Tom Crimmins Realty Blog

Red Flags When House Hunting

From the sales price to the general layout of the home, there are numerous factors that home buyers will consider when touring homes. However, with good comes some bad. These are top warning signs for home buyers.

Signs Of Poor Home Maintenance

Most homes are going to have some signs of wear and tear, unless they are new construction. However, it is also reasonable to expect that sellers have taken the time to improve the property before listing. When a home appears to be in poor condition on a superficial level, buyers should consider what non visible parts of the home have also been poorly maintained too.

A Foul Odor

It is common for sellers to try to make their home smell appealing, and go crazy on the Febreze. But buyers should question…

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September 2015 Staten Island Real Estate Market Recap

If you haven't read or heard before, now is the time to buy! Below are inventory reports for September 2014 and September 2015, as well as comparisons. It is evident that much has improve this past year.

Comparing September 2015 to last year's month, Staten Island's real estate market had a healthy increase in sale sides from 306 to 373.

The monthly and average sales of September 2015 has a remarkable increase from last year's numbers. 

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Staten Island Mental Health Society Kicks Off School Reading Program

It's not uncommon that you'll see one of our agents in the news. Victoria Droumbakis is gala Chairperson for the Staten Island Mental Health Society (SIMHS). 

This week the SIMHS held a breakfast at LiGreci's Staaten to celebrate this year's School Reading Volunteer program. 

"The reading program has over 200 volunteers, spread across 25 Staten Island elementary schools....Each volunteer received three books of various reading levels to bring with them when they begin visiting schools."

What separates this program from others is it's one-on-one attention between volunteer and child.

Victoria has said, "Getting involved in my community is something that I think is very important, I try to give back wherever I can. As a board member of the…

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The Staten Island Health & Wellness Expo Welcome Tobacco-Free Staten Island

Yesterday, October 1st, one of our agents, Francine Gilberto, attended the Staten Island Health and Wellness Expo at the Hilton Garden Inn. where the Jewish Community Center (JCC) announced Tobacco Free Staten Island. The TFSI is dedicated to promote a healthy, tobacco-free norm where Staten Islanders live, work and play. JCC also has been the home to Reality Check for almost 15 years; Reality Check meets weekly and "is a teen-led adult supported program working across New York State. Youth are equipped with the knowledge to combat the industry and take a stance on issues concerning them."

The TFSI and Reality Check have 4 aspects in which they are taking action in: Point of Sale, Tobacco-Free Outdoors, Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing and Smoke Free…

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The Other Forgotten Islands

Hoffman Island, Staten Island // courtesy: meadowblog.com

So you were walking the FDR Boardwalk this summer and always wondered what rested between us and Brooklyn. There are two artificial islands called Hoffman Island and Swinburne Island that rest undisturbed in the Lower New York Bay. The National Park Service currently manages both Islands for Gateway National Recreation Area.

In the 1870s, Hoffman and Swinburne were constructed from landfill, and designated as quarantine quarters for arriving immigrants who suffered from contagious diseases. Concrete walls served as barricades around island to prevent any epidemic from occuring. 

When WW1 occurred and the United States passed the Immigration Act in 1923, the number of immigrants decreased.…

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Useful Apps to Download Before Your Home Renovation

Technology is constantly changing, new apps are being created daily, and there's always a new update on your phone's software.  

Here are some up-to-date apps you can download that will get you through your next home renovation project:

ColorSnap: Remember those websites and games that used to show you what you would look like when different hairstyles? Well this app shows what your room will look like with a different paint job. "Capture color inspiration whenever—and wherever—it strikes. With ColorSnap®Visualizer from Sherwin-Williams, you have the power to take real-world colors and turn them into paint-color swatches—all on your smartphone." You can also upload a picture and the app will pick up on color schemes so you can match your living room…

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Know When to Flip and When to Walk Away

Whether you are buying a new house, or currently the homeowner and looking for a new take, it's always good to look at the bigger picture before you lay down the cash. There are buyers who will purchase a house to flip and sell again at a higher value, and then there are homeowners who renovate to list with a bigger number. Before you become either one of these, ask yourself: Is it worth it? If yes, what is the best financial way to?

Step 1: Research. Look into the pricing and benefits of renovating the room in mind. If you are a buyer looking to flip, research the neighborhood. Although you can have a great price in a least favorite neighborhood, doesn't mean it's the best investment. You may have difficulty reselling quickly despite your thousands of…

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Staten Island Finally Gets the Dine-In Experience...and More

Are you tired of having to pay the toll to New Jersey to go to Menlo's AMC Dine-In Theater? Well, hopefully you won't have to anymore! Staten Island is on the up and up with new attractions from studio lots, to the Empire Outlets, and now - crossing fingers - AMC Dine-In Theater. Back in May 2013, silive reported an online survey of Staten Islanders expressing the interest in having our very own dine-in. 

Staten Island's Continuing Expansion

Ken Paulsen wrote, "although the survey references only AMC's unique dine-in offerings and brandings, the AMC spokesman, Ryan Noonan, said his company is not behind it. He did allow that the company is exploring setting up a dine-in movie house here, but nothing beyond that."

Remember, that this is back in…

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July 2015 Staten Island Real Estate Market Recap

It has been another year of big changes in Staten Island's real estate market. Here are the statistics that prove this!

In 2014, 324 properties were sold in the month of July. This year, homes sold in July increased to 349.

This chart shows that the average sale price of a house in Staten Island also had a healthy increase: from $447,357 in July of 2014 to $452,568 in July of 2015.

In conclusion, the real estate market has grown since July of…

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Selling Your Home? 3 Reasons Why You May Need to Accept a Bid That's Below Your Asking Price

When a homeowner makes the decision to sell his or her property, it is most common for a skilled real estate professional to provide valuation services so that a reasonable asking price can be established. While the asking price may seem fair to the homeowner, the fact is that not all properties will sell at the original asking price. There are several instances when a homeowner may need to consider accepting a bid that is below the asking price.

When The Property Has Been On The Market For A While

Most homeowners will learn about the average listing time for similar properties in the market through their real estate agent, but some homes will remain on the market for longer than average. When this happens, a homeowner may begin to get concerned,…

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