October 2, 2023

Voting in New Jersey

By ann

New Jersey offers the convenience of voting by mail. It was a necessity at the beginning of the pandemic, and because I checked the box to continue, I receive an official ballot for every election.

It’s especially practical for residents with children (or grandchildren) in the public schools. Teacher Convention Week coincides with election day, and has always been a popular time for family travel. Because the livelihood for many of us is connected to tourism, a summer break is often not practical.

When our sons were young, I would arrange for an absentee ballot if we had a November trip planned. The automatic mailer saves that step.

I will drop off my completed ballot this week to the secure election box. Done!

Posted in Life at the Shore | Comments closed
September 28, 2023

Fall Colors

By ann

Golden sunrises and colorful trees in the dunes…

Posted in Avalon, New Jersey- News, Life at the Shore, Stone Harbor, New Jersey- News | Comments closed
September 24, 2023

Flooding Facts

By ann

During an average day, it’s hard to picture our streets and sidewalks under water.  Yet there are sections of our seven mile island vulnerable to heavy rains and tidal flooding.  When emergency management sounds the siren, and reminds us to “move vehicles and personal property to higher ground”- do most owners know what to do?

Ironically, the areas closer to the ocean are typically high and dry. The bay side (Ocean Drive/ Third Avenue) is more likely to flood.  And for some reason, the business district in both towns can get pretty soggy, too.

When I am working with buyers, I point out the low areas as we look at property.  I know I have discouraged a few sales over the years by describing the effects of a typical winter storm,  but I don’t want a new owner to be caught off guard.  If they still choose to purchase in that neighborhood, the buyer will at least know where to move their car when they hear the flood warning!

Posted in Life at the Shore, Seashore Real Estate | Comments closed
September 24, 2023

Ophelia’s visit to Seven Mile Beach

By ann

Overall, the storm wasn’t as bad as expected.

The winds were brutal late Friday and overnight through Saturday morning. The biggest concern was the amount of outdoor items still in place and not yet secured for the winter.

Thankfully, the flooding was on the minor to moderate level. The heavy rain arrived prior to high tide, so there was time for that water to drain!

Tidal flooding from the bay side of the island covered streets in the usual low lying areas.

The ocean was wild, especially in the inlet between Avalon and Sea Isle City. The spring/summer Avalon and Stone Harbor beach fill definitely provided protection for our dunes and beaches.

I posted pictures on Twitter (https://twitter.com/AnnDelaneyBeach) from my storm chasing yesterday.

And we were back to our routine of a long beach walk before work this morning. All good!

Posted in Avalon, New Jersey- News, Life at the Shore, Stone Harbor, New Jersey- News | Comments closed
September 21, 2023

On The Way to Cape May…

By ann

For more information: tksir.com

Posted in Seashore Real Estate | Comments closed
September 21, 2023

Signs of Fall

By ann

The sparrows were late arrivals again this year. The sight of the small birds lining the electric wires is a sure sign of the changing season. They feast on the bayberries in the dunes, dive bomb into the nearby swimming pools for a drink of water, and then leave a colorful mess on the sidewalks and cars below! Ah, the charm of beach living 😉

I’ve also noticed Goldenrod starting to bloom. These colorful plants are located in the dunes, the bird sanctuary, and along the nature trail to Stone Harbor Point- and attract the migrating Monarch butterflies!

Posted in Life at the Shore | Comments closed
September 17, 2023

Landlord Tasks

By ann

We spent last week in South Carolina handling “landlord duties”.

Our previous trip down was in May, so the condo needed some love and attention!

My rental property owner check list-

  1. Find everything and return to its proper location. This is especially true in the kitchen. Occasionally, I agree with the tenants’ storage solutions and change my organizational plan accordingly.
  2. Sand removal- from dresser drawers, under chair cushions, and even in the freezer.
  3. Dust removal- from ceiling fans, the top of appliances, under beds, return vents, etc.
  4. Laundry- wash all bedding, mattress pads, throw rugs, blankets, and bath mats.
  5. Inventory- we provide sheets and towels, so we have to check on the condition of those items.
  6. Replace- swap out shower curtain liners and add new dishtowels, bath towels, as needed.
  7. Unclutter- thing accumulate from a summer of visitors. Sometimes it’s the bonus of newer “beach books”, but often, it’s items that need to be tossed.
  8. Clean, clean clean- that includes all dishes, pots and pans, glassware, and silverware. I don’t want incoming tenants to find crusty food left behind. This also allows me to check for broken and rusty items that need to be replaced.
  9. Repairs- there’s always something that needs attention.

After all of the hard work, there’s a real sense of satisfaction when finished. I know our incoming fall guests will (hopefully) be happy.

Posted in Activities, Seashore Real Estate | Comments closed
September 3, 2023

Labor Day Weekend in Avalon

By ann

34 years and counting!

Posted in Avalon, New Jersey- News, Life at the Shore | Comments closed
September 2, 2023

Tim Kerr Charities 7 Mile Run

By ann

Sunday, September 3rd at 8:30am.

Avalon NJ

Posted in Life at the Shore | Comments closed
August 22, 2023

2024 Rental Listings

By ann

It’s already time to work on the paperwork for NEXT summer!

If you are planning to offer your Avalon or Stone Harbor home for rent in 2024, it makes sense to get an early start.

With the renewal of current listings, I am including the following note (a version of a previous blog post):

Summary of the 2023 rental season:

In the fall of 2022, we were busy confirming the 2023 reservations for repeat tenants. These are the families who return year after year (often to the same home) and are not hesitant about planning almost a full year in advance.

Yet for many tenants, it’s more practical to commit to vacation dates after discussing with family members over the winter holidays. After January, we expect rental inquiries to ramp up to fill in the open weeks.

Unfortunately, 2023 was different.

After years of travel restrictions, summer vacations could now be defined with a broader view. 

So was the lower demand in 2023 a blip? Probably. The nostalgia of a traditional beach vacation remains strong.

However, property owners should be aware that pricing is a factor with vacation decisions. Tenants expect value for their hard earned dollar. We need to face that head on as we discuss rates for 2024.

And one last note: the rental market is rarely in sync with the sale market. It’s two different business models. There have been many years when rental rates remained steady, while property values climbed considerably.

I’ve been fortunate to handle Avalon and Stone Harbor vacation rentals for 40+ years. As always, we will adapt and move forward together.

ann.delaney@tksir.com or 609-967-7950

Posted in Avalon, New Jersey- News, Seashore Real Estate, Stone Harbor, New Jersey- News | Comments closed
Tim Kerr Sothebys Logo