Follow These Easy Tips for Making Your NYC Home Easier to Sell

If you plan to sell your New York City home, you'll want to ensure it's as attractive as possible to potential buyers. A few simple changes and upgrades can go a long way in making your home stand out from the rest of the market. Here are some easy tips for making your NYC home easier to sell.

Deep Clean Your Home

Ensuring your home is clean is essential to preparing to sell your New York City home. It's important to deep clean your home and ensure it's in top condition for potential buyers. Pay special attention to high-traffic areas such as the kitchen and bathroom, ensuring they are sparkling clean.

However, it's not just dust and dirt that can impact the cleanliness of your home. According to This Old House, an estimated 38% of American homes are susceptible to mold growth in the basement. It's important to address mold growth before listing your home for sale. Not only can it impact the air quality in your home, but it can also pose a health hazard to potential buyers. This is sure to diminish your property value if the problem goes unaddressed.

Make Repairs

The infrastructure of your home is also a crucial area to pay attention to. Look for any broken or leaking pipes that require repair. Fix any leaky faucets immediately to stop further water damage. Making sure that all of the doors and windows are functional is also crucial.

Your home's exterior is yet another factor to take into account. Fix any cracks in the driveway and walkways because they pose a risk to your safety and reduce your house's curb appeal. Consider repainting the exterior or fixing any damaged siding to make your home appear new and well-kept.

If you have a driveway, it might be worthwhile to fix or resurface it. According to The Spruce, the price per square foot for installing a brand-new asphalt driveway can range from $5 to $7. An easier and more affordable option that still enhances your house's curb appeal is to have your current driveway repaired.

Stage Your Home

By staging your home, you can help create a warm, inviting atmosphere that will make potential buyers feel at home. Work with a professional home stager to help create a cohesive and attractive design scheme. They can help you arrange furniture and décor to create a spacious and inviting feel in each room.

Alternatively, you can use online tools to virtually stage your home. This can be a cost-effective and convenient way to enhance your home's appeal online. Virtual staging can also help potential buyers envision the potential of your home and create a more attractive online listing.

When staging your home, remember to focus on your property's unique features and benefits. Highlight any views, natural light, or architectural details that make your home stand out.

Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal

Enhancing your home's curb appeal is crucial to selling your New York City home. The first thing potential buyers see is the exterior of your home, so it's important to make a good first impression. Consider making some upgrades to improve your home's curb appeal.

Did you know that 80% of homebuyers consider the garage before making a purchase? Therefore, it's important to pay attention to your garage's appearance. A fresh coat of paint or new garage doors can make a big difference in your home's curb appeal. You can also consider installing new exterior lighting or landscaping to create a welcoming atmosphere.

Selling a home in New York City can be a difficult task. However, by following this advice, you can make your property more appealing to potential buyers. By using these simple tips, selling your New York City home will be less stressful, and you'll have a better chance of making a sale. With a little work and care, you can show off your home in the best way possible and leave a lasting impression on potential buyers.

Inside The Tribeca Loft By Famed Interior Designer Carolyn Pressly

With the new Million Dollar Listings New York season coming up, newcomers Kirsten Jordan of Douglas Elliman and Tyler Whitman of TripleMint will most likely have a good relationship; as they have just co-listed a Tribeca condo at 143 Reade Street, 3A for $8.5 million. This sprawling 4 bed/4.5 bath condominium was recently meticulously reimagined and updated and also includes a bonus media room, alcove office/study work space and a private balcony.

Watch a video tour below.

The kitchen, located just past mirrored French pivot doors, boasts a bespoke black range surrounded by custom-made oak cabinetry with black inlay with hand-crafted glass upper cabinets by Bendheim Glass and an oversized island. Form meets function, with restaurant-grade Dacor professional wine preservation system, perfect pour of one of four wines at the touch of the button, a Viking range and Subzero refrigerator and freezer.

The expansive living room over forty feet by twenty feet with soaring ceilings just under twelve feet creates the perfect space for recreation or entertaining guests. Both southern and northern exposures are framed by 8 tall steel casement windows. The primary suite has tall ceilings featuring rustic wood beams facing south with the remaining bedrooms on the opposite side of the home.

The library, which is the perfect work from home space, has cork flooring inspired by the Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel. Additional features include California closets throughout, control four smart home system, four zone central heating and cooling and Ketra LED lighting throughout which offers adjustable hues.

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Homes with Private Outdoor Space for Under $5M

With the summer weather getting more beautiful each day and social distancing measures still in place, we're seeing lots of buyer interest and high demand for homes with private outdoor space. While many NYC listings with terraces are often out of reach for many buyers, the six homes below are beautiful, spacious and attainable: all listed for under $5 million. They range from the Upper East Side to Hudson Square to Brooklyn Heights and more.

