Shelter Island Market Report - Real Estate Through the Eyes of A Child

Last weekend I was showing a home in the Heights to customers and their young daughter who asked me “is this your house?” and “do you live here?” Then, turning to her parents she asked, “Are we buying this house?” After they saw the entire home, the daughter announced with glee, “I like this house, let’s buy it!”

Children are generally so positive when they come on home shopping tours, I said. The mother responded, “It’s because they have vision that hasn’t been spoiled by life.” There are aspects in certain homes that enchant the imagination of a child, from simple to sweet.

I recall as a child walking with my grandmother to the grocery store, each of us toting wool backpacks from South America on hot summer days, and stopping to sit on miniature stone steps on the side of a house that was for sale, mostly to cool off but also because the steps were just my size. Earlier this year, I saw them again and marveled that these unassuming steps had captivated my interest as a 6 year old.

These days, a 9230 sf carriage house on Dering Harbor features cheery colors that capture a child’s eye. The seller cleverly created little clubhouse spaces in the eaves off the second floor landing with wallpaper featuring hand-drawn sketches. “Our grandkids’ favorite room!” the seller laughed, opening the 4 foot door and revealing stuffed animals, books and pillows.

An Arts & Crafts home in Dering Harbor Village has an alee of nearly 40-ft weeping beech trees. A couple of months ago, a young boy of about 7 touring with his parents walked from one end of the grove to the other. The boy broke away, ran toward a magnificent beech tree trunk, and hugged it tight, “it’s the magic forest!” he proclaimed.

On Coecles Harbor there is a traditional that has its own private boat basin and a gazebo with ornate iron work alongside the water. The young daughter and son of customers raced across the lawn to the water, where the daughter stood inside the gazebo, pointed to the basin and, with a bright shining expression on her face, exclaimed, “This is my kingdom!” The little boy, unfazed, stepped to the shoreline and asked “do we have big-mouthed bass here?”

A Gardiners Bay waterfront has a dramatic waterfront with sandy beach, waterside deck and views of Bug Light lighthouse, and yet the 8-ft square bunkhouse with million dollar views and two bunks is the main attraction for kids.

The former Harbor Inn on Burns Road always enchants children who tour with their parents with its tin ceilings, brightly colored stained glass, and two guest cottages, almost dollhouses. The smaller cottage, which has an old sign “Schoolhouse” has a narrow path leading from the front door to the main house.

A few years ago, I sold a house in Silver Beach that had a commercial Circus Man ice cream display case complete with 3 gallon ice cream in a variety of flavors. “Tutti frutti or banana?” the seller used to ask my customers’ children.

The observations made by children who are brought on home showings by their parents are often insightful, pure, and refreshing, with openness that we adults could learn from. If we could all see the world through the eyes of a child, we would see the magic in everything.

Penelope Moore - Lic. Assoc RE Broker - Saunders & Associates - PMoore@Saunders.com - (917) 208-5519 - www.PenelopeMoore.com