5 Things I Learned From Buying On Nantucket

Nantucket is a special place for many reasons.  Located 30 miles off the coast, the island brings its own set of challenges when it comes to building, renovating or owning a home.  As a business owner with a strong customer base on Nantucket, this journey has been eye-opening. I now truly understand what our customers—whether homeowners or designers working on island—go through when it comes to the unique challenges of designing on Nantucket.

Whether you already own, considering buying, or are just curious, here are five things I've quickly learned from owning a home on Nantucket. 

1. BOOTS ON THE GROUND

If you own a home on Nantucket and it's not your primary residence, I can’t recommend enough hiring a property manager or caretaker. When we first bought our home, our realtor set up meetings with caretakers, and we honestly didn’t understand the need. We thought, “What do we need a caretaker for? We can take care of our own home!” But after speaking with a few, it became clear how vital their role is—especially when your house is sitting empty for months at a time out to sea!  A caretaker ensures that all systems are functioning properly, serves as the point of contact for any issues when you're not there, including when the house is rented, and helps coordinate access for contractors, deliveries, and projects like painting and furniture installations.

With our busy schedules—managing businesses and young kids—we knew we needed help.  We enlisted the help of Main Street Construction, a company that specializes in island construction but also offers caretaking services. They’ve been absolutely incredible to work with, keeping everything organized and running smoothly, from lighting and plumbing updates to furniture deliveries and everything in between. I couldn’t have done it without them, and I highly recommend them to anyone needing support on island or doing a renovation.

2. ISLAND OF CREATIVES

I never realized just how many creatives live and work on Nantucket. From local artisans who create beautiful, handcrafted works (like quarterboards and whale carvings) to photographers and countless designers, the island is filled with creativity and inspiration. I’ve already been so inspired by the talented people I’ve connected with, and we’ll be sharing more about some of these amazing local artisans and their crafts in the coming months. Nantucket truly fosters a unique and vibrant creative community that makes it even more special.

(credit: Nantucket Whales)

3. DOUBLE THE TIMELINE

I’ve certainly learned a lot about the Steamship Authority (IYKYK)! Before buying our home, we’d always flown to Nantucket for vacation, as it was a quick and easy flight from Westchester. But now, traveling with a car full of things—and a dog!—has been a whole new experience. Getting ourselves to the island is tough enough, but getting goods there? That’s next-level challenging. There are only a few companies that can transport large items, and securing ferry reservations can be nearly impossible, especially in peak season and when the Steamship Authority is operating with a limited fleet (as they are currently). Even white-glove services can’t always make it happen.

Thankfully, with Cailíní Coastal, I’ve been able to find a reliable shipping partner to handle these challenges. Now we’ve got a solid solution in place to transport large items for our business—and can pass this resource along to anyone in need.

(credit: Seaworthy Nantucket)

4. DOUBLE THE COST

This may be a bit taboo, but it’s a really important learning that shocked us! Since Nantucket is an island, there are limited resources, and you definitely feel that in both lead times and prices. From painters to plumbers to carpet installers, there’s almost always an island markup on services and that mark up can be significant. I’ve seen some quotes that literally made my jaw drop! There are only a handful of plumbers on the island, so if you need one, you have to grab them when you can. Classic supply and demand—you pay because they know they’re your only option.

When we initially budgeted for this project, we assumed the costs would be similar to what we experienced in Connecticut when building our home there just 3 years ago. Let’s just say we were in for a big surprise—everything ended up being well over budget!

5. WELCOME TO THE GREATEST COMMUNITY

As I began this journey, I quickly realized that Nantucket is special in many ways, but the most remarkable thing I’ve discovered is the community. Our amazing realtors told us that the islanders are incredibly supportive and welcoming, and they were so right. Since purchasing our home in November, we’ve only been on the island twice as a family, but we’ve already felt the warm embrace of the community. From shop owners, neighbors and business connections, we’ve been made to feel like part of the island.

I can’t express enough how much I value this community—genuine, welcoming, and kind-hearted people who make Nantucket feel like home. We’re looking forward to getting to know even more of this incredible community this summer!

(credit: Seaworthy Nantucket)