Craigslist For Renting Your Home in The Hamptons

Photo, JoAnna Levenglick

If you are looking to rent or sell your house you can easily upload picture files on Craigslist and within seconds you will see your ad. That is the easy part. The hard part is dealing with the people who respond. I have been listing my house for some time now dealing with vacation renters, and I have never come across so many unreliable people who think that you will allow a group of 10-20 people in your home for 1000 dollars. That is just one problem, is that many people don't want to pay. The other problem is that many people who say they are going to do something fall through, and don't. One example was just this past weekend when I got an email from a woman in Manhattan who booked days in advance to come out and see the house on a Sunday. She told me 1 pm and I planned my day around her time preference. Once 1 pm rolled around....no woman in sight. I finally called her after 45 min. and she told me that she was just leaving Manhattan and would not be at my place until 3. I told her fine. She had emailed while in transit and confirmed that she was coming. To make a long story short after numerous emails back and forth, and me setting aside my day to meet with her, she never came. Just today I had a guy who confirmed a rental and said that payment would be made on Monday. When Monday rolled around, he said Tuesday for sure. Finally on Tuesday he called to tell me that he could not do it. Why do people have to be so irresponsible? I also notice that most people who respond to my ads do it while at work using the email address from their office. I wonder what the boss would say if he/she knew.

Photo, JoAnna Leveglick

My Impression of the Real Estate Market in the Hamptons

I took a drive into the town of Southampton today and noticed that there were people everywhere. There is no doubt that people cannot live without their time out in the Hampton's. The difference this year is that people are changing their outlook to a more budget mode. They come in groups, and take less time when they rent a house. The thing that most people who want deals should understand that the cost of having a home has not declined in line with the economy. Taxes are the same with no discounts, electric, propane gas, pool man and gardening is all the same. I had contacted one man who owned a local nursery and wanted 30,ooo plus dollars just for some trees and doing the lawn. I had asked my pool man how business was, and he said don't believe what you hear on the news. Well, only time will tell. I do think that people will continue to take their vacations in the Hampton's for a lot of reasons; tradition, location, the beaches, the scene, beauty and much more.

Photo, JoAnna Levenglick

Kelly Ripa is One of Many Celebrities Who Has a House in The Hamptons

Actress, and talk show host on, "Live With Regis and Kelly'" likes to spend her summer time out in the Hampton's. There are celebrities everywhere, and I guess that is one of the many things that make the Hampton's a popular place for people to go.

Photo, JoAnna Levenglick

A Nice Mailbox Goes A Long Way!

It doesn't take much to make your mailbox look more attractive. I had to look for a long time online and locally in shops to find a mail box that is a bit unique and nice. Once I found one, I had to take it one step further and add flowers to it. It is a simple notion, but goes a long way. Your mailbox is one of the first things you see when you drive up to your house. The real estate brokers always point out that your house should have curb appeal. I mentioned earlier that most homes in the Hampton's have very basic, and in some cases really unattractive mail boxes. Someone did tell me that the local kids like to throw balls at them, but I find that a bad reason for not making an effort. This is the mail box that I chose and help design. I hope you like it.

Photo, JoAnna Levenglick

Mort Zuckerman has a Very Special Passion In The Hamptons

I love Mort Zuckerman! You can see him as a guest on many of the Sunday mornig talk shows, and CNBC.
He is quite the guy; well educated, and very successful! I love how he gives his feedback about the economy and various businesses. He is the owner of Boston Properties, and US News and World Report...just to name a few! He grew up in Montreal, and attended McGill at the age of 16.
Moved on to the Wharton Business School and Harvard Law. He is smart and has a good grip on business.
He has a home in East Hampton, and he shares a special passion while in town. He is a pitcher of the softball team. How sweet is that? Photo, JoAnna Levenglick

Gas Ripoffs...These 2 Stations Are Across the Street From Each Other

Look at the prices of the each: One has 2.79.9 for super, the other has 257.9. I literally drove across highway 27 to compare the prices. The guy who had the higher prices said that he can charge whatever he wants. What I found interesting was that he had no business. This is an fine example of a Hampton's rip off! Photo, JoAnna Levenglick

Phto, JoAnna Levenglick

My Big Nest!

It was suggested to my by a landscape designer that I should get rid of this area of brush on the side of my house. It is not bad once all of the plants have blossomed. It is not that big, but I find it rather beautiful, since you do not see wild growth so much in the Hampton's, since everything is so well manicured. I must point out that the rest of my property is very manicured. Anyway, the reason why I kept it too is that I was advised that the birds love it and if I got rid of it-the birds would be gone. My priority was to hear that wonderful sound of birds singing, as a result I kept the nest of brush so I can hear a lot of bird singing while I make my pot of coffee. I have to admit...I love it!

Photo, JoAnna Levenglick