Gea Elika's Blog, page 131

4 Coolest Instagram worthy selfie spots in Brooklyn

Living in NYC means being surrounded by incredible architecture, delicious food, an innovative art scene and one of the most diverse populations of people in the country. It’s almost impossible to walk the streets of NYC without seeing something worth snapping a photo of. From incredible graffiti that seems to pop up overnight to the infamous NYC skyline, self-described selfie addicts can have a field day in NYC, especially in Brooklyn. Here are six awesome places to flip your phone camera around, smile and take an Insta-worthy selfie to share with the world 

 



 

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

One of the most pedestrian-friendly areas in Brooklyn Heights is definitely the promenade. All year long, this hot spot for walkers, joggers, and selfie-takers provides beautiful scenery and a relaxed atmosphere. Lined with some of the boroughs most beautiful mansions and luxury townhomes, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade feels classic and elegant, but modern and sophisticated at the same time. For full-length mirror selfies in some of the coolest boutiques in the borough, Williamsburg is the place to go, and 20 minutes from the Promenade. Streets in the area surrounding the Promenade are quiet and tree lined, and feature gorgeous row houses and Italian inspired brownstones.

The Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge provides the perfect combination of classic architecture, the sparkle of the sun bouncing off of the water and the Manhattan skyline in the background. The bridge is a popular place for tourists, but head out to the middle between 11am-1pm in and you should be able to get a pretty good shot without a whole bunch of strangers in the background. As you step off the bridge into Brooklyn, you’ll be in the small industrial neighborhood of Dumbo. This unassuming area is home to NYC landmarks like Grimaldi’s (take a selfie with a slice of pizza bigger than your head) and admire the incredible views of the city. Dumbo is always buzzing with cultural events activities, food trucks, and offers renovated lofts overlooking the cobblestone streets. Recently, more and more high-rise condos are popping up in Dumbo, alongside mixed-use spaces. Homes here seem to fall into two categories, industrial-turned residential 1970’s era spaces, and modern high-rises. Either way, they’re the arguably the most impressive, and expensive, homes in the area

Boathouse In Prospect Park

Prospect Park is one of Brooklyn’s community gems, providing 526 beautiful acres of open spaces, sports fields, and picnic facilities. Locals love to walk, run, fish, and bike here, and New Yorkers of all ages appreciate the splash pad during the heat of the summer. The Boathouse on the lake is a popular wedding destination thanks to the gorgeous backdrop of the lake and simple elegance of the boathouse, built in the early 1900’s.  Many Brooklyn locals choose to live in and around Prospect Park because it’s one of the last areas in Brooklyn with park views. Low rise brick buildings and historic row houses are tucked away between new developments and high rise condos. For New Yorkers always on the go, Prospect Park is easy to get to and from via subway. Real estate here is significantly more affordable than downtown Brooklyn, and you’re much more likely to look out of your condo or townhome and over one the beautiful parks in the area than anywhere else in Brooklyn.

 

Image by John / Flickr

 

Valentino Pier

What’s a NYC selfie without Lady Liberty? One of the best places to take a selfie in front of the Statue of Liberty is from the Valentino Pier. Nap under the tall shade trees at the entrance of the pier or catch a movie in the park during the summer. The pier has a rich history dating back to the 1600’s and feels like a quiet coastal town with sweeping views of the city. New developments offer some of the most luxurious condos in the area, combined with historical single-family homes and expansive townhomes.

As you explore Brooklyn, make sure your phone is charged, because you never know when you’re going to stumble upon a hidden gem that is perfect for your social media feed. (Did you know there are pop-up charging stations throughout the city?)  If you can’t resist a selfie with a side of Starbucks, there are 17 Starbucks stores throughout Brooklyn. You’ll find them mixed in with the vintage shops and upgraded turn of the century townhomes in Williamsburg. You’ll find them peppered throughout Bay Ridge where you’ll find authentic Irish food and compact yet sophisticated low rise apartment buildings and brownstones.

