Episode 260 - Ed Gaetjens

Discussing the Importance of Maintaining Relationships

The Hamptons can feel like a world-famous destination, but the way business works out here is pure small town: everyone’s connected, word travels fast, and your reputation is the real asset you can’t afford to gamble with. We start with a story about losing a listing, staying respectful anyway, and watching the relationship come back around, a reminder that “don’t burn bridges” isn’t just good manners, it’s smart real estate strategy.

Then we get into the fun part: new construction and standout listings that are ready for summer. We spotlight a Southampton Village home at 109 David Whites Lane that’s beautifully built, walkable to the village, and somehow fits seven ensuite bedrooms into 4,200 square feet, plus entertaining-friendly outdoor spaces. We also run through multiple turnkey builds in Bridgehampton and Southampton, packed with the amenities buyers keep asking for right now: gunite pools, outdoor kitchens, theaters, saunas, cold plunges, and furnished options that make moving in feel effortless.

To ground it all, we share this week’s Hamptons real estate market numbers including deals in contract, dollar volume, and the steady flow of new inventory as Memorial Day approaches. And because the East End isn’t only about houses, we wrap with Mother’s Day weekend restaurant specials and events across Montauk, Shelter Island, and Sag Harbor. If you like practical market intel with local flavor, subscribe, share this with a friend shopping the Hamptons, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

For more information, please reach out to the Gaetjens Robertson Team at Saunders & Associates.

Gaetjens Robertson Team
Saunders & Associates

Email: GaetjensRobertsonTeam@Saunders.com
Ed: 201-707-7178
Jen: 516-382-5154

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Transcript

Andrew Doud 0:08

All right, it's Thursday, everyone. I'm Andrew Dowd. Time for a Happening the Hamptons podcast, our weekly breakdown of the Hamptons market, new listings, and events on the East End. We are sponsored as always by New York Title Abstract, the Hamptons leading title insurance firm. Visit NewYorktle.com. Mr. Steve Glick, Dave Rattiner, and today return guest, always a pleasure, Ed Gageens. How are you, sir?

Ed Gaetjens 0:29

I absolutely love being here. I'm glad that I could do it. But my partner Jen's away. Yep. Because Jen is a fantastic mother, and she's also a fantastic daughter. She's going up to Westchester to pick up her mom. Nice to bring her home for the weekend to you. Because it is Mother's Day. Because it's Mother's Day. Big weekend. It is Mother's Day. It's Mother's Day. So happy Mother's Day to everybody in advance.

Steve Glick 0:51

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.

Andrew Doud 0:53

I always appreciate the energy Ed brings to to the show, to the office for the morning.

Dave Rattiner 0:59

You know, to any human cup of coffee.

Reputation Matters And Bridges

Andrew Doud 1:03

It's like just caffeinated, ready to rock and roll. So we were talking before before we hit the record button. Um I always tell people that what's that saying? There's like six degrees of separation in the world. And I always say there's one degree of separation in the Hamptons. Chances are that somebody you know knows another person you know. Like it it's very tight-knit. And so I've always said, you know, that if you want to be successful in business out here, you have to, your reputation's kind of everything. And that goes, what goes along with that is this idea of sometimes deals come and go, and sometimes deals come around. But but there's a a a real importance to in life, I think, but also in business, not burning bridges. And you have a story you wanted to share about that.

Ed Gaetjens 1:49

No, I it's it's interesting because I mean obviously, you know, I've been doing this for a short number of years compared to some of the other agents out here, but I try to always like bring bring a caring and bring a love all the time for people. And sometimes, you know, you have a listing and you lose it, or you'll get a listing from somebody else. But I try never really to burn bridges with people. And you know, last week someone who I lost a listing from, you know, came to me. He said, Hey, you know, you know, we we did this without you, but hey, would you be interested in coming back? And I'm like, absolutely, man. You know, I I want to be, I want to be there to help people regardless. And sometimes, you know, things happen, but I always want to be available to help people because that's what I do, and that's who I am.

