Enhance Your Curb Appeal in Millburn-Short Hills!

Spring is in the air…I can feel it. That means that favorable weather is in our future and that makes for the perfect time to spruce up our front yards (and back!) for a new look that makes your home stand out. Whether you are in the position to sell your home, or you are just looking for new ways to keep the appearance of your home in Millburn-Short Hills looking clean and fresh, these tips will help you accomplish just that without breaking the bank.

Landscaping: While many of us love full gardens filled with gorgeous plants and flowers, they can become a problem if we let them get out of control. For ultimate curb appeal, make sure that you are keeping the hedges trimmed, the flowerbed well-kempt and the lawn mowed. The goal is to be pretty while not overwhelming the walkway. If this is sounding a bit pricey, container plants placed by the front door or hung from the porches’ ceiling will create a fun and inviting look. These simple enhancements create an enjoyable Sunday afternoon and don’t cost a thing.

Paint: A good paint job can go a long way. You may have encountered this when buying your first home or after changing some of the colors in your current home. Paint can turn something dull and gray into something bright and full of life. Consider this when thinking of ways to boost your home’s curb appeal. Even if you are happy with your exterior’s current hue, changing it up can give your home a whole new personality and is sure to turn heads.

Pressure Wash: Take a walk around your home and carefully examine the siding. If you see any mildew, dirt or grime, it may be time to consider pressure washing. Using a pressure washer will flawlessly remove unwanted mud or other marks and stains found on your home’s siding. A presser washer can also be applied to porches and decks, where outdoor exposure can take its toll.

Clean Windows and Gutters: Even from a distance dirty gutters and windows can be noticed. To enhance your home’s curb appeal, make sure that you are keeping up with these two items. While it can be a task that is more tedious and time consuming, it’s necessary for a sparkling home.

Quick Money Savers:

-Outdoor lighting: Hardware stores and home goods stores often times have outdoor light fixtures on sale for as little as $20-$30 each.

-Walkway Lighting: Lighting up and down the sides of your driveway or sidewalk leading to the front door can do wonders for curb appeal. They will make your home stand out from afar after dark and provide guidance for evening and nighttime visitors.

Getting any ideas yet? For more tips and tricks on how to enhance your curb appeal in Millburn-Short Hills, contact me and I’d be happy to help! I’d also love to assist you in your next home purchase or home sale.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Millburn-Short Hills February Home Checklist

As the transition between winter and spring approaches, it’s time to start thinking of small improvements we can make to our Millburn-Short Hills home. As an experienced real estate agent, I have the upper hand in knowing all of the appropriate spring changes, and am here to answer any questions about getting your home in tip-top shape.

Believe it or not, the cold, wet weather of winter can actually help you. It assists in detecting where your home is leaking water or heat, and allows you to seal it up tight. This brings me to my first tip of making sure that no water is getting into your home.  This starts with carefully checking every area of your home that you think may be susceptible to water leakage.

The list continues…

Change Your Shower Curtain: Check out the condition of your shower curtains while you’re inspecting water leaks in your home. Damp shower curtains can grow unhealthy mold and mildew and can result in bigger mold problems in your tub/shower and throughout the bathroom.  It’s best to replace your shower curtain once every six months, and make a habit of keeping doors open after bathing to reduce the build up of unwanted mold.

Get the Numbers: A big thing to think about this month is your home’s energy usage. Use the Home Energy Saving Tool to determine how much energy a home the size of yours typically uses. Not only will it calculate how much energy you use, but it will also help you determine your savings from various home improvements such as insulation and window replacement.

Clean Out Your Storage: Spring cleaning in February, why not? Get ahead this year by attacking clutter and unwanted items early. It will save you a lot of time down the line. Whether your cleaning out your laundry room, garage, attack or any other area, your home will benefit from the cleanse. A good strategy for spring cleaning is emptying the space first, followed by a through cleaning.  Next, get rid of the things you do not need. If you come across any paint cans or other chemicals, be sure to contact your local waste disposal company to property handle the disposal of hazardous waste.

Clean the Gutters: Here is another way that the winter weather will help you in your February home improvement checklist. Leaves and debris are much easier to scoop up when they’re wet. The next time it rains in Millburn-Short Hills, get on your ladder and start cleaning (after the rain stops, of course!). Find time at least twice a year to clean out your gutters, or even monthly if you live in a heavily wooded area.

These are just a few small projects to start working on before spring. If you have any questions on how to prepare your Millburn-Short Hills home, feel free to contact me anytime. I would love to assist you or provide guidance with any project! While I know a thing or two about home maintenance, my real forte is real estate. If you’re in the position to buy or sell a home, I would be more than happy to get in touch.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Get Your Millburn-Short Hills Home Ready to Sell!

Due to the competitive nature of the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, home buyers can afford to be choosier when it comes to deciding on which properties they want. This can pose a problem for sellers because they have to actively compete with other homes on the market in order to ensure that their listing doesn’t take too long to sell. As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, much of my time is spent guiding home sellers through the process of preparing, marketing, showing, negotiating and closing their property. I definitely emphasize prep-work for all of my clients because one way to ensure that their home outshines the competition is to make it look as amazing as possible during showing time.

