Happy Halloween - Some Folklore and History

The origins of Halloween are believed to date back over 2,000 years ago to a Celtic festival known as Samhain. This festival, held around the end of October, marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed the night of October 31 was a day when the living and dead overlapped, and the dead returned to earth. Fearing evil intent from the returned dead, festival goers wore costumes and donned masks so as not to be recognized.

In the 7^th century, All Martyrs Day, November 1^st, became a day to honor all saints and martyrs, in the Roman church.  About 400 years later, the Roman church dedicated November 2^nd, as All Souls Day in honor of the dead. This day was celebrated with dressing up in devil, angel and saint costumes, and with bonfires and parades.  All Saints Day celebration was also referred to as All-hallows and the night before began to be called All-hallows eve which eventually became Halloween. Both All Saints Day and All Souls Day are still celebrated today by Roman Catholics and some Protestants.

Through the centuries, the traditions of feasting, wearing costumes and door-to-door trick-or-treating grew in Europe and eventually came to the United States.  Halloween became the mainstream, money making holiday that we know, with costumes for sale in shops and decorations, candy, etc. beginning in the 1930’s.

Enjoy the day and festivities. Be safe. Share the “history” with the children!

LET’S MAKE CLEAN WATER A SOUTHOLD TOWN INITIATIVE

One of the most important long-term issues we face as town residents, homeowners and citizens of the part of the world we live in is to address water quality and future impact of climate change TODAY - before it becomes a major crisis of the future.

Property owners who are on the water have an even greater responsibility to address their stewardship of the land-waterfront entrusted to them.  It’s easy enough to say, let someone else worry about it, I’m going to plant my green lawn to the waterline, or I’m going to blow those leaves into the creek.

Clean water is essential to life and one very important thing that we must do is address the quality of our water today and into the future.

SoutholdVOICE, a not-for-profit organization, is taking this challenge seriously and addressing pragmatic solutions. This Saturday, October 26^th, there will be an INFORMATION SESSION and WORKSHOP on the Suffolk County initiative, “Reclaim Our Water.” Learn from Suffolk County Health Department and Industry Experts - how you can replace conventional cesspool and septic systems with innovative, low nitrogen systems and pay for all or part of the cost with a grant.

Come join us, become familiar with the issues and what you can do that is real and concrete. Set an example for you children…

When: Saturday, October 26, 2019, 9 - 11:30 AM

Where: American Legion Hall 51655 Main Road, Southold

House Plants for a Healthier Home

While plants certainly help beautify our homes, they also provide several health benefits when they are indoors.   Studies show that indoor plants offer wonderful advantages:

Increase Oxygen

 Most plants release oxygen throughout the day.  Orchids and Gerbera Daisies, release oxygen at night too.  So, they might help you sleep better.  For those of us who answer the “unsolicited” 3am wake-up call – it’s worth a try!

Improve Air Quality

Plants remove toxins that can cause headaches, nausea and certain respiratory issues.  House plants are especially beneficial in the fall and winter months when we spend more time indoors and it’s too cold to open windows for extended periods of time.

Increase Productivity

Studies show that children are more attentive in classrooms and people are more productive at computer tasks with plants in the room. Plants are not just for the home – they should be in our schools and workplaces as well. 

Decrease Dryness

Several plants placed together in a room add moisture and humidity.  Again, heating systems in winter months tend to take humidity from the air.  Plants can offer a natural solution to a humidifier.

Reduce Stress and Fatigue

Plants can help us unwind and relax.  I have lots of orchids in my home and it’s wonderful just to admire their intricate beauty.  But also, when I water, fertilize and tend to them, it takes my mind off the daily routine and I find it very relaxing.

Consider plants for your home and when you are thinking of a gift for someone, think about a plant – it beautifies any room and has wonderful health benefits as well! 

 Source: RIS Media, October 16, 2019.

FALL – THE RIGHT TIME TO BUY (…and sell!)

