Keeping the Kids Safe at Halloween

Halloween is always an exciting time of year for kids here in Queens.  To help make it as safe as possible, keep these tips in mind:

• Costumes should be bright and reflective.  You can add reflective tape to costumes if they are dark to begin with.  Choose brightly colored trick-or-treat bags to add greater visibility.
• Instead of masks, use makeup and costume hats.  Kids can see better which will help prevent tripping.
• All parts of your child's costume, including wigs and accessories, should be flame-resistant.
• Children should always have an adult guardian with them when they go out to trick-or-treat.  Each adult member of the party should carry a flashlight.
• If you have older children who are going out alone, be sure to discuss their route ahead of time so you know where they will be.  Agree on a specific time for them to be home and give them a cell phone to take with them.
• Pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries on Halloween.  To be safe, stay in a group and only travel on well-lit streets. Stay on sidewalks and do not cut across streets except at corners.

By following these tips, you'll be keeping the kids safe at Halloween so everyone has a fun time.  Happy Halloween, everybody!
 
Queens Realty, your Queens real estate specialists

Finding the Right Realtor® in Queens, New York

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in any of the Queens, New York communities, we have some tips to help you find the right Realtor® who will do an exceptional job.  Buying and selling a home can be stressful, but with a little help from the right Realtor®, your stress level will be reduced to nearly nothing.

Here are a few things to consider when choosing a Realtor®:

Decide What Your Priorities Are

Before buying or selling a home, you should decide where your priorities lay.  How soon do you want to buy or sell?  If you’re selling, will you be okay with your home staying on the market for a bit longer so you can get the price you seek?  Do you have a Realtor® who is communicating with you frequently?

Research Potential Realtors®

Many family members, friends and even co-works can refer you to a great Realtor® in your area.  You can also research Realtors® on the Internet and request information about an agent, who will be happy to send you a proposal.  It is wise to choose an agent who is endorsed by the National Association of Realtors®.  They have a board who regulates them and they have to stick by a strict code of ethics.

Interviewing Potential Realtors®

After you have done your research on potential real estate agents, you can select a few to interview.  You should conduct the interviews in person so you can get a better feel for the agent’s personality and presentation.  Ask questions such as how long have they been a real estate agent, how many properties have they sold and listed in the past year and ask for references from previous clients.  Also, ask what their marketing plan will be for your home if you are selling. 

Check References and Compare Realtors®

Choosing the right Realtor® should never be made impulsively.  You should consider your priorities again, compare the different agents that you liked in your interviews and compare how they match up with your goals.

Two of the biggest and most common mistakes sellers tend to make when selecting a Realtor® are choosing the one who will price their home the highest or choosing a Realtor® with the lowest commission.

The biggest thing you can do for yourself when choosing the right Realtor® is ask for and contact their references.

Queens, NY Fun in October

There will be alot going on throughout the month of October in Queens, NY for the whole family to enjoy. Everyone loves it when the weather begins to turn pleasant during the fall. Therefore, we have found some great activities you can enjoy during the rest of the month.

 

Queens October Activities:

 

Oct. 16th – Highland Park’s Fall Harvest Festival – Come out from noon until 3 pm for a fun-filled time of crafts, games, music and more. Highland Park is on the Queens/Brooklyn border at Jamaica Ave and Elton St.

Oct. 17th – Halloween Harvest Festival LIC – The Halloween Harvest Festival gives everyone a great opportunity to check out the Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City. Children can learn from Socrates artists at many of the Halloween costume workshops. You can even enter your canine into the Canine Costume Contest. There will also be face-painting, art-making and pumpkin-painting all day long.

Oct. 17th – Hood – You can enjoy the Tale of Robin and his Merry Men at the Red Door Theatre Company at 11:30am and 2:00pm. There will also be a concert of Irish Mariachi and Mexican Bluegrass. Socrates Sculpture Park is located at 3134 Vernon Blvd at Broadway.

Oct. 30th & 31st – Smash That Pumpkin – At 1 pm and 3 pm, you can join in on launching pumpkins to their death with a catapult. This activity will be held at the NY Hall of Science on 111th Street and at Flushing Meadows Park.

Oct. 30th & 31st – Boo at the Zoo – For the Halloween animal in you, come out to the Queens Zoo with the family so you can all enjoy face-painting, pumpkin decorating, a haunted habitat and trick-or-treating.

Oct. 31st - The Jackson Heights Halloween Parade – This is the second largest Halloween parade in the state of New York. It turns into a day all about the neighborhood kids and their costumes. Grownups are even known to get in on the fun. Parade begins on 89th Street. Time is to-be-announced.

Any of these activities will make for a fun-filled time in Queens, NY this October and its communities of Forest Hills, Forest Hills Gardens, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and other areas.

The Best Places to Eat in Forest Hills

Forest Hills is full of great places to eat with a wide selection of restaurants.  Austin Street and Metropolitan Avenue contain the most restaurants in the Queens Borough.  You’ll find a quality range of restaurants in Forest Hills and more in the wealthy Forest Hills Gardens area.  There are good Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Uzbeck, and Argentine restaurants, plus a Japanese market and several Irish pubs.

We have found a list of Forest Hills' top restaurants from local reviews online and would like to share them.

Some of the top restaurant picks for Forest Hills include the following:

Best Restaurant – Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen

Best Pizza – Nick’s Pizza

Best Breakfast – Just Like Mother’s

Best Place for Uzebeki Kebabs – Sult

Best Burgers, Fries, and Beer – PJ’s Steakhouse

Restaurants change and new ones open from time to time.  However, for the time being, these restaurants are what’s topping the Forest Hills' best restaurants list.