Tom Crimmins Realty Blog

Renter Helpful Checklist Part 1

There are many common mistakes renters make while apartment hunting. We broke down a checklist for potential rents into two parts.

1. Potential renter should check past recent utility bills. Inquire about how will home is insulated. Remember heat rises. Are you on the first floor and helping heat the second floor? Are windows new or are you losing heat?
2. Did you buy a cup of coffee and stake out the block and area? Did you do this on different days and different times? Is parking an issue? Try to get away with leaving a small depost to stall for some time and stand watch.
3. DId you meet yout neighbors? Don't be afraid to ring a few doorbells. Introduce yourself. Ask questions. Make a list of questions that are important to you.
4. Do you have easy…

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Westerleigh Improvement Society Kicks Off The Holidays With Their Christmas Party

Owners Suzanne and Tom Crimmins joins Council Member Steven Matteo, a few of our agents and guests to celebrate the holidays at the Immanuel Union Church with the Westerleigh Improvement Society

Our friends, the Westerleigh Improvement Society, hosted their annual Christmas Party at the Immanuel Union Church. Council Member Steve Matteo was in attendance, who is a fellow Westerleigh residence.

As most of you may know, the Westerleigh Improvement Society aims to address concerns in the community and preserve the beauty of Westerleigh through ongoing projects. Some of their successful projects this year consisted of: a street survey regarding “street pavement conditions, street signs and painted lineage”, “land use” and rezoning the…

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Realtors to the Heroes Toy Drive

On December 4th 2014, the team Realtors to the Heroes of Tom Crimmins Realty held its annual toy drive. This year, the special event was held at Flanagan’s Tavern. Flanagan’s is located on Amboy Road in the Great Kills section of Staten Island.

Tom Crimmins Realty recently opened its second office, located at 282 Nelson Ave in the Great Kills area of Staten Island. We strive to not only provide excellent service to our clients, but to give back to our communities. This year’s Realtor to the Heroes toy drive is for the Police Officer Rocco Laurie Foundation. The foundation has annual scholarships for junior high school students and participates in outreach endeavors.

The event held at Flanagan’s garnered hundreds of toys, mostly donated by active &…

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DIY: How to Keep Heat Inside & Ideas to Insulate Your Windows

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 10% of air leaks out of the average house through the windows. Also, Energy Star estimated homeowners could save an annual 7-15% on their energy bills by replacing their own windows with more efficient models.

If you live in an old home, it might not be possible to replace all of the windows in your home. But there are still come inexpensive ways to insulate your windows.

Apply Rubber Weather Sealing

You'll be able to find some inexpensive strips of rubber weather sealing that is self adhesive at your local hardware store. You can cut a long strip down to fit your window and then peel it off and stick it to the frame in order to close gaps and keep out drafts. This is a cheap solution, but it can be…

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Should You Still List During the Holiday Season?

Holiday season is here and sellers have numerous real estate questions on their minds. Should I keep my property on the market? Should I list now or after the holidays? When is the best time to list?

It was originally thought that listing your property during the holidays was not the wise decision. However, with the Internet and potential buyers constantly on their phones, this forces the old logic to hold off until after the holidays out the window. Zillow said it best, "As a result of the Internet, our hectic schedules and mobile lifestyles, the fall months are no longer a real estate dead zone...There’s plenty of action happening after Labor Day through Christmas. The reality is, the home buying season is now year-round."

Today's serious buyers…

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Celebrating 50 Years of Verrazano-Narrows

50 years ago today, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge became the first pathway from Staten Island to Brooklyn and visa versa.

"When the Verrazano opened to traffic on November 21, 1964, it was the longest cable suspension bridge in the world, edging out its West Coast rival, the Golden Gate Bridge, by a mere 60 feet. Today it remains the longest in the United States, spanning 9,865 feet. The Verrazano remains the major commuting artery connecting Staten Island to the rest of New York City, carrying nearly 200,000 drivers each day." (x)

Embrace the Culture

Historic Richmond Town will be hosting the exhibit, "Spanning the Narrows for Five Decade." The exhibit has been open since mid-August at the Staten Island Historical Society and will continue to run…

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October 2014 Staten Island Real Estate Market Recap

We are continuing our fall season in the Staten Island real estate, and below is October 2013 and October 2014 Staten Island real estate report. 

The fall season started with 298 monthly sale sides last month in September; Staten Island finished October 2014 with 313 monthly sale sides. 

There has been a great improvement in Staten Island's real estate market from October 2013 to October 2014. There has been more monthly sales and an almost…

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Time to Give: Tom Crimmins Realty Toy Drive 2014

Although it seems too early to start preparing for Christmas, it is soon upon us!

We have started our Toy Drive and are asking for any donations. The past toy drives were sponsored by the CYO. Last drive produced over 500 toys and were distributed mainly to the community. Majority of the toys were given to an afterschool program, Physical Fitness and Wellness Program, and children in Port Richmond.

This year, all toys will go to the CYO for further distribution to various needy organizations.

Tom Crimmins Realty will be accepting donations, you can drop off toys at our 304 Manor Road office in Westerleigh. 

Please share with family and friends!

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Put An End To Pests Without Using Harsh Chemicals

As the weather starts to turn a little colder and your yard goes into hibernation, the pests that used to live outdoors will want to take up residence in your warm, cozy home. Getting bugs out of your home is not only a headache, but also means that you’ll be spraying a variety of chemicals throughout your home.

Pesticides Can Be As Bad As Pests

Conventional pesticides usually get the job done, but they have been shown to negatively affect people and their pets. Children are especially sensitive to the chemicals as their organs, nervous and immune systems are still developing. Moral of the story, the fewer harsh chemicals you use, the better for your health.

Most Professionals Have Natural Options

Many professional pest control companies have…

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Another Successful & Fun Spooktacular At The Staten Island Zoo

Yet another year of sold out Spooktacular fun at the Staten Island Zoo this past weekend. The jungle exhibit was turned into a Frozen theme attraction and the safari exhibit became the ever popular haunted house. Other attractions included: Zoo Family Feud, sit down show for the Wizard of Oz, a walk through Candy Land and a "Transylvania's Got Talent" show.

Tom Delese, a former toy and industrial designer, as well as retail advertising account executive at Staten Island Advance, is the mastermind behind the Souvenir Family Portrait Booth. Tom Carnesecchi, a fellow colleague of Delese's from Staten Island Advance, assisted in building the family oriented booth. The same backdrop and decorations have been used since the first year - back in 2004.

…

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