Staten Island is the least populated of New York City's five boroughs, but local real estate agents say it is no longer the "forgotten" borough. "Staten Island is the third-largest borough of New York City, with an area of 60 square miles," says Realtor Mindy North. "It is the least populated of the five boroughs; in 1990 it contained only about 5 percent of the City's population. Staten Island is the most geographically separate of the city's boroughs. We are not connected to Manhattan by any direct tunnel, bridge, or subway. We are connected to Brooklyn by the Verrazanno-Narrows Bridge, and to lower Manhattan by the Staten Island Ferry."

"Staten Island is part of New York City," says Realtor Concetta Pepenella, "with lots of trees and greenery and easy access to public transportation. It's no longer the forgotten borough. Staten Island has taken careful steps to improve the housing codes and upgrade public parks and shore lines."

Pepenella advises, "Preparing your home for sale is a process that can really reap the reward. If your home is on the market, but no one is putting in an offer, here are some suggestions to spruce things up. First get rid of any personal photos, collections, and bric-a-brac. Its just too distracting. A fresh coat of white paint goes a long way toward making a room neutral. Clean. Forget the potpourri! Sweep, dust, vacuum, open the windows and get a big bucket of soapy water and clean from top to bottom. Highlight your home's best feature. Don't block your ocean view with dark curtains or put your couch in front of the sliding glass doors to the yard. Pack excess furniture until you move into your new place. It's worth it and will make your house sell faster and sometimes a higher price. New Yorkers are savvy buyers when it comes to real estate. Buyers will walk out of a home that is dusty, musty and needs a good old fashioned paint job and cleaning. A home that is clean and staged to sell is most desirable."

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Published: September 30, 2004

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