Catskills - Sullivan County - Ulster County Real Estate -- Catskill Farms Journal

God, if you want to be depressed, read the NY Post or Daily News some morning over coffee. Between the promising young boxer who was pushed over the bridge in a car pile up, or the mom who got hit by a grocery cart, or the 15 other depressing news items, really quite the way to start off your day. I must be getting soft! Here's a suitcase of amputated arms and legs Lucas and I came across.

And the big Saturday snowstorm was cool. Ended up cancelling my 5 sales appointments and just hanging with neighbor watching college football and eating chili. Later in the day, we pulled out the new plow truck and did some plowing - the storm was such an early surprise that I figured some of our new homeowners didn't yet have their snow plow guy lined up, so we tooled around the new homes looking for stranded and worried homeowners. Didn't find any too worried, though there was a good 8" of snow on the ground. Once again, this area did not get the brunt of the damage and inconvenience.

This is how I get a really bad name in the community for bringing in all these New Yorkers. Here's Justin from Cottage 19 fame, with his leaf blower, ear muffs and most importantly, glass of white wine, probably a perfect fall foliage country home yard work blend.

And then off to the big Halloween party in Woodstock NY, where they close down a 1/2 mile stretch of main street to allow free ranging for the ghosts, goblins, and assorted Space Rangers. "When there is danger, you need a space ranger".

Lucas was a big hit and just goes to show what a full embrace of costume can do for a guy. He didn't quite get the candy thing down perfect, not really discriminating between the giveaway candy at the house and stores and the candy in other kids pales, but you know what, he's only 3 so give the space hero a break. And he really didn't get away trying for a 2nd bite at the apple, going back to some of the stores accidentally twice, since he was pretty recognizable, both in Tude and dress. Cute little guy, don't you think?

And below is pre-halloween costume try-on day.

But, back to business, where are middle name is 'progress'. Barn V, in contract, is moving right along with the foundation in. Here's da footins' -

The walls 'formed' -

And the walls poured, stripped, and tarred ( sounds like a bad vegas sex show).

Over across the street, Dean the framer is just getting started one day last week -

Day 2

From the 2nd floor by Weiden Lake,

Day 4, we got a 1500 sq ft Farmhouse on 8 acres.

Old Joe and Katie's Farm 16 on 7 acres should be finished next week with a closing the following week. That will be our last sale of the year and leave us with sales of 25% higher this year than last. That's not just a reflection on the total amount of homes sold, but also a surprising trend towards bigger homes - not big, but bigger, with more than a few having 3+ bedrooms and 1500+ sq ft.

Our houses in Saugerties/Woodstock continue apace, with both homes sort of rounding that last bend in the road. Wild Wind is being painted on the inside currently. I think this 1300 sq ft 2 bedroom cottage looks great, with the stone, the elevated entrance, the sage green siding. It's just perfect low-country design, with the low slung front dormer really defining her.

Even though these are our first two homes up there, construction is moving briskly - and in this business, that's the name of the game.

Farm 17, inspired by Farm 6, twisted into Modern 1, adapted in Farm 12 and 15, and now living presently as Farm 17 -

Big back porch with a screen area off the kitchen.

Good looking, restrained, simple, classic architecture. Neither me nor our clients have any inclination or tendency to be showy, gaudy, or worse - flashy. Good old fashioned elegant modesty.

And the Big Barn, weathered in with some tyvec house wrap.

I'm going to Miami for a few day, for some sun and rest after a very busy fall calender. Halloween is an apt holiday for Catskill Farms to reflect on all the companies out there that try on our costume for the occasion. Lots of companies would like to dress like us, be like, make the money we do, invest in the community like we do - lots of companies would like to sell the number of houses we do so they try on the Catskill Farms thing and realize how damn hard it is - how demanding the customers are, how challenging building something in the middle of no where is, how difficult it is to blend our disciplines like we do (develop, design, build and sell), and how quickly those margins can dissipate with just the slightest inattention to process, detail or product. And I leave you with one pronouncement, from all Space Rangers - "To Infinity and Beyond!"

Up above, big Luke who just turned 3, is playing around our new decorating scheme at the office. and below is the trail of progress, as done by Catskill Farms and its team of high-performance subcontractors. Middle of September starts the excavation for the Big Barn, but we hit rock, but that's no prob since old Norm just rents a rock buster and then we use the chipped rock for our driveways.

