Facts About Sandwich, MA: Beaches, and Coastal Charm

Speaker A: This is your home, your market, your move. And this is the Serratani team's podcast on real estate. Hey there.

Speaker B: We're back.

Speaker A: And today we have Kristin Campbell with us. She is new member to our team. So excited to have her.

Speaker B: I'm so excited to be here.

Speaker A: And she is from Sandwich, Massachusetts, and we have been doing so much more business on the Cape. So we are excited that Kristen wanted to join us, um, on the team. And today we're going to pick her brain about what it's like to learn live in Sandwich. Because I feel like Sandwich is the quintessential New England town on Cape Cod.

Speaker B: Oh, you're hired.

Speaker A: Social media. I love it. I just love. I. I've always loved Sandwich. Yeah. But it's so different from the rest of the Cape.

Speaker B: Oh, for sure.

Speaker A: Right?

Speaker B: I mean, I think it's called. There are. I, uh, liked your description, but a lot of people call it, like, the gateway to Cape Cod because of its location.

Speaker A: Yes. Right over the bridge, first exit, Boom, you're right there. And you can get there from not just one bridge, but two bridges, both of them.

Speaker B: We are not that geographically challenged. Yeah, it is easy.

Speaker A: So what brought you to Sandwich? What about Sandwich do you love?

Speaker B: Oh, my gosh. There's so many things that I love about the town. But to start, what brought us there was a need for, uh, bigger home. So what do they say? The five D's, divorce, downsizing. Downsizing, death, marriage.

Speaker A: But, you know, that's not a D. Diapers. Diapers.

Speaker B: And there's one more. But anyways, the diapers is what brought us there. So we needed a bigger home. Right, right, right. And my husband had actually taken a job Right. In Sandwich, so he was there a lot. Uh, of. He'd drive around during lunch hours, things like that, looking for a home. We had some criteria, and we found exactly what we wanted and it happened.

Speaker A: And you've been there for 20 plus years.

Speaker B: 22 years.

Speaker A: That's a long time.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: And you still love it?

Speaker B: Still love it. Still Love it. Absolutely. 100%, yes. Yes. Couldn't see myself being anywhere else.

Speaker A: So what. What type of people live in Sandwich? Oh, I'm sure there's not. I'm sure there isn't Just one type of question, not just one type of people, but, you know.

Speaker B: No, there isn't. Uh, well, I. I would say this. So Sandwich is. There's over 20,000 people that live in the town. 87% live year round. So it's not your transient. You know, everyone thinks of the Cape and folks, Dennis and Yarmouth.

Speaker A: And it's like shuts down for the winter, right?

Speaker B: Yes. It's not like that, especially since COVID Um, the number keeps ticking up. So folks live there year round. Uh, there's a lot of, uh, things to do outdoors. If you like boats, boating. If you like to go to the beach.

Speaker A: You have the national seashore there, which is so beautiful.

Speaker B: You have the national seashore, Sandy Neck.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: It's kind of a nice hidden gem. You can pay to drive out on the beach. A one time charge. It's wonderful. And a lot of the towns on the Cape don't offer that. So that's kind of a, uh, little.

Speaker A: And I love the downtown area. It's so charming.

Speaker B: Charming is the word to use. Yes. Great little shops, places to eat, burger bars.

Speaker A: You even have a restaurant, the Belfry that has. Which I think is absolutely hysterical. So when we went in there, it's been several years, but I remember our first time there and we pull up and we're like waiting for our table and we're sitting at the bar and I'm looking at where they're storing their liquor and I'm like, that looks so funky. And I said, oh, that's really pretty. Like, it's so different. They're like, yeah, it used to be the confessionals.

Speaker B: It's a church.

Speaker A: I'm like, oh, my gosh. They store the liquor in the confessionals of this restaurant. Oh, that's.

Speaker B: It's an old church, old Catholic church that we have friends who were baptized there. And now it's a restaurant and has so much charm. You're right, it looks amazing inside, little tables. They did a great job converting the inside to a restaurant, but the outside is still a church.

