Peek-A-Boo Listing In my area, 28% of sales come from our yard signs, so that's an important part of what we do in marketing our listings.  Recently, I came across a "Peek-A-Boo" sign.  Almost didn't see it.                                                     Can you see the sign?  I guess this is a secret listing. If you follow any of my posts, you already know how I dislike some pictures of the properties that some people post to "show" the unit, you know, underexposed, blurry, not level like the house or room is tilted.  So now I've added For Sale yard signs that prospects can't see.  It's almost like buyers have to trip over the sign to see it.  Funny for some to look at but not funny for the seller who wants to get his unit SOLD. Edited, folks, the sign is behind the tree, look for... 09/30/2014

House for Sale Staten Island South Shore If you live in Brooklyn and are looking for affordable housing, Staten Island may fill the bill. We have X Bus service to and from Manhattan, only steps away from my new Listing, 479 Leverett Ave. This is in the Great Kills section of the South Shore, not near the water.  Please google the address and you can see where it is, also get driving directions. There are two X Bus routes close to this property,  For X Bus schedule to and from Manhattan for Leverett Ave and Armstrong Ave, click here: http://www.rideschedules.com/schedule.html?schedule=17003, the MTA has this site information as  going to Midtown Central Park South via West Street and 6th Avenue.  The 8X Bus, going to lower Manhattan.  These buses only run during peak hours and only on we... 09/28/2014

Just Listed Great Kills Staten Island Semi Attached Unit. Priced at $429,000, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath unit is in "Move in condition" See my High Definition photos on my audio/video post on Youtube, click here;  479 Leverett Ave. Great Kills, S.I.N.Y. 10308 Please call me for a personal tour, just call me direct at 917-696-0275.  Don't wait, not many units like this on the market today.  Attention Brooklyn buyers, this unit has off street parking for two (2) cars. 09/18/2014

Practice makes better Whoever said "Practice makes perfect"?  I believe there is always room for improvement. Example, night photography.  Last night I was at the St. George Ferry area (Staten Island) taking pictures of the "Tribute In Light".  I took 80 exposures, with different settings, below is my favorite. If you would like to download the file for your desktop, I'll gladly email you the file.  If however you would like to make a print, please visit my Photography website, link below. 09/11/2014

                                                               LISTED $289,900 Beautiful 2 Bedroom, 2 bath Townhouse with Family Room and Garage. Home located in a Cul-De-Sac with plenty of parking. Home is in Excellent Condition! Low Maintenance Fees Include: 140 a month Olympic size pool, Playgrounds, walking trails, club house, tennis courts, snow removal, outside maint. Walking distance to shopping and transportation. Taxes: 2,399  House size 1,354  - Home sits on a quiet street with parking. Call Valerie Bartolone Direct 917-733-5240 Neuhaus Realty, Inc - NYS Lic Real Estate Salesperson   09/04/2014

                                                 Great 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Semi in Annadale!                                 This home is ready to Sell! Looking for a 3 bedroom 2 bath Semi here it is!                                                                  REDUCED! $389,000 Home features newer kitchen with corian counter tops, stainless steel appliances with sliders to deck and yard. Home has all hardwood flooring. Newer Full bath with jacuzzi tub and fully tiled. Newer 1/2 bath on first floor. Homes has most newer windows. 3 Fredricks a/c units. Full Basement with High Ceilings and ceramic tile flooring. Large yard with Deck.   Taxes $3,459 home is 14 x 39 Property 24 x 100 For appointment: Valerie Bartolone - 917-733-5240 Neuhaus Realty, Inc - NYS Lic Real Estate Salesperson Cl... 09/04/2014

