Now that it’s summer, agents and brokers in the Hamptons are being inundated with folks who are being charmed by our little slice of heaven and want to buy before interest rates go too much higher. Since most of our buyers are coming here from the city, much of our time is being spent educating them to the differences between, co-ops, condos and owning a home. One of my bits of advice for those buying in the Hamptons is to use a local attorney. It’s very different out here. In fact, I’ve had deals with city attorneys (not all) who really were at a loss for how things get done. Recently I sat down with Bridgehampton attorney Adam Miller who has also experienced doing deals on both sides of the East River. Take a look…
While I’m excited for the summer, I get the feeling there are some Hamptons establishments that just don’t want my business anymore. While I can’t consider myself a local ( I was born in NJ and I have a heart felt appreciation for Superfund sites) I am definitely a year rounder. That means I’ve been here for more than 5 years and yes this is my primary residence. I’m here on Tuesday nights in January. You know the time of year and kind of night when if there are more than 5 tables at a restaurant, it’s a busy night. It’s a time when we all get along!
One of the things the local restaurants offer to get us out of the house as opposed to doing binge viewing on Netflix is to offer a nice reduced price menu when things are a little slower. In the winter, this keeps waiters busy and cob webs off the chairs by offering good meals at a reasonable price. I know it’s the Hamptons, the season is short and the rents are high. I get it, I really do. So I’m never going to pay TGIFriday’s prices anywhere on the east end at any time of year. But when you offer a prix fixe please don’t insult us by giving us a dish that even Kate Moss would say is a joke!
Case in point the photo here!! This meal was $35 dollars and included a small Caesar salad, this dish and a small desert. Yes that is an actual full portion of chicken next to my fork with 2.. yes two whole roasted new potatoes. It looks like a french cut throw away from a Swanson’s TV dinner. Now, I’m not going to say the restaurant name, you can figure it out. The choices out here are limited and I’m afraid to burn a bridge. I only wished they liked me as much as I like them!
By now you’ve probably seen those signs posted all over the Hamptons touting the various vineyards on the east end. Wineries like, Bedell, Wolffer and Channing Daughters have all made their mark and established Long Island as a solid manufacturer of wines. Well in Baiting Hollow one man is throwing his hat into the ring. But he’s not using east end grapes and he’s not making wine…
By the way, the vodka is really that good. I know Sag Harbor Liquors carries LIV Vodka and others around town as well. So, go check it out and let me know what you think!
For more information, check out their website! Now, if only they would deliver!
We all know that Sag Harbor has been a haven for artists and writers of all types for years. John Steinbeck, E.L. Doctrow and the late great Spaulding Gray have all found their inspiration among the waters of the fair Harbor and the stale beer of Murph’s. Well, maybe Steinbeck never went to Murph’s but I bet he would have loved it! But I digress… so, I learned something new the other day when talking to a friend of mine in Hamptons. The house is located on Jermain Avenue in Sag Harbor and to be honest, I fail to see how this sweet property could have ever been the birth place of the red wine swilling cannibal known as Hannibal Lechter. The house is currently on the market for a little under $1.5 million dollars and listed with Gioia DiPaolo of Douglas Elliman in Sag Harbor. You can see the listing here…. and yes it’s walking distance to Murph’s! That alone makes it worth more than the asking price!! So make and offer and tell them I sent you… and who knows if you buy it, maybe you too can be inspired to write one of the most frightening best sellers of all time!!
our Sag Harbor office.
Sidewalk dining at Madison and Main
So speaking of Sag Harbor and dining but not the cannibalistic kind; the town was recently voted one of the friendliest places in the country. But now I think it deserves another honor. I’m declaring Sag Harbor the “Lunch Capital of the Hamptons.” Sure, there are plenty of restaurants in the Hamptons but where can you go to have a good lunch (especially during the week)? With the recent addition of Madison and Main, Sag Harbor is by a long shot the best place for the mid day meals. While East Hampton has Ralph Lauren and Bridgehampton has real estate offices, the Harbor has more eating restaurants per foot than any other town. It’s also the only one where you can dine out doors without breathing in the exhaust from Rt. 27. Let’s think about this, you have the American Hotel (I suggest The Cobb salad), LT Burger (I recommend the fries and turkey burgers), Dockside (the tuna wrap), Madison and Main (tuna tacos), Bay Burger (the burger duh) and Page (you’re on your own) all with open air dining. So why am I writing this? Well because when you have your weekend guests and you want to get them out of the house for some privacy Saturday afternoon, send them to Sag. See this blog is good for something!
While I don’t consider Memorial Day Weekend the true D-day for summer rentals. That day is of course the first Friday of August. It does sometimes get a bit hairy for everybody. So how do I know? Well as we all know brokers and agents love to tell war stories. So, I’ve been collecting some tales while buying martinis or Malbacs. Believe me it’s worth it and the stories are quite entertaining.
In vino or vodka veritas! Although I’ve personally had nothing but smooth sailing with all of my landlords and tenants (Is my nose bigger?) this year, I’ll be happy to share with you some of my favorite anecdotes … so far… from the summer of 2013!
Now, this doesn’t seem very comfy does it?
Yes,the traditional “tenant goes to the wrong house” I heard happened again this year. Although unlike previous tales where there was a key indeed hidden in the fake rock by the side door, nobody actually moved into the wrong location! Somebody ate my porridge .. slept in my bed and ordered something on my pay per view account!!!
Ah, that’s nothing compared to what one agent told me. Let’s call this agent “Ted.” Well being the good agent he is Ted went to meet his tenants with a bottle of champagne (darn, there is a lot of drinking in the Hamptons) as they moved into their new summer rental. Well when hewent to check on the house, not only did Goldilocks sleep in the bed she liked it so much she took it with her! Yes, that’s right. Ted had bedlam because of not one but two missing beds. Apparently the landlord had decided to throw out some saggy mattresses but forgot to replace them! OOOPS! Luckily tragedy was avoided since there are like 20 Sleepy’s from Southampton to Amagansett.
Finally, this is an oldie but a goodie. Nobody decided to clean up after the bears left the cottage! The house keeper didn’t show??!? shocking! OOOOPS AGAIN! Luckily in this case the agent was a good sport and ran home to their house to get a vacuum cleaner and some clean sheets. The crisis was averted and everyone lived happily ever after …or at least until they got stuck in traffic on 27 Monday afternoon (I heard 4 hours E. Hampton to the city!).
Well last year, I did a little video for Elliman about what to expenses to anticipate for summer rentals. It’s on You Tube but didn’t get posted anywhere for people to find it. So, I am once again posting (with a little Hamptons Chatter Intro) this video reminder of what tenants should expect when they rent in the Hamptons. Feel free to use this video my fellow agents but next time you’re buying the drinks!
