Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Four Things To Keep in Mind During Your Millburn-Short Hills Home Search!

My years of experience as a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent have taught me many things, but one important lesson I’ve learned is that no matter how seasoned the homebuyer, mistakes can still be made. Oftentimes, people get so caught up in the excitement of buying a home that they forget to keep a rational head during the house hunting process. The rush of finding a brand-new property outweighs practicality in many instances.

I consider it a priority on my end to make sure that anyone who is searching for a Millburn-Short Hills home doesn’t simply fall for “love at first sight.” There are many elements that are important when house-hunting, and while it’s easy to let your emotions get the best of you, it’s also important to remember something: you actually have to live in the home you buy for a long time. As silly as it sounds, you would be surprised how many people who are searching for a home on the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market forget that buying property is a commitment.

With this thought in mind, I thought I’d pass on some things you should definitely keep in mind during your Millburn-Short Hills home search. If you remember these four things throughout your home buying process, I can safely say that there is a much better chance of you being happy with your property in the long-term, as opposed to having that awful feeling commonly known as “buyer’s remorse.”

Location, location, location.
You hear it all the time. Location matters when buying a home. There are several questions you should ask yourself when picking your next neighborhood. For example, what will your job commute be like? How are the school districts in the area? Is this neighborhood safe? Is it great for raising a family? Remember, even if you don’t have children yet or don’t think you’ll mind a long commute, you have to think long-term. If you’re planning on starting a family, or think you’ll get sick of the commute after a few months, it might be time to look for a neighborhood that better suits your needs.

Figure out which home features are your “deal-breakers.”
Believe it or not, sometimes, in the excitement of searching for a new home, many Millburn-Short Hills homebuyers forget to think about their lifestyle and needs. They see a home that they love in theory, but don’t think about how practical it is to live there. It’s important to remember that while you want to live in a home you love, you also want to find a home that will be appropriate for your lifestyle and what you see for yourself in the long run. Do you have pets? Find a home with a yard for them to play in. Will your family be growing in the near future? Make sure you get a home with an extra bedroom or two. Is there sufficient storage space? How much remodeling will need to be done on the home before it is “move-in ready?” These are all important factors you have to consider if you’re going to be a happy homeowner in the long run.

Don’t forget to ask questions. Even if you hire a very qualified real estate agent to handle all of your negotiations for you, it’s still important to know exactly what’s going on during your transaction. Don’t be afraid to ask the seller questions about the home or your real estate agent for more information about the area. The more questions you ask throughout the transaction, the less you will have to stress out about once you move in. It’s important to know what you’re getting yourself in to before the move happens.

Make sure you scrutinize. Don’t forget, you’re moving in to a new home. You have every right to scrutinize it before agreeing to buy it and to ask the seller to make any needed repairs or fix any damages. If you need some guidance in this department, talk to your real estate agent. They will look out for your best interest and help you give the house a final walk-through in which you pay attention to every detail. Remember, while you want to buy a home as soon as you can, you also want to make sure that you’re looking out for yourself. Don’t neglect the final walk-through and make sure you have your eyes open.

If you keep these four key elements in mind during your hunt for a home in the Millburn-Short Hills area, you are far more likely to be a long-term, happy homeowner. The most important thing to remember is this: don’t let your emotions be your primary guiding factor! You want to give your heart some say, but you need to remember to use your head. It’s important to be practical and make sure your new home will fulfill your long-term needs.

If you have any questions about buying a home in Millburn-Short Hills, or if you want to see some of the beautiful homes available on the local real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to help you however I can. I hope to hear from you soon!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle
Contact Me 

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Round Up of Events In and Around Millburn-Short Hills

Fall is such a beautiful time of year in the Millburn-Short Hills area. The leaves are changing, the weather is getting brisker, and soon enough it will be time to get out the shovels and our winter attire. What have you been doing to make the most of the fall season in Millburn-Short Hills? If you’re scratching your head at this, don’t worry. There is still time to enjoy the season, as Millburn-Short Hills has plenty of great activities throughout the month of October. Take a look at what’s going on this weekend and get out there! 