Dave Rattiner 2:34

No, but what when they when they told you that they didn't want to work with you at the end of the when you had the listing before, but how were you emotional?

Ed Gaetjens 2:41

I'm emotion I get I get into it. I'm I'm into it. I love my clients, and it's I don't look at it in as a transactional way. I try to be transformative with people and it hurts me, but I pull it back in and I wish them luck and I move on and hope that in the future we'll still stay friends.

Steve Glick 2:58

Yeah, sometimes you can't you can't take it personal either. You just have to say, look, it's a business decision, and um, and you always have to tell them, hey, look, the door is always open. If you want to come back, we're you'll welcome them with open arms. And it looks like in this situation that it's all gonna come back around. So the door is always open. It can't come.

Andrew Doud 3:17

The sun is shining like Eddie G on the on the good and the bad. You know what I mean? Happy people, how you end things or how you leave things off can be can be the difference on whether it comes back in a positive way or a negative way for you.

Ed Gaetjens 3:28

You know, and everybody every like when you in the Hamptons, it's kind of like small town living out here. People think of this as this mecca of the rich, and but you drive around and you see people and you beep the horn at them. It's small town living out here. I love that.

Andrew Doud 3:43

You see a lot of same faces, a lot of same cars around.

Dave Rattiner 3:45

Yeah, especially if you're local.

Spotlight Listings And New Builds

Andrew Doud 3:47

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, all right, so that's a good story. So moral of the story is be kind to everybody, you know? Absolutely. Um, especially as traffic picks up this summer. Be kind to you know that. Um let's let's talk about let's talk a little business. You're you're a busy guy. You got a lot of great listings, a lot of new constructions. Um, what do you want to highlight today? I mean, I a lot of great stuff, absolutely.

Ed Gaetjens 4:10

109 David White's Lane. I I can't there's something about this house that I can't believe it's still around. You know, at 5395 in the village, in the heart of the Southampton Village Southampton Village. It's right there. 4200 square feet. The gentleman who was the GC on it was a buddy of mine from Farrell Building. And if you walk into this house, you will see the craftsmanship, quality, everything.

Steve Glick 4:37

There's a great tea. Absolutely.

Ed Gaetjens 4:39

You know, I this house, it's surprising me, it's still around, but I'm around what's unique about this house is that you have that double driveway, right?

Steve Glick 4:46

You can access to the front, but also on the side, you have that detached garage, but then you have this like covered pool house area. Yeah, yeah. You can really do anything. It's great for entertaining. It's great for entertaining. Um, and it's kind of unique in Southampton Village. Um, this house, brand new construction, ready to go. You can move in tomorrow.

Dave Rattiner 5:06

Well, we had we had the office meeting there, and it was just seven. Everybody loves it. It's a warm house, man. I mean, we we enjoyed it. It's like we were all in the living room. You had the music going, you could look out at the pool. Seven bedrooms, this is what it's all about seven bedrooms in there.

Ed Gaetjens 5:19

All ensuite. Even the basement, the basement bedrooms are en suite, unheard of.

Andrew Doud 5:24

If you looked at this house in the street, you got there's no way of seven bedrooms in there. Yeah. No way. It's so thoughtfully designed and thought out. I mean, it it flows, it's perfect.

Ed Gaetjens 5:31

And the great thing is like in in the Southampton Village and and and the surrounding areas there, they max out the house. So that house is maxed out at 4,200 square feet.

Andrew Doud 5:40

But that's fine. But you still have, I mean, you still got like green space on your lawn here. Plenty of things.

Steve Glick 5:45

You walk right into the village, you're right there. Yeah. Love the house. Come and see it. We'll have an open house. Yeah, Ed, you got a couple new constructions.

Ed Gaetjens 5:51

Oh, I got 54th Sawasset with in in Bridgehampton Village. Another one. It's a bridgeham village. Yeah, I mean, that place, you know, you're coming in around 6,500 square feet on three levels, you know, six-tenths of an acre, massive backyard.