If there’s no shame in your selfie game, you’ll have a field day in Brooklyn. From the mouth-watering restaurants, artisan art fairs, gorgeous real estate and stunning public parks, you are bound to not only fall in love with this artsy-yet-industrial borough, but you’re sure to stumble across a few really great spots for the perfect selfie.

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Street Spotlight: Bond Street

In the late summer afternoons, as the surrounding buildings and trees cast cool shadows on Bond Street, there are few better places for a sun-dappled stroll through Manhattan. Even though you can likely walk the entire passage back and forth in under five minutes, it says something about the calm vibe of this strip that you’ll probably want to walk it again before venturing into the college campus that surrounds it.

 

Image by Forgotten New York

 

Cobblestone streets offer the feel of old New York, yet the surrounding buildings are anything but dated with their bold and modern style. That said, the condos thankfully harken back to a time when contemporary condo didn’t translate to “jarringly incongruous with all of the surrounding architecture” (cough, Williamsburg, cough). Instead, these buildings are tastefully and seamlessly integrated with the older surrounding buildings, with the untamed white ribbon facade of 40 Bond making the most aggressive effort to grab hold of your attention.

 

 

And those buildings: Some of Noho’s most sought-after condo complexes call Bond Street their home, from the aforementioned 40 Bond to the distinguished 41 and 25 Bond condos. 25 Bond, a catchy address that would look impressive embossed onto any stationary, is especially unique – a multi-family collaboration between owners and developers with massive common spaces that give the whole building the feeling of a large home.

 

 

Any condo on Bond is prime real estate, and this is reflected in the apartments themselves – well appointed, spacious, pet-friendly and, like Bond Street itself, tastefully hip. Even the neighborhood dining options, like the upscale casual The Smile, Il Buco, and the new Thai restaurant Fish Cheeks offer lively but intimate environments that cater to locals and foodies alike, from bar-regulars to big parties foisting forks over shared plates.

It’s maybe not too much of a stretch, then, to look at Bond as the more learned, polished-looking sibling to St. Marks Place. While St. Marks has long been seen as a party block, belonging to throngs of out-of-towners and students from NYU, and offering a nearly endless selection of street-side attractions and distractions (some known for their rather lax attitudes towards the legal drinking age), Bond can be seen as something of a playground for a more refined clientele. Instead of novelty t-shirts and cheap sunglasses, for example, there’s Dashwood Bookstore and its selection of high-quality hardcover photography books.

And unlike its NoHo neighbor to the north, which stretches well past the confines of its 3rd to 2nd Avenue main drag and far into the wilds of the East Village, Bond Street remains confined to two immaculately designed and curated blocks. We wouldn’t blame Bond residents for straying those few blocks from their cozy quarters, however, if only to relive their wild youth in a few rounds (or beer and The Simpsons arcade game, of course) at Barcade, or a late-night binge at Mamoun’s. But why would they even bother when a stiff negroni and a plate of Il Buco’s farm fresh tagliatelle awaits them only a few numbers down from their home address.

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How New York’s Landscape will Change in 2018

New York’s building boom continues with some projects set to complete this year and more to begin. The latest report by the New York Building Congress predicts that construction spending will reach $52.5 billion this year.

Today’s post looks at what we can expect for the coming year with big changes to the skyline, transit, and parks.

Building Projects

The progress at Hudson Yards will continue into the new year with work finally starting on the platform that will cover the projects second half of the west rail yards. We’ll also see 15 Hudson Yards topping out at 88 stories as the sites first residential building launch’s sales. 285 apartments will go on sale through the year with the prices ranging from $1.95 million to $13.845 million.

 

 

In spring, construction will start on Cipriani’s 28,000 square-foot food market at Two Waterline Square. It’s expected that work will continue well into 2019. Waterline Square will also see three rental and condo buildings complete construction with closing sales expected to start late in the year.

