Sale at 173 Duane Street #3AB

Hmm. I don't know exactly what you are complaining about. This is one of the more "factual" descriptions I've seen. Obviously "beautifully renovated" is subjective, and I agree that those aren't the words I would choose, but the rest of the description is fine. As you say, it's priced at a lower than average ppsf and that probably has much to do with the finish of the building itself. It's a nice place in a great neighborhood, so I don't think anyone should "be ashamed". If you saw the photos before you saw the apartment, you were certainly warned.

I smell a broker. You miss my point. I saw the apartment when it was listed before & it did not say "beautifully renovated" so I'm not complaining on my behalf, but on behalf of people who might waste their time looking for an ACTUAL beautifully renovated apartment. Some people don't mind a fixer upper & some want mint & I think Sotheby's description is way off mark. The place is tacky & that's that. I don't like wasting time so I'm trying to give people the heads up. Great location. So-so building. Great potential for the apartment (it is a great shell) if you want to spend some major cash. Move-in-condition? I doubt it for anybody who's willing to spend 3+M.

Do you smell a broker every time someone disagrees with you on streeteasy? In any case, I'm not.

Our view of this particular apartment is probably not dissimilar. The second listing said something different than the first because the first did not sell. My point is simply that beautiful vs tacky vs fix-it-upper are really very very subjective. I see descriptions all the time with lies...inflated square footage, bedroom numbers that reflect what they would be if the existing rooms were converted into more rooms, outdoor space that turns out not to be private, sun shine that doesn't, etc. While I don't like this apartment, I doubt seriously that a majority of those who see it think of it as "a shell". I'm sure many would be quite happy with it as-is. Bottom line: not deserving much outrage.

I live very near a new development building where almost all apartments are more than $2.5 million. I have a direct view of at least 10 units which were recently occupied for the first time. I think you would be quite surprised to see how they are finished/decorated. There are maybe two that would be remotely interesting.

What do you think about it as a rental?

RV: OK, OK... I get it. I guess I'm not as much outraged as I am very very suspicious of RE brokers at this time. I already saw the apartment and passed on it quickly since I'd need to sink so much $ into renovating it, so it isn't even about me. I just got a Streeteasy update on this one since it was on my list & when I saw they'd written "beautifully renovated" I got in a twist.
Subjective or not, I'd still love to know what's up with that shower viewing window.

Mingin: As a rental it could work if you could get a good deal & if you like it as-is. Are they offering it as a rental? I wouldn't pay more than 9,000. at this point in the market, though my guess is they'd try to get at least 13 (I'm not sure when the landlords/sellers/brokers are going to realize that buyers/renters have figured out that is their market).

I saw it about six months ago. The place needs a gut renovation - they should be upfront about that - the bathrooms are disgusting. Kind of funny to me that the new broker listed it for the same price. The building only allows one year of renting.

are you sure that the building only allows a one year rental? how can i confirm this?

That's what I was told by the former broker when I asked. You can ask the current broker.

I see nothing wrong with that place. It's not as bad as you say and there are no pics of the bath so I don't know what you're saying about the windows. What is "tacky" about it? I am not nor ever will be a broker btw.

Took me 3 seconds to find out the worst part about this place. Not the decor. No windows in the master bedroom. I would have to swap location of master bedroom with kitchen, maybe a 200k job, no more - there is plumbing in the master bath.

Ditto. The interior master bedroom is definitely the worst part of the place. Great location and nice building. Two other baths are next to each other, 2nd & 3rd bedrooms are mediocre at best.

Things wrong with this apt:

1) 9' ceilings - they feel really low when an apt is as large as this one is - in this price range in Tribeca I want 10'+.

2) Apt needs gut renovation - period end. The bathrooms are beyond disgusting. The master bath is borderline scary - there's a window in the shower that looks out over the master bed. The two small bedrooms are exactly that - small - so the basically the entire floorplan needs to be reworked to get windows in the master, move the master bath, build out a decent closets, redo the two guest baths, etc. The fact that the agent refers to the apt as beautifully renovated in the listing is a fucking joke.

3) The windows are gross for a $3-4mm apt. They're the cheap double pane replacement windows with black aluminum frames - replacing them with good windows would not be cheap.

4) Building won't allow you to rent for more than one year.

#1 was the biggest non-starter for me after looking at the apt - if I'm dropping that much on the shell and another $750-1mm on the reno I want high ceilings, not the feel of a cookie cutter 80s condo. Location couldn't be better (actually it would be better if it looked out over duane park which it doesn't unless you crane your neck) but you can't change the ceiling height.

4.875 originally. GMAFBwhileILMMFAO.

Did some numnut buy this or are they switching brokers yet again?