Clare Donohue

The Situation:

Recently, I moved from one apartment to another in the same building. Thus began the familiar ritual of living with paint swatches taped to the walls of every room.

Except for my bedroom.

The Situation:
Last week, I got a call from a client who'd taken advantage of the soft market to snag a new, larger place. The only problem: How to sell her place, when the bathroom is, admittedly, a wreck?  Can we fix it up without spending more than she's likely to recoup?

Here's the Deal:
• Style matters even more in a soft market: Don't think savvy New Yorkers are going to fall for cheapo "landlord" fixtures.

The Situation:

Yesterday, my client called me in a panic:  "They just told me I have 'inadequate electrical service!'"

No, it's not some dreaded disease--it just means she doesn't have enough juice to power up her new 48" fridge, built-in cappuccino maker, toaster and AC all at once. It's something typical to city renovations, when we upgrade our "Honeymooner's"-era appliances to today's models.

Here's the deal:

My client arrives for our site meeting bright-eyed, ready to roll, and clutching a bulleted to-do list. For the second time, the contractor rushes in 25 minutes late, a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face, having leapt from his truck while barking instructions to his assistant to find coffee and parking. He apologizes, asks for a pen. My client quietly rolls her eyes.

The Situation:

At least once a week I get a call from a first-time buyer who is closing "in a few days," and wants to book a renovation to start "the day after closing."

This is where renter experience collides smack up against co-op realities.

Having survived the indignities of financial approval, a new owner must now submit to another round of approvals for their renovation. Owners need to allow a minimum of two months for such approvals.

What could possibly take so long?

Here's the Deal:

The Situation:

A typical emergency email from a client arrives: They've come home from a long day and discover a dead mini fridge (the one parked in their foyer to sustain them through the renovation) with all the food inside spoiled. Also out of commission is the outlet for their hotplate, and the phone is dead. "What the ......???" the message goes.