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White Plains, NY Real Estate News

By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
Are you looking for a reliable Flooring Installer in Westchester NY? We know it’s challenging to find flooring contractors you can trust. We pride ourselves on good service and honest contracting. We supply our customers with a long list of references. You can check out our customer testimonials. And, best of all, you can check our reviews on AngiesList. We supply and install: - Hardwood flooring - Refinish hardwood floors - Carpet - Tile flooring – ceramic, porcelain, natural stone - Laminate flooring - Vinyl Flooring - Kitchen backsplashes...and more When you meet us and when you talk to our customers, it won’t be a surprise that we are growing and getting a lot of repeat business. We service Westchester NY and Stamford CT and surrounding areas. Give us a call at 914-937-2950 for your...
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By Anthony Stokes-Pereira, Realtor
(Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty)
Every season, Anthony Stokes Pereira, Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty collects information about community events throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley for our clients, colleagues, and friends. If you would like to suggest events for inclusion in the summer, fall or winter guides, just email me your event and contact information at anthony.stokespereira@randrealty.com October 1, 2, 3, White Plains - The Baseball Card "Fall Classic Show" - Westchester County Center 198 Central Ave. Show times: Friday 2-8 PM, Sat 10-5 PM, Sun 10-4PM. Admission: Adults $7, children under 12 free. (914) 995-4050. www.nyshows.org October 2, 12-9 PM, White Plains - Columbus Day Celebration - Carnival, rides, food, entertainment, White Plains High School, 550 North Ave. (914) 325-1239. October 2, 8...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
Is it cheaper to buy your flooring at Home Depot? A couple of days ago, one of my friends called me and almost cancelled my appointment with her – she is redoing a whole basement and needs flooring for about 1,000 sq ft. Initially, from her “research” she wanted laminate (not realizing that it wasn’t waterproof until I told her). She wants a hardwood look. From there, she went to Home Depot and thought she found the perfect solution (or so she thought) – Traffic Master Allure vinyl planks – they look good and are waterproof. This is a product that is similar the luxury vinyl plank I’ve discussed in previous post and it is a GREAT product. The luxury vinyl plank tends to be expensive because the material is very high quality. So, when she went to Home Depot, she was so excited about this...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
Looking for tile flooring in Westchester NY?  Have you gone to the tile store and just gotten overwhelmed by all the choices?  I've had many customers that walk out of the tile store with their head spinning - they are more confused than before.  Well here's where we can help. We make it easy. We bring the store to your door so you can see the samples in your own home and lighting. We will help guide you through the process to find the right tiles for the look you want and your budget. We can dress your tile up with borders and insets, we can get fancier with the lay out. We make tile selection fun and easy. We’ll take measurements for you and provide you with FREE estimates. Our tile installers are top notch and we will provide you with many references and share our online testimonials...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
How much does flooring cost? Which types cost more? Which cost less? Now, these are course are loaded questions. I always hesitate to give per sf prices because they vary so much and for so many different reasons. So, for example, taking hardwood flooring – it depends on what species of hardwood. It depends on whether it’s solid or engineered. It depends on how wide the planks are. It can vary based on installation method (nailed vs. glued vs. floated as well as whether ir’s prefinished or unfinished hardwood). It depends on whether or not you have plywood subfloor. It depends if we need to do rip up and what surface we are ripping up (carpet or hardwood or tile). It depends if your floor is level and whether we need to do floor prep. Further, prices can vary on whether it’s a small, mi...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
Looking for carpet in Westchester NY? Well look no further. We know it can be overwhelming to go to the store – so many choices. How do you know which one is right carpet for you? How do you know which is the best value? How do you find the right color? Well that’s where we can help. We “bring the store to your door.” That way you can see the color in your own lighting (because it does look different in the store). You can color coordinate with your paint and furniture as well as the colors you have in adjoining rooms. Our design associates will make you feel at ease. We will help you find the best carpet for your needs and your budget, and you we will make the process fun and easy. We’ll help you select the optimal color. So whether it’s a berber carpet for your basement, or a plush an...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
Is Laminate flooring right for you or your client? Many of my customers are interested in laminate flooring, but there are many different reasons both to use and to avoid using laminate flooring. I always try to ask my customers why they want laminate, so I can then diagnose whether it is the best option for their situation. Side note: Laminate flooring is fake – it usually looks like hardwood (or sometimes tile) and it clicks together in place (vs. hardwood which is usually nailed (or glued) into the subfloor). - If they want laminate because they want the look of hardwood, but need to save money, I nod and acknowledge that makes sense. I also ask them if they would also like to know the cost for an inexpensive hardwood so they can compare. - If they like hardwood look, but want to avo...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
