Are You Ready to Move Your Home Business to Retail Space?

If you live in New York City, there seems to be an increase in the amount of people taking the leap to become entrepreneurs and business owners. At the same time, you’ll notice that just when you wanted to visit that new shop or restaurant, they've already closed down. Renting space for your business is not something to be taken lightly. Your business plan needs to factor in every expense, have the funds to embark on this investment, and have realistic goals. Most entrepreneurs start working form home, when you are ready for more space to conduct your business, There are three types of spaces to consider:

1. Retail where you are visible on the street

2. Private office space in a building 

3. Communal spaces that you share with other businesses, but serve the purpose of having a meeting point with clients or business partners. 

Prices are different in each neighborhood and vary depending on the class of the building, location, and curb appeal. Here are my top 5 Keys To Succes

1. It’s better to start on a small scale and upgrade if needed, rather than start big and realize you aren’t making the revenue to pay the rent. My job is to stay on top of pricing trends and know the inventory, there have been so many times that I know the rent on a space and I know there’s no way that the product being sold can cover it. 

2. Do your homework and research on similar businesses and if there is any competition where you are setting up. 

3. You're going to need to show the profit your business is making and how much money you have in savings by providing tax returns, bank statements, sometimes a letter of certification from your accountant, as well as, having your credit and background checked. Just when you think you qualify, you may not look like a strong candidate to the landlord and they may ask you for extra months of security deposit and/ or someone else to co-sign and provide more financials. 

4.Once approved and you're negotiating a lease, make sure you get a “good guy clause”. This clause can prevent you from being responsible for the rent of the entire length of the contract if you go under, with the caveat that you will vacate the space to allow the landlord to rent it out. 

5.Pay attention to the yearly increase percentage. Have it explicitly state if real estate taxes and electricity are included or separate. The landlord may not be increasing the rent, but if real estate taxes go up- that may be your monthly responsibility, and they are not cheap. 

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, we offer complimentary consultations.

Email: @luxeurbanlife@nycasagroup.com

Staging for Life

If you’ve made the decision to put your home on the market for sale and want to get top dollar, you’re going to have to put some work and time in before the first open house. We want you to omit the red flags when a buyer walks through the door. There are 2 parts to this- staging and renovations. Staging is the cosmetic look of the space. Making it look clean, organized, and spacious. The goal is for the potential buyers to envision how they would personalize the space. Renovations will be to fix the structural appearance. You’ll want to target cracks in the walls, leaks, leak marks, for example, and anything that is going to appear to be work and an expense for the buyer. We want to limit the punch list of items the buyer will find to try and negotiate the price down.

These are the benefits of staging:

• Professionally staged homes present and show better than competing houses for sale, including new construction homes and higher priced houses.

• Staged properties will sell faster when compared with houses that have not been staged. From the date of listing until the day of closing, home staging shortens this time frame, even in a slow real estate market.

• Staged homes typically sell for more money.

• Buyers view staged listings as “well maintained”.

• Buyers’ agents recognize that professionally staged listings are “move in” ready and are inclined to show staged properties.

• Photos of professionally staged listings look better in print and web media.

• Professionally staged listings “stand out” in prospective buyers minds.

• Staging, usually, addresses repairs and upgrades that are needed to get the property into an appropriate condition in order to sell.

• Staging gives buyers peace of mind knowing that any potential issues have been addressed in addition staging also shows buyers the properties true potential.

• Buyers often do not have the funds to move into a property and come up with more money to address repairs, painting, etc. Buyers have come to realize and appreciate the benefits of purchasing a staged property.

When you list your home for sale with us, NY Casa Group, we include the staging/renovation consultation with a member of our team. Your home will fall into one of these categories:

• The recommendations can be addressed and completed by you because there are minor changes to be made.

• The recommendations can partially be addressed by you. When you’ve completed your tasks, we will return to rearrange your furniture and add accent pieces, if necessary.

• There will be assistance required from a third party to renovate, who we will work closely with to ensure that our vision will be attained. When work is completed we come in to arrange furniture and add accent pieces.

If we make suggestions to paint or refurbish cabinets, floors, replace fixtures/appliances, or purchase furniture, we will guide you thru the entire process when bringing in a third party painter, contractor, or handyman. We will choose colors, brands, and styles that fit within your budget.

When the staging process is completed we will have the home professionally photographed.
We will book the photographer and be present during the shoot. We preview the shots during the session so we can make any changes or request specific angles. We want the final product to intrigue potential buyers!

You can find before and after pictures here on our website:

http://www.luxeurbanlife.com/staging/

If you have any questions or would like to request a complimentary consultation, contact us at luxeurbanlife@nycasagroup.com

Homage to Hamilton

If you are a Broadway fan, have been online, watch television, or listen to music, you probably know by now that the musical Hamilton is the show you need to see. It’s been seen by the President and First Lady twice. Oprah, Rosey O'Donnell, Selena Gomez, Sia, and countless others are raving about it! The soundtrack is #1 on the Billboard rap chart. Tickets are sold out until next year and if you don’t hurry, that wait may be until 2017.

