Date Archives: June 2020

Everyone wants to live in a beautiful home. Warm weather means that most homeowners are making their way into the home improvement stores and dialing up contractors for those special projects around the house. Whether you plan to spend a little or a lot, our REALTORS® want you to get the most for your investment. Some remodeling projects are worth their weight in gold, while others will return pennies on the dollar. It's important to know which is which before you make your plans.

Golden Opportunities

You'll never get every penny you spend on remodeling back when you put the home on the market. However, the following will give you between 60-70% return. Where these investments are most valuable is in the foot traffic they'll generate from the listing.

• Update the Kitchen. The kitchen is the heart and hearth of the home. It's a place to gather and relax, to entertain and enjoy the company of family and friends. Thus, it should be comfortable, open, and updated to reflect modern design tastes. Farm sinks, plenty of storage, and stainless steel will go a long way toward attracting the attention of prospective buyers.
  
  
• Give the Master Bedroom a Facelift. The master bedroom is a retreat from work, family, and all the pressures on the other side of the door. Repainting and redecorating can give the bedroom a comfortable, relaxing ambiance.
       
• Polish the Bathroom. No one wants to take a bath in a dingy, dark, cramped bathroom. updating your bathroom with new tile, updated fixtures, comfortable lighting, and a fresh coat of paint is an investment in your comfort and the home's appeal to prospective buyers.
  
  
• Trim up the Landscape. Landscaping is often overlooked, but the fact is it's the first thing prospective buyers notice. Make sure that your grass is green, your trees are trimmed, and the flower beds look their best. If you don't have a green thumb, hire a professional landscaper to design an easy-to-maintain yard that blends into the neighborhood.

Money Pits to Avoid

• Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs. These flashy amenities are fun. However, they're expensive to install and costly to maintain. Further, most people don't use them as much as they think they will. Most sellers only recoup a fraction of the installation costs when they sell their home.
  
  
• Special-Purpose Rooms. It's great to have a nursery for your kids, a woodworking room for hobbies, and other special-purpose rooms. However, prospective buyers whose needs/interests don't match yours won't be willing to spend a premium for it; in fact, they'll likely ask for a price reduction so they can renovate it for their own special interests.
  
  
• More Garage Space. Unless you have none or extremely limited garage space, most people are content with a one or two-car garage. At most, you'll get 60% of your investment back when you sell the home.

The Final Rule of Thumb

Whether you plan to spend $1,000 or $50,000 on renovations, one thing every homeowner needs to keep an eye on is the value of real estate in the area. There is no limit to how much you can spend, but there is a limit on what buyers will pay. One of the first things they'll look at is home values in the neighborhood. If your home is $100,000 more than a comparable home for sale down the street, they'll get the contract.

Contact us for more information about remodeling projects we recommend to our clients. It's our pleasure to help you choose upgrades and features that will stand out in the market. 

Our REALTORS® are seeing more homeowners enjoy the benefits of a backyard fire pit.  Gathering around a warm fire with your family is an excellent way to spend an evening. When using a fire pit, safety should always be your priority. 

Backyard Fire Pit Safety

Whether you already own a fire pit or getting ready to install one, precautionary measures are necessary for your safety.  

• Permanent or Portable: When installing a fire pit, you must choose the best option for your backyard. You can easily customize a permanent fire pit to match the rest of your landscape theme. Installing a permanent fire pit ensures you are following all the safety measures with each use. Generally, steel or cast iron, a portable fire pit, is convenient for moving from one location to another. The downside is continuously checking your surroundings to ensure a proper area for using the fire pit.
  
  
• Location: Place the fire pit at least 10 feet away from your home, any other buildings, fencing, and your neighbor's yard. For the best safety measure, consider placing your fire pit 25 feet from any structures. Also, do not place the fire pit under your covered porch, awning, or tree branches.
  
  
• Patio Blocks: When positioning your fire pit, surround the area with patio blocks, concrete, or other non-flammable surfaces for extra protection. Keep the fire pit away from any type of wooden deck or porch.
  
