Home Renovations That Add Value to Your New Jersey Home

As a Millburn-Short Hills homeowner, at some point, you’ll probably want to do some renovations on your home. Whether it’s a few upgrades here and there, or a total makeover, you want to make sure you choose renovations that will add value to your home. That way, when you decide to sell your Millburn-Short Hills home, you’ll attract more potential homebuyers and receive a higher return on investment!

As your New Jersey real estate agent, I’d like to fill you in on the home upgrades that will best increase your home value. You want to stick to changes that are long-lasting and that won’t go out of style. These upgrades have been in for many years now and don’t seem to be going anywhere! That way, when it comes time to sell your house, you won’t have to upgrade it again in order to get with the times.

So when renovating your home, here is what you should stick with and why:

• New appliances. Homebuyers will definitely look at your appliances when home searching, so this is a great way to add value to your home, especially if you make them stainless steel or with an Energy Star rating. The newer the appliances are, the higher your home value.

• Granite or stone countertops. While laminate countertops are cheaper, they don’t last as long. Granite and stone are very durable and will last years of wear and tear. Plus, they look sleek and visually appealing. Homebuyers lover these in the kitchen and bathrooms.

• Hardwood floors. This is something that never goes out of style. Carpeting gets dirty and allergenic, laminate gets stained, tiles are hard and cold… hardwood wins. It looks sophisticated and clean, and it brings an earthy appeal into the home. To save money, Pergo flooring is a laminate wood that is cheaper but looks like the real deal.

• Woodwork and molding. An easy way to add more visual appeal throughout the house is molding with wood around doorways, ceilings and walls. Crown molding is big, and chair rails look great in a dining room. This simple addition makes any room look more sophisticated.

• Neutral colors. You want your paint colors to express who you are and your taste, but you also want them to be neutral, earthy tones that fit every personality type. In this AOL Real Estate article, a home designer says if you want red, put it in the dining room above a chair rail, but never in a bedroom. Just be smart about how you color your home.

If you’ve got a budget, it’s best to begin your home renovation in the kitchen and bathrooms, with appliances, fixtures and countertops. These will add the most home value and gain the most interest from potential homebuyers. After that, you can work your way through the other upgrades.

Have questions? Ready to sell your Millburn-Short Hills home? Give me a call, your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent! I’m here to help!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Planning a Move to Your New Millburn-Short Hills Home!

It's that time of year again! Leases will be expiring, homes are selling, and residents of Millburn-Short Hills  will soon be on the move! In fact, the peak season for moving runs from May through September, leading to higher demand for rental trucks, moving companies and storage facilities. I have some tips to help make your New Jersey move a success!

I'll start with a word of caution: there are unethical moving companies out there who prey on the unwary. This affects people who are moving households cross-country as well as in-state. Fortunately, there are ways you can screen professional movers to protect yourself. There is a great deal of information available on these websites:

• American Moving & Storage Association
• U.S. Department of Transportation
• The Better Business Bureau of New Jersey

If you plan to do-it-yourself and rent a moving truck, reserve your vehicle well in advance. Tip: when in doubt, go with a larger truck. It's more cost-effective than making multiple trips with a smaller truck. Also read over the rental contract carefully - there are plenty of hidden fees with some companies. There may be fees for exceeding a certain number of miles, or for returning the truck late. Helpful things like hand trucks/carts and furniture padding are usually available, but there may be an extra charge.

Tired of using cardboard boxes to pack your belongings? There's an alternative! Plastic, reusable moving boxes are available for rent. They are durable, stackable, and washable. It will cost a bit of money, but you may be dollars ahead over buying cardboard moving boxes - and if it rains, cardboard can be a disaster. You can learn more about reusable moving containers in this New York Times article.

Moving pods are another option. The pods are a transportable storage unit. They are delivered to your home by truck, dropped off, and left there for you to fill. When everything is loaded, you call the company and the pod is loaded up and delivered to your new residence. The appeal of moving pods is that you have more time to deal with loading and unloading - no rushing to return a truck.

