As a long time Madonna fan - and having been to quite a few of her concerts over the years ( including a fabulous night backstage at the Meadowlands during the Blonde Ambition tour!) I have certainly rocked out to her songs on many a treadmill, airplane, and subway ride via walkman's, discman's, and ipod's ( oh my!) .... I am not so sure I am feeling this one ...??? Take a listen.
Madonna - Give Me All Your Love - Full New Single 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Gramercy Park - My old home - Jen Aniston's new one!
View Gramercy Park and over 3,000,000 other topics on Qwiki.
PARM - Now Open = Yummy!
As a cheese fanatic ( I prefer cheese over chocolate!) - I can't wait to try this place...
[Krieger]
Inside Torrisi Spinoff Parm, Opening Today at 11 AM
5 images
Parm, the new lunch spot and full fledged restaurant from the team behind uber popular Torrisi Italian Specialties and one of the biggest debuts of the Fall 2011 season, opens to the public today at 11 AM. All lunch operations from Torrisi now live at Parm, which is outfitted with a bar and counter with swivel stools, a small dining room, and actual table service. On offer for lunch now (in either roll, sub, or platter form): roasted turkey, chicken parm, eggplant parm, meatball parm, sausage and peppers, chicken francese, potato and egg, Italian, and a new addition that's already getting raves from the friends and family crowds, a Saratoga Club.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
NICE ARTICLE ON HOW TO FIND A BROKER TO WORK WITH>>>
How to choose a broker: the unscientific guide to finding the right match for you
Choosing an agent, particularly on the listing side, can be very tricky. We’ve been asked quite often how to actually go about picking with whom to work, so we’ve put together some thoughts on the matter that we hope you will find helpful. This section is split up between general thoughts, and questions you may wish to ask agents before making a decision.
Does the firm matter? Yes and no. On one hand, you want to make sure that your listing will receive the adequate marketing dollars to get sold, and will be represented professionally. The real question here is how helpful is the firm to your agent? How many resources are dedicated to making your agent’s life easier in doing the best job of marketing your property, or does the agent need to reinvent the wheel with each and every client? Also, ask yourself this: do you remember the firm representing the seller when you last bought your property? Probably not. You DO likely remember that agent’s demeanor, how (s)he worked through the negotiations process, etc.
Online statistics: With the internet being such a powerful resource for buyers and sellers alike, it’s no wonder that every firm is bending over backwards to come up with the best online stats that showcases their prowess in attracting buyers. The truth is (we should instead say, “our belief is”) that do-it-yourself buyers, i.e. those with no representation, doing all of their own homework, are likely to avail themselves of aggregators like Streeteasy, Trulia, or Propertyshark. They are unlikely to be wed to any one brokerage site to find listings. Further, such buyers make up but a tiny portion of transaction volume. Having a fantastic online presence is great, but it shouldn’t be the decision-maker. Infinitely more important is the description of the property that they find on the site (written by an individual agent), the accessibility of the agent representing the property, etc. In other words, finding the property is merely the beginning.
Commoditized services: Though everyone has a different way of listing a property, certain services are largely commoditized (i.e. if you don’t get them, something’s wrong). All agents should take professional pictures of your home for use in show-sheets, online advertizing, etc. All of them will conduct some kind of mailing to the building and surrounding properties. All agents will host open houses on your behalf. All of them will (via their brokerage firms), make sure the listing is accessible on Streeteasy, The New York Times, the broker-to-broker listing system, etc.
Team or no team?: Some people swear by teams because they can make sure not to skip a beat in terms of showing the apartment, being available 24/7 among the different team members, having multiple minds all working for your, etc. If you choose a team, make sure you don’t get pawned off to underlings once your listing is “won”. Other people prefer working with an individual to have only one point of contact and a continuity of experience. If you choose to work with an individual, make sure (s)he has the capacity to handle your listing and that you have a strong relationship with him/her.
The bottom line, in our view, is that you’re working with an individual or a team of individuals. They are the ones who matter in the process of selling your home. Don’t get swept up by the glossy brochures or the fancy statistics. Try to find the real human being(s) behind the pitch by asking some of the following questions:
- Why are you in real estate? (something beyond “I like people” would be preferable here)
- Give me an example of a time when you told your client something (s)he didn’t want to hear. How did you do so and how did things turn out?
- Give me an example of when you were wrong or made a mistake – how did you rectify it?
- What is your take on the current economic environment and market dynamics? Why should I sell now and why should I not? (Test for market knowledge beyond the transaction, itself. The agent should be able to argue the other side of the equation, as well.)
- What do you feel is your greatest value-add in your working to sell my home?
- Give me an example of your being proactive with your clients. How do you partner with them?
- How do you track activity on my property? How often should I expect to hear from you?
- What is your philosophy on co-broking and working with other brokers, in general?
- May I please have three references to contact?
As you listen to the answers given, look for authenticity, depth and compatibility with your personality. You are about to embark on a journey that will likely test your emotions, ego and patience. Make sure you find the right partner for that experience.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
International buyers are back! C’est vrai!
It’s been some time since we’ve talked about foreign investors. We now have good reason to revive the conversation. According to Urban Digs, much of the uptick in activity we’ve seen over the last six months has come from foreigners swooping in for pied-a-terres, looking to buy their piece of the Big Apple. Indeed, even in our business, we’ve seen an uptick of investor activity coming from abroad, particularly Brazil and the Middle East, with a Greek and Turk here and there. What this means for you sellers is a bit of cultural sensitivity of what this may mean in the course of a deal:
- Though still a rarity, it’s not unheard of to have offers made on apartments sight-unseen by buyer’s brokers who understand their clients’ needs inside out. Maybe they lost out on a previous deal, maybe they have a friend in the building. Nonetheless, don’t be surprised if they don’t need to see the apartment, either to make an offer or gulp to sign the contract.
- Many foreigners find the concept of divulging all of their financial information to be considered for a property … well … just foreign. Be sensitive to the fact that they may feel offended by the idea of showing all their cards. Take care when asking personal information and assure them that this is to simply understand who they are and weigh their qualifications against those of other interested buyers.
- Lastly, most foreigners will be purchasing properties in cash versus opting for some financing vehicle. This is particularly the case for pied-a-terres, where one NYC apartment might represent a mere fraction of their world-wide real estate holdings. Don’t discount an all-cash offer with minimal supporting documentation behind it. Instead, explain your reasons for requiring more information of the buyer to ensure you don’t hit a sensitive spot
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