Speaker A: Looks like a church. Yeah. So don't mistakenly go to mass there because you won't find one. Yeah, right.

Speaker B: You can break some bread, but it's not the same kind.

Speaker A: What do you think your biggest surprise about sandwich was when you first moved there?

Speaker B: That's a really good question. I think my biggest surprise was that I should say I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't transient and there weren't folks coming and going and there were families.

Speaker A: It was a real solid community.

Speaker B: Yeah, definitely a solid community. Um, in generations. I mean, we have friends who have lived there, their parents live there, their grandparents live there. So, you know, I guess you find a good thing and you stick with it. But yeah, I was pleasantly surprised that there was definitely a sense of community and a lot of folks that lived There year round. So we've made a lot of really great friends.

Speaker A: Oh, uh, that's wonderful. Yeah, that's great. And what happens in the winter there? So much of the.

Speaker B: It doesn't change all that much. It really doesn't. Of course, it's nice because it gets a little quieter. I know you shouldn't say that, but it gets a little quieter. It's easier to get around totally less, which is great.

Speaker A: I mean, when you, you know, being in Falmouth and you're in Sandwich, it's like when all the tourists go away,

Speaker B: you're, um, just like, do a happy dance.

Speaker A: It's like, oh, my gosh. But at the same time, we need that there for their. For our businesses. Like, we. We want people to come in the summer.

Speaker B: Oh, yes.

Speaker A: Like, it wouldn't be as fun if they weren't there.

Speaker B: No.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: It wouldn't be.

Speaker A: So.

Speaker B: No.

Speaker A: We welcome them, but we're not so sad to see them go.

Speaker B: No, we give a little wave. But it's interesting, though, that you bring that up, folks. Even though the season starts, like, unofficially, Memorial Day, which is going to be coming up soon, folks come down usually around Easter. Some of them stay. The season gets extended. I mean, we're talking April to. Sometimes folks don't leave till the end of October.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: So. And I mean, older, younger, like, if you have kids who are in school, obviously you have to go. You got to go back. But folks come back for the weekend because the fall on Cape Cod, oh, it's so fun. So fun. There's so many. Not craft fairs, like beer gardens that are open. Um, fun, like hay rides. Um, the foliage. Not like up north, but we got the foliage. The beaches are a little quieter.

Speaker A: And you can bring your dog on the beaches, which is so nice. I always look forward to that, you know, because once Memorial Day comes, we can't bring my dog on the beach anymore.

Speaker B: But they love the water.

Speaker A: They love it.

Speaker B: Love it.

Speaker A: Yes.

Speaker B: Love it. Yeah. So that's a good point. You're right. You're right. Um, so it doesn't change all that much during the winter. It doesn't.

Speaker A: What's your best local spot? Like, do you have a frequent flyer, like restaurant or store that you just.

Speaker B: Okay, you gotta narrow it down for me a little bit. Let's start with. Let's do restaurant.

Speaker A: Okay, do a restaurant.

Speaker B: So we love tomatoes. Tomatoes. Delicious. And they do an amazing job. Mark, the proprietor, has a, uh, lovely menu, specials all the time. They're stuffed meatballs stuffed with ricotta. Like, five people could split it. It's delicious. Delicious. Whether you.

Speaker A: I honestly don't like meatballs without ricotta cheese anymore because of that.

Speaker B: Oh, perfect.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: Guess where we're going.

Speaker A: I know, right?

Speaker B: Uh, but if you sit in the bar or if you sit in the. You know, if you have a table, it's like white glove treatment. Um, 100%. And they have entertainment, and they have

Speaker A: really good music there. They have great music. Yeah. I love live music. And during col, it was so sad because, like, it took so long to get our live music back, you know?

Speaker B: I know. That's so true.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: But tomatoes is definitely the number one great spot. Especially during, like, when the weather gets a little cozier. Fall, winter, like, you want that, like, hearty food to eat.

Speaker A: And they definitely have a great outside patio, too.

