Laffey Knows

Your home reflects the love and attention you have poured into it over the years. Colors and furnishings that make you feel at home may not be as attractive to a prospective buyer. When you prepare for an open house, consider how it looks from a buyer's perspective. You can easily augment what you have or make minor adjustments to improve its marketability.

Our real estate agents have compiled a list of six straightforward steps to spruce up your Long Island home for an open house.

1. Clear away the clutter
   This can be an excellent opportunity to begin purging in anticipation of a move. Pack up your personal trinkets, photos, and other items that you don't use on a daily basis. Clear off the countertops and coffee table. You want buyers to see the home, not the stuff. Store the boxes neatly in a closet or the garage.
   
   

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Thanksgiving foodies have a great reason to love living on Long Island. Some of Long Island's favorite restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving Day serving traditional turkey dinners, while others allow you to order off an a la carte menu.

This year, instead of cooking and cleaning for days, why don't you let someone else do the hard work? Our real estate agents recommend dining at one of these six Long Island restaurants on Thanksgiving Day.

1. Brasserie Americana Bar, Lounge & Restaurant - 30 Cutter Mill Road, Great Neck, New York 11021
   The Brasserie Americana Bar, Lounge & Restaurant hosts a Thanksgiving buffet beginning at noon.  The meal includes a carving station and sides, such as pumpkin ravioli, candied sweet potatoes, and cornbread stuffing. It also features desserts including a chocolate fondue station. It costs $42.95, with children 10 and under half price. 

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Many of us wait eagerly for the holidays and all of its festivities. From endless Christmas shopping to holiday parties or an extended vacation, you are on the go and having fun. Unfortunately, burglars have a better chance of robbing your house during the holiday season if it's left unoccupied. 

Our real estate agents have created this list of seven smart tips to outsmart the bad guys:

1. Stay Off Social Media
   It may be tempting to post that you booked a two-week getaway to Maui for the holidays all over Facebook or Twitter, but remember you just posted that info for anyone to see. This also applies to posting pictures of your decorated house as it gives potential burglars clues of where you live.
   
   

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Whether your Long Island home listing is new or a continuation from the summer selling rush, fall gives you a seasonal do-over. It's a time when many home sellers step away from marketing mode, but that doesn't mean you should give up too.  

Our real estate agents have a better idea. Why not push for a year-end sale? We market homes all year long, so we know that fall is a great time to seal a deal. 

Here are five reasons why:

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When you're searching for a new home, there are plenty of things to consider. You want a house with all the amenities you need, is affordable, and is located in a great Long Island community. If you think you've found the ideal home, but your commute to work will be less than perfect, should it be a deal-breaker? The answer is "it depends." 

It's no secret that your lifestyle has a significant influence on whether a home will make you happy. If the house you're considering has everything you need, including an otherwise great location, you may find that a long drive to work is acceptable. However, if a long commute will put a serious damper on your day-to-day life, it's likely that the sacrifice won't be worth it. We have gathered a few important points to consider when making your final decision. 

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When you start your search for Huntington homes for sale, you'll soon understand why Money Magazine named our town to its 50 Best Places to Live in America list.  

Our real estate agents work hard to share information with clients about everything that makes buying a home in Huntington great from our art, culture, recreation, and plenty of spots for fun, relaxation, and entertainment. We recommend that you make time in your schedule for an exciting evening at The Paramount. It's one of the city's landmark locations, and it's a great place to let your hair down.

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Merrick homes for sale are fast becoming some of the most desirable in Long Island – not only as an amazing place to live but as an investment for the future. 

Our real estate agents have helped introduce hundreds of clients to Merrick, and we're proud to say so many of them are now living happily with an authentic Long Island lifestyle.

Senior executives, retirees, and rising professionals have all been attracted to the Merrick area for its amenities and unique charm. And one of the most popular ways to spend time outdoors in and around Merrick is the great pastime of golf.

Golfers of all skill levels will find courses ranging in difficulty from an enjoyable and relaxed outing to a tough, strategic challenge – sometimes, all of the above in the same nine or eighteen holes.

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Uniondale homes for sale sit at the crossroads of some of the region's most beloved amenities. Our real estate agents are familiar with all the many great reasons to move here and will help you find a home that truly lets you make the most of the area.

With nearly 25,000 residents, Uniondale is the home of a Hofstra University campus as well as many other landmarks that enrich its culture. In particular, it has a thriving pro sports and entertainment scene. All of that is centered on the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

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Our real estate agents know you have plenty of options when it comes to selecting a professional to help you sell your house. Choosing the right one is a step that will help you reach your goals with ease.

So, no matter whether you select us or not, we want to help you make an informed decision.

There are two significant mistakes sellers make when looking for a listing agent:

1. Picking an agent based on who will list your home for the highest price.
2. Picking an agent based on who will offer you the lowest commission.

Let's delve deeper into the reasons that these are mistakes:

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Huntington homes for sale are attracting plenty of acclaim these days, and our real estate agents are ready to handle the increased demand. But, naturally, even the most dedicated house-hunters don't spend all of their time looking for homes – they also want to get acclimated to Long Island's Gold Coast and all its amenities and sights. And what sights they are!

The Gold Coast is known for both its natural and man-made wonders.  In addition to the Gold Coast's beach and historic lighthouses, it has a collection of gorgeous mansions. Some modern, some historical, all of these fabulous constructions are impressive in their own way. There are even mansion tours so you can see all of them in a whirlwind tour that will leave you breathless.

If you only have time to see one magnificent mansion, though, we have the pick for you.  It's the Oheka Castle, also known as the Otto Kahn Estate.

And it stands out as truly unique in an area that's replete with architectural wonders. 

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