Manhattan, NY

New York City Feng Shui and Missed Opportunities by Feng Shui Long Island NY Consultant

Everything comes into our lives for a reason. Oftentimes, when we are not at our best energetically or otherwise, we won't take a second look at something that is coming our way. We're not up to it, we figure and without much thought, we'll just turn away from it, decline (with thanks) and think nothing more of it. We may be missing the boat here. Instead of saying no, think it through.

When opportunities come knocking, it is wise to be there to answer the door. While some don't appear to be anything particularly interesting or even inviting, based on the fact that you are working with the laws of attraction, it is always wise to look into something without just turning it down.

Investigate it further. Things most certainly are not always what they appear. In our hurried, sometimes scattered lives, we often don't stop to think things through well enough to make an informed decision.

Oftentimes, as well, a seemingly "rational" decision may not come to you. These are truly the times to go with your instincts; we have all access to these wonderful instincts, our "gut" feelings, but unfortunately fail to follow them.

No one ever knows where the next door will lead or the next bump in the road will take us. Wonderful opportunities we may have looked right passed may have also caused us to miss meeting a certain person, a lost business connection or an activity we may well have enjoyed.

Ask yourself if you are unconsciously putting up barriers. We have to be in the state of "allowance" to invite everything into our lives. Knowing that they are there for a reason might be a tool in determining your ultimate decision. How can you know what to do when you simply don't KNOW what to do? Here are some ideas that might help you along.

Some people meditate regularly, others not at all. Meditation is nothing more then a deep state of reaction, when you are not thinking of anything at all and have nothing inside to "clutter" your head and confuse an already overworked brain. Instead of trying so hard to focus on an answer to a dilemma we are facing, try allowing the answer to just come to you.

Another way to accomplish this is to think about the issue just before bedtime. And then let it go for the night. Whoever said you shouldn't make a big decision without sleeping on it was 100% correct.

Taking a walk can clear your head as well. Spending time outdoors with nature for some of us is a state of allowing thoughts, decisions and energy to just flow. Since we are connected to everything by energy, the outdoor energy of plants and tress, birds and animals is essential to our well being.

Also, remember to pray. If your thoughts are focused, your intentions clear and mindful, it doesn't matter who or what you choose to pray to. There is a power in prayer and also a releasing of things to a higher power that will help you find your answers and your direction; you won't have to worry about a possible missed opportunity again.

Long Island NY Feng Shui Consultant Carole Provenzale http://www.LongIslandFengShui.com

NYC and Queens NY Feng Shui Consultant Laura Cerrano http://www.FengShuiManhattan.com

We have all either seen or heard of that TV show "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" where adults try to answer questions that a fifth grader could answer. You assume the adults would know the answers because...well they're adults and have had more years of life and learning under their belt. Well, often that's not the case...the fifth graders usually win.

I found myself this past week wondering if home sellers were smarter than real estate agents. I was contacted by two homeowners who were interested in staging their vacant investment properties. Both of the properties were in New York City, however one was for sale and the other was a very high-end rental.

Both homeowners realized that they needed to furnish and accessorize their properties in order to stand out from the other properties on the market for rent and for sale. In fact, one of the homeowners believed in staging so much, she had staged by herself another of her investment properties, which is for sale. But after realizing it was a lot of work and very tiring (welcome to my world!), she decided to hire a professional for her rental property.

This homeowner told me that her real estate agent didn't think it was necessary to furnish either apartment. The agent felt they would sell and rent without staging.

I did a quick check of the rental unit on www.streeteasy.com, and it showed competitive rentals in the same price range, location and type of building. One of the units had one bedroom more than the subject unit, AND there were pictures of furnished rooms for prospective renters to imagine themselves living in!

More than 80% of buyers and renters start their search online, so don't you think photos of furnished and decorated rooms would be more appealing than those that are not?

What if you were looking online and saw these photos?

What if you were online and saw THESE photos?

In the other case where I was contacted by the homeowner whose property was for sale, I spoke to the real estate agent myself, not knowing in advance her position on home staging. When I told her who I was and that I had been to the property in order to prepare a home staging proposal, she vehemently stated "No furniture!". She went on to state that she had sold other units in the townhouse complex and she was able to sell the units without them being furnished. She also told me what she was listing the property at and that she was going to probably accept offers that were 5% less.

So I told her that...

The cost of staging is almost ALWAYS less than the first price reduction and in this case it was (2%).

Then I told her WHY the unit should be furnished, and after every one of my statements, she said "I disagree!"

• Empty rooms appear smaller than they really are
• No emotional connection can be felt when buyers walk into an empty house
• Most buyers can't picture where there furniture will go and if it will fit
• Most buyers can't imagine themselves living there if there is nothing there
• Small defects stand out because there's nothing else to look at

I could have given her other reasons, but I got tired of hearing "I disagree!".

What do you think? Are home sellers smarter than real estate agents when it comes to home staging and selling homes?

Rubin Schron, a major multifamily operator in New York, and his co-conspirators, allegedly accepted a $50 million kickback from a pharmaceutical vendor that serves nursing homes controlled by one of the men.

The Justice Department on Wednesday filed a complaint against real estate investor Rubin Schron and attorney Leonard Grunstein, a partner at Troutman Sanders. Murray Forman, who is the sole employee of an investment bank owned by Grunstein, was also named in the filing. The complaint alleges the trio orchestrated a scheme to receive a $50 million payment from Omnicare Inc., the nation's largest nursing home pharmacy, so it could continue to provide services to Mariner Health Care Inc. Schron purchased Mariner for about $1 billion in 2004, according to the complaint.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Schron and other owners of the Woolworth Building, including noted real estate investor Steve Witkoff, are considering selling a 51% stake in the building to the Sorgente Group, an Italian firm that also owns a stake in New York's Flatiron Building. The Woolworth Building's breaktaking lobby is pictured here.

Brand New Rental Listings Weekly! Studios, One Bedrooms, Two Bedrooms, and Three Bedrooms. Below Market Priced Apartments. Upper East Side, Gramercy, Murray Hill, Midtown East/West, and Union Square.

Contact JAD Realty Group for current availabilities or to schedule an appointment - 610.781.8417

www.jadrealtygroup.com/JAD_Realty_Group/Home.html

Brand New Rental Listings Weekly! Studios, One Bedrooms, Two Bedrooms, and Three Bedrooms. Below Market Priced Apartments. Upper East Side, Gramercy, Murray Hill, Midtown East/West, and Union Square.

Contact JAD Realty Group for current availabilities or to schedule an appointment - 610.781.8417

NOW THAT THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS COMING TO AN END. OUR RENTAL APTS IN NEW YORK CITY WERE UP FROM LAST YEAR. SURPRISING. I HOPE THIS TREND WILL CONTINUE,

HOWEVER AS WE GET CLOSER TO THANKSGIVING, REALITY WILL SET IN. TREND OF RENTING SLOWS GREATLY.

WE ALWAYS HOLD A GLIMMER OF HOPE THAT THIS TREND WOULD CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

I STILL HAVE A LOT OF GREAT APARTMENTS FOR RENT IN MANHATTAN, AND IF I CAN BE OF SERVICE TO YOU OR YOUR CLIENTS, GIVE ME A CALL AT 917 304 4052 OR CHE K OUT OUR WEBSITE AT

WWW.URBANAPARTMENTSNYC.COM