Andrew Doud 6:04

I mean, I love these pools that have the the built-in hot tub with like the little lounge. That's cool.

Steve Glick 6:11

Nothing like that.

Andrew Doud 6:12

Yeah, yeah, nothing like that.

Steve Glick 6:15

So this is 54 Sawassit, new construction. You also have another new construction home there on Middle Line Highway in Southampton. 116 Middle Line Highway.

Ed Gaetjens 6:26

Okay, this place, I can't understand why it's still around here. 1995. No, I know you guys laugh at me, but I can't understand this.

Dave Rattiner 6:33

It is absolutely beautiful. All three of these listings are. The owner asked me what could we do?

Ed Gaetjens 6:40

He's like, What can we do with this house? He's like, well, have patience, but he put in closets, he put in a gym, and he's selling it with the furniture, gun-eyed pool, covered porch, outdoor shower, outdoor kitchen. Come on. Look at the details in the hardwood, too.

Andrew Doud 6:57

You know what I mean? I mean, this is really thoughtfully done.

Steve Glick 7:00

And you have another another new construction on Grove Avenue. Okay.

Ed Gaetjens 7:04

This this place we dropped the price from $5795. Another place fully furnished, all the closets done. Okay. This house, I mean, you want to you want quiet? Yep, I do. Off of ocean off of off of ocean view parkway, you can't hear a pin drop out there. You hear the leaves rustling, maybe a deer running around, a little fox. I saw a fox there the other day, which is pretty incredible, which means absolutely good luck when you see a little red fox. This house, again, seven bedrooms coming in around 7,000 square feet on on all three levels.

Dave Rattiner 7:38

And the amenities.

Ed Gaetjens 7:38

You got the the movie theater, you got a movie theater, you got a covered porch outside, you have an outdoor kitchen, gun eye pool, spa. I mean, it's again, come on. Furnished.

Dave Rattiner 7:50

The little plunge there.

Ed Gaetjens 7:52

Keeps going, cold plunge, sauna. Come on.

Steve Glick 7:56

I love it. That's fantastic. All right, so you got all these are new construction homes ready for summer. They're all completed. There's no construction happening. You could just come in, see them. Yeah, plenty of open houses. Pick would be.

Ed Gaetjens 8:09

We'll be around this weekend. We'll be around Saturday. Sunday's Mother's Day, so maybe we may take a little pause on that for the moms. And then you have a couple that are just breaking ground, right? On Pecanic Bay Avenue. These two, Tara Capri from Nest Seekers and I have them. And small lots, great houses, close to everything. Walk down the end of the block, the little Pecanic Bay, a beautiful little beach there.

Andrew Doud 8:32

Oh, that's where we did that social media thing. That's where we do social media thing. Those are great, great, great locations.

Social Media Tours And Restaurant Finds

Steve Glick 8:38

So people, a lot of people are on social media and they see you on Instagram and Facebook, running around at all these new construction sites. The one that stands out to me is that you're constantly visiting 131 Narrow Lane in Bridgehampton. You're there, we're seeing it in online over every week. We're seeing the updates from you. Tell us about 131 Narrow Lane.

Ed Gaetjens 9:00

Listen, it's worth it because that is a super unique house for the Hamptons. That again is on a small, a small lot, obviously walkable to the village, five bedrooms, but and an infinity pool right off the great room. And the great room has this vaulted wall of glass that you just look out on it. This is such a unique prop you know property, and that's why I want to be there and just show the updates to it because I think someone's gonna fall in love with that house. I mean, I have. I fall in love with that house.

Andrew Doud 9:30

I actually hadn't seen the renderings. I'm looking at them now. You gotta come and see the house.

Ed Gaetjens 9:34

You gotta come in and see the house. The house is just fantastic.

Andrew Doud 9:37

That's really cool. Um, yeah. Last time we were there, there was snow on the ground. I think they were just pouring the rebar for the pool and everything. Um, another great listing.