I hope this information helps you get moving! And when you're ready to get moving by buying or selling a New Jersey home, I'll be happy to help you. As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate professional, I will provide the expert guidance you need for a success!

 Contact me today, and let my 18 years of experience be your advantage!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Plan for Success When Remodeling Your Millburn-Short Hills Home!

Ready to remodel your Millburn-Short Hills home? If you answered "yes", you're in good company! A recent survey by home remodeling site Houzz shows that 53% of homeowners agree that now is a good time to remodel. 

The most popular remodeling project involves kitchens, and Americans spend an average of $28,000 on this area of the home! But before you get out your checkbook, you will need to have a plan in mind. Here are some planning tips to help you!

Identify the main goals. Are new kitchen cabinets a must? Do high-end appliances make sense? Your wish list might be bigger than your budget, so start by deciding the priorities. List everything else to the side.

Decide your timeline for completion. Are you selling your home in the near future? Are you expecting to entertain guests? Have a realistic timeline for completion. Make sure to factor in some cushion for unexpected delays. 

Determine your budget. Do you have the financing available or funds set aside to comfortably tackle your project? Estimates, after all, are only estimates!

Interview contractors and obtain several estimates. Beware of bids that are too cheap compared to the running norms. The contractor may be cutting some serious corners to make that bid possible, or he may plan to “surprise” you with extra charges along the way.

Compare the estimates to your budget. Are you still in business? Can you afford the little extras? Do you need to finance more of the project than expected? 

Revisit your list of contractors and make an informed choice. Ask for referrals, and check them out against the Better Business Bureau. Also, personality counts! Don’t hire someone that rubs you the wrong way, no matter how good their prices are. It will only add stress to your experience.

One more tip - before you commit dollars to your project, be sure to have realistic expectations about what you may recover when you sell your home. See my blog post from January 30 that talks about the average return on investment for home improvements. 

If you are preparing to sell your Millburn-Short Hills home, start with a comparative market analysis to find out your home's price range in today's market before you remodel. I will also provide you with a net sheet to show your estimated proceeds after the home sale. I will counsel you on what improvements are most likely to benefit your home sale and your bottom line!

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate professional, I will provide the expert guidance you need for a successful home sale! Contact me today, and let my 18 years of experience be your market advantage!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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7 Steps to Home Ownership in Millburn-Short Hills NJ!

By now, you've heard of all the great reasons for buying a Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home. Mortgage interest rates are low and home prices are reasonable, while rents continue to increase. Home ownership with a fixed-rate mortgage is your best defense against rising housing costs!

Yet for too many would-be home buyers, buying a home seems overwhelming. It's a big decision and it involves being financially prepared. I want you to know that home ownership in Millburn-Short Hills and  Summit, NJ is attainable, and I've put together these 7 steps to help you!  

1. Choose the type of home you want. Condo? Single-family home? If you enjoy the convenience of apartment living, but want the benefits of ownership and the tax breaks, you might prefer a condo. Think long-term about your family needs and the room you'll require.

2. Know where you want to be. This is a combination of lifestyle and necessity. Is being close to your child's school important? Do you need a shorter commute? Do you spend more free time shopping, dining out, or at the park?

3. Prioritize. Narrow down the "want" list to what you truly need - and be willing to consider fewer amenities, if necessary, in order to find an affordable home in your preferred location.

4. Prepare your credit. Pull a free copy of your credit history from AnnualCreditReport.com. Get your credit score from MyFico.com. Contact the reporting agencies about any errors or discrepancies.

5. Prepare your down payment. You may be able to qualify for an FHA mortgage with as little as 5% down! If you have nothing put aside yet, start a practical budget that includes regular contributions to savings.

6. Talk to a mortgage lender about your financing options, and fine-tune your home ownership plans.

7. Work with me!  As a real estate professional with over 18 years of experience, I can help you succeed with your home ownership goals!

