August 2016 Garden City Real Estate News – Peter Owen
Long Island Real Estate Nassau County, NY Homes Peter Owen Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Better Homes & Gardens Atlantic Shores 55 Hilton Ave, Garden City, NY 11530 (516)317-2860 Email: Peter.Owen@BHGliving.com
August, 2016
Hi Everyone
Well, I am writing from my new Agency – Better Homes and Gardens Atlantic Shores on Hilton Ave. in Garden City. Hopefully you saw my last email in Mid July announcing the change and is shown below. The market looks pretty much the same as in June. The normal July/August slowdown has taken effect as people do their normal summer activities. I expect the market to pick up nicely in September. So if you are selling and are not getting any lookers, try not to get discouraged for another month or so. On the other hand, if your house has been on the market for the past 4 months without an offer and you don’t know why, you may have the wrong agent. I don’t like blasting other agents and I won’t, but suffice it to say communication between Seller and Agent is paramount. Have a great vacation if you haven’t take none yet. As always, I’m here to help if you need me. Peter Owen
I have changed Agencies in Garden City. As of today, I am now associated with the Better Homes & Gardens Atlantic Shores Realtywhich will open shortly at 55 Hilton Ave, Garden City. My new contact details are shown above and below. The time was right to make the change and I am very excited to be part of this realtor who is gradually taking over Long Island. You know the name, and the quality it stands for. You can expect the same great service from me in all real estate transactions. You might get several emails from me announcing the change, so please make sure you change my email address in your Contacts List. My cell is the same (516)317-2860. Enjoy the great summer weather. Peter Owen
The Versatile Murphy Bed
Home office by day, comfy guest bedroom by night. Murphy beds are making a comeback as home owners seek to maximize their space.
A charming, retro space-saver is back in style. The Murphy bed, which can be flipped up inside a closet or cabinet when not in use, provides versatility in dwellings ranging from studios to country homes.
Once a favorite prop for comedians in early 20th century silent film era, the Murphy bed is now seeing its real heyday—especially in upscale urban lofts—some real estate practitioners and interior designers say.
“There’s a demand for it,” says William Robbins, a Columbus, Ohio real estate practitioner. “But at the same time, it’s not widely available.”
Robbins is surprised by how few people actually know about the Murphy bed, considering what a boon it would be for home owners who are short on space. He once told a client that thought a Murphy bed would be useful, but “in return, all I got was a blank stare,” he recalls. At least one of his friends appreciates the versatility, and has one ready for guests in a spare bedroom. “She loves it,” he says.
The Murphy bed got its name from its inventor, William Murphy, a Stockton, Calif., stagecoach driver. He and his wife didn’t have enough room to entertain in their small San Francisco home, so he created a way to make his bed disappear when company was over.
Murphy patented his invention in 1912, and the space-saver became instantly popular in apartment buildings nationwide. Architects would design buildings with closets large enough to fit the popular bed. By the 1920s, Murphy had showrooms across the country.
During the Depression, Murphy consolidated his business and moved to New York City. Unfortunately, his wall bed design lost popularity, especially after World War II when Americans moved into large homes in the suburbs. The Murphy, as the bed is sometimes known, didn’t see a resurgence until the late 1970s and early 1980s when the oil embargo kicked in and Americans downsized, says Eugene Kolakowski, vice president of Murphy Bed Co. Inc., of Farmingdale, N.Y.
The bed became even more widespread after a 1989 court ruling, in which Murphy beds lost trademark protection. At that point, knock offs entered the market in droves.
By the 1990s, the Murphy bed evolved into a sophisticated system complete with cabinetry. Empty nesters put them in home offices or dens for visiting grandchildren, while landlords began retrofitting 1950s-era originals.
But even today, some misconceptions exist—probably due to those funny silent films mentioned earlier. The biggest fallacy is probably that the bed can fold up while someone is sleeping on it, or fall down out of the wall unexpectedly. Not true, says Kolakowski: “They’re designed so that they lean back into the closet, so they can never fall out,” says Kolakowski.
Many people also think that the beds can’t be moved to a new residence, as traditional beds can be. In fact, current models can be disassembled and transported to another location. A well-made bed can last 50 to 60 years. It’s a good thing, top-of-the-line beds aren’t cheap.
Prices for Murphy Bed Co. Inc’s products range from $715 for an “econo” twin to $1,280 for a California king. Mattresses range from $305 to $795, and cabinetry can add as much as $2,420 to the total price.
Robbins says developers would be smart to offer a built-in Murphy as an upgrade in a small apartment. The customization would distinguish the unit from similar ones on the market. That’s definitely the case in New York City, where the beds have long been in vogue and even the well-to-do often live in tiny, expensive rentals.
