We are thrilled to have you send us your press releases. This form is easy to use and ensures we will have all the information to create a great story from your press release. The New Canaan Sentinel will not publish releases that disparage other people or organizations. Press Releases should be professional and civil in tone.

There is no guarantee that Press releases will be published. They will be edited and often used as a basis for a story. It is unlikely that they will be published verbatim although that does happen occasionally. All press releases should have a connection to New Canaan and should not be a sales pitch. We encourage you to include photographs, logos, and image.

If you need more direction, we have included a step by step guide to writing a great press release at the bottom of this page.


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13 Steps to Writing a Great Press Release!!

Here’s a step-by-step guide to writing an effective press release:

Tips:

  • Keep it concise: A press release should ideally be between 500 to 800 words.
  • Use an inverted pyramid structure: Start with the most important information and then provide supplementary details.
  • Avoid overtly promotional language. A press release should be informative and newsworthy, not an overt advertisement.

1. Define Your Goal:

Before you start writing, know the purpose of your press release. Is it to promote a product launch, an event, an award, a new partnership, or another significant occurrence? This will shape the content and tone.

2. Choose a Catchy Headline:

Your headline should be short, clear, and attention-grabbing. It’s the first thing people see and can determine whether they continue reading or move on.

3. Write the Lead:

The first paragraph should answer the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where, and why. This paragraph is vital as it summarizes the main points of the press release.

4. Develop the Body:

This is where you get into the details:

  • 2nd and 3rd Paragraphs: Dive deeper into the story. Provide background information, details, quotes, and statistics.
  • Subsequent Paragraphs: Offer supporting information, such as the history of the organization, background on the event or product, or additional quotes.

5. Include Quotes:

Quotes provide a personal touch to the press release, making it more engaging. Incorporate statements from key stakeholders, like company executives, experts, or customers.

6. Provide Relevant Details:

If it’s an event, include date, time, venue, and ticketing information. If it’s a product launch, offer specifications, pricing, availability, and where it can be purchased.

7. Use Simple and Clear Language:

Avoid jargon and complicated sentences. Your press release should be easy to understand by a wide audience.

8. Add Multimedia Elements (Optional but Recommended):

Include high-quality photos, videos, or infographics relevant to your content. Visual elements can make your press release stand out and can be used by media when reporting on your story.

9. Write the Boilerplate:

This is a standard description of your company that provides background information. It typically goes at the end of the press release.

10. Include Contact Information:

List the contact details of someone who can provide further information on the press release topic. This can be a PR manager, company spokesperson, or another relevant representative. Include name, phone number, email address, and company website.

11. Review and Edit:

Proofread your press release for grammatical errors and ensure all information is accurate. Have a colleague or editor read it as well for a fresh perspective.

12. Distribute the Press Release:

Share your press release with the New Canaan Sentinel.

13. Follow Up:

After sending out your press release, follow up to ensure they received it and see if they need any additional information.

By following this guide, you can craft a press release that captures attention and effectively communicates your message.

Press Release

Real estate

Where We Are, Nine Months Into the Year

By John Engel It is October and that means it’s time to paint a picture of the Fairfield County real estate market through 9 months. I’ll compare New Canaan with peers Darien and Westport and include large-market Stamford as a contrasting baseline.  Median Sales Price – All Property Types –

How Real Estate is Like and Not Like Poker

By John Engel Today I am speaking on a panel on industry changes. I am noticing more pressure on buyer’s agents from a number of directions. Sellers are asking if they can eliminate or reduce offers of compensation, probing for a better deal.  Buyers are approaching the listing agent directly.

Like a Starter’s Pistol, We’re Off!

By John Engel It is as if we began the Fall Season with a starter pistol on Labor Day. Buyers and sellers are feeling a newfound urgency to enter the market. Last week we listed an in-town renovated antique for $2.5 million. Over 30 groups made appointments last weekend and

Labor Day Market Report – 8 Months In

By John Engel Homes for Sale. For the third month in a row the amount of inventory fell in New Canaan and continues to drop around Fairfield County. Darien and Wilton see single family home inventory consistently below 50 homes since late 2022 while New Canaan has been below 75

What Drives the Housing Market?