Contact me today, and let me help you with your home buying goals!

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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Tips for buying your Millburn-Short Hills home

I enjoy being your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ Realtor and helping your home-buying process go as smoothly as possible.  That's why I'm sharing these home buying tips today.  There is a lot to know when buying a home, and it can be intimidating if it's your first time.  I've helped many people buy Millburn-Short Hills real estate, and hopefully I can help you too!

As the real estate market and economy improve, more and more people across the United States are looking to buy homes.  Recent reports have indicated that it is a great time to buy, for many reasons.  Mortgage rates are at all all-time low.  Housing prices are on the rise, making real estate a good investment.  Buying is actually cheaper than renting, in many cases.  This means there are many more first-time home buyers in the market than there have been in recent years.  There are a few tips that can help ensure buyers are aware and prepared for everything involved in home-buying.


Really do your research on the area
Sometimes first-time buyers get so caught up in the amenities of the house itself, or looking for a good deal, that they don't stop and ask serious questions about the location.  What will your (and your spouse's) commute time be?  If you have (or are planning to have) children, is the school district one you'll be happy with?  How close are the nearby schools--would your child have to take a bus, be dropped off, or walk?  How do property taxes here compare to other places you've looked?  Is the house near grocery stores, restaurants, shops, parks, gyms, the library, etc.?  Is this somewhere you can see yourself living five or more years from now?


Outline all of your costs
A mistake many first-time home buyers make is not knowing the full cost of buying a home.  It will be more than the settled-upon purchase price of the house.  Within the paperwork should be a "Buyer Cost Sheet," which should be looked at closely and taken into consideration of the buyer's budget.  This sheet will be given to you by your lender or possibly your realtor and should include everything you'll be paying for, such as inspection and appraisal fees, transfer fees, closing costs, and more.  Some of these fees could be paid by the seller, but that would depend on what happens during negotiations.

Get a disclosure statement
State laws vary, but in general, sellers are required to disclose information about the property to you.  Because houses are sold "as-is," you want all of the information you can get so as to avoid unexpected costs later.  Realtors have detailed disclosure forms with a variety of questions.  You'll want to know if the house you're consider floods during heavy rains, for example, or if the foundation has a crack that has been covered.

If you're serious about home buying, you'll want to do more research than this, but hopefully it provides a good start!  Please contact me about buying your first Millburn-Short Hills home so we can talk about specific details and what is best in your situation.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Get That “Lost Hour” Back in Millburn-Short Hills!

This Sunday, many in the Millburn-Short Hills area were disoriented when they woke up and had to set their clocks ahead one hour. Think of everything that you could have done with that lost hour. With the Millburn-Short Hills spring real estate market just on the horizon, I’m sure there are many sellers and buyers in the area that would have appreciated the extra sixty minutes to prepare themselves for the transaction ahead. As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I consider it part of my job to help my clients get as prepared for their next buyer or seller transaction as possible. Since the market is about to get busy in just a few short weeks, I thought that I’d take a different approach with my blog this week: how can you get that lost hour back?

For Millburn-Short Hills home sellers, it’d be ideal to spend the time getting your property prepared for sale. These time-saving home improvement projects will help you save a few minutes on what otherwise would have been more time-consuming tasks. When your home is ready to be shown earlier than the competition’s; you’ll find yourself getting an offer sooner rather than later.

If you’re looking to repaint, use a combination primer-paint. You know the drill: you lay down the tarp, put primer on the walls, wait for that to dry, paint the walls, and wait for that to dry. This process can take hours if you don’t know how to use your time efficiently. By using a combination primer-paint, not only are you saving gallons of primer and paint that you would be otherwise putting on the walls and all over your floor, but you will also be saving hours of time. Most Millburn-Short Hills sellers need to repaint at least one room in their home, so save yourself some time by using this productive tactic.

