Tag: apartments in nyc

Your Complete Guide to Home Hunting With a Disability

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When you’re looking at real estate listings in your area, it can feel like you’ll never find a property that checks all of your boxes, and if you need an accessible home, the process can feel downright discouraging. With so few homes on the market designed for people with disabilities, it’s harder to find a place to settle down.

 

People seeking accessible homes may need to take some additional steps if they want to close on a property. Here’s how to find a home that you can modify with accessibility in mind.

 

Getting Started

 

No matter what your needs are, the first steps of the home-buying process generally look similar for everyone. You’ll need to figure out how much money you can put down and how much you can afford to spend on monthly payments, and you should get pre-approved for a mortgage. If you need down payment assistance, see if your local or state housing authority offers special loans, grants, and tax credits. You will also want to budget for your future remodeling projects, so spend some time researching contractors’ rates in your area.

 

Viewing Homes

 

You’ll need a real estate agent who has helped previous clients find accessible homes and apartments. An agent who understands your needs can help you find open houses that are worth your time to attend.

 

Trying to sort through local listings on your own can be exhausting, but your agent will assist you as you narrow down your search! You should prioritize attending open houses at homes and apartments with spacious interiors. This will give you plenty of space for the fixtures you need.

 

Install New Flooring

 

If you choose to purchase a home with carpet, you should have hardwood floors installed before any other renovations. People using mobility aids are generally more comfortable in homes with hardwood floors, and they require less cleaning and maintenance than carpets.

 

Furniture removal, subfloor repairs, and flooring disposal will add to the cost of installation. Wood type will impact costs as well, with luxury woods being considerably more expensive. However, spending more on this project could pay off in the long run, since homes with hardwood floors generally have higher property values.

 

Design Your Bedroom

 

Once you have hardwood floors installed, you’ll probably want to modify your bedroom so that it becomes a space where you can feel safe and fully relaxed. If you use a mobility aid, there is a good chance you will need to hire contractors to widen the doorways (usually costs $300 – $800) to your bedroom and add a walk-in closet so that you can easily enter and exit. Depending on your needs, you may need to purchase an adjustable bed with fixtures like bed rails or ceiling lifts.

 

Kitchen and Bathroom Modifications

 

In both your kitchen and bathroom, you’ll want to ensure that you have adequate lighting so that you can move around safely. These rooms can present fall risks for people with disabilities, but proper lighting can help mitigate those risks. You will likely want to lower certain fixtures and appliances as well. Finally, make sure that you can easily reach any storage spaces. You can construct these rooms so that you’re able to access everything you need!

 

Many people with disabilities assume that homeownership is out of reach. However, this is not the case, and you do not have to give up on this important goal. You may not find the perfect home on the market, but working with the right real estate agent will help you buy a home that you can remodel to accommodate your needs.

 

Photo Source: Unsplash

Written by: Patrick Young | Ableusa.info | patrickyoung@ableusa.info

For: Metropolis Apartments | Contact us for for all your real estate needs | info@metropolisapts.com

Revive Your Bed and Bath with These Simple Changes

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A little home refresh can go a long way. If you’re feeling uninspired with your bed and bath, you’re not feeling a sense of tranquility or peace, and you don’t look forward to the sweet oasis at the end of your day, then it’s a wonderful time to do a little update. Sprucing up your bed and bath doesn’t mean a full remodel. All it means is bringing some new life to the rooms by making little changes here and there. Here are some ideas to get you started on your refresh:

 

Operation Declutter

Before you bring in the new, take an assessment of what you have, what you need and what you can get rid of. As Verywell Mind explains, clutter can cause stress. If that’s not tackled first, it can cause you to become overwhelmed and block your vision for creating a welcoming and relaxing space. Declutter by removing any and all items that you don’t use, don’t need, or are broken.

 

Apartments in New York tend to be limited on storage space. If there are items you don’t need or use but you can’t bear to part with them, they don’t need to be hanging around and getting in the way. Just rent a storage unit, but to avoid the high storage unit costs you can encounter in New York, spend some time searching for deals. For example, SelfStorage notes Manhattan Mini Storage (Lower East Side, South St.) offers a 20% discount for the first five months with a five-month lease agreement. In addition to this great deal, you also get free moving services when you reserve online.

 

Simple, Significant Updates

You don’t need all new furniture, paint, flooring, and fixtures to make a bedroom or bathroom look refreshed. Simply updating bed linens can make the bedroom feel brand-new, lighten the space, and create warmth where it was missing. Soft color schemes, neutrals mixed with color, added texture, and layering in bed linens will provide a welcoming space at the end of the day.

 

A dull bathroom is uninviting. Why would you want an uninviting bathroom when you start and end your day by getting ready in there? If you find your bathroom is in need of a refresh, consider updating the following:

  • Lighting
  • Color of towels
  • Softness of towels
  • Shelves
  • Hooks
  • Soaps

 

A Spark of Pizzazz

Any space can be transformed by adding some new art and decor. If the room is missing a touch of natural elements, color or creativity, consider these tips:

  • Bring in some fresh or faux plants or flowers.
  • Introduce some art you love.
  • Add mirrors to open up space.
  • Use wood pieces as accents to tabletops or shelves.
  • Swap out lamp shades.
  • Transform the bed with new decorative pillows.
  • Add some new seating to a corner of the bedroom or to the vanity in the bathroom.
  • Incorporate various textures and shapes.
  • Highlight antique pieces that are personal.

 

Change of Paint

An inexpensive, easy update to any room is a simple change in the wall color. Many landlords will let you paint, so long as you return the walls to the original color upon moving out; or if they like what the color choice does to the rental space, they may ask you to leave it. Bedrooms and bathrooms can automatically be made into a relaxing, welcoming space by painting the walls a shade of green, blue, or gray. Dark spaces can be made light and large spaces can be made cozy with one simple can of paint.