By John Engel We are at the long-awaited inflection point where the Fed reverses course and lowers rates. The stock and bond markets rallied this week on the news. A survey of big banks predicts 30-year rates between 6.5% and 6.7% in the fourth quarter. 15-year adjustables, already in the

How to Show a House

By John Engel This week’s column is not really about showing a house. I am being both literal and metaphorical, relevant for those of you in another line of work. It’s about being purposeful in everything we do. I’ll begin with a story from the Army. Sergeant Cornelius had previously

Summer Thoughts

By John Engel Pool construction is down 49% since peaking during the pandemic, 2021. And searches in Google for “swimming pool cost” is also down 40% since 2020, now at their lowest levels in a decade. Pool Corp estimates that the cost of a new pool nationally has risen 72%

Rental Market Roundup

By John Engel We can see in this chart that in Manhattan the discount on rents has been close to zero since the beginning of 2024, while across the East River in Brooklyn and northern Queens the discount has been negative for three years, at times quite extremely negative at

Two Strategies: Buydowns and Assumable Mortgages

By John Engel This week we’ll discuss discount points and assumable loans as two creative ways to approach your next real estate purchase. Purchasing discount points becomes more popular during periods of higher interest rates. It’s a strategy everyone should consider in this “higher-for-longer” environment. According to Zillow, nearly half

Market Report – Five Months In

By John Engel New Canaan – There are 73 single-family homes for sale, a -15% drop since last year. Last year we peaked in May with 86 and two years ago we peaked in June with 95, a steady decline. The median sold price was $2.02 million across May’s 18

The Lost Art of the Listing Description

By John Engel This is a lost art. I am referring to the property description field on the multiple listing service. The New Canaan MLS limits agents to 500 characters while the SmartMLS allows 1500. Letting agents say three times as much does not seem to be making much of

Inspection Season

By John Engel As we approach the end of the Spring market this is the point of the year when we appear to have the most amount of inventory, the crest of the inventory sine wave. That is because everything that is coming on is on, and those properties that

Beach Season – the Waterfront Report

By John Engel It’s beach season and Save the Sound has graded all 197 Connecticut beaches on water quality and 75% of them got a grade of A or B. Beaches at the entrance to Long Island Sound such as in Noank and Groton lead the list, but in this

Tailwinds and Low Sensitivity to Rates

By John Engel I want to revisit why the New Canaan housing market is so far out balance, favoring sellers, and why prices keep rising, and why this trajectory is destined to continue. New Canaan will continue to see rising prices for two reasons: low interest rate sensitivity and strong

Who Moved the Realtor’s Cheese?*

By John Engel People ask, “How long does it take to write the real estate column?” All week. I have dozens of columns rattling around up there, but I sometimes struggle with what it is my audience wants. The easiest column to write is just a list of statistics. The

Fairfield vs. Westchester County: Head to Head

By John Engel Head-to Head Comparison Here’s a head-to-head comparison of the current real estate market conditions for Q1-2024 between Westchester County, NY, and Fairfield County, CT. Fairfield: Average Sales Price: $915,665, a slight decrease from the previous year Average Price Per Sq Ft: $422 Median Sales Price: $545,000, a

New Canaan and Greenwich vs. Fairfield County

By John Engel Median Sales Price (Single Family) New Canaan: The median sales price stands at $2,161,000, showing a modest quarterly growth (+1.9%) and a year-over-year increase (+7.7%). Greenwich: Surpasses New Canaan with a median sales price of $3,000,000, indicating a more pronounced quarterly surge (+60.3%) and a significant year-over-year

Mill Rates and Property Tax Changes May Shake Out New Inventory

By John Engel Manhattan Market Report Manhattan first quarter sales fell, down 11.3% annually, now below two thousand (1,988), the lowest level in 3 years. Prices slid year-over-year, 17.4% below pre-pandemic levels. Inventory went lower due to the “lock-in-effect”. Mortgage-purchases dropped 26.7% annually. The percentage of cash sales has reached

The Lock-in Effect

By John Engel Many of us are wondering how long it will take until the pendulum swings. How long before the seller’s market becomes a buyer’s market? There are many factors at play, but the favorite term being bandied about on talk shows and cocktail parties is “Lock-in effect”.  This

Harkaway: The Estate of Mary Tyler Moore

AS OF: MARCH 29th, 2024 Harkaway: A captivating retreat in the heart of Greenwich with a storied pedigree, this distinguished Georgian Colonial was home of the late Mary Tyler Moore. Following a meandering stream to Oakley Pond, the long, gated drive leads to the quietly secluded stone house on 7.37

The Wealth Report – 2024

By John Engel Douglas Elliman and Knight Frank have released the highly anticipated 2024 Wealth Report. These are the highlights: First, some definitions: HNWI is a high-net-worth individual, defined as $1 million or more. UHNWI is ultra-high-net-worth individual, defined as $30 million or more. Prime property is the top 5%

1343 Smith Ridge Road Open House Sunday

AS OF: MARCH 22nd, 2024 Elegant Estate Living in Tranquil Splendor. Welcome to this stunning retreat nestled on 1.94 acres of lush, manicured grounds. As you approach the grand entrance, you’ll be greeted by the stately main home, with 10-foot coffered ceilings, 9,656 square feet of living space spanning across