We have followed the success and impact of this production because Chris Jackson, who plays George Washington is the husband of our team member, Veronica. They met in the Spring of 2003 in the early workshops of Lin Manuel Miranda's first Broadway hit, In the Heights. She is a recording artist who hit Billboard dance charts at #1 with her hits "Release Me" and "I'm in Love". She also had hits featuring Big Pun ("Someone To Hold") and Fat Joe ("Rise") and had toured nationally portraying Selena in the musical honoring her life. This may have led to a career on Broadway, but love and life, had a bigger plan for her- becoming a mother. Once her life shifted, there was an attraction to real estate and helping people that drew her to becoming an agent.

Chris dedicated himself to making their dreams a reality. In the Heights ran for 3 years. He then recorded his own album, In The Name Of Love. He has also been writing for Sesame Street since 2008 and has written songs for Usher, LL Cool J, been nominated 6 times and won an Emmy for "What I Am" performed by Will.I.Am.

Veronica embarked on this new journey with NY Casa Group at the same time Chris and their friends were rehearsing for Hamilton. It was playing Downtown, but quickly got buzz. Before they knew it, it was heading for Broadway. These actors are working six days a week, doing 8 shows within those 6 days. They have trouble finding time to do routine things, such as, grocery shopping and laundry. And now they are going to have to find a home to stay in NYC. She knew first hand the limited amount of time they had. She used a broker prior to being an agent because she required professional guidance to find a place quickly and didn't have much time to do so. Who better to help them than this NYC born and raised talent.  She's an actor's dream agent because she understands all aspects of the experience.

When we think about who uses our real estate services, a large portion of people need a real estate agent because they don't have time to dedicate to the task. They can't spend countless hours online and viewing units around the city. With us, they give us their criteria and we show them the best units that match their criteria within a couple of hours. We’ll give you the list of necessary documents to apply. (Because in this city, timing is everything and you don't want to lose your dream apartment to someone that was better prepared). Appointments are scheduled for the best units within a couple of hours.

Veronica was able to represent many of Hamilton’s actors find their new apartments. She says "I feel so blessed to work with these amazing clients that have become dear friends. It's been a blast to watch this show explode the way it has!! Couldn't have happened to better people. I'm looking forward to helping them shop for homes in the future".

We are so very proud of this power couple, Veronica and Chris, and the entire Hamilton Cast! Veronica is our singing real estate agent who accomplishes all her client's goals. The Hamilton cast are breaking barriers and changing the look and sound of Broadway. It’s an incredible piece of work that must be seen!! The picture above was at opening night- Christopher Jackson (top left), Veronica Vazquez Jackson (top right), with Ariana DeBose (bottom left) and Andrew Chapelle (bottom right) ensemble.

If you'd like to work with Veronica or have any real estate questions, please send us an email at luxeurbanlife@nycasagroup.com

Top 5 Reasons Renters Need a Real Estate Agent

Our job as Real Estate professionals is to inform, educate, and assist clients with renting, buying, selling, or investing in the best property that matches their needs.

Renters can benefit from using a Real Estate Agent in NYC. Overall we all live a busy and hectic life, and don't have the extra hours to spend searching and visiting apartments that may not meet your needs. People are constantly moving in and out of neighborhoods, and renters are always trying to find the gem of deals.

The Top 5 Reason Renters Need a Real Estate Agent:

• Inventory - A good agent knows their inventory inside and out, especially off market listings that can't be found online. This comes from building relationships with landlords and supers. You as a customer want someone that knows the inventory because the rental market moves at an unpredictable rate. Constantly, units are pulled, reduced, or rented within hours, if not minutes. Finding a Real Estate professional is key to cutting your time in half, choose someone that is pro.                                                                   
• Specializes in an area / market - You as a customer want to always pick someone that specializes in the area that you want to live. For example, I can tell you every historical detail, grocery store, events, bars, restaurants, train lines and more. Your agent must be an expert navigator and tour guide. Our job is to inform and educate you on the neighborhood of your choice. If you want to live in TriBeCa, choose an agent that focuses on that area.
• Negotiation - Everyone believes that they are an expert negotiator, but frankly you're not. Remember that everything in Real Estate is negotiable. A professional agent knows how to negotiate in terms of rent, lease date, move in date, security deposit, and brokers fee. Also, agents deal with the same buildings everyday and have relationships with the management companies. You might not think its a big deal but when you save $1200 dollars a year on rent, it makes life a whole lot easier.
• Interest - Real Estate agents sometimes get a bad representation because of the few horrible brokers out there. An agent should always be looking out for your best interest. We navigate our clients to the properties that will work for them and never push a sale. Our firm provides a service of excellence to our clients and focus' on putting you into the best property that matches your criteria.
• Time - You as a customer can spend hours looking online for listings and making hundreds of phone calls. We're in the business of saving you time and money on your Real Estate needs. The same way that you use a mechanic to fix your car. You're not obligated to use a mechanic, but its makes your life easier knowing that a professional is fixing your car, this is the same rational for using a Real Estate agent.

If you have any questions, require more information, or would like to schedule a complimentary consultation, please email us at luxeurbanlife@nycasagroup.com