patrick mclaughlin

Design of the TImes!

So everyday, I have people ask me, “why hasn’t my house rented/sold!?”    While I’ve spoken about things like pricing, marketing and bad agents there is also one that comes up often.  It’s the house that hasn’t had a make over in 20 years.   While there are some savvy home buyers who can see the potential with any house with good bones, most can’t see through the chipping paint, worn out carpeting and dated furniture.

So what can you do to make your home more marketable?  Well you can hire an interior designer or home stager for one.  One of my friends who also happens to be MY home designer Drew McGukin (I may be stylish but my taste in home decor is a bit “off” so I hired him) recently stopped by to discuss what is “in” and what is “out” in home furnishings.   He also gave me some great ideas for what’s in , what’s out and where to get the best bang for your buck!   I hope you find this as fun to watch as I had talking with him…

An Ode to Spring and some Food Fodder for the East End!

Well some good news for those who love a good steak or a great juicy burger.  Sag Harbor’s venerable favorite Cromer’s Meat Market is setting up shop in the Hamptons Market on Race Lane.   In case you’re not aware, they also provide meats to more than a dozen restaurants on the East End.  So you know they’re pretty good.   Signs in the market indicate it will be opening today (March 21st).     If you remember, there hasn’t been a butcher there since before the market suffered from a fire and forced renovation about a year ago.   A nice ode to spring unless of course you’re a cow!

Meanwhile, sometimes a name change is just a name change   The former Agave in Bridgehampton… which is not to be confused with the old Agave in Sag Harbor or the current Agave in Westhampton… has changed its name to Mercado.  According to their website, this is due to the constant confusion with the other said restaurants.  Now, I know and I have heard the criticism that this place is the worst thing to happen to Mexican food since The Blue Parrot but I disagree.   The food is actually pretty good.   I’ve gone in a few times and tried the fajitas, burritos, chips, guacamole, salads, margaritas and more.  All were pretty standard and actually better than any other Mexican restaurant (other than LaFondita) in the Hamptons.   The only thing that drove me to drink after my dinner was the fact the service was the equivalent of being water boarded.    But hey it’s the most edible Mexican menu with eat in service in town.    I have a few friends who actually like La Superica in Sag Harbor, but I’ll to reserve judgment for now and try again when they open for the season. If you’re a person who loves new places and things, you’ve more than likely visited Trip Advisor.  You know the place where every day folks let you know what they think of this hotel or that restaurant.   For example, if you want a good chuckle read the reviews on Blue Parrot.    Well I recently logged onto the site and I noticed something a little odd.  The “East End Eating Disorder Center” is apparently seeking reviews on the site. While, I’m not so sure if this is a good idea, I can assure you there will be no middle ground.  My guess is most of the reviews are either the portions are too large or in fact too small.  Now, I’m not making fun of eating disorders but you have to admit, this is weird.  Besides if people are eating too much it’s just as easy to take them to Blue Parrot.

Speaking of weird, do you remember that WALK OF SHAME kit that Svedka Vodka produced a few summers ago?  Well with out going into detail, you can click here.  I’m sure the folks at this summer rental had these kits in abundance.    And you thought your summer renters were bad!

UPDATE: It looks like the Cromer’s move is a few days off.   Look for the opening this weekend.

A “Ruffarendum” in the Hamptons, plus some rental advice for the landlord!

Well some interesting things have developed with me in the past few weeks.    I have decided after almost a decade with Douglas Elliman real estate in a management position to become a full time agent with the company.  So what does that mean to you?   It means I’m going to have more time to blog and help buyers and sellers with their needs in the Hamptons.  So, if you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell out east , make sure to let me know!

Anyway, rentals seem to be on fire lately.  I personally am up by about 30% more year to date on the number of rentals I’ve done.   But its funny so many people in the Hamptons will put their houses on the market for rent but not understand how it’s done.  So, I’m doing a little beginners guide here for the potential landlord and some terms you should know!