2018 will also see openings at 55 Hudson yards with tenants such as Arosa Capital Management and Cooly LLP already set to move in.

3 World Trade Center will officially open in the spring, making it the fourth building to be completed on the new World Trade Center campus. Advertising media company GroupM have already signed on as one of the building’s major tenants.

One Vanderbilt will continue to rise this year with the project set to complete 39 stories by the end of the year. Work is expecting to continue until February 220.

Transit

It’s no secret that 2017 was a bad year for the New York Subway. Overcrowded stations, signal malfunctions and rundown stations being just some of the problems. The MTA has been keeping quiet about what exact changes will be made. All that’s known is that in July last year, Chairman Joe Lhota announced an $836 million emergency action plan aimed at fixing these problems. The plan is expected to fix 1,300 signal lights in need of maintenance, clean the tracks and add more cars and trains where possible.

But the plan is threatened by the city’s lack of fiscal commitment to the agency. State and city are still arguing over who will commit what to fix the subway. All that’s known for sure is that these fixes need to happen fast.

Another change this year will be the coming L train shutdown. Changes are also expected for the infrastructure near the Williamsburg bridge with new bike lanes on 13th street.

Natural Landscapes

The Bushwick Inlet park in Williamsburg is still far from complete but the city is working hard to complete its promise for the 28-acre park. This year the city will begin designing the parcel at 50 Kent Avenue, a former site of the Brooklyn Flea Market after public complaints that between the Flea and Smorgsburg it was using too much of the park’s space on Saturdays.

The Parks Department will also begin looking into what it can do to remediate the former site of the CitiStorage warehouse which burned down in January 2015.

In early summer, New Yorker’s will have a new waterfront park to enjoy as Domino Park opens to the public. Summer will also see Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 3 open, marking the completion of the six pier-to-park conversions at BBP.

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15 Small Ways you can Help make New York a Better Place

New Yorker’s love to brag about their city and it’s easy to see why but pride aside there’s little denying that it could be a little bit friendlier, cleaner and more accessible to everyone. With over 8.4 million people calling this city home it’s easy to get caught up in your own life and forget that all big changes start with small ones. Starting small is the best way to start and if we all do our part we can make a difference.

Here are 15 small but substantial ways you can help make New York a better place.

 

In Your Neighborhood

 

1. Pick up a piece of trash

Not littering is obvious but take it a step further and pick up a piece of litter while on your daily commute. If you really want to make a difference volunteer with organizations like Love Your Block and NYC Parks to do your bit in keeping the city beautiful.

2. Get to know your neighbors

Building a stronger sense of community doesn’t have to be a major effort. It can start with just greeting your fellow tenants or even organizing community events

3. Shop local

Yes, it may be more convenient to use the larger supermarkets but there are plenty of benefits to shopping local. Many of the cities small businesses have been forced to close by tougher competition, rising rent and a dwindling client base. By shopping local, you support local family businesses and help the community to flourish. Diversity is what we love about our city so let’s help to keep it that way.

4. Join your local community board

One of the most direct ways you can help effect change in your neighborhood is by joining the local community board. Just reach out to your City Council or Borough President. Board members usually serve for 1-2 years and typically reside in or have a business in the neighborhood.

5. Request a tree for your block

it’s well documented that an abundance of green space in a city has a positive impact on happiness and stress reduction. Why not request a tree for your block? You can do so through NYC Parks. Get the rest of the neighborhood involved and it could really make a difference.

 

In Your Community

 

6. Get involved with volunteering

If you’ve got some time to spare volunteer at an organization that always needs ongoing help. This could only mean a few hours each weekend at the nearest Salvation Army center, animal shelter or disability center. NYC Service is a great place to start in finding something that appeals to you.

7. Mentor a young New Yorker

Do you know someone who’s new to the city or who’s always lived here but in need of some guidance? You can help make a difference in a young person’s life by taking them into your confidence and encouraging them. This prepares the next generation and empowers the community as a whole.