Friday Night Fright – What could be better than an outdoor movie in the heart of fall?  Well, a free movie might be a little better. This Friday Essex County is offering a free, outdoor showing of Monster House. Bring your blankets, hot chocolate and mittens, and enjoy!

Pumpkin Patch - Wyoming Presbyterian Church will be and has been open from 10am – 5pm selling plump pumpkins for your choosing! All proceeds are donated to local, national and global volunteer outreach programs and much of the proceeds will also go towards feeding, clothing and housing the less fortunate in Essex and Union counties. You can visit the pumpkin patch now through Halloween. 

Oktoberfest – The Fieldhouse Pub in Fairfield will be hosting a special event to welcome their new chef. In accordance with the celebration, the restaurant will feature a custom Oktoberfest menu, offering authentic German dishes.

Stadium of Screams – The Newark Bears Stadium will transform into the stadium of screams in anticipation of Halloween. Featured at the stadium will be a haunted house, hayrides, contests, food, concerts and more. The stadium will be open on Halloween day and admission is free.

Monkeyworks: The Halloween Concert – If you’re looking for an activity that is both creative and entertaining, check out Monkeyworks at the Burgdorff Cultural Center this Saturday, October 22. The concert will begin at 8pm, and the event is requesting a $5 donation for admission.

Antique Expo – The First Annual What’s It Worth? Antique Expo will come to Maplewood Sunday, October 23. Appraisers will be present at the expo, and visitors are welcome to bring no more than two items to professional, verbal appraisal. Along with an abundance of antiques, the expo will also include food, games and more. Proceeds will go towards the Maplewood Rotary Club Local Needs Funds.

October Trails Halloween Dog Walk – Calling all dog owners and animal lovers! The annual Halloween-themed dog walk fundraiser will support Paws for Patients, a canine therapy program. A costume contest for dogs will be the main event of “October Trails” and each pooch will be eligible for a prize.

I hope this roundup gave you some motivation to enjoy the rest of the fall season in Millburn-Short Hills. For more community and real estate updates, stay in touch with my blog or contact me directly. You will not find a more knowledgeable realtor in terms of both real estate and community. Whether you are buying or selling, contact me when you are ready to begin a stress free and laid back real estate experience.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle
Contact Me 

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Get Your Millburn-Short Hills Home Organized This Fall!

We’re fully immersed in the fall season, which means a few things. One is a fresh start. While the new year technically starts in January, something about the fall suggests a new beginning. Another thing that fall signifies is the weather cooling down and many are preparing for winter the Millburn-Short Hills area. When the winds start getting harsh and the temperature drops, it can be difficult to find the motivation to go through your Millburn-Short Hills home and start organizing.

As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I have many years of experience with our freezing winters. The best way to make sure that your house is the ideal escape from the snow is to take action while it’s still pleasant outside. I thought I’d share a few quick tips that will help you organize your home this season:

Create a mudroom. There’s nothing worse than having your kids or pets track mud through the house. Establishing a “mudroom” is a great way to condense cleanup into one room and have all sports gear, school bags, and coats in one area.

Do you have a remote corral?
The anxiety that sets in when one loses the remote might sound comical, but when it happens to you, it’s more of an annoyance. Use an old basket or inexpensive container to place all remotes in. It will keep you sane when it comes time for your favorite show to come on.

Keep your slippers in a basket.
Waking up in the middle of winter and placing your bare feet on a freezing floor is far from fun. Having your slippers handy, in a basket next to your bed, will eliminate the discomfort and keep your bedroom a little more organized.

Create a power and wire map. Snowstorms, as we all know from this past winter, can mean power outages. Figure out your house’s inner workings, (such as where the fuse box is, where you can turn your toilet and sink water on and off and where you turn off the gas), before your leak or power failure. Here’s a hint: keep the map next to where you keep the flashlight for more efficient problem-solving.

Use a boot organizer in the colder months. When you’re about to head to work in the blizzard and you can’t find your favorite pair of winter boots, it’s easy to get frustrated. Having a boot organizer will help your winter boots keep their shape and create some extra space in your coat closet.