The open listing – Many rentals in the Hamptons are what they call open listings, meaning each company has their own data for summer rentals and that information is not shared electronically, like an exclusive sale.   That’s not to say that agents don’t talk and share information but it’s not coming from one central source.    This is why you may see the same home listed for different prices and time periods on varying web sites.    You can indeed make it an exclusive and make sure access is limited but often this may discourage some agents from showing your house over another where they will make the lion’s share of the commission.    My suggestion is give your rental listing to an agent you trust and ask them to send out a “courtesy” listing to some select agents at other companies.     This way you’re competitive and the agents are all getting the same information.

Permits baby! –  As with anything in life you have obligations and responsibilities when you become a landlord.   Claiming ignorance if you should be sued is not a defense and they have a tendency to go all “Judge Judy” when you go and try to use this as a defense.    Make sure you know the rules before you decide to sign that lease.   Make sure you google the regulations for what is acceptable and when renting in Southampton make sure you have a permit.  I’ve heard stories of tenants suing their landlords for silly reasons at the end of the season and getting their entire rent refunded because the landlord didn’t have a permit.  Yes, people rent without permits but is it worth the risk?  That is your call.

Credit Call – Remember those stories about the guy who was renting Hamptons houses for High School proms only to trash them and leave the landlords holding the bills.  You don’t?!  Then you want to make sure your prospective tenant isn’t hat guy has the funds to pay the rent and pay any potential damages.  It’s really no big deal and doesn’t take much time at all.   Here is one (tenant screening report)  I just googled as I was writing this blog!   It’s not an endorsement but just an illustration of how easy this is to obtain.

Call the Pros!!! – When it comes to insurance, the tax liability and the legal rights within your lease, call the prospective professionals.   The lawyer, the tax professional and an insurance broker are your best friends when it comes to keeping your self protected.  While many agents will give you advice, do yourself a favor, call a pro!!!

Meanwhile, the fur is flying in the Hamptons over all things… poop!   In case you missed it in the NEW YORK POST last week (even my sister in Florida saw it), there is new push to ban dogs from the beach!   So who has a bone with Russell and Bella???   Well recently I had a few friends stop by and we discussed the issue at hand.

 

I’m baaaaaaaaaaaaaacccccccck! Again. Today’s topic… an unsuspecting, devastating and very stylish looking danger in the Hamptons!!!

So, June was indeed a busy month for me.  But I’m not going to go into that.  I’ve got a few good blog postings in me and I promise I’ll try to get them out soon!  So where to begin?

Innocent looking… yes!?

Well, the thing that came to mind and got me back to my keyboard was a little tidbit that came from a friend who’s a volunteer fireman in Bridgehampton.    While I see many folks out there in the Hamptons pouring into Spanks and hiking the beach in Christian Louboutin’s all for the sake of appearances.  Where am I going with this?  Well, the town of East Hampton just bought matching Moncler outfits for their entire fire department!  Just kidding.   Let me get back to my point that is really actually quite off point.

Well you know those shiny candle lanterns that adorn so many Hamptons landscapes, well apparently they’re  deadly?  Ok, well maybe not deadly but they created a virtual TOWERING INFERNO the other day in Bridgehampton that would do Irwin Allen proud!   Apparently one home owner left one of these stylish and sleek adornments outside during last weeks heat wave.  The problem was the glass on the lantern acted as a sort of magnifying glass and burned a hole right in the side of the unsuspecting homeowners beautiful cedar shake abode!  YIKES!   Talk about a need for some Restoration Hardware… get it?

Finally, a little chuckle from the crazy tenants file!  You know that red switch for the furnace and hot water heater?  Well in some of the older homes, these switches look like something more out of Doctor Frankensteins lab.  I mean Dr. Frankunsteen’s lab.   Anyway, its a bad place for your wife to hang her purse!  Because when you hang a purse on the switch, it goes down and the furnace goes off and you have no hot water.  It’s that simple.  You’re a CEO and you needed me to figure that one out?!  Just saying!