Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Keeping emotions out of your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ house sale

Selling a house can be a major, emotional event. It generally involves moving, exchanging large sums of money, and moving on to a new era in one's life. Keeping your emotions out of your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ house sale, however, is worth the effort it might take. An emotional seller is not a productive seller. Learning straight-forward ways to view the sale as a purely business transaction will benefit you and help the process run more smoothly. Here are ways to keep your emotions out of your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ house sale:

Start calling it a "house"
A home is a very specific thing and conjures up memories, ideas of family and comfort, and more. Sure, you still live there presently, but wherever you are going next is now your new "home." From this moment forward, refer to the property for sale as a "house." This helps clarify to yourself that it is a physical structure, a property. You aren't selling your "home"--you have a new home now. You're selling a building that was once your home. There is a big difference!

Remove your personal items 
Following this tip will benefit you in two ways. First, you will be able to view your house as a property more so than a place with many memories attached if your personal items are no longer in. Taping your things up in boxes and moving them to storage has the effect of making the impending sale feel very real. Second, potential buyers are more likely to be interested in a home that they can imagine themselves in, and it is easier for them to imagine living there if all of your things are not there. Pack up all family photos, meaningful decorations or mementos, books, magazines, DVDs, and anything else that displays your memories or personality.

Do not go to the open houses or showings
At open houses and showings potential buyers want to be able to talk openly about their opinions on what they're viewing. If they know the owner is standing nearby, watching them expectantly, it might make things awkward. Also, you don't want to get upset by what potential buyers say. They might insult the decor that you painstakingly picked out and think is beautiful. They might talk about ripping out kitchen cabinets that you recently put up. There's no reason for you to overhear those sorts of things.

Let a professional handle negotiations
One problem many home sellers have is becoming insulted during the negotiation process. If you negotiate with potential buyers directly and one gives a low ball offer, you might become upset and not want to negotiate with them further. This is a bad move--maybe they would've ended up being the ones to buy your house! Discuss how low of an offer you will accept with a professional, and then let that professional handle it. Knowing every detail of the negotiation process will probably only get you worked up.

Hopefully these tips help you sell your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home more quickly and efficiently than you would've otherwise. You can be happy knowing that the house served you well while you had it, and that it will do the same for the next people who buy it. If you have any questions about buying or selling in the area, do not hesitate to contact me for help.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Enjoying Nature in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ

Summertime is a great time to get outdoors, stretch your legs, take in some Vitamin D from the sun (with sunscreen, of course!), and reunite with nature. Many people in the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ area are doing just that this season. Want to join them? Here is information on a few of the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ parks and natural areas that are open to the public this summer:

Cora Hartshorn Arboretum
The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum was started in 1923 and covers 16 acres of land in Millburn, NJ. Today, the Arboretum offers a peaceful respite from the urban world. Walk on miles of trails and witness a variety of plants and animals. The Arboretum is an official monarch butterfly tagging site as well as an official milkweed and butterfly observation site. The Arboretum is known for having over 100 species of birds within it and 275-year-old tulip trees. The grounds are open during daylight hours year-round. An education center is also available to the public and is open on weekdays from 9 am - 5 pm and Saturdays from 10 am - 3 pm. For more information, click here.

Greenwood Gardens
The Greenwood Gardens are a local favorite in Short Hills. These public gardens cover 28 acres and include a variety of gardens, meadows, woodlands, and pastures. The Greenwood Gardens is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a perfect place to find peace in nature. The Gardens are also great for learning about conservation and historic preservation. The Gardens were privately owned for over a century, until becoming a non-profit organization in 2003. There are tours available as well as scheduled events. If you enjoy yourself, consider becoming a volunteer. For more information on the Gardens, click here.

Gero Park
Although Gero Park--located in Millburn--is more suited for recreation than nature-watching, it is large and has some green space. It is a nice park open to the public with spots for picnics--a perfect place for the family to sit outside while enjoying lunch. In addition, Gero Park has a playground, basketball courts, baseball fields, tennis courts, a street hockey rink, and a swimming pool. It's an ideal place to bring kids during the summer. For more information, click here.

