Trading Up: Grace and Jeff Meyers, Sellers & Buyers
Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
We have a long history of finding Grace and Jeff great places to live: from an East Village studio to their first home together in Williamsburg. When the time came to purchase a property, we helped them buy a wonderful two bed in a converted 19th century school in Cobble Hill. Five years and two kids later, we sold their prewar apartment and helped negotiate a new construction condo that satisfied their growing needs as a family.
You purchased Cobble Hill in what many would term a seller’s market. When you left, the post-
pandemic frenzy was on the wane and the market was soft. But the investment in location and charm paid off: the apartment sold in a week, above ask with multiple bids. In fact, our first open house was extended from 2 to 8 hours to accommodate the interest.
From your perspective, what factors boosted the sale in a not-so-ideal market?
We were definitely worried, as we’d moved out right when rates were on the rise and the pandemic exodus from Manhattan to Brooklyn was waning. Jeanne and George set off to give our apartment a welcoming and functional vibe that would appeal to buyers. They advised on just the right amount of touch-up work and staged with pieces they’ve spent years collecting — waiting until they knew it was just the right time to show. All we did was step away and let them work their magic.
Your Cobble Hill co-op and your current home couldn’t be more different. From a ground floor prewar with exposed brick, working fireplace, outdoor space and parking literally outside your door — to a light-filled, top floor, brand new unit with clean lines and a roof deck in a full-service building. At the very least, it’s a literal change of perspective.
How has the change impacted your day to day?
The light, oh the natural light! At first it was hard to leave the charm and coziness of our old apartment (and we brought two babies home there, so it was very sentimental). But the natural light in our new place, especially in the winter months when we don’t get out with our little ones as much, is sanity saving! And having the conveniences of an elevator building when juggling a stroller, scooter, kids, groceries, really was the right move for us at this time in our life. I’m also loving the community of the building.