Steve Glick 9:45

So, Ed, so where could people follow you online? Because you are talking about and highlighting all these amazing properties. They also people want to start to know how can I see the updates? How can I follow you? What's your interesting?

Ed Gaetjens 9:56

I mean, listen, at 63 years old, if I thought that I was being followed on Instagram and doing these videos, I'd have been like, What are you crazy? But I guess I'm at edge. You're out there, I'm out there, so why not do it, right?

Steve Glick 10:08

Yeah, so to follow Ed is at Edmund Gagein. Yeah, that's me at Edmund Gachin. You'll be happy you did because he's making some great videos.

Dave Rattiner 10:24

Um Did you ever go by Edmund? Did anyone ever call you Edmund? Are you always Eddie?

Steve Glick 10:29

Yeah, Eddie G. Eddie G, Edmund Gachin's. But look, he he it's a great follow, and you're also not just reviewing houses, you're reviewing restaurants. And there was a great one on here you just recently did at Shippy's in Southampton. That place is that place is amazing.

Dave Rattiner 10:44

It's unbelievable.

Ed Gaetjens 10:45

Let me tell you something. So, you know, I have a real real my buddy Joe Farrell, who's like he's he likes to go to the the nice restaurants, but I brought him to Shippy's. We've gone back there three times in a row. The food there is insane. What do you remember there? Grave. Oh my god. Any Jaeger Schnitzel. He likes his schnitzel sauerbraten, pork ription, bratwurst, we're still you name it. They got it there. I love that place. John Betts, the owner. Stop in and see him.

Steve Glick 11:17

So you're reviewing restaurants and then the house that's in the neighborhood, right? Why not? You're bringing it all together. And why not? We have a new one coming out. Uh, we're just talking about you're you went over to where North Sea Tavern?

Ed Gaetjens 11:28

North Sea Tavern. I did a great one over there. I love that place. You're talking about the no pretense place in the Hamptons in North Sea. Yep.

Steve Glick 11:35

I love that place.

Ed Gaetjens 11:36

Where do you see? You're gonna pop on in.

Steve Glick 11:38

All right. You're gonna love it. I hear good things. All right, Ed.

Weekly Hamptons Market Numbers

Andrew Doud 11:42

All right, good. Let's go to Steve. Steve with the numbers. What do we got?

Steve Glick 11:45

All right. Well, this week, 22 listings went into contract. This time last week, last year, 33 listings. We're looking at a decrease year over year of 33%. Two years ago, there were 24 listings, a decrease of 8%, and the breakdown of the 22 transactions this past week, one between 15 and 20 million, two between five and 10, 4 between 3 and 5, 8 between 2 and 3, 6 between 1 and 2 and 1 under a million. Dollar volume, 70 million. Last year was 109, decrease of 36%. Two years ago, dollar volume was 105 million, decrease of 33%. So don't be alarmed with all these decreases. There's still plenty of activity happening in the Hamptons with 22 listings and 70 million in contract in one week. It's pretty good, if you ask me. Um but the big takeaway were the new listings that came on. 33 new listings came onto the market. So that increases the inventory by 11 listings, and the breakdown of the 33 new listings. There were two over 20 million, one between 15 and 20, two between 10 and 15, two between five and 10, 7 between 3 and 5, 2 between 2 and 3, 10 between 1 and 2, 7 new listings under a million dollars. So that's pretty cool to see. Um inventory's at 1,7 and 18 total listings, 1,361 active, and 357 in contract. So inventory again keeps coming on in the pl in the 30s. 30 new listings are every week, is what we're trying we're seeing. And some good activity in the Hamptons as we round out. Um, this was the last couple days in April and the first couple few days in May. So we're we're about less than 20 days till Memorial Day. And the weather's shining today. And I'm looking forward to Mother's Day this Sunday. Hopefully that the sun stays out so we can enjoy being outside. But you know, Memorial Day is around the corner. You know, I'm telling you, it's it's gonna come and it's gonna come quick and it's gonna be busy.