  
• Clear the Area: When setting up your fire pit, clear the surrounding area of any vegetation, branches, or other flammable materials. Consider packing stones or dirt around the fi pit to contain the fire.
  
  
• Dig Down: When digging out the area for your fire pit, go down at least six inches and two feet across. Following these guidelines will help keep the fire and embers in a centralized location. If you do not dig down, the fire could quickly jump over the outer edge and create damage.
  
  
• Position Chairs:  Keep your chairs or benches back away from the fire pit. You want enough legroom to quickly get up and move about without getting too close to the fire.
  
  
• Watch Children and Pets: When sitting around the fire pit, always watch your children and pets. Do not leave them unsupervised by the fire. Following the 3 feet, away rule is always a good measure.
  
  
• Be a Weather Watcher: The weather can change quickly. Know the direction of the wind before you light the fire. Keep your smartphone around to check any weather updates.
  
  
• Fire Prevention: From the change in weather to a hot burning flame, keeping the fire under control is essential. Prepare for emergencies every time you light a fire. Keep a bucket of water on hand, invest in a fire extinguisher, or purchase a fire blanket to cover the entire pit immediately.
  
  
• Extinguish Your Fire: Before heading indoors for the night, make sure the fire is completely out. Use a bucket of water, spray with the garden hose, or cover with dirt.

Roasting marshmallows or cooking hot dogs, fire pits provide hours of fun for you and your family. When you follow all the safety guidelines, you don't need to worry about the flames getting away from you. If you are looking for Nassau County homes for sale or Suffolk County homes for sale with a large backyard for a fire pit, contact us.

Summer's almost here, and it's prime time for farmer's markets. Even though COVID-19 has changed the way some vendors do business, many Long Island farmer's markets are open for business. Whether you're looking for fresh flowers, produce, meat, or other hand-crafted local goodies, you'll find at some of our REALTORS® favorite farmer's markets.  

• Rockville Centre Farmers Market - Sunrise Highway, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 | Sundays, 7 am - 12 pm; June 7 - November 22
  Organized by the Long Island Growers Market, LLC, you'll find plenty of fresh, local fruits and veggies, warm-from-the-oven artisan breads, bagels, rolls and pastries, pickles, jams and jellies, empanadas, and so much more at this fun, friendly farmer's market. While you're at it, explore the area's diverse, walkable downtown, which is filled with restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues just steps from a multitude of Rockville Centre Homes for Sale.
  
  
• Islip Farmers Market - Islip Town Hall Parking Lot, Montauk Highway, Route 27A 655 Main St., Islip | Saturdays, 7 am –-12 pm, June 6 - November 21
  Also supported by the Long Island Grower's Market, Islip Farmer's Market is a great place to pick up local fare and get a feel for this quaint little town. So take a break from checking out Suffolk County homes for sale and give it a try. If you're concerned about safety, all vendors take pre-orders that can be picked up at the market.
  
  
• Kennedy Plaza Farmers Market - 307-369 National Blvd., Long Beach, NY 11561 | Saturdays & Wednesdays, June - November, 9 am - 2 pm
  Here you'll find shellfish and regional fish, tasty vegan baked goods, ice cream, locally-raised meat, and so much more. Or maybe you're in the mood for some local honey or maple syrup? Make a day of it when you go looking at Nassau County homes for sale and stop by Kennedy Plaza Farmer's Market for some scrumptious treats, and of course, fresh, healthy produce.
  
  
• Three Village Farmers Market - 93 N. Country Road, Setauket, NY 11733 | Fridays, June 12 - Oct 4, 3 pm - 7 pm
  If you're ready for a different kind of date night, Three Village fits the bill. Located on the North Shore of Long Island, this fun Friday night farmer's market is one of the best places to find local cheeses, eggs, and all types of hand-crafted artisanal products. Choose from a variety of unique hot sauces that span the full range of spicy, and then cool it down with some homemade fudge.
  