Contrary to what many believe, you don’t have to invest in costly home updates or professional organizers to get your Millburn-Short Hills home market-ready. All it takes is patience, practicality and a little bit of time. Here are ten things that you should do to make those home buyers want your property more than the others’.

Invest a little time in landscaping. Have you heard of “curb appeal?” It’s the term that many Millburn-Short Hills real estate agents use to refer to that special something that makes home buyers attracted to a house based upon its exterior. One major element of this is landscaping! The more groomed and pristine your lawn and garden is, the more polished your home will look as buyers pass by. Pay attention to this aspect of your home’s exterior before you put it on the market!

Clean your home’s exterior thoroughly. Think about it: if you walk past a house and see that it’s dirty, would you think that the sellers took good care of it? Pressure wash your home’s siding and clean the gutters. You’d be amazed at how much better your home looks.

Make repairs ahead of time. You don’t want to wait until buyers start walking through the house to become aware of any issues and promise repairs. If you take care of them ahead of time, then not only will the Millburn-Short Hills home buyers be more at ease, but you will likely get your home off the market faster. Ensure that all major repairs are done well before you start showing the home.

Ask yourself this: how’s the front door? The appearance of your front door plays a large role in how people first perceive your property. If it’s dirty or dilapidated-looking, it will give people an automatic first impression about what the inside looks like. You never have a second chance for a first impression, so take some time to make your front door look inviting. Give it a fresh coat of paint, and make it colorful if you think that would look better.

Buy a new Welcome mat. Just like the front door, you want your front stoop to look inviting. A fresh Welcome mat will go a long way with Millburn-Short Hills home buyers!

De-clutter and depersonalize your home. I appreciate that it’s hard to let go of a place that you have been living in for so long, but now is the time to do it. The more neutral-looking and cleaned up your home looks during showings, the more likely it is that you will see offers faster. Take down all family photos and really clean up and organize every room. Now would be the time to go through and get rid of things that you’re not planning on bringing with you to your new home. This is an important step, so really scour every room carefully.

Organize closets and drawers. You may be surprised to hear this, but home buyers will peek in closets and drawers during a walk through. It’s a way for them to gauge the amount of storage space in the home. Messy closets give the appearance of little storage space, so it’s a good idea to organize them ahead of time.

Are your surfaces shiny yet? From windows to countertops to shelves, every surface should be gleaming before the first buyer walks in the door. It takes your home from drab to impressive. You want your home to have a sparkling, brand-new feel, and ensuring that all surfaces shine is the best way to achieve that affect.

If you have vibrant walls, take the color down a notch. You might love the loud green color that you have in your bathroom, but it may be a turn off to buyers. If you repaint the walls of vibrantly-colored rooms a more neutral tone, then your home will appeal to a broader range of buyers. The more broad the interest, the faster your home will be off the market.

Eliminate bad odors. You may not think anything of how your home smells, but it can play a large part in whether or not buyers are interested in your home. Odors can be an immediate deal-breaker, so take some time to use air fresheners and odor eliminators before showings. For extra measure, have some cookies baking in the oven as the buyers show up. That will make your home even more inviting.

As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I make it a top priority to guide my clients through the process of selling their home, and that includes the necessary preparation work! If you take the time to do each of these things before your first showing, I’m confident that you will find the buyer response to be positive, which could lead to more offers on your home.

If you have any questions about how to prepare your Millburn-Short Hills home for sale, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d love to help you get started. I hope to hear from you soon!


Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Twelve Tips for Obtaining a Mortgage on Your Millburn-Short Hills Home!

As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent who deals with home buyers on a regular basis, I completely understand a lot of the aggravations and stresses that come with getting financing for a mortgage. Unfortunately, this is a necessary process to go through when you’re buying a home, so I make it a priority to help my clients through the difficult procedure of getting a mortgage loan. It’s just another way that I go above and beyond for my clients.

While interest rates remain low, lending restrictions are still very tight. If you want to get that mortgage loan for your Millburn-Short Hills home, then you need to be careful, have everything in order and make sure that your financial situation is relatively stable. Despite strict lending practices, obtaining financing is still very possible. I thought that I’d use some of my experience in the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market to tell you exactly what you need to get that loan and start your home search.

