Jun 03 2010
How We Managed to Get Our Apartment Owners to Pay For Our Apartment’s Renovations
I love living in New York! I get to live in a neighborhood almost as old as America itself. It’s the kind of ‘hood that’s fading away with the Yuppies’ penchant with knocking down buildings and putting up condos. It’s the kind of place where people nod at each other, sometimes even know each others’ names. I’m also blessed to be situated in an old brick walk-up, probably almost a century old. It’s a shame, but these places with “age character” also come with some inherent problems with their age. No elevator, drafty windows (and walls), shaky steps.
The apartment complex was broken-down when I first arrived in the city. Vestibules scented of bum urine, doors without locks, and my bedroom had some disappointing attributes. Nothing looked “nice.” Thank God, my Super realized that renovating everything would be worthwhile in the long run. We worked out a way to “pay” him by my paying for renovations, and we were on the way! First step is to find your New York restoration construction company.
As the people in charge of our New York restoration, corporations were hard to choose. We were forced to look around for a NYC Restoration Corporation and select the one we thought was best. Then, we drew up plans, worked out a budget, and got approval from the Super. Finally, everyone signed off on a contract, and away we went!
Sure, it was noisy. It was kind of a pain in the butt, honestly. But the transformation was incredible! When you suddenly see that stupid wall knocked down for the first time – the wall that’s inexplicably cutting off access from the living room – you’ll be overjoyed. Our New York restoration company fixed up the bathroom and the kitchen, then moved on throughout the apartment. We had real electric plugs! The kind where you don’t have to buy 16 adapters just to plug in your laptop!
I can’t tell you how great it is to be able to live in a neighborhood and building like ours AND have the joys and benefits of a modern condo! It’s amazing. I’m the envy of all my friends. Every time I fretted about having a contractor in my house, first thing in the morning, I look over at the new kitchen/living room area that knocking down a stupid wall added. Now I can have wine with my friends and watch a movie, or have a dinner party for more than say… the maximum of maybe 3 people who could fit in my apartment, before the renovation.
I won’t go on to recommend one New York renovation company over another, but I will say that doing your research is important and valuable. Try looking up online all the various New York restoration corporations who’re available, and read reviews on Yelp or Google. Make sure you get everything on paper, and make darn sure your landlord’s got his signature on everything, too.
I don’t know if our situation was unique, but we couldn’t be more happy with our apartment, the way we were treated by our york restoration corporation, or how quickly everything came together. Before you dismiss this out of hand because someone else owns the property, remember: you have to pay someone for the right to live where you live. Why not pay the guy who’s going to make your apartment into a living dream? Our York restoration construction was a dream come true. For me, and probably for you, too, it’s well worth the headache.
Lefty is based in New York City and spends his time with construction york restoration, doing whatever possible to make his apartment more beautiful and livable day in and out. He plays softball in the summer and enjoys fishing when out of the city.