Speaker B: They have an outdoor patio.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: They opened. Yeah.

Speaker A: I mean, you know, on the water, but.

Speaker B: No, but they do a really nice job. And he opened a. In memory of his grandmother, Mark's grandmother, the owner opened, uh, Nana's, which is a little store behind it that does coffees. Modern pastry is in there. Uh, they do sandwiches. Like, if you wanted to go to the beach for the day, that's an incredible place to stop by. I don't have a chicken cutlet. Something nice and light when you're in your bathing suit, but.

Speaker A: I know, right?

Speaker B: Um, it's amazing. It's amazing. Good spot. But. So that's what we like during the. The colder months. And then Pilot House is really our go to during the summer.

Speaker A: You can get in, right?

Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, but right on the water. Sandwich Marina, if you're coming off the boat or if you're just, you know, rode your bike down there, because the beach is right down the street. They have. Ah, their food's amazing.

Speaker A: The.

Speaker B: The views outside are perfect. Adirondack.

Speaker A: I love the Adirondack. I just love sitting out there. And they have music out there sometimes. It's so fun.

Speaker B: Always have music. And you don't have to be dressed, like, you can get dressed up. You can be casual. You can bring the kids. They have fun little games in the back. They have a raw bar in the back, so it's amazing. Pilot House is definitely our go to. Um, during the summer, they have the Funk bus. Have you seen that?

Speaker A: No. What's the funk bus? Funk bus.

Speaker B: So it's a little vw, uh, bug. That is. It looks like it's Grateful Dead, like, rainbow colors. And they sell all their merch out of there, so.

Speaker A: Oh, my God.

Speaker B: It's really cute. Really cute. They do an amazing job.

Speaker A: Who is. So there's um, a name of a group that is just like the Grateful Dead. Is it their bus? Oh, it's a similar question. Oh my God. What's their name?

Speaker B: I don't know, but I was going to mention Whiskey Princess, which is not who you're talking about. They're a cover band that play at the Pilot house a lot and they. You can't just sit in a stool and listen. You're like, I know every single. You're out on the dance floor. It's super fun. Yeah, Whiskey Princess. But I don't know the name, the fam that you're talking about.

Speaker A: I know I'm having a senior moment. Not that I'm a senior. You know, we just say that. Um, so when you think about real estate.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker A: And the town of Sandwich, what are some of the. What are three things that are great about moving to Sandwich? And what are some three things that you would say keep an eye on or not so great?

Speaker B: Hm. When it comes to real estate, like living there.

Speaker A: Like moving there.

Speaker B: Moving there. I think if you're, if you're a family and you say you still work off Cape or something like that. One of you, both of you. Uh, I think it's a great. The schools are great. Um, you have a lot more options these days, but schools and Sandwich are still great. Um, there's a huge sense of community. Uh, the schools are set up where there's three different. There's one from K to third grade and then you go from fourth to sixth and then you're in the high school. Well, the STEM academy.

Speaker A: So just one school for each grade, for each group.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: So you don't have like those elementary neighborhood schools because you're so small.

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker A: You don't need that. You know, the town of Mansfield did that too. They put all of their schools on one street so they made it easy for people to do pick up and drop offs.

Speaker B: Oh, see, I love that. Yeah, I love that.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: It was different, uh, when we first moved there actually there were three schools and they ran from kindergarten to eighth grade.

Speaker A: Oh, okay.

Speaker B: And where we live, the school that my kids went to, they could like ride their bikes and there was a cut through path and it was, uh. They have many memories, but one of the schools had asbestos in it and they needed to close it down so they, they reorged. But it's worked out wonderfully. So if you're, you know, got a growing family, if you're looking for a good school system. If you're looking for, you know, a place on the Cape that's not easy to get on and off.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: Um, going over the bridge, then I would say Sandwich is a huge draw.

Speaker A: Um, what are some downsides?

Speaker B: Oh, that. Well, I think it's pretty well known. Our taxes.

Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, I think you're right. That is pretty well known.