8. Be a poll worker on election day

If you want to get more involved in the political process then consider volunteering at the local polls. The process for applying only takes a few minutes and the requirements are minimal.

9. Create community murals and make preserving them a priority

Public art helps to define a community and set it apart. If you know anyone with creative skills in your community organize a meeting to plan new murals or preserve the ones already there.

10. Screen an outdoor movie

Organizing an outdoor screening isn’t difficult and if it’s successful it may even become a regular thing. This article can show you how to do it.

 

On Your Commute

 

11. Smile at people

New Yorker’s have a bad (and undeserved) reputation for being friendly. Help to change that stereotype and smile at people. You don’t need to grin at everyone that passes you but just a friendly hello and smile at the cashier or person behind you in line can help brighten their day and yours.

12. Be kind to homeless

People become homeless for many reasons so try to leave any stereotypes or judgments at the door when you walk out. Help out in small ways by donating to local organizations or volunteer your time at a shelter.

13. Give someone directions

Help to change the stereotype of the rude New Yorker who’s always in a rush. Help out a tourist and make them feel more welcome here. Start with those you see reading a map on a side corner.

14. Give up your seat on the subway

Rush hour on the subway is rarely a pleasant affair but for those with mobility issues, like elderly or pregnant women, that frustration is magnified. Do the right thing and give up your seat to someone who’s more in need.

15. Watch out for your fellow New Yorker’s on the street

When you’re out on the city streets keep your fellow citizens in mind. This can mean not being a hassle by not watching where you’re going or helping someone who’s in need.

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Insuring Against L.A. Earthquakes

Everyone knows Los Angeles is prone to earthquakes. The city developed a list of apartment and condo buildings that need work to better withstand earthquake damage, and there are certain steps you can take to make your single family home safer, such as bolting it to the foundation.

Nonetheless, you may wish to consider whether purchasing earthquake insurance is worthwhile.

 

 

Basics

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) writes the bulk, more than three-quarters, of the state’s earthquake insurance policies. This is a non-profit organization created by the legislature in 1996. You cannot purchase insurance directly from the CEA, but from a member insurance company. However, California law requires all residential insurers to also offer earthquake insurance

Your homeowners’ insurance company has to offer to sell you earthquake insurance annually. The policy also has to spell out the terms, in w including the premium, deductible, and amount it covers. You have 30 days to accept the offer, but you have to purchase CEA provide earthquake insurance from the same homeowner insurance company.

You may think your homeowner’s policy covers earthquakes, but that is not the case. The rules may have created confusion since the policy pays out in the event of a fire caused by an earthquake, but you are out of luck for other earthquake damage.

What it covers 

Homeowners should be aware that there are three portions when purchasing CEA earthquake insurance.

The first part covers your damage to your dwelling. The CEA offers deductibles ranging from 5%-25%. It does not cover exterior items such as landscaping or pools.

Part two relates to damage to your personal items in the home. These include your furniture, televisions, and laptops. There are coverage limits, starting at $5,000 but you can raise this up to $200,000.

The last part covers your cost to temporarily live somewhere else while the workers repair your home. This includes a home/apartment rental or a hotel, along with meals and other items such as a phone. Limits range from $1,500 to $100,000 and there is no deductible.

What it doesn’t cover 

Generally, earthquake insurance does not cover damage to your land or vehicles. It Earthquake insurance does not cover fire, but you get this through your homeowner’s policy.

Do I need it?

Whether to buy insurance is always a personal choice and comes down to your own preference to take on risk versus the cost. On the risk front, consider the cost to rebuild your home. Many people lost their homes and possessions during the large Northridge earthquake in 1994.

If your home is older, built from bricks, and has more than one story, it is more likely to sustain damage. But, you may want to consider forgoing insurance if you have retrofitted your home in order to minimize damage. You should consider whether your neighborhood is prone to earthquakes.