Porcelain Tile that looks like hardwood. Yes, that’s right. Have you ever wanted hardwood, but felt it wasn’t right since you wanted something waterproof? This comes up often when we are looking at kitchens or powder rooms or entryways. My customers feel conflicted because they have hardwood in the rest of their home and they want to continue this look. But, they are concerned about water. What if we get the floors wet? What if something spills or leaks or floods?     Well I’ve got the perfect solution for that. It’s porcelain tile that looks like hardwood. It is very fashion forward so it looks so stylish. But, it’s tile so it’s waterproof. It’s laid in a staggered fashion just like hardwood and grout lines are very tight (just like a marble) so it looks sleek and clean.     What do yo...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
Looking for hardwood floors? Are you confused and overwhelmed?  Many of my customers feel this way when they go to the store.  There are so many hardwood flooring option - solid hardwood, engineered hardwood and so many species and colors.  How do know which one is right for you? Well, here's where we can help.  We "bring the store to your door."  That way, you can see all the samples in your own surroundings so you can see what you like and see how it looks in your own room in your own lighting.  You can have a professional guide you on the type of hardwood you should get.  We'll explain the differences among the woods and we will make the process quick and fun.  Buying hardwood shouldn't be stressful - it should be fun. We help narrow the choices.  Often, when you go to a store, not o...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
Flooring Made Simple in Westchester NY. We Bring the Store to Your Door.  Are you looking for new flooring?  Have you been to the stores and then gotten even more confused?  Or, have you gotten frustrated because no one will help you?  That has happened to many of my customers.  And, we have a great solution for you.  Why go to the store, when we can "bring the store to you door?"  Not only is this more convenient for you, but importantly, it's critical to look at the samples in your own home and lighting.  It does look different in your lighting than under the fluorescent lights in the store.  And, you want to look at how your flooring looks compared to the paint on the walls, how it coordinates with your furniture/cabinets and how it matches the other flooring in your home. Our design...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
Making a grand entrance - hardwood floors with decorative inlays.  Have you ever walked into a home with a large entryway and thought wow, you can really do something spectacular here?  Check out this picture. This is decorative wood inlay.  You can do this one of two ways.  Either you can literally build this into the floor (with unfinished hardwood) and than sand and refinish it (the way this one is done) or you can get a pre-made medallion and cut it into the floor.  Either way, the way this comes to life is by using different types of hardwoods.  The hardwoods are naturally different colors...so even when you refinish it years down the road, you will still have the same effect. Below is an example of a pre-made medallion. These can really make a difference and set your home apart fr...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
Patterned Carpets - Not your grandmother's carpet.  Carpets have really come a long way.  By far, the fastest growing segment is the patterned carpets (or  tone-on-tone carpets - a combo of looped and cut).  I love these carpets because they create visual intrigue without adding lots of color.  This enables you to still add color on the walls, window treatments and pillows. Here are a few examples.  Please note they do come in lighter colors, but these don't photograph well.    Some of my customers prefer geometric designs such as these:     Others like a more abstract look:     The possibilities are endless.  These carpets tend to cost a bit more vs. a solid carpet, but significantly less vs. a carpet with multiple colors or a wool carpet.   View Larger Map
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By Anthony Stokes-Pereira, Realtor
(Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty)
Every season, Anthony Stokes Pereira, Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty collects information about community events throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley for our clients, colleagues, and friends. If you would like to suggest events for inclusion in the summer, fall or winter guides, just email me your event and contact information at anthony.stokespereira@randrealty.com September 19, 26, 10-2 PM, White Plains - Bicycle Sundays. The Bronx River Parkway opens to all bicyclists, skaters, scooters, walkers and joggers. No motorized vehicles. Westchester County Center in White Plains to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers. No dogs allowed. Westchester County Center, Bronx River Parkway. Parking $4 in County Center parking lot. (914) 864-PARK. www.westchestergov.com/parks Anthony Stokes Perei...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