Andrew Doud 13:42

Nice. Um, Ed already gave us a couple things to do, a couple places to go, but Mr. Dave.

Mother’s Day Specials And Events

Dave Rattiner 13:48

It's Mother's Day. No, it's Mother's Day weekend, you know. There's a lot of really, really cool restaurant specials this weekend. Um, at the top of my list is Navy Beach in Montauk. I got married at Navy Beach, so I figured I'd say Navy Beach in Montauk. They are doing a three-course prefix for $60 a person plus tax and gratuity, and moms will receive a complimentary mimosa or a glass of rose rose.

Andrew Doud 14:14

There you go.

Dave Rattiner 14:14

Then also on Shelter Island, Leon in Shelter Island, very, very special. Leon.

Ed Gaetjens 14:20

Leon.

Dave Rattiner 14:21

Leon. Leon, where is you know that's fine? Uh Lyon, very special restaurant in Shelter Island, is also having Mother's Day specials from and they're having extended hours on Mother's Day, so they'll be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Uh for their Mother's Day special. Then also you have Gurney's in Montauk is having a Mother's Day special with never-ending Bellinis, Bloody Marys, and Mimosas while enjoying a coastal buffet. And Nick and Tony's as well as having a Mother's Day special. I mean, the the Mother's Day events just go on and on and on and on. You can find all of these specials on Hamptons.com. Also, if you want to keep the party going on May 9th, the Mother's Day weekend edition is called SAG Saturdays, and they are having visitors and the community to experience Sag Harbor through a day of shopping, wellness, dining, live music, tastings, and discovery. Some highlights for this include mini facial massages at Dragon Hemp Apotherapy, Reiky Healing Sessions at Liallo, Mother's Day Crafts with the Shine Studio at Kids Squid with live music and a dumpling pop-up. Um so Sag Harbor is going all in on Mother's Day, apparently. So you could head there on Saturday.

Ed Gaetjens 15:53

Sag Harbor's popping this weekend is what Sag Harbor is popping.

Andrew Doud 15:57

Always busy, man. Yeah, doesn't even matter what time of year it is.

Ed Gaetjens 16:00

It just saw the rag and bone in Sag Harbor, and I guess the tide is changing.

Dave Rattiner 16:05

Yeah, the rag is a big thing.

Ed Gaetjens 16:05

Sag harbor shall be East Hampton soon.

Dave Rattiner 16:07

Right next to a Jean Bro denim where you can get very expensive jeans. That's great. Yeah, it's great. Um, and then if you want one more thing to do, May 8th, the Children's Museum of the East End, which is a great place to go with your kids on Friday, May 8th from 5 to 6 p.m. They will be having a one-of-a-kind art bar for moms and their kids to go and you know make really cool, uh, really cool pieces of art that you can bring home to your mother.

Andrew Doud 16:42

There you go.

Team Shoutout And Sign Off

Dave Rattiner 16:42

So there's a lot of really nice things for Mothers Day. We all love mothers.

Ed Gaetjens 16:46

Can I give a quick shout out to the admins at Saunders? Sure.

Dave Rattiner 16:50

Of course.

Ed Gaetjens 16:51

I want to tell you something. Like obviously you see I have these listings and new construction, but these men and women here do an amazing job putting in all of our things and they just they work so hard. And you know, we close here at six o'clock at night, but easily you'll see them here till seven o'clock sometimes if they have to work for something that we're working on. And I gotta give them a shout out. They just do an amazing job. Amazing, amazing job here.

Andrew Doud 17:18

Good team here. No doubt about that.

Ed Gaetjens 17:21

Thanks.

Andrew Doud 17:22

Welcome. Um, all right, good deal. Anything else before we let you go? I know you got things to do today.

Ed Gaetjens 17:26

So no, I appreciate having me in. Thank you.

Andrew Doud 17:28

Always a pleasure. All right, we'll call that a podcast. Everybody have a great day. See you next week. Enjoy your mother's day. I'm Andrew Dowd. That's what's happening in the Hamptons.