Get rid of garden weeds quickly and easily. Curb appeal is one of the most important things when you begin to prepare your Millburn-Short Hills home for sale. Your home’s exterior is what is going to make a strong first impression and make a buyer decide whether or not they want to come inside and take a look. If your garden looks overgrown and filled with weeds, it will make your property look slightly neglected. The solution? Push weeds down into the garden bed by spreading pre-emergent herbicides throughout. Those garden pests will grow slower, and you can control what weeds you do have easily.

If you use these two time-saving techniques when preparing your home to be listed on the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, then you will find that you’ll get that “lost hour” back in no time. You can spend it doing other things to prepare your home for showings or taking some time off from real estate preparations to relax. Either way, the disorientation of Daylight Savings Time has come to an end, and you can start using that hour to be productive.

If you have any questions about how to best prepare and market your home on the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to discuss your options with you. I hope to hear from you soon!


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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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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Why Should I Hire a Millburn-Short Hills Real Estate Agent?

In my many years of working in the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the words, “But why would I hire an agent? I can do it myself.” Many people think that they know enough about the local market and the ins and outs of a real estate transaction to list and sell their homes themselves. As a seasoned Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I can honestly tell you that while several people have managed to sell a home on their own, many people ultimately regret not using an agent to do so after the transaction is over.

There are several reasons that you should probably hire an agent when you decide to put your Millburn-Short Hills home for sale on the market, and I just thought that I’d outline a few of them:

•    Listing a home on your own is a hassle. The constant phone calls. The showing appointments. The back and forth that can ensue with a potential buyer. When you already have a full-time job, kids and other responsibilities to worry about, having to successfully market, show, negotiate and sell your home is not on the top of your to-do list. When you hire a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, you have a professional who wants to take this burden on for you, and they will make it a top priority.

•    How much do you REALLY know about each transaction? Sure, the logistics might not be that hard to figure out, but there are a lot of intricacies and complicated issues that can arise in even the most simple of real estate transactions. When you hire a professional to sell your house for you, it becomes easier to avoid these complications. Your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent will deal with every little detail, leaving you free of hassle and stress.

•    A professional stays on top of current trends. Did you know that for many Millburn-Short Hills homebuyers, energy-efficient appliances and green upgrades are a hot commodity? Unless you were a practicing real estate agent or somebody who has recently bought or sold a home, you may not have been aware of this emerging trend in the market. Your real estate agent will give you the information that you need about what home buyers want. This will give you an edge over the competition, and you’ll get more value added to your home.

•    Without a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, you may not have anyone looking out for your best interest. No matter how experienced you are with selling homes, there is no way to stay on top of all the changes that the market can face unless you sell homes for a living. If you’re not constantly aware of the changes in the market and housing laws, then you could make a costly mistake that could end up in you being fined or getting a bad deal for your home. If you hire the right real estate agent, then you will always have someone on your side that is looking out for your best interest, and the best part is that they’re aware of what’s happening in the world of housing right now, so they’ll know how to navigate your transaction.

Whenever I hear anyone questioning the value of hiring a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I always point out the benefits listed above. If you can find someone who is willing to take on the stress and hassle of marketing and listing your home for you, then why would you want to do it yourself? If you ever have any questions about what I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to contact me! I love letting people know about all of the different ways that I can help them navigate the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market. I hope to hear from you soon!


Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Get Your Millburn-Short Hills Home Organized This Winter!

Whether you’re ready to put your Millburn-Short Hills home on the real estate market or not, getting your home organized is important. Think about it: you have a limited amount of square footage that you can truly call your own, and since we are finally in the post-holidays phase of winter, now is the time to get that space spruced up. After all, it’s much easier to enjoy living in your Millburn-Short Hills home if you can actually find your way around in it.

As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I have to be knowledgeable about home organization because it can become a large factor in my job. When my clients set about putting their home up for sale on the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, one of the biggest tasks they need to complete is going through their belongings and de-cluttering their house. That’s why, in the spirit of getting your home in tip-top shape this season, I thought I’d share a few storage solutions with you. That way, you can live your in beautiful home clutter-free:

Use your stairway for seasonal extras. Put some drawers under sturdier stairs and use them to store extra linens, towels and seasonal items. This is a convenient way to create more storage space at an affordable price.