Hopefully you are enjoying summer to the fullest in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ and these recommendations will only help you enjoy it even more! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the area or are interested in buying or selling real estate locally.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Save money on moving into your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home

Congratulations on closing on your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home! Buying a new house is a very exciting part of life. Moving into the new home, however, can be frustrating and stressful. Most people are looking to save money at this time since they've just made such a large purchase. Follow these tips in order to save money on your move to Millburn-Short Hills, NJ.

Move during an off-peak time


Most moves occur between March and October. If there is any way you can move during the off-peak season, you will save money on moving costs. Renting moving vans is often cheaper during this time. If you go with a moving company, don't hesitate to try and negotiate prices during off-peak times. If their business is slow, they might provide additional discounts off of listed prices. If you can't move during off-peak season, consider moving during the middle of the month. Even during peak moving months, most people move in either the very first few days or very last few days of the month. If you can move the second or third week you might be able to save money.

Move fewer things


Don't make the mistake of moving everything hurriedly and then sorting through your belongings after they're in the new space. It doesn't make sense to pay to move things that you don't plan on keeping! Moving is the ideal time to sort through your possessions one-by-one, asking yourself, Do I use this often enough to keep it? Do I really like it? Sell items of value on ebay or in a garage sale to make some spare cash. Donate or throw out the remaining items based on the condition they're in. Don't forget that donated items can be written off during tax time. Save receipts!

Do not buy boxes or packing materials


Depending on how much you have to move, moving materials can costs several hundred or even over one-thousand dollars. Save on those unnecessary costs by planning ahead and stocking up on cardboard boxes and packing materials ahead of time. Ask friends and neighbors to donate boxes they are not currently using. Stop by local grocery and retail stores and ask them to save cardboard boxes for you. (Be sure to tell them you only want ones that close.) Instead of buying packing peanuts, use newspaper. If you don't have a subscription, ask a friend or neighbor to hold onto theirs for a few weeks for you. You can also be creative about packing your fragile items. A bath towel or t-shirt can keep that china safe just as well as butcher paper sold by a moving agency.

Hopefully these tips help you save money on your upcoming move to Millburn-Short Hills, NJ. If you have any other questions about moving, buying or selling real estate, or the local community, do not hesitate to contact me. Welcome to the area!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Upcoming events in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ!

Happy Fourth of July!  I hope it's a great one.  The fun in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ doesn't stop there, however.  There are many exciting events coming up over the next few days.  Check them out!

Full Moon Hike at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Friday, July 6th, 7:30 pm
Did you know Friday is a full moon?  Celebrate by spending time outdoors, getting exercise, and meeting new people on this hike at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.  This area is usually off-limits to the general public, so everyone on the hike will be getting quite a treat!  Click here to register.  The price is $10 and the hike is open to the first twenty people who sign up.  The refuge is located in Basking Ridge, NJ and the hike will end at 9 pm.


Guided Tour of Greenwood Gardens
Saturday, July 7th, 10 am
These guided tours are available once per month during warmer months, from May to October.  Tour guides share Greenwood Gardens' history while walking you through the beautiful gardens full of plants and flowers.  The cost is free to Greenwood Gardens members and $10 to the general public.  Reservations are recommended.  For more information, click here.


Summer Concert Series at Taylor Park
Sunday, July 8th, 7 pm
Every other week, Millburn Township is putting on a concert in Taylor Park.  Each concert is free and features oldies music.  On July 8th, the musical entertainment will be provided by New Jersey's number one oldies band, Reminisce.  Ice cream and refreshments will be sold.  For more information, click here (pdf).

I hope you're having a fantastic summer this far and really enjoying all that the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ area has to offer.  If you have any questions about our community or about real estate, do not hesitate to contact me.  Once again, Happy Fourth of July!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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