Remember, you pay to pay a deductive. The median L.A. home sales price was $575,000 last September. At this price, you would be responsible for $28,750.

The CEA provides a helpful premium calculator, which allows you to estimate the cost. You can use this information to further investigate your options.

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5 Things Sellers do that Real Estate Agents Hate

New York City real estate can be a tough market and if you’re a seller you probably have your eyes set on two prizes, selling fast and at the highest price possible. Real estate agents know this and love to see the enthusiasm in a seller but if you get in the way you can cause more harm than good. Here are five things sellers do that drive their agent’s crazy.

 

Trying to convince the agent that the home is worth more than it is

if you’ve picked an experienced realtor then they know how to price a home. Every agent has a system which ensures a price is competitive and takes all aspects of the property and current market into account. Some sellers though will argue that the price is not good enough, usually by overhyping upgrades. What seems like a bonus to you might not be so to a buyer.

Sticking around for the show

There are good reasons why agents don’t like it when owners stick around during a showing or open house. If you do this then you’re being a third wheel. Buyers already have a bit of apprehension when viewing a property, this only increases when the owners are home. It feels like they (the buyers) are intruding. The realtor is there to encourage offers and showcase the property. Your presence there only makes this more difficult and there’s always the chance that you’ll say something which drives the buyer away.

Promising repairs but not following through

If you’re going to do any repairs just make sure you do them before the house hits the market. Sometimes sellers will say to buyers that they plan to make repairs which to the buyers becomes an expectation. But what if those repairs are expensive or you change your mind? Not following through on repairs can cause deals to fall through or upset the relationship between the agent and seller. Don’t promise any repairs unless you’ve budgeted for them and completely certain you intend to fix them.

Giving agents no room to breath

Until you’re on the market it’s hard to know what you’re going to get. Selling your home might be the only thing on your mind but your agent will have other things that call for his attention as well. A seller who constantly needs the agents undivided attention or who tries to micromanage every step of the process can wear down an agent fast. Unless it’s an emergency put the phone down and take a deep breath. An agent who isn’t constantly being pestered will be able to do a better job.

Not keeping the home tidy

It’s a bit harder to entice potential buyers if you can’t keep the house tidy and clean. You may have had professional photos that were taken and expert staging done but it’s still your responsibility to keep the home in order. Not keeping cleanliness to a certain standard makes the home look like it’s worth less than it’s on the market for and forces the agent to do a last minute clean before doing a showing.

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Tips on Renovating a Smarter Home

Home automation is new territory, and there’s a lot of ground to cover. There are some lingering questions about which technologies to choose for the long term, especially if you’re just starting on these upgrades. You can spend a lot of money and time experimenting, or you can start with this guide.

The Backbone: The Internet

One of the first major decisions to make is where and how to wire internet in your home. High definition video, gaming, and computing function are best on a line coming directly from the wall. Wi-Fi can offer powerful signals with wide bandwidths, but it may not have stable uptime in a home that has a lot of hallways that twist, turn and bend into smaller rooms and spaces.

 

 

Several wireless access points can be stationed around the house to carry a stable signal. You may also want to run a Category 6 cable throughout your home, which allows for more data and helps to future proof for infrastructure upgrades. Ideally, you will utilize a combination of both: hardwiring your office or the living room to get the stability where it counts, and Wi-Fi for the less important applications.

Utilize the Proper Protocols

Protocols are where a home automation specialist earns his or her pay because all of these devices have to “talk” with one another to provide real value.

If you’re starting from scratch, Z-Wave is a decent solution. There are many products available that use this protocol, and its lower frequency doesn’t conflict with other network traffic. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity offers familiar solutions in homes equipped with the right infrastructure. However, adding devices to the crowded frequency will ultimately hurt their performance.

Bluetooth offers some excellent applications around the home where remote access is unnecessary, such as management of your home’s energy levels. You could then use Z-Wave to monitor lighting or security systems remotely.