1343 Smith Ridge Road Open House Sunday

Elegant Estate Living in Tranquil Splendor. Welcome to this stunning retreat nestled on 1.94 acres of lush, manicured grounds. As you approach the grand entrance, you’ll be greeted by the stately main home, with 10-foot coffered ceilings, 9,656 square feet of living space spanning across 4 finished floors, chef’s kitchen

A Case Study: Wide Range of Opinions on a Home’s Worth

By John Engel This is the most important question Realtors answer, and busy agents are answering it every day. It is particularly relevant this month while 300 residents are arguing their values in front of the New Canaan Assessment Board of Appeals. This is a case-study on how I do

February Market Report for 15 Towns Across Fairfield County

By John Engel We divided 15 markets into 4 groups 1. High-End 2. Cities 3. North of the Parkway and 4. Coastal Neighborhoods to see what comparative conclusions we might draw from their performance these last 3 years. Greenwich – UNDERPERFORMING.  Median price is $1.75m, more or less flat since

How Buyers Win in this Market

By John Engel So many sad stories by homeowners who have lost bidding wars. I’m reprinting their stories and my advice: “These houses are definitely way over the price that they will be once appraised.” Last year houses were routinely selling for double their assessment and the sales were still

The Booming Market Has an Insurance Problem

By John Engel On my Boroughs & Burbs podcast we did a show called “Uninsurable Florida”, episode #93. It’s fun to pick on Florida while they are having an insurance crisis. But we are all having an insurance crisis, so we did it again: episode #113 “The Changing Insurance Landscape”

COLUMN | “They’re not making any more of it.” Will Rogers

“Do you mean to tell me, Katie Scarlett O’Hara, that Tara, that land, doesn’t mean anything to you? Why, land is the only thing in the world worth workin’ for, worth fightin’ for, worth dyin’ for, because it’s the only thing that lasts.” That quote from Gone With the Wind

January Report: New Canaan, Westport, Wilton and Darien

New Listings. Westport wins with 47 new listings, an 88% rise. New Canaan had 16 new listings in January, a -24% drop from the previous January. This 20% decline in new listings was about typical among towns in our peer group. Darien is also lagging with only 13 new listings,

Dead Cat Bounce

A dead cat bounce is a temporary recovery from a prolonged decline or bear market that’s followed by a continuation of the downtrend. In other words, it’s a false optimism. Cats don’t bounce. I was wondering if that is what we are really experiencing in the housing market when we

Year End Market Report

The article discusses the real estate market in New Canaan, highlighting the impact of the recent revaluation. The median sales price in New Canaan is $1.80 million, a 6.5% annual increase, with single-family homes at $1.975 million and condos down by 7.3%. The price per foot is $488, up 4.9%, indicating larger house sizes in New Canaan compared to nearby areas. Inventory levels are significantly down by 46.3%, a trend seen across Fairfield County. The article predicts that inventory levels will remain tight in 2024 due to high demand and lagging price appreciation. Median days on the market in New Canaan is 26, down 13.3%, with a high percentage of cash offers. Homes generally sell at 100% of the last list price. The article concludes with notes from a meeting, discussing strategies and the importance of personal relationships in real estate over advertising.

Co-ops, Cats and Community

Co-ops are a funny thing. People complain about their restrictions but love the sense of community they can offer.

COLUMN | Real Estate by John Engel: Thoughts on New Canaan’s Revaluation

Connecticut towns, including New Canaan and Wilton, are undergoing a mandatory property revaluation to update the “Grand List” of taxable properties. New Canaan’s assessor, Sebastian Calderella, notes a 30% surge in house and condo markets. The 2018 revaluation may not predict current sale prices accurately, with less than a third of houses selling at expected values. Zillow’s predictions also vary in accuracy. With potential tax hikes on the horizon, this revaluation could lead to significant market shifts, prompting many homeowners to consider selling.

How Is the Market in 2023?

We are in a seller’s market driven by a lack of inventory. Despite the explosion of building permits we are not seeing an increase in house construction. A rise in cash transactions, predominantly from diverse buyer profiles, showcases the evolving nature of market participants.

Timing the Market

The article discusses the impact of rising interest rates on New Canaan’s real estate affordability, advising against waiting for rate drops due to potential heightened competition. It highlights the job market’s role in supporting the housing market, particularly in New York City’s finance sector. The article also presents projections of 2023 price appreciation between 5% and 10%, along with a “Rent vs. Buy Analysis” showcasing the potential gains of buying over renting.

COLUMN | The Real Estate Column by John Engel

Let’s talk about the impact of our zoning decisions. Are ADU’s part of our future?
How are we and the towns around us responding to affordable housing pressures?
And, of course, what about our house values?

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