Real Estate Blog - The Real Deal Interview Series

10 Steps to Get Your Home Winter-Ready

Kids back in school? Check. Fall foliage fallen? Check. Holiday season just around the corner? Check. By the time you read this, there may or may not be frost on the ground, but we’re definitely getting there.

All of which means that Old Man Winter is nigh and he’ll be staying for a few bone-chilling months. But, before you go blithely dashing through the snow or rambling down a forest trail,  there are some things both homeowners and renters should consider to keep the cozy going for those frigid winter months ahead.

1. Check the gutters.

Prevent ice dams by cleaning out your gutters, installing gutter guards (if feasible) and making sure the attic floor is properly insulated. The attic itself should be well-ventilated and about 10 degrees…

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The Real Deal: 20 Questions with Suki Beeh of Woodstock's Tinker Toys

"I always strive to find the beauty and value" - Suki Beeh, Owner, Tinker Toys To

Tinker Toys Too!
Open daily from 11 to 6
5 Mill Hill Road
Woodstock, NY
tinkertoysofwoodstock.com
1 845 679 8870

Tinker Toys Too! (AKA Tinker Toys of Woodstock) is an upscale toy store for children (and adults) of all ages, best known for its ever-changing collection of classic, quirky, artistic and hard-to-find toys from around the world. In this edition of The Real Deal, we interview the owner of this Hudson Valley hotspot, Suki Beeh, who opened up her shop in Woodstock three decades ago.

1. How did you end up in toys?

You could say it was pure luck, opportunity, and being in the right place at the right time. I graduated from Ringling College of Art and…

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The Real Deal: 5 Questions with Founder Lisa Halter

For this edition of The Real Deal, we've flipped the script for an interview with Halter Associates Realty Founder, Owner and Principal Broker Lisa Halter, who established the Woodstock- and Kingston-based independent real estate agency in 2014 with a focus on simplifying and streamlining the realty business in Ulster County and the Hudson Valley.

1. Who is Lisa Halter?

I’m a dedicated professional with a passion for real estate, digital marketing, design, and the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains.

In 2014, after years with a real estate franchise, I consolidated all my interests with the establishment of my real estate agency, Halter Associates Realty, where I am owner and principal broker.

2. Where is Halter Associates Realty…

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The Real Deal: Interview with Ethical Veterinarian Eileen Jefferson

New Hudson Valley homeowners are always asking us about the ins and outs of living in the country with pets. Who is the best vet? Can I get ticks from my dog? Is it a good idea to let cats roam outside?

In hopes of answering your questions, we reached out to Dr. Eileen Jefferson, owner and operator of Ethical Veterinary, an animal advocacy-focused house-call practice serving Ulster County, NY, for an exclusive Halter Associates Realty The Real Deal interview.

An Upstate New York native, Dr. Jefferson graduated from Cornell University in 2003 and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. Before returning to the New Paltz, NY, area, she worked for a year at the Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center of the San Francisco…

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The Real Deal with Carmen Garcia of Hudson Valley Staffing Services

It's Friday afternoon and all you want to do is get in the car, drive upstate and step into your lovely home – the outside lights on, a bottle of wine on the counter, the house perfectly heated, and the refrigerator stocked for the weekend. While for most, this is a dream. Meet Carmen Garcia - she makes dreams like this come true every day. As the founder of Hudson Staffing - a singular solution for talent, Carmen has deep roots in the Hudson Valley, offering personal concierge services that range from a personal chauffeur, a nanny, private assistant, cleaning services, landscapers, private chefs and more.  

Lisa Halter: What inspired you to start your business and what is a typical day for you?  

Carmen: I have been working in Household…

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The Real Deal with Victoria Coyne of Victoria Gardens

Black-eyed Susans, Day Lillies, Hydrangea and Dahlia's are just some of the plants you will see this time of year. If you've just purchased a home, it's never too late to start addressing your landscaping needs. With that said, we're happy to share our exclusive interview: The Real Deal with Victoria Coyne. Victoria has been designing, installing, and maintaining gardens in Ulster county for over 25 years. In 1986, she launched Victoria Gardens a nursery, garden center and gift shop located in Rosendale, NY that features a selection of trees, shrubs, and perennials that are chosen specifically for this area. Guided by addressing her customer’s most frequently voiced concerns: deer, dry soil, wet spots, and shady areas, you can rest assured…

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The Real Deal with the Extraordinary Visions of Antony Gibbon

THE NOOK / Inspired by elements of the Teepee Structure, The Nook is a rustic Cabin alternative 

You can’t help but stop whatever you’re doing when you witness the work of Antony Gibbon. His love of design and passion for biomimicry converge to create the most astonishing designs. (Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies.) Antony's extraordinary vision touches product design, interiors, structures, and architecture. I stumbled upon his work online and hope to one day see one of his structures in person. We're honored to have one one in the Hudson Valley!  For this post, we're focusing on Antony's treehouse structures. Before we…

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The Real Deal With Jason Jones of Ingrained Building Concepts

Today we get The Real Deal with Jason Jones of Ingrained Building Concepts. Having started out as an architectural student, Jason realized not only is great design a foundation for a successful project but understanding what goes into making that design a reality is equally important. He always takes the time to listen and guide clients through the decision-making process and applies proven best practices to every phase of a job. His goal is to provide a professional experience throughout the entire process from concept to completion.

Lisa Halter: What was your very first project?

Jason Jones: The first job as my own company was a mudroom for a client who trained dogs for a living. The mudroom was truly essential to corral her current dogs…

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The Real Deal with Landscape Designer Gayle Burbank

Gale Burbank tossed her successful fashion career in the air and landed in the colorful gardens of the Hudson Valley. With a passion dedicated to creating the perfect union between art and nature, Gayle designs high style, low maintenance landscapes that transform the world outside. Located in Woodstock, NY, her company Gayle Burbank Landscape, serves the greater Hudson Valley and the NYC Tri-state area. OK, time for the real deal with Gayle!

Lisa Halter: Tell us how you got started in Landscape Design.

Gayle: We bought our weekend home in Woodstock, NY in the late 70’s. It came with some small gardens and an 80-year-old local gardener who had worked on the property for 50 years. Growing up in NYC, I knew nothing about gardening.…

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The Real Deal with Jen Dragon - Working with Art to Sell Your Home

It's been said that art feeds the creative soul. Imagine the possibilities of displaying powerful pieces of art to complement each room, bringing a sense of intrigue and elegant style to your home – whether its staged or fully lived in.  Jen Dragon helps her clients do just that. Founder of Cross Contemporary Art (CCA), located in Saugerties, NY - Jen started out as an artist and has since moved into representing other visual artists through her gallery, Cross Contemporary Art (CCA).  Along with organizing monthly exhibitions at CCA, Ms. Dragon also leases artwork to corporations, as well as staging art in homes for sale. Her approach to business, is first and foremost, to enhance the careers of the artists she represents and through this priority…

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