Speaker B: It is. And it does ruffle a lot of people's feathers because it doesn't come with a lot of, um, amenities.

Speaker A: Like trash.

Speaker B: Like trash. Right.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: You still have to.

Speaker A: Like, every town right now is struggling with the trash thing. It's crazy.

Speaker B: It is crazy. So it's definitely. I mean, that's.

Speaker A: But you know what I feel like in terms of schools, quality of schools and things like that, that you get what you pay for.

Speaker B: True.

Speaker A: You know, um, and the downside, too, is that Sandwich doesn't have a lot of commercial infrastructure to offset some of your taxes. So, um, you know, Falmouth has a lot more, um, commercial stuff. They have a hospital and other things and a lot of businesses. Um, so it does help offset their taxes there.

Speaker B: Yeah, you bring up a really good point. There's a lot of historic in, um, Sandwich.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: So a lot of the downtown and throughout, um, like little outlying areas in the downtown, there's a lot of historic homes. There's a lot of historically zoned land. So that's. There's those restrictions. But you are correct. Yeah. Taxes, I would say, are the number one.

Speaker A: So taxes and trash. Trash, trash, trash.

Speaker B: But what about your.

Speaker A: Your sewer infrastructure? How's that?

Speaker B: So, um, in good shape. I mean, it's been.

Speaker A: Is it more septic or do you

Speaker B: have half and half? Some people have septic, some people have town. So you have the option. Um, so depends on.

Speaker A: You have the option based on where you buy.

Speaker B: Exactly.

Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. Yeah.

Speaker B: Yeah. So that's never been a big issue.

Speaker A: Do they have any discussion? Yeah. So I know there's a lot of talk. Talk about the nitrogen safe areas with ponds and waterways coming in from the ocean. Sandwich doesn't seem to have that issue.

Speaker B: No, not topic of discussion.

Speaker A: Good. That's wonderful. That is a good thing. That's a plus.

Speaker B: It is a plus. Yeah, it is a plus. There's a lot of pluses.

Speaker A: I know. Seems like there's more hub of traffic in the summer. How do you feel like. Because when I think about the Cape and I deal with a lot of clients and they call me and they're looking for a second home they want to like go down Cape. So like mid Cape to Dennis and Yarmouth. And the traffic on Route 6 is such a nightmare.

Speaker B: It really is.

Speaker A: You guys don't have to suffer as much because you don't have to go as far.

Speaker B: No, we don't have to go as far. I mean, listen, the Cape was set up in such a way that you've got your one main highway coming in. You've got a scenic Route 6A, you've got Route 28.

Speaker A: Right?

Speaker B: That's it.

Speaker A: Right, that's it.

Speaker B: So you learn the back roads.

Speaker A: You do, yeah.

Speaker B: You learn the back roads, you learn traffic patterns, you learn times to go off cape and come on Cape. And honestly, it's really not that bad. It's not that bad at all. So I wouldn't say, I would never say it was, um, a con or something to like, like deter. Deter you from moving to the Cape. I think the traffic is what it is. It's a wonderful place. I mean, you look at the. Why there's the traffic, right. It's a wonderful place to be during the summer. So great beaches. I'll say that. And I will say once again, the drive out the off road is we have some like, really fond memories of taking the kids out there when they were little. And you have a front row seat, you back right in. The water is right there. Yeah, low tide is great. The kids can run forever. Can stay out there till like 11 o' clock at night, make a fire, roast some s'. Mores.

Speaker A: Except in the month of August, here's probably the third negative.

Speaker B: Oh, here we go. She's bringing up the negatives.

Speaker A: Well, you're supposed to tell everybody everything.

Speaker B: I know.

Speaker A: You don't want to just make it be a fluffy piece, right?

Speaker B: Full transparency, piping plovers.

Speaker A: She knows exactly what I meant. The pee pee. I got bit by one. Oh, my God, they hurt. I'm sorry.

Speaker B: It's bad. I didn't even know they bite.

