Friendly old school owners
Pros
I found the family who owned the building to be very friendly and accommodating, I enjoyed living there.
Cons
There were plumbing issues that never got resolved while living there.
Advice to the owners
Send professionals rather then friends or family members in to fix issues
Room for Improvement from Landlords
Pros
Building is in a good location, quiet and faces a church so nice view. Classic NYC architectural details maintained in building. Neighbors are respectful and nice. I had to move out early and the landlords used my deposit to pay the realtor, did not charge an extra fee.
Cons
Had a lot of issues come up in my apartment, which required following up with the landlords repeatedly in order to get repairs done. Also there was an unmentioned pigeon problem that I discovered after moving in, and a mouse problem that was minimized in light of the other repairs needed. Landlord sends relatives and friends to fix things, so it revolves around their schedule vs the severity of the problem. Also, they should update the bathroom sink to a “mixer faucet” instead of having separate hot and cold faucets. The hallway is so dark that I needed a flashlight to open my door with a key. Asking the landlords to have a light on when it is dark did nothing. The walls and floors are thin and wonky, so every noise next door, upstairs and in the hallway is heard. If landlords were more proactive and pleasant to deal with, my feelings would not be so mixed because things happen.
Advice to the owners
Be more proactive in making repairs and maintaining your building. Many of the changes could actually save you money in energy costs.