Enjoy Millburn-Short Hills, NJ with Greenwood Gardens!

If you are new to Millburn-Short Hills, NJ (or considering moving here), you might not be aware of all that the area has to offer.  One place you definitely want to become acquainted with is the Greenwood Gardens.  Historically, the Gardens were created for a private estate until becoming non-profit owned in 2003.  Ever since, many people have enjoyed the beautiful landscape and regularly-held cultural events at the Greenwood Gardens.  There are many ways in which you may explore the Gardens, which are located at 274 Old Short Hills Road.

Guided Tours
Hour-long tours are available on scheduled dates and by appointment.  Through October, scheduled tours will occur every Thursday at 2 pm and on the first Saturday of the month at 10 am.  The tours are free to members and $10 each for non-members.  Tours begin at the formal entrance and will take visitors past cultivated gardens, reflecting pools, the hillsides of the Watchung Mountains, and more.  The "less formal" side of Greenwood contains ponds and meadows full of swans, geese, and chickens roaming about.

Events
There is an event nearly every week at the Greenwood Gardens.  These range from culture and entertainment events to green living how-to programs.  Upcoming events include "Fragrance in the Garden" on Saturday, June 2nd and Greenwood's Annual Jazz Picnic on Saturday, June 9th.  "Fragrance in the Garden" is a walk through the flowering gardens with plenty of stops to sniff different types of plants and flowers.  The Jazz Picnic features live jazz music for picnic-goers who bring their own food, but are treated to soft drinks and cupcakes by the Garden.

Volunteer
If after attending events or a tour you would like to become more involved, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities.  Garden docents attend monthly meetings, lead tours, and learn to tell the story of Greenwood Gardens.  Volunteer gardeners help take care of the Gardens under the direction of the horticultural staff.  There are also administrative volunteer opportunities for those more interested in helping with office work.

Overall, Greenwood Gardens are a wonderful asset to our community and provide plenty of opportunities for involvement.  If you go check them out (or are already a long-time fan), please leave me a comment!  As usual, I encourage anyone with questions or comments about real estate or Millburn-Short Hills, NJ to  contact me as well.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Millburn-Short Hills Real Estate: What should you bid?

Have you settled on a piece of Millburn-Short Hills real estate you'd like to make a bid on?  Congratulations!  The hardest part of finding a home is behind you, but making a bid still requires a bit of skill.  You don't want to  bid so low that the seller is insulted and refuses to negotiate with you, but you also don't want to end up bidding too high and paying more than necessary.  Here are tips on how to figure out the perfect amount to bid:

Research comparable houses
This one is obvious, but important.  Are you buying a twenty-year-old, two-bedroom ranch house with an attached garage and a small, fenced-in yard?  Then comb recent home sales in the area and see what twenty-year-old, two-bedroom ranch houses with attached garages and small, fenced-in yards went for in recent months.  Do not compare apples and oranges, i.e., a newly-built home with one that's been around for sixty years or a mid-sized townhouse with a large Victorian.  Also, compare what they homes sold for against what they were listed for to get an idea of how low you can reasonably bid.

Consider the neighborhood
The exact home in two different neighborhoods will often sell for two different prices.  Do your research.  Has this neighborhood have a higher than average noise level?  If so, you can definitely bring that up during negotiation as a reason for wanting to pay a lower price.  The same goes for any factor that can be considered a detriment such as planned local construction and crime rates.

Figure out the seller's position
Once you've researched similar houses and the neighborhood you should have a clear range of what you will end up paying for the home.  Figuring out the seller's position can help you decide how low you can bid from within that range.  Has the house been on the market for a long time, or was it just put up last week?  Does anyone live in it, or has the seller already purchased and moved into another home?  The more urgently they want it sold, the lower you can bid.

Bidding on Millburn-Short Hills real estate (or any real estate, for that matter) can be a difficult process.  I highly recommend consulting a professional.  If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the area, please feel free to contact me.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Celebrating Mother's Day in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent I like to help local residents enjoy all of the perks of living here.  Millburn-Short Hills, NJ has a lot to offer.  That is why I encourage staying local for this Mother's Day on Sunday, May 13th.  There are plenty of fun things to do right here!

