no surprise that renovation jobs in New York City tend to...
NYC Renovation Chronicles: 5 things to know before upgrading wooden floors

by Yoel Borgenicht, General Contractor | 8/03/11 - 1:50 PM

The Situation
Your wooden floors are looking tired (or maybe they just don't match your new furniture), and you want to upgrade them. You have a lot of...
Dear Ms. Demeanor: Renovation etiquette includes cookies for the crew

by Jamie Lauren Sutton | 7/27/11 - 1:50 PM

Dear Ms. Demeanor,
We are renovating the apartment next door and, while blissfully separated from the dust and most of the noise, I...
When to run from a gut renovation

by Teri Karush Rogers | 7/27/11 - 10:16 AM

If you're tempted to buy an apartment needing a gut renovation, you may want to tune into ...
Room for Improvement: Backyard access and a view—any view!

by Elizabeth Kuster | 7/27/11 - 8:15 AM
Five New Yorkers reveal the one thing they would change about their apartment if they could....
- A one-floor boost! I am just dying for my...
NYC Renovation Chronicles: 6 steps to getting a work permit

by Yoel Borgenicht, General Contractor | 7/20/11 - 10:45 AM

The Situation
Your managing agent and/or architect says that to begin your renovation project you must obtain a work permit issued by the Department of...
NYC Real(i)ty Speak: 5 signs you picked the wrong paint color

by Veronica X. | 7/14/11 - 1:50 PM
Not everyone has a knack for picking out paint. You'll know it's time to hit the color wheel again when....
- Your contractor asks, "You sure...
Inside Story: My Manhattan renovation shocker

by Anonymous Manhattan Co-op Owner | 7/12/11 - 8:10 AM

After two years of pounding the NYC pavement looking at every imaginable apartment – co-op, condo, condop, new construction, apartments we couldn’t afford (loved them!),...

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