There are many major differences between the kitchens found in Brooklyn and Manhattan apartments that are worth knowing if you plan on managing property in both boroughs, or if you plan on making renovations to an multi-family or single-family dwelling.
Most pre-war Manhattan apartments will have newer appliances – not more than 15 years old. This is because there is proportionately more large property managers in Manhattan, who, because of their scale, find it easier to replace old appliances rather than fix them. Conversely, in Brooklyn, older places will usually hold older appliances from the last generation of renovations made on Brooklyn dwellings – most of which were made during the late 70’s and early 80’s, though there is certainly a movement towards large company property management that can be credited with bringing many a new appliance into gutted and converted Williamsburg and Ft. Greene walk-ups. Brooklyn cabinets will also run bigger and older, and may need replacement, where Manhattan cabinets will be newer, but often lacking in personality as large property managers install kitchens straight from the floor of Home Depot.
Replacing cabinets is certainly advisable of you are looking to change the overall kitchen design or kitchen layout: custom cabinetry in any home, regardless of the borough, will add style, value, and functionality – what more could a property manager ask for? There are several custom cabinet builders and designers in and around Brooklyn that will work closely with property managers to create a scalable design that can be implemented in many units quickly and easily.