Enjoy Brunch at The Hilton
Every Sunday the Short Hills Hilton offers a gourmet brunch to hotel guests and the general public.  Seating is available from 11 am to 1:30 pm.  After 12 pm, a bloody mary, mimosa, or screwdriver is included for free.  Complimentary valet parking is included.


Celebrate Mother's Day with Burberry 
Maybe your mother is so hard to shop for that you'd rather have her pick out her own gift.  Perfect!  Shop at the mall at Short Hills and stop into the Burberry store.  They will be providing champagne and sweets from one to seven pm.  For more information, click here.

Relax on a Mini Yoga Retreat
Has mom been stressed lately?  A mini-yoga retreat might be just what she needs.  Bhakti Barn Yoga is offering a retreat specifically for moms on Mother's Day from two - four pm.  The retreat will be a "blissful, two-hour candlelit respite" and starts off with guided meditation.  The mini-retreat is $30 in advance and $35 at the door.

Hopefully these suggestions help you have an enjoyable Mother's Day In Millburn-Short Hills, NJ!  Feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or suggestions.  Happy Mother's Day!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Staging your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home

A major part of selling your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home is staging.  Staging, quite simply, means making the house look nice.  Ideally, potential Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home buyers will walk into your open house and be able to immediately imagine themselves living there.  That is a lot easier for them to do when the house is free of clutter and looks like a place buyers would want to live—clean, comfortable, and well-designed.  Some people hire professional stagers, others get help from their realtor, and many sellers do it themselves.  Regardless of which route you go with staging, here are some general guidelines worth following:

Don’t forget about the outside

Outdoors is where your staging should begin.  This is what people see first, and if they don’t like it, they’ll keep on driving.  The grass should be cut short and nothing should be left in the yard or driveway, including garbage cans, bicycles, toys, gardening tools, etc.  Planting flowers or setting a potted flowering plant by the front door is an attractive touch.

Remove everything unnecessary

Paring down everything you own helps your home look less cluttered and larger.  If you don’t want to actually get rid of stuff, take out a storage unit for the time being.  Each room should have only what is necessary.  For example, the living room might have a couch, coffee table, and two chairs.  A bedroom might simply have a bed and dresser.  The less of your stuff potential buyers see, the more of their own things they can imagine in a room.

Clean, clean, and clean some more

When you clean your house for a staging, it needs to reach hotel-level cleanliness.  Every little detail adds to the impression home buyers get, and things you might not normally notice could make the house look bad.  A spider web in the corner or smudges on window glass might leave buyers subconsciously thinking the house hasn’t been taken care of well, or isn’t in great shape.  If you don’t like cleaning, hire someone!

Spend a little to make a lot

Investing a bit of money up top in order to repaint walls and spruce up the place is worth it.  A new rug and throw pillows can transform a living room and make it look up-to-date.  Ask your realtor for advice on staging—he or she will have knowledge on what works and what doesn’t work.  Any time you’re having an open house, buy a bouquet of flowers for the dining room table (and maybe a second one for the living room!). 

Hopefully these tips will help you sell your Millburn-ShortHills, NJ home for the price you’d like.  Many sellers don’t realize that these little touches can make a big difference in selling time and price.  If you’d like more information, or need help with buying or selling in Milburn-Short Hills, NJ, please contact me.  Have a good week!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Upcoming events in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ

How has your spring in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ been so far?  Hopefully wonderful.  Before we know it, summer will be here!  As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I know that this is a fantastic time of year to be in the area.  The weather is becoming more and more pleasant, people are heading outdoors, and there are so many fun things to do.  That said, take a look at a few upcoming events in the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ area:

Bird Watching at the Garden

Even if you aren't an experienced "birder," you are welcome at this event.  Participants will walk around the the Greenwood Gardens identifying birds based on how they look and the sounds they make.  Bring binoculars if you have them.  The cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members.  Visit the Greenwoods Gardens website for more information.

When:  Sunday, April 29th, 9 - 11 am
Where:  The Greenwood Gardens, 274 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, NJ

Annual Fishing Derby

This event is for the kiddies.  Millburn-resident children and teens age fifteen and under are invited to spend the morning fishing at Taylor Park.  Participation is free.

