Brooklyn

We are living in a fast paced, ever changing environment where it is extremely important for us to not only stay connected but also maneuver seamlessly between our personal products, our social networks and above all; our surroundings.  Our homes are no different.  Homeowners are looking for smart solutions to make their lives more efficient and enjoyable.   

Take a look at some of the most of the most widely used smart tools to automate your home and building.

Smart Intercom

What if you could open and manage doors with a swipe of your smartphone, issue virtual keys to your family, friends and guests or enable your Alexa or Siri device to unlock doors with the sound of your voice.  Well…Butterfly MX allows you to do just that.  It is a cloud based virtual doorman smart intercom system.  Since the system is cloud based it provides many benefits.  Developers can cut costs because there are no wires needed to install visual intercoms within each apartment.  Property managers can also enhance the tenant experience through efficient interaction with one another through the online portal.  Take a look below to see how it works.

Smart Thermostat 

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat is a wifi based thermostat that lets you control your home heating and air condtioning system directly from an app or your own voice.  Ecobee also supports all of your favorite voice assistants; Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant.  

Smart Plug

If you use a lot of lamps, fans or common small appliances; smart plugs can be the secret to a seamless smart home. Scheduling, timer, power and away modes are some of the features you can expect from an effective smart plug. Here are a few smart plugs that are leading the way. TP-Link Kasa Smart WiFi Plug Mini. This space saving device works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa and also offers a multitude of options to customize scheduling and timers. If your on a budget the SmartThings WiFi Smart Plug might be the right fit you. Retailing at just $18; this one of the most affordable options on the market. Energy usage monitoring and voice control makes this device a solid choice.

Filed under: Blog, Brooklyn, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Real Estate, Smart Home, Uncategorized by Ryan Roberts
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There is always so much going on Brooklyn; especially this time of the year.  I got a chance to check out Smith Street Stage’s rendition of one of William Shakespeare’s most popular work’s; A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Smith Street Stage is a theater company committed to providing classic stories to all ages and backgrounds.  Starting with a five-actor adaptation of Romeo and Juliet in 2010; they have grown to hire over thirty artists where they now perform Shakespeare for over two thousand people each summer in Brooklyn’s Carroll Park.  Click here to check out some of their upcoming performances throughout the rest of the summer.  Trust me, you will have a blast.

Filed under: Blog, Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Theater by Ryan Roberts
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The blistering pace of the Brooklyn real estate market has eased slightly with fewer sales and more inventory.  The median sales price slipped 1.9% to $780,000 from the same period last year to the third highest level ever recorded and the first decline after twenty-two consecutive increases.  Luxury median sales price, representing the top 10% of all sales, declined 2.1% to $2,467,500 with a 4.4% lower price threshold of $1.840,000.  The number of sales declined year over year for the second consecutive quarter after 10 consecutive quarters of gains.  Sales fell 5.7% to 2,683 from the year-ago quarter.

The absorption rate, the number of months to sell all listing inventory at the current rate of sales, was 3 months, up from 2.4 months in the year-ago quarter.  The average days on the market rose 15.1% to 107 days, and listing discounts slipped to 2.6% from 2.9% in the prior-year quarter.  Take a look at the graph below and click here to view the full 2nd quarter Brooklyn sales market report.

Filed under: Blog, Brooklyn, Buying, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Market Report, Real Estate, Selling by Ryan Roberts
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BRIC is a leading presenter of free cultural programming in Brooklyn, and one of the largest in New York City.  They present and incubate work by artists and media makers who reflect the diversity that surrounds us.  BRIC’s programs reach hundreds of thousands of people each year.  On June 27th, they hosted their opening reception for their summer art exhibition; Alchemy.  Alchemy highlights the work of seven artists whose work reflects new ways of thinking about the ancient concept of alchemy – the transformation of matter.  Check out some of the work below from a few of the artists.  In addition, Alchemy will be accompanied by a series of lively Wednesday evening and Friday afternoon public programs including those dedicated to conversation, performance, dance and the healing arts.  Check them out here.

