By Is your heart set on an Upper West Side prewar classic like 235 West 76th Street with the convenience of being steps from Broadway? Are you drawn to a location that offers easy access to both Central and Riverside Parks? If yes, then you’ll consider a call to Rachel Gavrieli of Rachel Realty who specializes in these much sought-after apartments.
Rachel’s father and mother, Sam and Freida Josef, Romanian immigrants owned Josef’s Sportswear, a store at 145 Orchard Street well known for selling “Schmatas” she says using the Yiddish word for rags or rag trade: men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. There she learned about the importance of customer service. Learning how to listen was something she enjoyed at the shop and has carried with her as a transferable skill.
She grew up on the Lower East Side, not far from the family store. Fast forward Rachel was a single mother of three (two sons and a daughter). Someone suggested she had the skills and should go into real estate. She took the advice and got her license. From the first day, she knew she was on the right track. “I met a mother and daughter at 9:00 am by 3:00 pm we were signing a lease.” Now, 25 years later still loves her work.
Enter Rachel Realty by a private door a few yards down from the building’s residential entrance at 255 West 88th Street. It’s light and bright, there are touches of color in art hung on the bright white walls and the whole effect of the office is positive, uplifting, friendly and definitely not intimidating though paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for an apartment is usual.
Yes! This real estate team including Rachel and six agents, can help find the right apartment to rent or buy is the mood conveyed.
What is the right apartment? Rachel specializes in pre-war apartments that have the patina of having aged well. Rachel represents 25 buildings on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. The offerings can range from studios to ten-room apartments. All offer a 40 percent reduction to existing tenants if they’ve received a notice under the door indicating the building is undergoing a condo conversion. The tenant may wish to purchase their apartment. If they don’t want to take advantage of this opportunity, “there are no kick-outs.” She says the condos she represents are in sponsored buildings which eliminates the need for a review of a client’s application and requirements imposed by a co-op board.
Most clients definitely value the prospect of living in a historic building. When restoration is needed, as it often is, Rachel works with the contractors used by the owner/sponsor of a building to make improvements to the floor plan, walls, and woodwork. This may involve the complex restoration of moldings and wainscoting. Changes also may be made to reconfigure a grand dining room and living room so that a bedroom is created and the entertainment space gracefully reduced.
Outdoor space? Not everyone cares about sitting out in an entirely private space. Roof terraces are a wonderful addition to many of our pre-war buildings – an element that some people know they will use and enjoy.
The investment in high-end refrigerators along with other kitchen appliances and the importance of having a gym in the building holds varying importance for prospective buyers/renters. Washer/dryers in the apartments is an expected feature. Many people care about having parking in the building. Meanwhile, others have no interest in maintaining a car in the city.
All of Rachel’s adult children have real estate licenses. They have jobs outside the field. Two are teachers. Rachel is proud that they have chosen occupations where “they give back.” They also help Rachel out in interactions with customers, placing ads, and performing other administrative work.
Early on Rachel moved her family to Greenwood Lake, New Jersey. “I wanted a yard.” She commutes from home to her office on the Upper West Side every day. This city-suburban combo works well for her, offering a chance to enjoy the city and a respite to refresh for the next work day. I’ve never had time to take vacations. I drive, and it’s like a vacation,” says Rachel with a smile.
Pictured Above, Rachel Gavrieli in her office and Rachel with her son, Michael Gavrieli outside her office.