Add Features You Want

Which features are most important to your home? Many attractive possibilities are not very practical for your current lifestyle. How do you make these tough choices?

A quick checklist to consider:

Will the upgrade contribute to your life in some meaningful way? Automated locks or thermostats would be examples of practical upgrades with real benefits.
Is there a financial incentive to installing it? There are several ways to recoup the costs of appliances, including rebates from manufacturers or the electric company.
Will you use it? Often, we invest in new tech because it’s new and shiny and not for its day-to-day value.

Consider Home Accessibility Upgrades

Another important consideration is accessibility when you’re not around. If your home has an entryway, automated locks offer safety and security. Especially when coupled with high definition cameras, which also offer a deterrent for thieves. You can also improve access to music or video you own with a home media server.

Accessibility is all about giving you access to your home’s most important features. As you’re renovating, look for opportunities to improve your home’s best qualities.

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Tax Reform: Real Life Real Estate Impact

The recently signed tax law will have far-reaching consequences. In fact, it is likely going to take some time before knowing the full economic effect. Nonetheless, we would like to discuss the tax law’s changes and its impact on individual and investor taxes.

 

 

Capital gains

Congress kept in place most of the favorable treatment. This comes about despite discussions and speculation that it was going to change.

For real estate investors, you can still defer the tax due via 1031 exchanges. There may be some confusion since real property retains this provision while disallowing it for other assets.

The law also retained the ability to exclude up to a $250,000 ($500,000 for those married filing jointly) capital gain from taxation. This applies only if it is your primary residence and you have lived there for at least two out of the past five years. The exemption is an important consideration for those that purchased New York City real estate in the past few years, given the sharp recovery. It is also useful for those contemplating a purchase to keep it in mind.

The long-term capital gains tax rates remain the same. These are 0%, 15%, and 20%. The 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax, which was part of the funding for the Affordable Care Act, also remains in place. This is applicable for those with modified adjusted gross income of $250,000 (married filing jointly) or $200,000 for single filers.

Local considerations

You can deduct mortgage interest for loans up to $750,000, down from $1 million. This is particularly relevant for the high cost of living places such as New York City. However, Congress grandfathered the new law, and it is applicable only to mortgages taken out after mid-December 2017. Those with existing mortgages can still deduct mortgage interest for amounts up to $1 million. However, fewer people will be able to take advantage since you are less likely to itemize your deductions. This is because the law places a $10,000 deduction limit on state and local taxes (income and property) and the nearly doubling of the standard deduction.

The new law also eliminates the tax deductibility for home equity loan interest. Previously, you could deduct the interest on up to a $100,000 home equity loan. This is applicable to existing loans. Therefore, if you took out a home equity loan, it has become more expensive.

Commercial considerations

Real estate investors should benefit from the new law. Moreover, unlike the individual tax provisions, these do not expire. Pass-through entities, including limited liability companies (LLCs) that are commonly used by real estate investors, provide a 20% income deduction.

While the previous change received a lot of publicity, there are other benefits bestowed on real estate investors. The carried interest provision remains in place, although there is now a three-year holding period attached. This allows owners of assets, including real estate, to have income taxed at the more favorable capital gains rate rather than the higher ordinary income tax rate. Typically, the venture utilizes the LLC structure. Under this structure, the general partners, who make the operating decisions, receive a lower taxation rate. For instance, the GP may receive a higher percentage of the investment profits than his/her contribution. The taxation on the additional amount is at the more favorable capital gains rate.

Estate tax

You do not have to worry about an estate tax unless it is worth more than $11.2 million, double the previous $5.6 million. The amount is inflation-indexed, too. This is for individuals and doubles for couples based on some planning. Without a change, it reverts back to the original amounts in 2025, however.

There is no change to the step-up basis at death, allowing heirs to minimize the capital gains tax. If they sell, they pay a capital gains tax based on the amount the inherited asset was worth, not the original cost.