 

A full remodel is not necessary to revive your bed and bath. Start by decluttering and storing items you don’t need. Then, add in new linens, lighting, accents, art, and decor. If you want an easy but drastic change, consider changing the wall colors. In no time, you will be relaxing in your revamped bed and bath.

 

Image via Unsplash

Written by: Erin Reynolds of diymama.net | erin@diymama.net

For: Metropolis Apartments | Contact us for for all your real estate needs | info@metropolisapts.com

Downsizing During Retirement? Avoid These Stressful Mistakes

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Think you’re ready to downsize your home? If you haven’t taken the time to plan properly, you could end up making quite a few mistakes. Downsizing can be a complicated and stressful process, and mishaps can make it worse for seniors. So before you start planning your downsizing move, make sure you can avoid these common missteps.

Not Weighing Pros and Cons of Downsizing

Before you start working on any other downsizing step, you need to decide whether downsizing is right for you. Ask yourself some serious questions to make an informed decision, and be sure to weigh any risks against possible benefits. For example, you could sell your home to buy a smaller one, but you may also need to adjust your profit expectations to account for selling expenses. Those expenses can include, but are not limited to, agent commissions, repair costs and staging fees (which average $2,300 to $3,200 nationally) to help your home sell. Of course, you can also save on utilities and rent or a mortgage with a smaller home or apartment, which may outweigh any potential profit losses from selling your old home.

Not Researching Assisted Living Options

Assisted living can be a scary prospect for many seniors, but it really shouldn’t be. This housing option provides seniors with the extra care they need without any major sacrifices in life quality or independence. So before you put a lot of time and effort into finding a smaller home, think about whether local assisted living may be a better fit for your golden years. With the expenses for assisted living centers in New York City ranging from $1,500 to $17,250 per month, you will want to tour facilities and look for a community that can provide your preferred level of care without any excess costs. While cost shouldn’t be your primary consideration, knowing this information can help you plan for expenses more efficiently.

Not Creating a Financial Plan for Retirement

Saving for retirement is a smart move for adults of all ages, but too many people fail to address two questions when creating their financial plan. In order to enjoy the years ahead and afford your downsizing move, you need to know what age you plan to retire (many people aim for 65, but this doesn’t always happen) and whether you will continue to work during retirement. Answering these two questions will allow seniors to plan out their expenses and adjust spending to cover potential downsizing costs, such as new furniture or storage fees.

Not Asking for Help From Experienced Pros

If you have decided to downsize your home, and know you can afford it, then you need to seek out the right professionals to guide you through the process. Before you make any major financial decisions around retirement, you may want the expert advice of a financial planner. In a single consultation, you should be able to figure out whether retiring and downsizing makes financial sense, and how to begin living off of your retirement savings without major sacrifices. Once you have your finances squared away, reach out to an experienced realtor, who can take the stress out of searching for a smaller home and also help you navigate the homebuying process.

Not Beginning Moving Tasks Early Enough

There’s a lot to think about when planning a move, which means the chances for missing important details is pretty high. To avoid this mistake, take care to create a moving checklist that includes minor tasks, like changing your address, as well as major undertakings, like decluttering your belongings. Decluttering can be especially challenging for older adults, so allow yourself enough time to process related changes and emotions. Look online for decluttering tips to make the work a little easier, and don’t be too shy to ask close friends, family members or neighbors to help you, if needed.

Managing a move can be stressful for anyone, including seniors looking to downsize. Make sure your plan will help you avoid common downsizing mistakes, like the ones mentioned above, so you can avoid additional stress and start enjoying your retirement sooner.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Written by: Suzie Wilson ⎸info@happierhome.net ⎸Happier Home

For: Metropolis Apartments | Contact us for for all your real estate needs.

Buyer Broker in New York City

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As a Buyer Broker in New York City Metropolis Apartments will assist our buyer/customers in all aspects of the search and closing aspects of acquiring a property in New York.

As a member of the Real Estate brokerage community for over two decades we are an integral part of a network of over 200 member brokerage companies with thousands of listing agents in New York City, all of whom enjoy mutual co-brokering agreements with METROPOLIS.

Specializing as a Buyer Broker in New York City, the METROPOLIS agent will leave no stone un-turned, tapping data bases and contacts for both off-market and on-market properties. Our goal is to present to our buyer/customers a wide range of potential properties so that an informed choice may be made.

A Listing Broker represents the sellers’ interests. The buyer needs to have knowledgeable and dedicated representation to be sure to get the right property at the right price, without paying too much for the incidentals of the deal.

As Buyer Broker in New York City we our dedicated service includes advice and consultation in the following areas:

  • Whether to buy CO-OP or CONDO.
  • Budget evaluation.
  • Building financials.
  • Attorney referrals.
  • Mortgage Broker referrals.
  • Infrastructure analysis of potential neighborhoods.
  • Negotiation of the deal including price, conditions, improvements, etc.
  • Terms of Sales Contract.
  • Board package preparation, completion and submission.
  • Board interview preparation.
  • Coordination and follow up of all parties to the transaction.
  • Setting of closing date and venue.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO GET YOU THE BEST PROPERTY AT THE BEST PRICE IN THE SHORTEST TIME POSSIBLE.

Metropolis Apartments is a Buyer Broker in New York City.

METROPOLIS APARTMENTS is a Full Service
Real Estate Brokerage offering all
the traditional services of a
Buyer, Seller and Rental Broker.
Our clients enjoy the synergistic
confluence of experience and technology.
COME DREAM WITH US.

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