Speaker A: Oh, I'm talking about the big horse flies. What's a piping clover?

Speaker B: Girl, we're on different pages.

Speaker A: Maybe we're not on the same page.

Speaker B: Piping clover is the birds that nest.

Speaker A: Oh, there's two negatives. Okay, okay. They don't bite with piping clovers. I, uh, thought they were horse flies. I'm like, they're an endangered species. Oh. Oh, my goodness. Okay, so like the offspring.

Speaker B: So like osprey. Yes, yes. So they'll, um. So it goes.

Speaker A: If they nest, you can't touch them. Yeah.

Speaker B: Oh, and they'll shut the trails down. Oh, that's what everyone, you know think. Diminishing.

Speaker A: Like is that only in the month of August.

Speaker B: It happens all summer long.

Speaker A: Right, okay.

Speaker B: No, the horse flies come out in August.

Speaker A: Yeah, you're right. That's what I meant.

Speaker B: You're right.

Speaker A: So I was not. To clarify, I was not bit by a piping clover. I was clover piping plover. Oh, plover. All right, so piping plover. I was not bit by one.

Speaker B: No, I don't think they bite, but

Speaker A: I was bit by a horse fly.

Speaker B: Yes, that's, that's a legitimate story. Not gonna fact check that one.

Speaker A: Uh, they hurt.

Speaker B: No, they don't.

Speaker A: Yeah, that is one. And you know, that's one thing to think about, like when you have clients that are looking to rent. Oh, true. Right. So I always say I love the certain locations, but be aware in August.

Speaker B: Yeah, like they come out, they're full

Speaker A: force and they, they hurt. Yeah, they do.

Speaker B: They do. And bug spray really doesn't help?

Speaker A: No, no, I've tried.

Speaker B: Fires help a little bit.

Speaker A: They do keep them away. Can you keep a fires on the beach though?

Speaker B: Yeah. You can?

Speaker A: Oh, you can? Yes, of course. Oh, it's allowed. You have to get a permit.

Speaker B: No, no permit. No permit. Oh, wow. You can go into a flight. Oh, God, don't listen to. No, I'm kidding. Listen to me. You do not need a permit.

Speaker A: Oh, that's great. You can just light a fire.

Speaker B: Yes, yes. Um, they just have to be out by 11:00 clock at night.

Speaker A: Okay, well that's great. I get nervous that people. I guess the tide would come in and wash it away. It's probably an easiest solution.

Speaker B: You see it all the time. Like the folks who are down m in East Sandwich, those beaches, Carlton Shores, um, Tory Road, like they all have associations, right? They're private beaches at the end. Some of them are. It's, it's funny because you'll have private beach and then you'll have public access and then you'll have private and then public. So 4th of July is amazing. So you go down to the beach and you bring your chair, you bring your fireworks, you, everyone. There are fires you can see all the way down to Plymouth and fireworks go off all night long. It's so much fun. Yeah, all the kids are running around with sparklers.

Speaker A: I think they know where we're going to be on 4th of July this year, ladies. Right there. Yeah, Sounds like fun.

Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, that's great. Yeah, that is a really fun time. I have to Say, the kids talk about it all the time, so.

Speaker A: Yeah. So I have to ask, because this is an important topic. Where do you go shopping?

Speaker B: Wow. You know me love my shopping.

Speaker A: Yeah, uh, me too.

Speaker B: There are a couple of good stores, so I will say my favorite that floats to the top is called Thatcher Ellery.

Speaker A: Okay.

Speaker B: And it's a wonderful location right on Route 6. The proprietor's name is Kristen.

Speaker A: Oh, just like you.

Speaker B: Not me, though.

Speaker A: Not me.

Speaker B: And she does a wonderful job. Highly curated. It's a little house that, when you walk in, has a complete coastal vibe. Each little room has different. Like she has a room for, uh, baby's gifts, another for perhaps men's gifts, birthdays. Nice.

Speaker A: I love that.