When:  Saturday, May 5th, 9 am - 12 noon (registration begins at 8 am)
Where:  Taylor Park, 78 Main Street, Millburn, NJ

Dog Adoption Event


Thinking of getting a dog?  Take adoption into consideration.  You could save one an animal's life by adopting.  This event is put on by the Home for Good Dog Rescue.  Dogs from local shelters and high-kill shelters will be at the event for people to view.  Those who have applied in advance may be able to adopt on the spot.  For more information, visit the Home for Good Dogs website.

When: Saturday, May 5th, and Sunday, May 6th, 11 am - 3 pm
Where: PetSmart, 187 Millburn Avenue, Millburn, NJ

If you attend any of these events, feel free to let me know!  I hope you're enjoying this season in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ, and I encourage you to contact me or pass along my contact information if you know of anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the area.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Closing on your Millburn-Short Hills home

You've done your research, you've saved up a chunk of money for a down payment, you've been approved for a mortgage, you've gone to what feels like a thousand open houses and you've finally found "the one"--the perfect home for you in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ.  Congratulations!  But guess what?  There's still more to do!

Ask a lot of questions

Remember in elementary school when the teacher would say "There is no such thing as a stupid question?"  It's true.  Everything should be perfectly clear in your mind.  If you are uncertain about anything related to how the process is working, do not feel embarrassed to ask someone.  Call your real estate agent or call your loan officer.  Make sure all details are perfectly clear in your mind so there are no surprises later.

Go on a very thorough walk-through

Many clients are so excited about their new house at this point that they rush the walk-through.  Big mistake!  You don't want to miss anything in the heat of the moment.  Feel free to bring your home inspector back for the walk-through.  If you do not bring an inspector, make sure you have the inspector's report from before and check everything carefully to make sure all repairs were made.  Turn lights and appliances on and off in each room to ensure that they are working.  If something is not in accordance with the agreement, say something immediately.  You will have to decide if it is minor enough that you'll fix it yourself, or if it necessitates working out new terms with the seller.

Review the loan documents in advance


Ask your lender or attorney if you may review the loan documents in advance.  This will help ensure that you understand everything happening and will not be caught off guard at the last minute.  Many people just sign documents on the spot without reading them thoroughly so they can get the keys.  That's a legal contract--you want to make sure you know exactly what it says before you put your name on it.

These are just a few tips for home buyers that I hope you found helpful.  I have more information for Millburn-Short Hills home buyers on my blog.  If you have any further questions about buying (or selling) in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Happy buying!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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April fun in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ

I love being your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent because it gives me a chance to keep up on all of the fun things going on in our area.  There are a lot of them!  Here is a sampling of April events coming up in the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ area:

The Arc of Essex County 5K run/2 mile walk

This annual run/walk will be a blast for participants and their friends and family alike.  Each participant receives a t-shirt.  There will be food and music on-site and an awards ceremony for the top three in each category after the event.  The event benefits The Arc, an organization that helps those with developmental disorders.  Visit The Arc's website for more information.

When:  Saturday, April 14th, 2012, 8:15 am sign-up, 10 am run
Where:  473 Wachtung Ave., Bloomfield, NJ

Swamptails

"Cocktails for lovers of the environment and NJ's great swamp."  This is a great way to gear up for Earth Day.  Eat appetizers and drink special "swamp cocktails" all in support of the Great Swamp Watershed Association.  Prizes will also be given out.  Click here to download the flyer.  It costs $20 at the door to get in.

When:  Wednesday, April 18th, 2012, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Where:  67 Morris Street, Morristown, NJ


Bloomfest at Branch Brook Park


Enjoy this event in New Jersey's "pinkest" park.  This Japanese-themed event will feature dancing, drumming, Samurai swords, a tea ceremony, bonsai trees, calligraphy, and more.  Best of all?  It's free!  Click here to download the flyer with a complete schedule.

When:  Sunday, April 22nd, 2012, 11 am - 5 pm
Where: Branch Brook Park, 115 Clifton Avenue, Newark, NJ

I hope you found this useful and I'd love for you to leave a comment or contact me with feedback.  Of course I'm always available if you're looking to buy a Millburn-Short Hills home as well.  Have a great week!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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