I think it's important to get a  good flooring contractor, and one you can trust.  If you have someone, you or a friend or a trusted colleague knows, you are one step ahead.  Also, a wonderful place to get reliable contractors of any sort is Angieslist.com.  Angies List is an objective site where consumers pick contractors and doctors/dentists solely on the reviews by other members.  You do need to pay a nominal charge to join ($35/yr or $15 for 1 month), but if you're doing a large project, paying a small amount to make sure you get the right contractor is probably the right thing to do.  Angieslist screens ALL the reviews and validates them to make sure they are real.  They also have check points in place that won't allow a customer to review a company more than once within 6 months -...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
There are so many aspects of Active Rain that I love:  1.  I love the SEO. 2.  I love the learning I'm getting (incl understanding realtors better, SEO, marketing ideas, how to blog). 3.  I love the people I've met - some virtually, some live, some over the phone.  This is now my favorite part.  This is where I will focus for this post. Now, here's why the people on Active Rain are so cool.  Actve Rain is on the cutting edge...and, hence, they target and attract those individuals who are also on the cutting edge.  As a general rule, the people here are more in tune w/ their customers, more creative in the marketing and more tech savvy.  Furthermore, they have a passion for LEARNING and SHARING.  It s such a community aspect here.  We all follow the principle of "givers gain."  We share ...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
I thiink you know the one I'm talking about.  No need to mention them by name and give them extra google juice or credit.  It's the one where the cartoon guy rolls out the carpet and lays they hardwood and they repeat that jingle over and over and over again.  You'd have to be living under a rock to not know who I'm talking about! Well currently, they are running a 60% off sale.  Or so it appears.  Now, think about that...60% off.  Does that sound real to you?  If it were true, best case, this would mean that usually, their costs are only 40% and they make a 60% margin - in this scenario they would "break even."  Now, I think we all know better than to think that a company in this category could ever make 60% margin (esp in these times)...and we all know that if they were in fact "break...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
The information  on this post will be  placed as a revision  on my web page for the Broadlawn White Plains. This market update includes the first and second quarters along with an informal update of stats since the end of the second quarter. The Broadlawn – White Plains – Sales History – 2006- Dec 2009*: Coming down from their highs in 2007, where $390k for a renovated 2 BR unit was considered a reasonable price,  prices at the Broadlawn have moderated.   The following chart reflects the sales history of 2 BR units since 2006 and is based on median price.  The choice of median rather than average was based on the fact that some units had undergone extensive renovations while others hadn’t.  This created gyrations in  pricing that didn’t truly reflect the market.  Fully renovated units ...
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By Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers
(The Flooring Girl)
Refinishing Hardwood floors.  When is it time?  Is there an easier way? Refinishing your hardwood is one of the least expensive ways to improve the look of your home as well as give it a whole new look (e.g. if you change the stain color, or if you have hardwood underneath those carpets). To some extent, this is a personal choice as to when you refinish your hardwood floors.  I certainly have customers who are very particular and like their floors in tip top condition; I have others that have let their floors go for 20-30 years, so there is a wide range.  On average, most customers will sand & refinish their floors every 10 yrs or so - potentially sooner if you have a busy household w/ lots of kids and pets running around; potentially longer if you/your kids take your shoes off in the h...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
The Neighborhood of Gedney Farms White Plains NY: Gedney Farms is a beautiful neighborhood with large rolling lawns and ample lot size. It’s a very quiet and private community similar to some of the finer neighborhoods of Scarsdale and Larchmont but without the steep price point. Located in the southern portion of White Plains NY, Gedney Farms is a traditional neighborhood with all the amenities of suburban life. Gedney Farms is mature neighborhood with old growth trees lining the streets and gracing the properties. Since only three homes are allowed per acre, the area offers plenty of privacy and wonderful winding streets that are ideal for walking. Old world charm abounds as many of the homes are from the pre-war period. The Ridgeway Golf Course is the crowning jewel of this neighbor...
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By Ruthmarie Hicks
(Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605)
  This is an update on the status of Jefferson Place - White Plains sales volume and pricing.  For a  link to the full web page on Jefferson Place click here. White Plains NY condos go, Jefferson Place offers a great deal of luxury for  the money. The complex spans on square block between Livingston Ave. and Rutherford Ave. in White Plains, NY with units on 300 Mamaroneck Ave. and 31 Greenridge Ave. Jefferson Place is located a scant half -mile from Trump Tower, the Ritz Carlton and the White Plains City Center.  The city side – facing Mamaroneck Ave. is an eight-story urban mid-rise with a sophisticated brick façade.  While the suburban side on Greenridge Ave blends in with the single family homes that dominate this area.  The flats look like town homes, but are - in reality - walk up ...
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