•    Study your credit reports. In this lending environment, your credit score can be a deciding factor in whether or not you obtain financing. Get credit reports from the three major bureaus and study your credit score. Most lenders require a 680 to meet Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac’s standards. If there are errors or issues in your credit reports, get them resolved before applying for a loan.
•    Come prepared. Every lender requires a few basic documents with your mortgage application. Start preparing them now in order to ensure a faster review process. You’ll need your last two pay stubs, W-2s, income tax returns and bank statements.
•    Plan how much house you can afford ahead of time. Don’t rely on your lender to tell you the maximum amount you can afford and then borrow. Instead, plan your budget ahead of time and leave wiggle room for unexpected expenses. Bankrate offers some great calculators that you can use to get started.
•    Shop around, and not just for rates. Sure, lower interest rates are attractive, but there are also other factors to consider when choosing a lender. What extraneous fees will you have? What sort of mortgage loan is each lender willing to offer you? It’s a great idea to shop around and consider all of these options before choosing the best option for you.
•    Don’t take time for granted. Once you submit an application, time is of the essence. Be responsive, send in documents quickly and follow up regularly. A delay in processing a loan can cause you to lose the purchase. It’s important to pay close attention to the process and do everything in a timely fashion.
•    Once you get approved, keep your credit score in check. Don’t think that once you get approval that the circumstances can’t change. Pay your credit card bills on time and don’t make any outrageous purchase until after closing. This is the best way to ensure there are no issues with your mortgage.
•    Consider refinancing with no closing costs. If you’re refinancing, you don’t always have to spend money to save money. Lenders do offer mortgages that have no closing costs. Instead, they offer a higher interest rate, which could result in a higher monthly payment, but will save you thousands in closing costs.
•    Have you thought about a shorter term loan? Now that rates are at rock bottom, short-term loans are affordable for more buyers. This will help you pay off your mortgage even faster, and it could be a stress-reliever. Even though the monthly cost is higher, it’s less time that you owe money to the lender, and that’s an attractive option for many.
•    Be prepared to explain any large gifts. Any large, valuable gifts that you have recently received will be questioned by the lender. It’s important to have all documents related to the money transfer and transaction readily available. In order to avoid confusion, avoid having large cash deposits put in to your account until the mortgage closes.
•    Persistence will get you far. Are you not hearing back? Be persistent and continue to follow up! Similarly, if one lender rejects you, don’t give up. Another lender will likely give you a loan! The important thing to remember is that the more persistent you are, the more likely it is you will obtain financing and move forward.
•    Issues with the appraisal? Try again. You can’t order another appraisal, but you CAN apply with a different lender. This lender will likely get another appraisal and find the amount will back up the cost of the mortgage loan. This goes back to being persistent. Don’t give up!
•    If need be, seek help. If you continuously struggle with financing and obtaining a loan, you may want to consider seeking counseling. There is Housing and Urban Development counselors all over the country who will help you review your options and get out of whatever financial trouble you’re in.

As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I make it a priority to help my clients go through the difficult process of getting a loan. These tips above will help you obtain financing in what is known as a complicated market. If you ever have any questions about starting your Millburn-Short Hills home search, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to help in any way that I can. I hope to hear from you soon!


Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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My Advice? Buy Your Millburn-Short Hills Home for the Right Reasons.

If there are two words that any Millburn-Short Hills home buyer should be aware of during their house hunt, these are them: buyer’s remorse. I can’t tell you how often I have seen buyers get caught up in the excitement and thrill of shopping for a new home, only to later regret their choice. The question that many people who I speak to about this subject have is, “What is it that causes buyer’s remorse? Don’t people know what they want in a home before they start looking?” Well, the short answer is yes, but many people aren’t looking for the right things.

It’s easy, when you are looking for a Millburn-Short Hills home, to get caught up or distracted by features that are seemingly impressive. My many years of experience as a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent have shown that one of the biggest causes of buyer’s remorse is not purchasing a home for the right reasons. Amenities, luxury and impressive add-ons are great, but they are benefits to a home, not what makes a home the ideal living situation. In the interest of helping guide my clients through their Millburn-Short Hills real estate transaction, I thought that I’d share a few things that you should be looking for in a home. In other words, these are the “right” reasons that you should choose to buy a home.

Don’t focus on square footage. Focus on space. Not everyone can afford a gigantic home, nor does everyone want one. Quite frankly, they’re nice, but they cost a lot of money to maintain and tend to use up more energy. Instead, focus on light and space within the home. Are there a lot of walls, or is the space open, with one room leading right into another? Are there a lot of windows to give the rooms natural light? These elements will be what make you happy within the home, and they will allow you to maximize the use of what space you do have to work with. This, in the long run, will most likely satisfy you more than a home that is huge in square footage but has little windows and several walls closing you in to each room.

Focus on long-term value instead of immediate worth. While we are in a down market right now, it is a known fact that real estate tends to go in cycles. Eventually, the market will recover and home values will be back on the rise. With that being said, you shouldn’t focus on the immediate worth or value of a home and what you can get for it in one or two years. If you’re planning on staying in the house for awhile, then focus on the home’s potential value years from now, after you’ve had a chance to make your own renovations and updates.

Don’t neglect to factor in location. You could find a house that blows you away in every respect possible, but if you can’t stand the neighborhood that it’s in, then you’ll never be completely happy. Do your research about what neighborhoods that you would like to live in before you start your home search. That way, you can find the best home in the neighborhood that you’d most want to live in instead of finding the dream home and then learning to love the neighborhood.

Focusing on the amenities, size and luxurious elements of your Millburn-Short Hills home will only provide you with short-term gratification. If you keep your head focused and buy a home for the right reasons, then you will be a happier homeowner. As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, it’s part of my job to look out for my clients’ best interests and ensure that they are making the decision that is best for them. That’s why overall, my advice is this: before you buy, make sure it’s for the right reasons!

If you have any questions about buying a home on the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d love to help you in any way that I can. I hope to hear from you soon!


Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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