Hamptons

RENTING IN THE HAMPTONS THIS SUMMER? READ THIS FIRST….

Yes, the summer season is approaching quicker than a new Kim Kardashian nude selfie.    But while I’m getting ready by practicing defensive driving techniques others are busy lining up their rentals for the Memorial Day to Labor Day pilgrimage to the east end.     Oh, yeah and I’m helping them rent those houses…. I’m the number one rental agent in the Hamptons*…. didn’t I tell you that?!   (*based upon stats that I won’t disclose and that are collected by me).     But before you can say grab the rose wine and beach blanket, there are a few things you might need to know.      Here once again with my perennial video about the obligations of renting a house in the Hamptons is my friend Rob Disario.

One thing Rob didn’t mention in the video is renters are also required to get their own insurance when residing in their temporary home.   Recently,  I had the chance to ask John Wallace of Amaden Gay Insurance about some of the more important points of why this is necessary…..

Protect yourself when the burglar comes to town!

1) Is it really necessary to get renter’s insurance?

I would always tell summer renters to get their own policy. The average cost is about $300-$500.00 /year. It would cover them for the personal contents and liability for at least $500,000 or more depending on the coverage they select. It would also cover them for loss of use and personal contents they brought to the home. This would cover them if for some reason due to a loss they could not stay in the home they rented they could rent another place and the insurance company would pay for it.  This cover them for most everything for a fraction of the rental cost. What is the big deal if they spend $30,000 for a rental or $30,400 to be totally protected? They can always cancel the policy afterward and get probably half their money back.
2)  What else can be covered with renter’s insurance?
All renters should check with their current homeowner or renters to see what they are covered for. They can also extend liability to the address they are renting for about $50-$100.00 and would be covered by their primary homeowner’s liability.   Some companies give you coverage up to 10% of your contents away from home but you have to check with your carrier. This is the minimum they should do and is subject to their primary homeowners deductible.
3)   Any advice for landlords?
Landlords who are renting their home should check with their carrier about renting as well. Most companies are ok with a one or 2 month rental but not much more than that. They will not cover multiple tenants with weekly rentals.  Also theft will not be covered if you rent your home in the summer. Most allow up to two different tenants maybe three but that is about it. Otherwise you are looking at a situation where you may void the contract.
If you have additional questions, you can try reaching John at Amaden Gay Agencies in East Hampton 631-324-0041 or go online www.amadengay.com

Making Sag Harbor Great Again…. WINSTON’S WENT AND THE SERVICE STATION IS COMING TO TOWN!

It seems everything is heating up these days.  The weather, the politics and the buzz for the latest entry in to making Sag Harbor “THE” place this summer.    First Le Bilboquet and now the Trump organization has staked their claim as they unveiled their logo atop the American Hotel in Sag Harbor earlier this morning. According to the press release that was being handed out by campaign workers and hotel volunteers, “The Trump Organization is here to add some class to this sleepy little town. Hopefully we can get pretty people to come to Sag Harbor… it needs it, right now everyone looks like Ted Cruz and Carly Fiorina.”    The official kick off won’t be for a few months until all of the gilding is finished on the exterior and cherub water fountain placed in the foyer.   “It’s gonna (sic) look classy” said one Trump spokesman.     There are also plans that the current restaurant will be replaced with “Donald’s Big Weiner Hut” specializing in over sized Kobe beef hot dogs.    For more information, you can visit the new hotel website here.     I’m hoping they can just make Sag Harbor great again!

COMING SOON: Service Station

OK, hopefully you clicked the link above and KNOW all the details from above.  In the meantime, some changes are in store for the former Nichols and the ever so briefly named Winston’s.    The East Hampton locale is now being prepped for the upcoming season by SagTown Coffee’s Shane Dyckman and local restaurateur Michael Gluckman.    The “SERVICE STATION” will feature a diverse menu featuring fresh seafood and more contemporary fare such as rock shrimp tacos, steak frites, rotisserie chicken and tuna ceviche.    The goal is to be a casual family friendly establishment for both locals and summer visitors.  The wine selection will also have a wide selection by the glass and starting at $8.    Look for details on the opening date sometime in the next few weeks.  I’ll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, someone who will really help make Sag Harbor great is coming to town.  Rumor has it Drew Barrymore just plopped down a little under $4 million dollars for a home in the village.

No way to tell when she’s actually coming to town but I’m looking forward to seeing my favorite Charlie’s Angel out and about.

WARNING TO ALL EASTER BUNNIES…. AND SMALL DOGS! HAPPY EASTER! SUGGESTIONS FOR BRUNCH!