http://www.tourfactory.com/1225629 09/04/2014

                listed at $289,900 BEAUTIFUL 2 BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE WITH GARAGE LOCATED IN CUL-DE-SAC WITH PLENTY OF PARKING IN AN ALL IN ONE COMMUNITY. HOME IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH PERGO FLOORING THRU-OUT, CUSTOM BREAKFAST NOOK, S.S. APPLIANCES, NEWER ATTIC STEPS AND NEW OAK STEPS AND RAILINGS. SUBWAY TILE IN BATHROOM - BODY SPRAY "RAIN SHOWER". CUSTOM CLOSET ORGANIZERS IN WALK-IN CLOSETS. LOCATED NEAR TRANSPORTATION AND SHOPPING! Listed By Valerie Bartolone, Neuhaus Realty, Inc. nys lic RE Salesperson - Direct 917-733-5240Click Here to search for homes: www.valeriebartolone.listingbook.com   07/23/2014

TODT HILL STATEN ISLAND REAL ESTATE FOR SALE   Todt Hill Staten Island is among the most prestigious areas for real estate on Staten Island and among the most desirable communities in all of New York.  In fact it's geography, coincidentally (if you believe in coincedences) perches it at the highest elevation on the entire Eastern Seaboard - reaching from Florida to Cape Cod.  Todt Hill benefits from being part of Staten Island's Greenbelt, a protected area that makes Todt Hill real estate even more exclusive.     Todt Hill Staten Island Real Estate   The name Todt Hill comes from the Dutch who settled Staten Island.  Some of Todt Hill's most famous real estate is the home that was featured in The Godfather.  Lots of famous people as well as titans of industry have gravitated to real est... 07/22/2014

07/21/2014

Apartments for rent in Staten Island, NY If you are thinking of making a move to Staten Island, NY please preview some of the apartments available for rental.  If you have an interest in any of them, please be sure to give me a call.   Eltingville Apartment Princes Bay Apartment Tottenville Apartment House for rent in Arden Heights  These are just a few of the available apartments in Staten Island, NY. Staten Island is home to great cultural attractions, beaches, theatres, zoo, nightlife, and more than 170 parks.  College of Staten Island, St Johns University, Wagner College and Empire State are some colleges in Staten Island.  Here you can view some of the homes for sale in Staten Island!   Call Rosemarie Rivicci Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Weichert Realtors-Appleseed Group 917-8... 07/12/2014

  Staten Island Feng Shui Consultations with Laura Cerrano Welcome, my name is Laura Cerrano CEO and founder of Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island a family owned and operated consulting firm founded in 1997.  I take a multi-dimensional approach which cohesively blends several methods of Feng Shui with a specialization in practical-advanced Ba-gua Map Readings and Feng Shui Ascension Techniques.  Feng Shui is a valuable addition to your lifestyle because it increases your self awareness and self confidence while also teaching you to become more in tune with your surroundings.  It is always said in Feng Shui that your home and work space become a metaphor of your life.  On a more practical level, the implementation of Feng Shui into residences, businesses, new construction projects, communit... 07/11/2014

   Getting better Last post I wrote about taking pictures of fireworks.  See it here.  Today I'm happy to report I'm taking my own suggestions and I'm pleased with it. I idea that we get better with practice is true. I took some time exposures of fireworks and thought I did good, but I knew I could do better.  So I explored the pictures and decided to try something new.  My camera, Nikon D-5200, has the ability to take one image and combine it with another.  I looked over the pictures I took and did just that. The photo below is a composite of two pictures I took at the fireworks display.  What do you think?   Looking to do better;   07/10/2014

Practice makes better In my last post,  "How to photograph Fireworks" I wrote about taking pictures of fireworks.  Well, I did my homework, took about 50 pictures last night, of the Macy's 4th of July fireworks, from Staten Island, and made a few adjustments in "Lightroom".  You can see the slideshow here;   I had my tripod, cable release and set the camera to the recommend settings, however I did not anticipated the strong wind that accompanied the tail end of Hurricane Arthur.  Even though I had the camera on a tripod the strong gusts of wind did effect the pictures because I needed a two second exposure.  That was enough time to effect the exposure.  The action was 5 miles away and so, if you look carefully you can see the effects in some of the pictures.  However, I was pleased with... 07/05/2014