180 East 88th Street

Credit: Robert Granoff, March Made for DDG

Residence 10A is one of the coveted opportunities available at 180 East 88th Street, a striking condominium situated in the Upper East Side's Carnegie Hill neighborhood. This brightly-lit residence, currently on the market for $4.585M, features an elegant private terrace perfect for relaxing in the sun or enjoying a meal al fresco. Residence 10A features North, East and South views and combines pre-war-inspired detailing with contemporary living spaces, including a formal elliptical entry gallery with coved ceilings and custom plaster wainscoting complimented by herringbone flooring, expansive tilt & turn Albertini Italian windows framed by handmade, hand-set, Danish Kolumba brick, and an open-plan living area with a custom-designed kitchen that includes Statuario marble countertops and a full suite of Gaggenau appliances. Residents enjoy an extensive selection of amenities, including a partial indoor basketball court, indoor soccer pitch, fitness center with PELOTON bicycle, yoga studio, wine room and children’s playroom designed with the Children’s Museum of the Arts. Wine storage, residential storage and bike storage are available for purchase. 180 East 88th Street is developed by DDG and Global Holdings.

Listing HERE. 

200 East 59th Street

Like its predecessor 432 Park Avenue, 200 East 59th Street is a high-design residential tower that pushes the boundaries of classic modernism. With only one to three homes per floor, all 67 residences are corner units and take advantage of the building's expansive terraces that wrap around its 35 floors. These stunning outdoor spaces vary from seven to 12 feet deep and range from 22 feet to nearly 150 feet long. They are seamless extensions of the main living room, separated by floor-to-ceiling walls of glass with slender framework and no horizontal interruptions to virtually eliminate the visual distinction between indoor and outdoor space. If you’re not familiar with the building, 200 East 59th Street is one of the most elegant towers in its prime location at the intersection of Midtown East and the Upper East Side. It is designed by CetraRuddy, and features an amenities level with a double-height lounge, marble fireplace, furnished and landscaped terrace, fitness center and a private dining room with a catering kitchen for larger functions. #19E is a 2-bed, 2 1/2-bath half-floor residence, with 571 sq. ft. of private outdoor space, currently on the market for $4.995M.

Listing HERE.

Rose Hill

Courtesy of Rockefeller Group & Recent Spaces

Destined to be the next crown jewel of New York, Rose Hill is the brand new full-service, 45-story luxury condominium tower at 30 East 29th Street in Manhattan’s coveted NoMad neighborhood. Developed by the legendary Rockefeller Group, Rose Hill is the firm's first residential tower in its hometown and pays tribute to their greatest creation through its Art Deco-inspired design by the award-winning New York-based architecture and design firm CetraRuddy CetraRuddy created stunning homes with private outdoor space at Rose Hill to allow residents to connect with nature and have plenty of access to natural light and fresh air. Currently on the market for $3,916,500, residence 5A is a two-bedroom, three-bathroom home boasting 1,778 square feet of space and offers exquisite north and south exposures as well as a beautiful and private 204 square foot terrace -- perfect to watch the sunset, get fresh air or have an afternoon cocktail.

Listing HERE.

111 Montgomery

Credit: Creative Soldier

Situated adjacent to Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 111 Montgomery is a rare luxury condominium in Crown Heights with homes and amenities that are very much inspired by the nature that surrounds it. In addition to a landscaped roof garden and community garden that residents will be able to help plant, several homes in the building also come with private outdoor space. The perfect example is residence 1Q, a one-bedroom, one-bathroom located on the first floor with an outsize terrace. This home is pretty attainable too – priced at $696,000. With its park-side location, private terrace and access to exclusive building outdoor spaces, this home at 111 Montgomery offers the kind of indoor/outdoor living experiences that New Yorkers are seeking right now, especially after so many months cooped up at home.

Listing HERE.

Greenwich West

Credit: Binyan Studios

Star Parisian architect and interior designer Sebastien Segers who is known for his work with clients such as Giorgio Armani, Christian Dior and his 20+ year collaboration with legendary designer Marc Newson, has beautifully designed the interiors at Greenwich West, one of the tallest new buildings in Manhattan's Hudson Square neighborhood with 170 loft-style condos. Wide plank European white oak floors run throughout the homes, while custom kitchen islands featuring crafted “marine-edge” Carrara marble countertops and integrated bookshelves become a focal point in the room. Imparting a bespoke quality, deep, curved window-sills topped with Carrara marble echo the exterior architecture and invite residents to get up close to the windows and big views while offering a relaxing space next to natural light. Residence 19B, which is listed for $3.775 million and spans nearly 1350 square feet of space, boasts 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and seamlessly blends the interiors with the outdoors through an open, cozy private outdoor terrace. With 123 square feet of space to roam about, fresh air and scenic city and river views can be enjoyed with family or friends. 