Final thoughts

Taxes are a complex subject, but the new law adds another layer of uncertainty, particularly for investors. It is worthwhile to keep up-to-date, including readings from the IRS.

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Stay-at-Home Luxury: 5 Services to Help You Create Your Own Amenitized Life

All things being equal, life is easier if you live in an ultra-luxury condo. Beyond the quality of the interiors, luxury condos are offering increasingly lavish amenities, rivaling those of five-star hotels. Whatever the need, building staff could find a way to provide it. Do you need your laundry done? Not a problem. A personal trainer to keep you fit? We’ll have that heart rate up in no time. Professional chef for your dinner party? Gluten-free menu for eight, coming right up! It’s the ultimate in room service, at home.

Of course, the comforts of deluxe condo living aren’t for everyone. Whether you lack the down payment, or it’s a personal choice, most of us act as our own concierge. We pick up our own mail, we buy our own groceries, we scrub our own floors. It’s certainly not fun trudging the laundry to our fourth-floor walk-up, but that’s life. Right?

Well, thanks to some enterprising service startups, maybe you actually can afford to say goodbye to DIY. Many of the services offered in luxury condos can now be yours, and at the tap of a screen. So if you’re interested in a luxury lifestyle, but not the luxury address, then keep reading!

To start, you’ll want a service that can help you with all of your everyday tasks. Just imagine that outsourcing your grocery shopping, apartment cleaning, laundry, prescription pick-ups, mail, and more. You could return from a long day at work to a clean apartment, clean clothes, and a stocked fridge. Sounds helpful, right? Well, that’s what the founders of Hello Alfred thought, too.

Hello Alfred: Your Personalized Home Operating System

 

 

Hello Alfred  is a service for building owners and individuals to help keep their home running smoothly. It allows you to spend their time doing whatever else it is they’d rather do. Your “Alfred” (not a butler), is a personalized home manager. They perform periodic home visits to do all the chores and errands that you’d prefer not to do. It’s tech-enabled luxury for the rest of us.

Now it’s been a long day, you’re drained, and you just want to sit back and relax. Luckily, your “Alfred” has cleaned your place. You’ve got your clean clothes ready for tomorrow, and a fridge full of groceries, too. But it’s 9:30 pm. By the time you find a recipe, cook, and put everything away, it might be too late to eat. If only you had a delicious, nutritious, home-cooked meal waiting for you, for nights just like this one… Well, now you can!

Carried Away Chefs: Home Cooked Meals Made Easy (By a Professional)

 

 

If you find yourself too busy or uninterested to cook, there’s Carried Away Chefs, an in-home private chef service. A chef from Carried Away Chefs can visit your home couple of times a week to prepare meals for you. You can also store these healthy delicious meals in your fridge for the rest of the week. No more late night hunger. No more regrettable nights of MSG-laden food deliveries. You’ll always have a clean kitchen, good food, and even more time to relax.

How you choose to relax, after your gourmet meal, is very much up to you. Would you like to stream Netflix until it assumes you’ve fallen asleep? Maybe you’d rather getting caught up in novel? Or perhaps you’d prefer to have a professional masseuse knead out your stress, as you drift off, semi-conscious? If the massage sounds like a good time, then you may want to book-on-demand session with Zeel.

Zeel: Home Sweet In-Home Massage

 

 

Zeel blends the luxury of the spa experience with the efficiency of a tech start-up. In as quickly as one hour, you can have a masseuse setting up their cushioned table in your living room. That’s better than some food delivery! And, if you and your partner feel equally in need of an intense de-stressing, Zeel provides couples massages as well.

After a soothing evening of massage, you may wake up with an urge get moving, get the blood flowing. If you do feel motivated to exercise, you have some options. You could strap on your running shoes and brave the elements (and the people on the sidewalk). You could pack up your gym bag and travel to your local gym. Or you could even imitate a pre-recorded workout on your television. All could be effective, but they’re less than ideal ways to work up a sweat. Enter WeTrain.