As trivial as some of these organization tips may sound, eliminating some of the excess clutter around your home will take the stress out of your home. The freezing winter weather is difficult enough to deal with. Getting your home organized now will allow you to enjoy your Millburn-Short Hills home for the haven it is during the harsh winters.

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I can give you some tips and ideas on how to “de-clutter” your home before you put it on the local real estate market. If you’re interested in putting your home on the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, or you have some questions on how to maximize the space in your home, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to help you in any way I can. I hope to hear from you soon!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle
Contact Me 

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Ten Ways to Have a Smooth Move to Millburn, NJ!

You’ve done it: you’ve found the right Millburn real estate agent, scoured the market for the perfect home, and have closed a deal on the house of your dreams. This process is stressful enough, but what comes next can be even more difficult, and that’s moving. Planning and executing your move to Millburn, NJ is an exciting, but very draining, task. You need to get all of your possessions packed and ready, make sure your new house is ready to move into when you get there, and make sure all loose ends are tied up.

This is a daunting task for any brand-new Millburn homeowner. As a real estate and community expert for the Millburn-Short Hills area, I consider it part of my job to help my clients have as seamless and stress-free of a move as possible. My experience in navigating the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market has allowed me to witness and assist with several moves, and along the way, I’ve picked up a few ideas and methods that will help your move go smoothly. These ten tips will make your relocation to Millburn-Short Hills as easy as possible:

Get at least three written in-home estimates.
It’s important to shop around when selecting a moving service. Have each mover come to your home and show them everything that is being moved. Once a mover physically sees everything that is being moved, they can then give you an accurate estimate that can’t be obtained with internet or phone quotes. From there, compare the prices of all three companies. Two will most likely be similar in price, and one will be much higher or lower. Go with one of the two with similar pricing to insure the best service.

Read the three “pre-move” documents given to your by your carrier.
The best way to avoid unwelcome surprises during your move is to read the information your mover gives you ahead of time. These documents should include your Rights and Responsibilities Brochure, your Ready to Move brochure and information on your carrier’s arbitration program. Keep these documents handy as a reference during the move.

Avoid large down payments. Is your moving service asking for a large down payment? If so, it’s best to avoid them. They could be overcharging you for a reason.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
The moving world has its own language. If you don’t understand something your carrier is telling you, ask them to clarify. It’s important to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into during your move, so make sure you understand everything beforehand.

Plan an off-season move.
June to September is peak moving season. The best way to get quality and superior service is to plan an off-season move whenever possible. If you can’t, try planning your move for mid-month or mid-week to avoid frustration with your carrier.

Be reachable. Have your phone glued to your side during the entire move. If your carrier has any questions or issues, you want to be able to get it resolved as soon as possible, and that means being reachable to them at all times. Make sure you have all of your driver’s information as well, so you can reach him with any questions or issues. This will make communication go much faster and insure a faster move.

Take your valuables with you. Money, jewelry, important documents, and other valuables should be with you during your move or sent ahead using a traceable service like UPS or FedEx. It gives you peace of mind and can help avoid you losing something very important.

Segregate your personal travel items. Things like clothes or important documents should all be placed in one area, either in your car or in the truck. Not keeping your inventory organized will create high stress levels when you have to search through each box or a full truck to find your important, personal items.

Don’t get upset it something goes wrong.
Almost nobody has a perfect move. Relax, take a deep breath and resolve the issue as quickly as you can. Stressing yourself out will most likely only make things worse, so keeping a cool head will help you find a better solution even faster.

Tie up the lose ends before you move.
Make sure your new neighbors have your key, so you can get in to your house right away. Make sure all address changes, school documents, and electricity or water paperwork are taken care of in advance, before the move. That way, when you arrive at your brand-new Millburn-Short Hills home, you’ll be ready to move in and unpack without the added hassle.

As your Millburn real estate agent, I’m always here to help if you need any assistance with planning your move, finding your home on the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, or have any questions about which moving company to use. If you need anything at all, never hesitate to contact me! I’m happy to help you begin your life in our Millburn-Short Hills community.


Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle
Contact Me