Need a few last-minute Valentine's Day ideas? FEAR NOT! Check out our latest Pinterest Board that includes all sorts of ideas like...

... this super cute idea! Give your sweetheart a year of pre-planned (and already paid for) dates! Wrap them up accordingly and put them in a box with a cute message!

Check out the whole board for fun filled Valentines Ideas, for you, your Valentine, and the whole family!

 

View the whole board here.

1392 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Today in our Market Updates series, we have some interesting information on why this winter might be the best time to put your house on the market!

The infograph above shows that the months where the most listings come on the market are April, May, and June, (the second quarter of each year).

In the infographic above, we can see that the time of the year that most people put their houses on the market is the Spring. April, May, and June are recorded as the most popular months for houses to be put up for sale. So why should you put yours up for sale NOW?

Because if you wait for the Spring, not only do the number of buyers rise, but the number of sellers rise as well. You suddenly have so much competition, and it could be much harder and take a…

1931 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Our friends at KCM (KeepingCurrentMatters.com) have provided us with yet another amazing infographic, and 5 reasons why you're not doing yourself any favors by listing your home as "For-Sale-By-Owner."

Pictured above is the beautiful infographic from KeepingCurrentMatters.com where they compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of putting your house up as "For Sale By Owner" over using an agent.

1. There Are So Many People To Negotiate With

The buyer, the buyers agent, the buyers bank, the inspection company, the appraiser, and the title company are only some of the people you're going to have to speak to and negotiate with. It's not the ideal situation for someone  who doesn't know much about the industry, and it can also be a…

1950 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Have you been coping with the cold, wind, snow and icy rain that hit the Northeast and especially Staten Island in the last couple of weeks.  Staten Island Chuck predicts 6 more weeks till Spring.  I think I’ll rely on our favorite prognosticator for a brighter, warmer future.  So tell me what you have been doing to entertain your children and/or yourselves?  Did you participate in “Drawing from Memory”?  Did you take your honey dancing at the Old Bermuda Inn or enjoy Super Bowl Sunday?  http://www.gillanihomes.com/blog/weekend-events-on-staten-island-130-21.html.  Did you encounter any angels as I did to help with snow shoveling?  http://www.gillanihomes.com/blog/winter-snow-ice-and-sleet-sno-fun-part-ii.html 

As a youth, my large extended family…

2080 Views, 2 Comments

Read Full Post

Move over Brooklyn and Manhattan, word on the street is that Staten Island is becoming "the next frontier!"  

According to this months issue of Staten Island Business Trends, all of the "exciting, large-scale projects on the horizon for all parts of the island" are putting Staten Island back on the map! Not only are these projects going to relive us of our unfortunate nickname as "The Forgotten Borough," but they're going to bring economic prosperity to our little island in the form of millions.

This photo was taken directly from the NewYorkWheel.org website. It shows what the wheel (and it surroundings) will look like when the project is completed.

The first, and probably most talked about, is The New York Wheel/Empire Outlets project. For…

1696 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Our friends at KeepingCurrentMatters.com, (KCM), have provided us with beautiful infographics that give you 15 reasons why owning a home is a much better choice than renting one! And, millennial's, this is your time!

By owning a home, you invest in yourself, your family, your community, and your future.

When you own your own home, you're part of a community. You'll feel more inspired to lend a helping hand where it's needed to make the community a better place to live for you and your neighbors! 

Owning a home means space for growth. You have enough room to do just about anything, including starting a family!

You get to choose the neighborhood you want your children to grow up in. That includes selecting the appropriate school…

2018 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

According to an article published by the Staten Island Advance today, there has been a recent scamming trend going on involving renters who find their listings online. 

According to this photo found on SILIVE.COM, "an alleged real estate scammer is asking a potential renter to wire a security deposit to his secretary."

There are so many places on the internet where you can find local listings for houses and apartments available for sale/rent. On certain websites, such as Craigslist, natural instinct might tell you to be careful from the jump, checking all facts and sources before agreeing to send anyone any money. But, what if you were getting scammed by a hacker on a reliable real estate website? The Staten Island Advance gave us the scenario:…

1607 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Last week, I was kvetching about shoveling snow and how I was looking for angels to help me clear my sidewalks and driveway.  You will recall how three entrepreneurial New Brighton teenagers were mentioned in a Staten Island Advance article.  Instead of hanging out watching TV or playing video games and being unproductive, these three teens hit the streets and started shoveling.  http://www.gillanihomes.com/blog/winter-and-snowsno-fun.html 

Well, today was another nasty Monday morning that greeted the Northeast with snow and sleet.  I quickly shoveled the sidewalk when I realized that maybe it was not a good idea as the icy rain continued.  Would it become more hazardous to walk on if I shoveled and it continued to rain?  Since my Sweathogs training…

2495 Views, 2 Comments

Read Full Post

These past couple of weeks, we enjoyed, or rather coped with, a number of snow falls.  I don’t mind shoveling 90’ of snow in front of my house and off my sidewalk.  When it’s 90’ of rainy snow, it can be a challenge.  When it’s heavy snow, it can cause back strain.  When I hibernate until it is too late and the snow or rain turns to ice, then I kick myself all the way to fetch the ice chopper and begin to steam—literally! 

One of my issues is the two-car garage and driveway that also has to be shoveled if I am forced to emerge from my warm house to take a listing or two or show properties to my customers.  Then I will either get the snow blower out or shovel.  ‘Sno fun! 

This week, I am very pleased to give a shout-out to three teenagers in my…

2206 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

While I had an absolutely perfect time hanging out with my grandson for four days last week, playing games, putting together puzzles, working on arts and crafts projects, laughing and teasing each other, I welcomed the arrival Saturday morning of my second grandchild--a perfect little girl.  Even the snow fall throughout this week couldn’t put a damper on my spirit!

What did you do last weekend?  Did you check in at your nearest New York Public Library?  Did you go on a nature hike with your children or friends?  Or did you attend the weekly Wine Tasting at Jean’s Fine Wines?  I received a couple of comments about Edith Susskind, her store and her presence on Forest Ave.  Patrick noted:  “Edith Susskind was an Island institution--Forest Ave. has never…

2621 Views, 2 Comments

Read Full Post