  
• Havens Farmers Market, 16 S. Ferry Road, Shelter Island, NY 11964 | Saturdays, 9 am - 12:30 pm
  From locally-crafted wine to a plethora of treats like homemade nut butters, pickles, fruit, vegetables, and cheese, this Shelter Island farmer's market is a can't-miss spot. The 10-minute ferry ride from the Greenport North Ferry Station gives you a breathtaking view of this gorgeous area nestled between the North and South Forks of Long Island.

Ready to learn more about Long Beach and its rich history and culture? Our experienced real estate professionals can help you find the home you've been looking for. Contact us today to get started.

The first Friday in June means one thing – it's time to eat the doughnuts! Believe it or not, National Doughnut Day has important historical significance. The Salvation Army Lassies served doughnuts to our troops on the front lines in Europe during WWI. The doughnuts were actually cooked inside of the troops' helmets, giving these infantrymen the nickname of "doughboys." Today, we celebrate their commitment to feeding our country's soldiers by enjoying these delicious baked goods.

National Doughnut Day falls on Friday, June 5th, this year and our REALTORS® are ready to dive into a box of delicious doughnuts. Whether you spell it "doughnut" or "donut", you do not want to miss out on tasty treats from these Long Island bakeries.

• East Main & Main – 250 E. Main St., Port Jefferson, NY 11777
  What does East Main & Main Donuts do? They crush doughnuts unlike anyone else on Long Island. Their offerings are outrageous. The Homer is a classic Simpsons-inspired doughnut with strawberry frosting and rainbow sprinkles. The Big Daddy is a huge Boston cream dipped in chocolate, while the Cereal Killer has milk frosting and fruity pebbles cereal. From the Holy Cannoli to the Rainbow Cookie and Reese's Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, we suggest you just order one of each so you can sample them all! Better yet, celebrate National Doughnut Day every weekend and stop in for a new doughnut every weekend that you tour Port Jefferson homes for sale.
  
  
• Stella Blue – 188 New York Ave., Huntington, NY 11743
  Make National Doughnut Day extra groovy with a few sweet treats from Stella Blue. This Grateful Dead-themed bistro, just across the road from the best Huntington homes for sale, is known as a foodie paradise. Order a few of their homemade doughnuts, available in powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar varieties accompanying chocolate and vanilla dipping sauces. Thankfully, their only sizes are a dozen or a half-dozen, which means no judgment if you order by the boxful.
  
  
• Wall's Bake Shop – 1336 Broadway, Hewlett, NY 11557
  Are you going to surprise your coworkers with boxes upon boxes of doughnuts? Let Wall's Bake Shop help you out. Just a quick drive on your way to work from beautiful neighborhoods with Hewlett homes for sale, Wall's is churning out baked goods of every variety, including scrumptious doughnuts. Sneak an extra box for yourself and make National Doughnut Day an all-day affair.
  
  
• Hummel Hummel Bakery – 572 Larkfield Rd., East Northport, NY 11731
  If you've moved into one of our East Northport homes for sale, you've certainly heard of the world-famous "Pizza Crumbs" from Hummel Hummel Bakery. What you may not know is that they also whip up fantastic doughnuts. They've got you covered with all of the classics: Boston cream, jelly, French crullers, glazed twists, and Sunday doughnuts. They also have a selection of danishes if you're looking for a little variety.
  
  
• Bagel Chalet – 36 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack, NY 11725
  Don't let their name fool you! Bagel Chalet knows how to make a tasty doughnut, especially if you're searching for something other than the basic glazed. Not far from Commack homes for sale, head over to Bagel Chalet for a bear claw or a danish. If you just so happen to grab a bagel and a smear on National Doughnut Day, we won't tell as long as you bring us one too!

Do you want to grab a box of doughnuts and cruise around Long Island looking for Suffolk County homes for sale? We're here to help! Contact us today to schedule virtual tours or private showings of Suffolk and Nassau County homes for sale.