Staten Island’s St. George Waterfront Gets a Make-over!   Staten Island’s St. George waterfront is getting a gorgeous make-over with the construction of an amazing new retail and hotel complex near the Richmond County Bank Ballpark and the Ferry Terminal! It will also feature the largest observation wheel in the Western Hemisphere; at 625 feet tall, it’s 84 feet higher than the current record holder in Singapore. The wheel will be constructed by the same company, which erected the London Eye. This fun and exciting structure will carry passengers to amazing heights, with unparalleled views of the area.   At the base of the wheel, the new Terminal Building will include various shops, dining options, a 4-d theater and exhibition space about New York City history, alternative energy and en... 04/09/2014

A final walk through is an often over looked and sometimes mistreated part of the home buying process.  Many buyers simply take a 20 minute walk through of the house right before the closing.  This is a mistake. A final walk through serves many purposes. - Make sure all agreed upon repairs are completed. - All appliances and warrantied items are operating properly. - Confirm that the home is in the same condition as it was when the contract was executed.     That being said, a final walk through is not an inspection.  You've already done that.  So there's no need for you to bring your home inspector back with you. Here are a few tips for your final walk through : - Take a copy of your contract with you so you can refer to it, if needed, to make sure all agreed upon repairs have been co... 04/01/2014

In 1984 the television show "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" premiered with massive success.  It was the dawn of reality television.  Sometime later, MTV Cribs showed us how wealthy people lived.  Now there are actually channels dedicated to this.  We all have a voyeuristic tendency to see how other people live.  Especially wealthy people.  The following 10 homes are the most expensive residential real estate transactions in history, according to public record.  They include the Island's most affluent neighborhoods Todt Hill, SouthEast Annadale, and Tottenville. #10 - 51 Romer Road in Todt Hill This self described "Bellagio Estate" is over 6,000 sq ft of "unsurpassed elegance", according to the listing agent.  Situated on a 20,000 sq ft lot, this magnificent home features 5 bedrooms... 03/17/2014

Take me, no take me! Just came back from the florist, Eltingville Florist on Richmond Ave in the Eltingville section of Staten Island, New York.  Snow is forecast to be between 4-10 inches starting just after midnight.  So I'm not going anywhere on Thursday February 13th, and you know what the 14th is right?  Valentine's day.  So I got my honey some flowers today.  This place was packed with workers and flowers. I could almost hear the flowers saying, "Take me, no take me!" So, I did take some for my honey.   Hope she likes them. 02/12/2014

The House is not the only consideration when buying real estate A house is only part of the search when we are relocating. Almost anything about the structure can be changed, but the area is a different story.  When we buy a house, we are buying a community as well.  Here are a few of the things I think we should be looking at when buying a new house. The street;  do you like the block the house is on?  Are there many units for sale on this street? What does that say? Transportation;  how important is transportation to job, shopping, schools and parks to you?  Shopping;  What kind of stores are nearby?  Take a look before you buy. Parks;  Another great area we sometimes overlook.  Take a look below of a park that is nearby to me but I just never got around to enjoy untill recently. Happ... 02/04/2014

To shovel or not to shovel When it snows and we know it's going to be just snow, no rain or sleet mixed it either during or after the snows stops, we shovel.  Some of us just can't wait for the snow to stop before we get outside and shovel.  No problem with that at all.  Most of us just wait for the snow to stop and then we shovel.  Is there a better way when we have a mix of snow, sleet and rain? I think when we have say 3 or 4 inches of snow, then frozen rain or even just rain on top of the snow, it's better to wait for the rain to stop before we shovel.  Here's why I say that. Rain on top of snow makes a crust of ice at the top of the snow.  It's easier to shovel what way then to have the ice on the pavement, then it's just ice.  Can't shovel ice. Left side untouched, right side shov... 02/04/2014