For Liz Carey, being a real estate agent at Sotheby’s International Realty in East Hampton is coming full circle. She grew up in New York City, but has been a lifelong summer resident of East Hampton. But also part of that circular journey is working for a company known for its high-end auctions. Carey knows a little about that: her parents founded Doyle fine-art and jewelry (and so much more!) auctioneers and appraisers, which operated out of East Hampton for a time in the former VFW hall (now London Jewelers). The auction house has represented diverse collections and estates including prominent museums, institutions and celebrities.
On her own, Carey had a career in children’s book publishing, both as an author and an editor. She and her sister created their own publishing company, which they have since sold. Carey turned to real estate four years ago after her family moved to their Amagansett home full time during the coronavirus pandemic. She is on the board of the East Hampton Library, which she says “was a big part of my childhood and a big part of why I became a writer, why I went into publishing,” and on the board of the East Hampton Healthcare Foundation.
Southforker: How do you think you were informed by your experience growing up in that kind of rarified environment?
Liz Carey: It was a very cool business to grow up in. And, seeing my parents, the entrepreneurship, working seven days a week, building their business, but also being very customer focused was hardwired into me from a young age. Luxury and white-glove service were a priority, but also honesty and integrity were really important.
SF: It sounds like all that, plus having your own imprint, set you up well to pivot to real estate for a brand like Sotheby’s.
LC: Exactly. I think the work ethic, and understanding that your word is your bond and your name, is paramount. I do love having Sotheby’s as my brand, because I do think it’s such an elegant brand, so service oriented, and has a great reputation. We have a lot of access to the auction arm, so we can promote our properties through [that]. It’s a really nice dovetailing of the two entities.
‘Like children’s books are words and images, real estate is words and images, and I think I see it more than ever in this business. It’s a storytelling business, where word choice matters so much…”
Liz Carey, Sotheby’s International Realty, East Hampton
SF: How do you see the connection between your past as a story teller and your current role as an agent, who tells the story of houses?
LC: Like children’s books are words and images, real estate is words and images, and I think I see it more than ever in this business. It’s a storytelling business, where word choice matters so much, whether it’s how you describe a property or even just the nuance of one word choice in a deal or in an offer can completely send it in a different direction.
SF: Are there any trends you’re seeing in the market?
LC: “Fresh” is popular: turnkey is the word of the day. And I think there’s a lot to be said for those turnkey properties where you’re not buying someone else’s problems. But it’s interesting, because what I’m seeing now is the great gold rush of Millennials and Gen Z who are starting to buy and those people want houses with soul. They say, verbatim, “please don’t show me any white boxes.” They want a screen door that slams, a place where their children are making memories that feels very authentic to them.
SF: As a lifelong part- and full-time resident here, what are some of your favorite East End spots or how do you spend your time?
LC: My three sons have launched on their own, but when they come home, they like to play pickup hockey at Buckskill Winter Club where they used to work, so we like to go and watch them play. We like going to Little Albert’s Landing Beach, mini-golf in Montauk. It’s very nostalgic for me because we went as kids, and then I took my kids when they were little, then to John’s Drive-In for ice cream. It’s a big part of my own family history. Living here is a dream come true because as a lifelong summer person, having to leave here on Sundays or at the end of summer ripped my heart out. I always was leaving my heart behind here, and to be able to just stay and not have to race back somewhere, it’s really a dream come true.