Serra Victoria Bothwell Fels

Phoebe Grip

Kennedy Yanko

Attendees having a good time.

Filed under: Blog, Brooklyn, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Uncategorized by Ryan Roberts
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There is no doubt about it; first impressions count with buyers.  Potential buyers are much more likely to return to a home that resonates with them at first glance, while homes that appear disorderly or poorly maintained seldom sustain a buyers interest.  Below are a few helpful tips that are simple, quick and inexpensive things you can do to prepare your home for sale.

• Tip #1 – The entryway sets first impressions.  So make sure it’s in great condition with fresh paint and clean floors.  If the entry tile floor has build up, consider using a commercial stripper and re-waxing.

• Tip #2 – Clear out about one-third to one-half of your furniture.  You want your home to look uncluttered and the rooms to feel open and bright.  The average home has way too much furniture and you need to move anyhow.  So you might as well pack away any furniture that clutters any rooms in the home.

• Tip #3 – Make sure your home is clean by doing the following:  1) Shampoo carpets, 2) Clean washer, dryer and laundry tubs, 3) Clean the refrigeration and stove, 5) Clean and freshen the bathrooms.  Hire a professional cleaning service if needed.  Here is a link to a local, reputable cleaning company “We Can Do It”.

They are a cooperative of women based in Sunset Park; they bring their own supplies and they work all throughout Brooklyn and the tri-state area.  The money you spend on these areas will come back to you in the purchase price.

• Tip #4 – Speaking of bathrooms.  Repair loose tiles.  Remove loose grout using a grout file and apply new grout.  Faded tile colors can be improved using an epoxy spray.  Remove old tub and tile caulking with a hooked scraper, install new white silicone tub and tile caulk.  Concentrate on areas such as counter corners, shower corners and the base of the toilet.  Clean mildewed caulk by spraying Tilex, or use diluted chlorine bleach and let stand for at least 30 minutes before rinsing.  Old tubs can often be sprayed with an epoxy coating.  Remove all soap scum and dirt build-ups.  Again, diluted chlorine bleach will help here.  Clean glass doors with vinegar, and replace badly soiled shower curtains.  Don’t forget to vacuum exhaust fans.

• Tip #5 – Your Kitchen.  Clean ovens thoroughly.  Clean cook-tops and exhaust fans.  Remember to clean behind your appliances.  Double-check all burners to make sure they are working.  Defrost freezers and thoroughly clean the interior of your refrigerator.  Remove mold from refrigerator gaskets.  Empty the water collection tray under the refrigerator.  Neatly arrange soaps and cleaning accessories.  Thoroughly wash fronts of cabinets using Murphy’s Oil Soap or Pine Sol.  Cover counter burns with ceramic tile or heat resistant glass.  Make sure all handles are securely in place.  Install new shelf and drawer liners.

• Tip #6 – Wax or polish floors and glue down any seams if you have vinyl flooring.

• Tip #7 – Save those receipts and utility bills.  If you need to make or have made substantial repairs to your home, save the receipts in a manilla envelope.  This will show what has been updated in the home.  Many times extra work will increase the value of your home beyond your costs.  In addition, save those utility bills as well.  Buyers frequently have questions about the utility costs of owning a home.  This information will provide a prospective purchaser with greater confidence in making their final decision and assist in helping to provide precise answers to important questions.  Save electric, gas, water, oil, sewage and waste management bills.

Filed under: Blog, Brooklyn, Buying, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Real Estate, Selling by Ryan Roberts
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If you’re in Brooklyn this weekend and looking for something cool to do and would also love a place to grab a really nice bite to eat…pick up an All Star Cookout pass and visit Taste Talks! Taste Talks is a national series of festivals celebrating the future of taste.  The All-Star Cookout is Brooklyn’s one-stop food and drinks mash up featuring 12 + grilling stations and various drinks at East River State Park in Williamsburg.  Discover different dishes from very talented chefs and restaurants. Check out the menu here.  The festival runs from Friday, September 8th through Sunday, September 10th.

Filed under: Blog, Brooklyn, Festival, Food, Real Estate, Williamsburg by Ryan Roberts
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