WeTrain: For Homebodies working on Their Summer Bodies

 

 

WeTrain is a service that brings highly qualified personal trainers to wherever you are. You can work out in your living room, a nearby park, or your office (assuming that’s cool with your coworkers). No more improvising a routine, lax accountability on those push-ups, and no more commuting to your gym. You can decide what kind of routine works best for you, based on your goals. And you can also shower in your own shower afterwards!

By now you should be looking and feeling healthy thanks to Carried Away Chefs,  Zeel, and WeTrain. You should also feel the comforts of a clean, carefully managed environment, thanks to Hello Alfred. All the while, you’ve been able to stay in your current home. You haven’t had to call a mover, assemble or disassemble furniture, or perform any complicated manual labor. But even if you don’t move, what if you did have to do something like that? If the sight of an IKEA Allen wrench gives you anxiety, then you should definitely check out TaskRabbit.

TaskRabbit: Handyman Services in the Palm of Your Hand

 

 

TaskRabbit has been the go-to platform for contract labor since launching in 2008. It offers a broad range of home-related services, through its vast network of “taskers.” Once you describe your project, TaskRabbit sends your inquiry to the capable movers, handymen, electricians in your area. All you need to do is pick a tasker, schedule an appointment, and watch those bookshelves come to life! So if you’re not so handy, or you’re just too busy, TaskRabbit is another essential for your amenities toolkit. It’s great for IKEA furniture assembly, too. Especially since IKEA acquired it in the Fall of 2017. Now enjoy all that free time!

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A Checklist for New Renovations

Home renovation in New York City is a logistical obstacle course, and that’s putting it lightly. What you pay for, how it arrives, and what you can do with it all revolve around contracts with the city, the architect or the building.

We can’t solve every renovation hurdle you’ll encounter, but we can help give you a benchmark to be sure you’re on the right path.

 

 

Your Budget and What it Covers

Prices for renovations tend to be higher in NYC for a few different reasons, mainly revolving around access. Finding parking, arranging material deliveries, and even getting into the home can present major logistical complications. You may also need to pay engineering and architecture fees required by the city.

Don’t be shy about asking your contractor how to bring down that bill. You know what you want, and your contractor probably knows how to get you there if you allow for some wiggle room.

Speaking of “your contractor”, do be sure you have actually chosen the contractor. Your super probably has a recommendation, and you should consult with this person, but look for at least two or three other contractors for comparison pricing. Allow them to pitch you and you may be surprised at their approach or their ideas on cost saving.

Important Terms to Know

Here are a few of the important terms to know to help you in the contract phase:

Project Scope: This is the outline of work that you’re asking for. This part is extremely important because it defines what the contractor will and won’t do in your home (at least not without being paid more).
Milestones: Milestones are often used to define when a contractor is paid. It’s common to pay some upfront costs, and then a bit more towards the total cost upon reaching new milestones defined by the contract.
Liens and Waivers: Liens are scary, but waivers provide you some protection. Any contractor can claim work was done that was not paid for and place a lien on your property to try and reclaim their money. A waiver is like asking the contractor to “sign off” that work was completed and payment received.
Expediter: Approvals from the city can take anywhere from days to years. Contractors may utilize an expediter to speed up this process.
Alteration Agreements: Your building has certain rules for what can be done during a renovation. Make sure you’re not buying materials for a job you can’t do by familiarizing yourself with them.

Optional Upgrades that Make a Difference

Should you soundproof? Good question, because NYC never stops. Soundproofing is expensive, but can also improve energy efficiency with insulation. However, you can improve soundproofing by adding carpet, rugs, and art to your walls to try and dampen sound. Energy-efficient appliances, better lighting, and upgrades to closet storage are also practical upgrades that offer real benefits.

You can improve your home’s value, and its impact on your life, with the proper upgrades.

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