Then old John comes over and in Tandem with Norm, gets the footings, foundation and concrete slab in (in between John and Rich come over and install the radiant heat and misc. plumbing and electric needed in the slab).

Then old Dean comes over and frames her up.

5000 sq ft, 4 bedroom rooms and lots of room to spread your wings, country style like. The owner is going for Country Industrial. The other month we went the other route, questing for Gay Rustic - Kevin the architect caught onto that one pretty quick. And is it even October 27th? and we are building and closing and selling and developing 10 other houses and properties. Now, that's good. that's organization. That's one to write home about.

Our construction efforts were delayed in the Spring due to the rain, so instead of everything nice and neatly staggered, our 5 spring start homes all started about the same time, which was tough on the old schedule and definitely tough on the old wallet, since we pay for these homes until they are finished, when the client comes in with their cash and mortgage and takes a finished, ready to go home, off our hands. Farm 11 is a home James and I have been dabbling with for a few years. We designed the general look and feel and then Mimi and Eamonn came along and married it up with a great 12 acre piece of land. That was in Late May that we started, and now, here in late October, the furniture truck was seen leaving the premises on Friday. Our homes are so complete when we sell them, even the microwave clock reflects the correct time, the hot water temp has been checked repeatedly, the house has been cleaned at least 3x, duplicate and redundant walk-thrus, punchlists, etc... All appliances tested, etc... And we finish them on time. Consistently. It's a rare feat in an industry where delays and excuses not only happen, but are almost an integral part of the process. 1950 sq ft. 3 bedrooms and an office. Loads of covered porches and decks. 4 months to build. The above picture is of the homeowners and child and that's the famous Janice (or JT) in the background).

It's been so rainy this year that even the pictures of the homes are tough to schedule.

Good picture of all the outdoor living - upstairs deck off the master bedroom, a section of first floor deck uncovered, then a big wrap-around which probably a portion will see a screening in project next year.

And here's the initial inquiry on 2/27/11. "Hello Charles. My wife and I have been on a house hunt up in the catskills/woodstock areas. Came across your site and we really like what we see - had not even thought before about actually building a house, but would love to find out more. Can you let us know how we can find out more, and how we can set a date to come meet with you? We would be interested in a farmhouse, at least 3 or 4 bedrooms, with a gourmet kitchen, and all the nice features/design/architecture of your other houses. Thanks, Eamonn" Great layout and use of space allowed for this cross functioning mudroom, with stone, bench, bookshelves and closet.

The Hallway from the back office cross-sectioned through the front of the house.

James from the office took these pics so I'm at a loss as to his philosophical intention was with some of the angles... Here's a duel barn door hiding the 2nd floor laundry room.

2 of the 3 bedrooms upstairs got the siding treatment on the closet areas. Eamonn said the shelves in this room is one of his wife's favorite details of the house. Lots of room for toys.

The kitchen got a lot of James' attention. i guess cause it's a pretty hot space.

With open shelves, nice appliances and plenty of room to work, including a place to saddle up to without interfering with all the work going on.

The 3 bathrooms each had a unique personality, starting with the nautical mirror outside the kitchen.

And the masterbath -

And the guest bath -

Farm 11 - one we had in our pocket for some time, waiting for the right time and place and client to unleash its dynamic and unique presence. And now it exists, up on the hill, a few miles outside of Narrowsburg NY. (more pics to come)

Big Time Halloween party scheduled this year for Lucas and I so we picked out some serious Buzz Lightyear Costumes - these aren't pics of him or me , just snap shots from the Target site, but give us two weeks and we will be partying big time, and generally just making the universe safe for all other toys and less important creatures. Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! We have a closing on Friday of Farm 11 (not shown just prior to the big day) and then right behind it is Farm 16. This beaut on almost 8 acres was inspired by Cottage 28, cept we added a bedroom on the 3rd floor and finished off the basement. We will be closing in late November.

Then we have Farm 18 just going into the ground.

and then Barn V gettin' dug. And in a sales contract.

And the Big Barn up the street.

Did some serious marketing the past month, with equal parts PR/editorial, Google Ad Words, Google SEO, Print Advertising, partnering with an Ulster Cty brokerage firm (CBVGR) and James has been charged with wearing a wood sandwich board everywhere he goes. Seems to be paying off - inquiries to our office have more than doubled.