Break out the pastels and the whites… it’s now officially ok to wear your fancy duds!  Well as of Sunday anyway.   So after the bunny has dropped the basket, where are some great places to wear your best bonnet?   Well look no further, Hamptons Chatter is here to help.  Here are my top 3 suggestions:
Page at 63 Main in Sag Harbor (page63main.com, 631-725-1810)  will have an a la carte brunch menu from 11 to 4 featuring such holiday favorites as leg of lamb and Eggs Benedict.   They’ll also have plenty of champagne and mimosas to help with that headache from the all the little kiddies sugar high!
So CUTE.. and hopefully not on any menu!
Topping Rose in Bridgehampton (toppingrosehouse.com, 631-537-0870) will also have an al carte brunch menu featuring everything Brioche Donuts to Painted Hill Short Rib hash from 11:30 to 3p.   They’ll also have activities for the kids and a giant Easter Bunny around for photographs.  You’ll be able to order EXTRA champagne without drama.  Earplugs will not be provided.
Barons Cove in Sag harbor (baronscove.com, 631-725-2101) will be hosting an Easter egg hunt for the kids… so hopefully they’ll be outside.   Brunch will be served from 11 to 4p and feature all your holiday favorites including lamb, roast beef and rabbit stew.  OK, actually there is no rabbit stew…. that would be kind of cruel.   Don’t cha think!?    I mean… “Thank you Easter Bunny for the chocolate… now jump into the pot!?”

Speaking of Easter Bunnies, they need to be watching their eggs and hops these days.   While I’m not sure if it’s a real warning or where the heck it originates, there is a message circulating on the internet and Facebook about there being a larger number of Hawks this season on the east coast.   The alleged warning has been issued by “Park Rangers” and “Veterinarians” to pet owners who have dogs or cats that weigh less then 12 pounds.

WARNING: FOR OWNERS OF SMALL PETS

Apparently our small furry friends run the risk of being swooped away.   I actually had a friend who swore that happened to her pet a few years back but I question that particular incident and attribute it more to her 3 martini breakfast.    “I saw it… my dog flew away!”   Kind of scary considering it was a German Shepard. Anyway, all kidding aside I did some digging online and while the “warning” may possibly be bogus, the risk is actually quite real.    But before you panic and call your local veterinarian for advice or veteran with a gun on addressing the potential problem, just remember these birds of prey are FEDERALLY PROTECTED!      So what can you do?   Well here is are a few tips for keeping your pets safe.

-Keep them leashed and supervise when outdoors.
-Remove bird feeders.   They attract small birds and mice which in tern attract raptors.
-Put hhiny objects that move out of the yard, such as silver streamers.   They will scare off the birds.
-Build a pen with a wire mesh for your pet to play.
So keep your pets safe, have a great weekend and remember SUMMER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.  Which means traffic.   Yeah!

SOMETHING BREWING IN SOUTHAMPTON… AND PLEASE DON’T TELL ME WHAT ZILLOW SAYS ABOUT YOUR HOUSE!

Something Brewing.. time to change the label!

I can barley stand it!   It has some folks hops-ing mad!   Apparently the spuds will no longer be flowing on Bowden Square.   In spite of an announcement back in October that the Southampton Publick House would be staying put at the current location, word has gotten out that folks will soon have to fasten their beer goggles in a new location.    Since 1996 the brewery and restaurant have been a staple around town but it seems the new building owners have other plans.    According to some local insiders, the location will soon be home to a “high end Mexican Restaurant.”     Now if you’ve ever read this blog before… that’s a huge deal for me yet I hate to see an old favorite move to somewhere new.     While the Publick house will go on… like Celine Dion’s heart…. it will according to insiders have to be in a new location.   Sometimes a little change will do you good.

Oh is that the blood rushing to your head?

Now for a little advice.   If you want to send any real estate agent’s boiling blood further to their head just say the following sentence, “BUT Zillow said my house is worth X!”   It’s the bane of many a real estate agent and brokers existence.   In fact, The Los Angles Times  recently tackled the issue of “Zestimantes” (Zillow’s estimate) and how many claim they’re wildly inaccurate.    In fact, I have to say part of the big problem with Zillow’s “formula” is that it can’t really take into account factors like condition and location (waterfront, south of the highway, village).    So how inaccurate are these “Zestimates?”  Well the CEO of Zillow was recently quoted as saying they’re “a good starting point” and have a “median error rate of about 8%.”   Obviously this error rate varies in different markets and Zillow even says so at the bottom of the Zestimates page.     While I couldn’t locate the margin in our area, I can tell you that my own personal home fluctuated by about $5,000,000 in a period of 6 months.    Now, I know you think Hamptons Chatter just rakes in the money but the initial high estimate they gave my home was crazy.   I’d move out in hours if I could get that number tomorrow!    Yep, I would guess their error rate in the Hamptons is a heck of a lot more than a 8%.   It’s a big miss in the Hamptons… like an Ishtar big miss!  A “Missestimate” if you will.     So the take away from all of this… talk to an agent or do your homework (Zillow.com is a great source for closed prices) and don’t try let some silicon valley geek tell you what your home is worth.   Besides,  how could you put a price on that “Sistine Chapel” painting on your master bedroom ceiling?