Summer’s over, but if you’re a serious buyer, NOW is the time to step up your search.  Maybe you slacked off with the beautiful weather we had this summer and even the past few weeks.  But now it’s time to get back on track because there are opportunities in the marketplace, interest rates are still low and wouldn't it be wonderful to have your house lined up before it starts to snow!

The market has been quite active. Homes have been coming on the market and there are more possibilities especially at the mid-range level.  The fall may be just the right time to find your second home or waterfront trade-up at the right price.

Home owners, who haven’t sold are often more open to negotiate as they move forward with their winter plans.  A fall/winter purchase of a second home allows you to have time to update, paint or furnish and be in your new home before the spring.  

Remember a serious buyer, doesn’t stop looking because the season changes.  If you are thinking about buying on the North Fork, don’t put it off to next year.   The North Fork is particularly beautiful in the fall with lots of things to do.  Call us at 631 765 5333.  Come visit our office at the corner of Main Road and Horton's Lane in Southold. We’re local and we’re here for you all year round! 

How to List and Sell Your House Before Year-End

We all know that the housing market is cyclical and changes over the years, but also as we move from one season to another. Pricing and demand that goes up eventually goes down, and the hot summer housing market often cools by the time winter rears its chilly head.

If you need to sell your house and can’t wait for next year’s warm-weather sales surge, you should act quickly to put your home on the market. To get to the closing table sooner rather than later, you may need to adjust your expectations and approach. Here are six steps you can take to sell your home before the new year is here. 

1.      Rely on comps—not emotion—to set a realistic asking price.
Experts say you’ll want to jump into the housing market with a realistic asking price that has the potential to stick. This part is often hard for sellers to accept, since many want to “test the market” with a higher sales price with the possibility of dropping it later. Often a seller will choose the realtor who suggests the highest price. But an unrealistic price, may put the house in an unfavorable position when compared to homes in the same price range. Partner with your realtor and carefully consider their advice.

2.      Make improvements that are “essential” to a quick sale.
If you’re to sell quickly, you will need to enter the market with your best foot forward. This means having a house that is easy to sell and free of glaring problems. Discuss with your realtor possible improvements to avoid losing out on a sale due to defects or even minor issues that can be addressed before hand.

3.      Clean, organize and declutter.
Take down family photos and straighten out closets right away, but also get going on a major cleanup inside and out. Do everything within your budget to give a great first impression. For example, give your front door a fresh coat of paint, trim back overgrown shrubs and keep your lawn in tip-top shape, and free of falling leaves. The interior should be clean and ready for last-minute showings at all times. Stay on top of cleanliness. Nobody wants to walk through a dirty house.

4.      Consider hiring a professional stager.
Home stagers help make a home visually appealing. We offer home staging as part of our services at no additional cost to the homeowner - we have furniture, art and décor. Most experts say staging works. In fact, a recent study from the National Association of REALTORS® showed that 83% of buyer’s agents said staging helped their clients envision living in that specific home. 28% of seller’s agents said they staged all of selling clients’ homes before putting them on the market.

5.      Make sure your agent springs for professional photos and video.
Most all home marketing is done online now—either through multiple listing services (MLS), real estate websites, email marketing or a combination of all of these avenues. The photos and videos are the first thing a prospective buyer sees – it’s important.

6.      Consider an optional pre-sale home inspection.
If you have concerns about the condition of your home, paying for a home inspection upfront may be a good idea. With prior knowledge of issues like missing shingles on your roof or faulty electrical work, for example, you can fix these problems before putting your home on the market and  you will be more likely to sell quickly, since most buyers are leery of major repairs left undone.

        If you take steps to avoid problems that turn off potential buyers, you’ve increased the probability of getting a deal before the end of the year. Call us at 631 765 5333, we’ll help you get it done.

Source: RISMedia, 6 Tips to Sell Your House Before the End of the Year, Holly D. Johnson,

Bankrate.com.