Sale at 145 West 86th Street #9A

We had the same experience with the broker. She was rude to us and a number of others viewing the apartment at the Open House. It's a shame that the owners have some one who is clearly not working on their behalf. We were tempted to leave a note for the owner with the doorman.

Was it Carol Holder of Corcoran?

We found her less rude than evasive - about silly little things that could easily be checked against the listing history. The exchange left us wondering what was being hidden, and why - especially since some corners had obviously been cut: the countertops that appeared badly worn after just a couple of years; the TV cable protruding from an unfinished hole in the living room wall; the rat's nest of electrical wires in the den.

6.5? Hardly. Doesn't a 'room' need a window?? I see five rooms. That 'dining foyer' and 'den' don't count.

bramstar: Strictly speaking, it's a six-into-five. The eat-in kitchen comprises two original rooms (kitchen and maid's). I think it's OK to list the original room count. Actually, I prefer it because it makes apples-to-apples comparisons easier when an apartment has been altered.

West--good point. Though I still take issue with the '.5' part... :-)

There's no such thing as a "dining foyer" ... either it's a dining room (which it's not) or a foyer with a dining table in it.

I don't know, bram, I think it's descriptive. If you told me on the phone that there was a 6.5 room 3-BR I needed to look at, 3 BRs, Living Room, Kitchen, DR/home office/den, and big foyer are exactly what I would guess I would see.

ali r.
DG Neary Realty

Ali: Just to split a few more esoteric hairs... by that logic you could turn a classic five (a 5.5 room apartment) into a 6.5 by splitting the dining room in half.

To me, it doesn't matter how many walls you tear down or put up in a classic six. It still has the bones of a classic six, and should be comped vs. other classic sixes. That's why I think 6.5 is OK as a room count for #9A.

"Dining foyer" is ridiculous, but I'd be willing to accept a .5 foyer that can truly be used as a reception room -- enough space and the right proportions for a tended bar, and room for cocktail-party sized drinking crowd (overflow from living room). Some elegant buildings, like the Beresford, have these. Entrance galleries and small-to-mid-size foyers don't count. This one's just plain weird ... I don't know what to make of it.

West, by my standards you could indeed do that, but the reader would know that it was a classic five with a half dining room because the description would read "6.5, 2BRs."

ali r.
DG Neary Realty

I see the place is in contract. Glad for the owners. And alanhart, yes, the rude broker was Carol Holder.