Luxury homes on Long Island, judged by how they are built

Mark Vogler and Gina DeMaio are Luxury Certified agents with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Laffey International Realty, and members of the brokerage's Chairman's Circle and President's Circle. We live in Huntington Village, a short drive from much of the North Shore.

What sets our luxury work apart is Mark. He spent 30 years in construction and homebuilding, and on a high-end home he reads what most buyers cannot see: whether the stonework was done properly, how the roofline was framed, whether the radiant heat and the mechanicals match the price, what a renovation probably cost and whether it was done with permits. When you are spending at this level, that walk-through is worth as much as the house tour.

Gina brings the design eye. She spent 22 years as a hairdresser before real estate, and she sees how a home will live day to day, which spaces work and which ones only photograph well.

We keep your search private. We talk with other agents about homes that are not widely marketed, schedule showings around your calendar, and keep your name and plans to ourselves.

On a luxury tour, most buyers notice the kitchen, the views and the primary suite. We notice those too, and then we look underneath. How old are the roof, the boilers and the air conditioning systems, and were they sized for the house or for the house before the addition? Is there evidence of water where the grade meets the foundation? Were the outdoor features, like a pool, a patio or a waterfront bulkhead, built and permitted properly?

We also look at how the house was renovated. High-end homes often have been updated more than once, and the quality of each round can vary a lot. Mark can usually tell which work was done by skilled trades and which was done quickly, and he will tell you what he sees.

Finally, we look at the property records. Permits and certificates of occupancy matter as much on a large home as on a small one, and gaps are easier to resolve before contract than after. Your attorney confirms the details, and we make sure the right questions get asked.

Many luxury buyers want their search kept quiet. You may not want your name attached to a showing request, or you may be selling a current home and do not want the two moves talked about around town. We handle that. Your search, your price range and your timing stay between us, and we arrange showings with the listing agent directly instead of broadcasting your interest.

At this level, the best homes are not always the ones with the most photos online. Some sellers prefer a private sale, and some homes are shown quietly before they are ever listed. Being Luxury Certified agents with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices means we have those conversations with other agents regularly. When you find the right house, we walk it with you, and Mark brings a builder's eye, looking past the finishes at the structure, the systems and any additions, because a beautiful kitchen does not tell you anything about the roof.