Listing HERE. 

The Symon

Credit: Volley Studio

Neighboring Brooklyn Heights and situated amongst the cherished townhouse blocks and picturesque streets of the neighborhood, The Symon is the 13-story all-new boutique luxury condominium offering contemporary residences with an elevated design sensibility by Studio DB – the New York-based design firm led by husband and wife Damian and Britt Zunino, known for their expansive roster of celebrity clients' custom/private homes as well as high-end interiors work. Penthouse Two, the most expensive unit released to date and currently on the market for $3,350,000, crowns the top of the building and spans over two floors. Oversized divided-light windows allow for an abundance of natural light, graciously proportioned kitchens feature custom raised-panel cabinetry, marble countertops and high-end appliances, while bathrooms offer refined material selections, diamond tile patterns and master bath fixtures in antique brass from Waterworks.  The 4-bed, 2.5-bath home boasts 1,761 square feet of interior space and an expansive terrace nearly half the size of the home. Offering 788 square feet of exterior space along a private terrace, the home comes complete with gas grills and plenty of room for lounging and entertaining, thus making it the perfect place for a summer barbecue while overlooking views of the neighborhood’s mix of treasured brownstone townhouse and grand apartments. The Symon also offers a beautifully-landscaped rooftop terrace that is available to all residents, providing a lofty getaway for relaxation and intimate social gatherings as well as showcases scenic vistas of the adjoining historic district.

Listing HERE.

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How to Maximize Space in a Small Studio Apartment

By Aleksandra Scepanovic, Managing Director, Ideal Properties Group

Aleksandra Scepanovic

Most New Yorkers are self-quarantining at home during the COVID-19 pandemic…and some are even finding themselves isolated in a petite studio apartment. The average Manhattan studio apartment runs at about 550 square feet, which in comparison to the average home size in the United States (of 2,700 square feet), can be quite the squeeze. This holds especially true in a city hard hit by the novel virus, in the days when New Yorkers spend so much of their time – at home.

So how can you maximize your living space in a New York City studio? Consider these tips – they are evergreen but can be especially important during the pandemic:

Opt for double-duty décor

When you’re living in close quarters, the Mies van der Rohe’s “less is more” rings even truer. But that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice your personal style by forgoing decorative pieces in order to save space. There are plenty of ways to work your décor into functional, purposeful pieces. For example, bar carts, storage ottomans, macramé baskets or apothecary jars are all ways you can store additional items in a more polished manner without your storage options being obvious or taking up too much space. A bar cart can serve as a stylish, decorative yet functional piece for parties, but can also house and display special-occasion glasses and dishware when not in use. Storage ottomans can be a practical place to store bulky sweaters or blankets. Apothecary and mason jars can store just about everything – from kitchen items to cosmetics.

Customize

If you’re renting your first studio apartment and don’t plan to stay forever and a day, this might not be the right option for you. But, if you do plan to call your studio home for a few years, it could make sense to invest in furniture pieces that fit your specific space. Apart from beautifying, the choices may help improve your apartment’s functionality. An alcove studio (often L-shaped) separates a traditional studio with the living and sleeping quarters. If your residence’s configuration allows it, you can partition the areas off by allowing custom furniture to transform them: a cleverly placed and curated Murphy bed or table that folds up into the wall can help maximize your living quarters while lending charm to the entire space.

Fake it ‘til you make it

When in doubt, deploy tricks of the (interior design) trade that can help make a space feel larger. Hanging mirrors on the walls can create an illusion of a larger space by providing a sense of depth. Interior designers are also known to hang a curtain rod slightly above the window frame, a discernible modification that draws the eye up and makes the ceilings feel higher. In a studio, it can be difficult to distinguish one area or section of the space from the next, but using different sized area rugs can help to visually separate the spaces. Bright colors can often make a small space feel crowded, so if you have the option to paint, opt for soft neutrals for the wall color, and add dashes of color through hanging art. Making these minor adjustments can trick your mind into thinking you have more space than you really do… and inch your studio a step closer to it feeling like home.

While studio apartments vary in size, traditionally speaking, they are significantly smaller than other housing options in the city. The layout of a studio (and its inherent openness) may not be for everyone, but the lessons from interior design portfolios – especially during these times when people are sheltering at home – can offer some creative ways to make your small space feel like a home of much grander proportions.  

Aleksandra Scepanovic is Managing Director of Ideal Properties Group, a leading residential real estate firm specializing in premier Brownstone Brooklyn and Manhattan neighborhoods including Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Brooklyn Heights, as well as Williamsburg, Gowanus, Chelsea and other sought-after locations.

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