Speaker B: But one of a kind. Like, things like, you walk in, you don't see them anywhere else. She does an amazing job and, like, something for everyone. Something for everyone. A lot of home goods.

Speaker A: Love that.

Speaker B: For your house in Falmouth. Yeah.

Speaker A: Very nice.

Speaker B: So I. That is, like, number one on my list. In fact, I'm gonna interview her and do a little Instagram post and great

Speaker A: gifts for our clients.

Speaker B: Wonderful.

Speaker A: Wouldn't that be so fun?

Speaker B: Oh, that brings up a really good point. She has great gifts, as does so an institution in Sandwich, Granger Pottery, which is also further down 6A. They do. It's ceramic, so they actually take a mold of, uh, fish that are common on Cape Cod. So like, uh, trout. And I'm going to get the names wrong, but they have. They have a horseshoe crab and there's several others.

Speaker A: Oh, that's so cute.

Speaker B: But they gild them with a gold. Gild over them. Absolutely. They'll do other colors, too.

Speaker A: But what do you do with these gold.

Speaker B: A lot of people. Ceramic beauties. A, uh, lot of folks hang them, um, in between. Like, say you have a garage. They'll hang them in between the garage doors. Or over there. Um, over their door.

Speaker A: Oh, pretty.

Speaker B: When you walk in the front door

Speaker A: and does the fish bless your house?

Speaker B: I wish I could tell you a story.

Speaker A: I wish it was, like a huge story to make up a cute story to go with our fish.

Speaker B: We don't make, uh.

Speaker A: Well, maybe we can help make up a story.

Speaker B: Right?

Speaker A: That'd be cute.

Speaker B: But they are, like, to your point,

Speaker A: isn't everything made up when you have stories? Like, you know, we just like to.

Speaker B: What is it called when you just, like, like embellish.

Speaker A: Yeah. The truth could be a fun, cute story. Like, this fish will guard your.

Speaker B: Your home.

Speaker A: Your home m. By squirting at people as they Walk by. Oh, my gosh.

Speaker B: I like it. We're going to twist it.

Speaker A: I'm not a creative person, so I

Speaker B: don't know, but Granger Pottery. Okay. Granger Pottery. And. Okay, one more, one more, one more. Modern vintage. Modern vintage is amazing. Right? Downtown sandwich. They do. They do a lot of things right, but it's got more of a vintage vibe.

Speaker A: Hm.

Speaker B: So they do a lot of refurbished furniture. So they find pieces. They redo the, um, the handles and the color.

Speaker A: And, like, they have people bring in furniture and they'll repaint it. Or are they looking for furniture to just purchase or grab and then repaint it and sell it?

Speaker B: So that's a good question. They do a little bit of both.

Speaker A: Both.

Speaker B: So you can have things like I just brought in, um, a big, uh, ottoman that needed to be re. Tufted.

Speaker A: Oh, nice.

Speaker B: I wanted a brighter color and I wanted the little. Those kind of the thumbtacks, like when you. The thumbtacks.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: And they did an amazing job. So they will take furniture in and redo it for you. And then they also scour, like, you know, flea markets and fairs, and they find, like, amazing, amazing finds. But they also do, uh, signs. So say your buyer just bought a

Speaker A: new home or like, their address on the sign or something.

Speaker B: Or like the Campbells or the Serotonis or when we. You find a nice little summer house for the team other than the one you have now. Well, Saratani team. Yeah, you do.

Speaker A: Well, you know, we are going to probably purchase a couple of properties and rent properties. Yeah, exactly.

Speaker B: That brings up a whole other topic. But yeah. Another great gift for our clients. Another great gift for the clients.

Speaker A: Well, Kristen, that was so informative. Thank you so much. I loved learning a little bit more about sandwich anytime. And, um, we'll have to have you back to learn more.

Speaker B: Oh, you will? No, thank you. I appreciate.

Speaker A: All right.

Speaker B: All the inquiring questions.

Speaker A: Love it. Thanks so much. This is your home, your market, your move. And this is the Serotoni team's podcast on real estate.