Harold Stark Industrial Development installed the space-savers in a renovated 50-year-old apartment building. “They give a little more room during the day,” says company spokesperson Peggy Dragone.
If a listing has a Murphy bed, look for these features:
Once a favorite prop for comedians in early 20th century silent film era, the Murphy bed is now seeing its real heyday—especially in upscale urban lofts—some real estate practitioners and interior designers say.
“There’s a demand for it,” says William Robbins, a Columbus, Ohio real estate practitioner. “But at the same time, it’s not widely available.”
Robbins is surprised by how few people actually know about the Murphy bed, considering what a boon it would be for home owners who are short on space. He once told a client that thought a Murphy bed would be useful, but “in return, all I got was a blank stare,” he recalls. At least one of his friends appreciates the versatility, and has one ready for guests in a spare bedroom. “She loves it,” he says.
The Murphy bed got its name from its inventor, William Murphy, a Stockton, Calif., stagecoach driver. He and his wife didn’t have enough room to entertain in their small San Francisco home, so he created a way to make his bed disappear when company was over.
Murphy patented his invention in 1912, and the space-saver became instantly popular in apartment buildings nationwide. Architects would design buildings with closets large enough to fit the popular bed. By the 1920s, Murphy had showrooms across the country.
During the Depression, Murphy consolidated his business and moved to New York City. Unfortunately, his wall bed design lost popularity, especially after World War II when Americans moved into large homes in the suburbs. The Murphy, as the bed is sometimes known, didn’t see a resurgence until the late 1970s and early 1980s when the oil embargo kicked in and Americans downsized, says Eugene Kolakowski, vice president of Murphy Bed Co. Inc., of Farmingdale, N.Y.
The bed became even more widespread after a 1989 court ruling, in which Murphy beds lost trademark protection. At that point, knock offs entered the market in droves.
By the 1990s, the Murphy bed evolved into a sophisticated system complete with cabinetry. Empty nesters put them in home offices or dens for visiting grandchildren, while landlords began retrofitting 1950s-era originals.
But even today, some misconceptions exist—probably due to those funny silent films mentioned earlier. The biggest fallacy is probably that the bed can fold up while someone is sleeping on it, or fall down out of the wall unexpectedly. Not true, says Kolakowski: “They’re designed so that they lean back into the closet, so they can never fall out,” says Kolakowski.
Many people also think that the beds can’t be moved to a new residence, as traditional beds can be. In fact, current models can be disassembled and transported to another location. A well-made bed can last 50 to 60 years. It’s a good thing, top-of-the-line beds aren’t cheap.
Prices for Murphy Bed Co. Inc’s products range from $715 for an “econo” twin to $1,280 for a California king. Mattresses range from $305 to $795, and cabinetry can add as much as $2,420 to the total price.
Robbins says developers would be smart to offer a built-in Murphy as an upgrade in a small apartment. The customization would distinguish the unit from similar ones on the market. That’s definitely the case in New York City, where the beds have long been in vogue and even the well-to-do often live in tiny, expensive rentals.
Harold Stark Industrial Development installed the space-savers in a renovated 50-year-old apartment building. “They give a little more room during the day,” says company spokesperson Peggy Dragone.
If a listing has a Murphy bed, look for these features:
- They’re usually stored vertically in a wider-than-normal and deep closet or cabinet.
- Older beds are usually inside deep and wide closets. These typically don’t have box springs, just frames.
- Watch for creaky parts that might need to be fixed.
- Contemporary versions have glass, mirror, and lights as well as shelves for computers, books, television sets and stereos. Some owners even decorate the wall above the area where the pillow rests with artwork that won’t be knocked down by an upright mattress.
While Murphy beds are ideal for tiny apartments, they’re not just for small spaces.
After Becky and Tom Stilp had a pool house built at their summer home near New Buffalo, Mich., they had a queen-sized Murphy bed installed inside. It can be opened and closed with a set of sliding doors on a barn-door track. The bed gets used by relatives and friends who come over for barbecues and holiday parties.
Indeed, versatility is the best feature of Murphy beds, says Kolakowsky. A bedroom by night can turn into a sewing room or exercise room by day. And today’s models are cinch to open and close. “Even a seven-year-old can operate one,” says Kolakowski.
Local Real Estate STATS
Market Snapshot for Garden City
| Today | 1 Month Ago | 1 Year Ago | |
| Total Inventory | 119 | 139 -14% | 156 -23% |
| Median List Price | $929,000 | $949,000 -2% | $879,000 +5% |
| % Distressed | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Median Days on Movoto | 64 | 59 +8% | 55 +16% |
| Median House Size | 2,462 | 2,482 | 2,741 -10% |
| Median $/Sq. Ft. | 433 | 431 | 460 -5% |