Use your crawl space to its best potential. Whether you have a crawl space underneath the floors or in your basement, lining them with shelves and using that as extra storage space creates an extra room for your belongings. Having shelves will also keep you from having a large pile build up in the crawl space, which can create a disorganized mess. Using the shelves will allow you to truly maximize your home’s potential, and it’s a great bonus to use if you ever choose to put your home on the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market.

What’s under the mattress? Did you know that you can buy a mattress that lifts to reveal extra storage space? This is the perfect place to keep extra blankets and linens for guests, and it won’t require any additional space or building on your part. The best part? You can find this wonder mattress at IKEA, so you know it’s relatively affordable.

Hide the cat litter, if you can. We know that it’s imperative to keep the litter box inside, but that doesn’t mean that you have to keep your cat’s business out in the open. Invest in a small, inexpensive storage cabinet that you can put the litter box in. The cat can slip in and out of the cabinet through a small opening in front, and voila. Your room will look cleaner and your cat will still have a place where it can do its business.

Use lockers. Before you roll your eyes, hear us out. Locker space is an inexpensive way to create extra pantry and storage space in your kitchen without a costly remodel, and you could paint or conceal them to go with your home’s décor. We know the idea sounds strange, but look around the kitchen and think about it: it could really work for you.

Use overhead areas to your advantage. Do you have some narrow hallways in your home? If so, use the narrow space between the walls to your advantage. Place a floating shelf or cabinet area above the next doorway and create another, convenient storage space. This can look discreet if you do it right, and it’s yet another way to create a storage solution without uprooting your home in a remodel.

Get creative when hiding the extras. Items like wrapping paper and holiday decorations are important to have in the house year-round, but it can also get aggravating when you need to find a place to put it all. Utilize wire racks on the ceilings and walls of your closets to store gift wrap and smaller decorations. That way, you have a hidden storage space for these items that is easy to access and organized at the same time.

If you take a look at the suggestions above, they all have one thing in common: they don’t require you to spend a lot of money for more storage space. Part of what makes a Millburn-Short Hills home appealing to home buyers is an abundance of storage space, and the small steps that you take to add small shelves and additional drawers will help add to your home’s overall value. If you have any questions about how you can get your Millburn-Short Hills home ready for sale, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d love to use my many years of experience and expertise to help you out.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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New Year, New Market For Millburn-Short Hills Home Sellers!

Believe it or not, 2012 is upon us! It's time to think about your plans for the upcoming year and take steps in the right direction. If you are thinking of selling your Millburn-Short Hills home during 2012, you may want to place it on the market soon! There are advantages in being a winter home seller, and I'll share what they are.

There are fewer homes on the market in January, so your home has a better chance of grabbing attention among serious buyers. With less competition, you won't be in a race to the bottom on price against homes with similar features. There are also fewer distressed properties to contend with this time of year.

Buyers who have been watching the market may be looking for a home like yours! But they won't wait forever. If you wait until spring to sell, they may find something else.

Corporate relocations are very active during the first quarter of the year. Relocation buyers are generally well-qualified and very motivated!

Home buyers who have mortgages pre-approved need to act before their financing offer expires. With interest rates very low at the moment, savvy shoppers are getting pre-approved now.

If you are concerned about moving while school is in session, keep in mind that the date of occupancy can be negotiated. Depending on the needs of buyers and sellers, sometimes an arrangement can be worked out to avoid disruption. You usually have one month between your accepted offer and the final closing. By the time all is said and done, you may need to negotiate occupancy for only a month or two. If you have concerns in this area, I can explain how it works in more detail.

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I know our market quite well, and I understand what buyers are seeking among different price levels. If you are considering selling your home, give me a call and we'll talk about your needs. I'll be happy to give you information about the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market and plan for a successful sale.

Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year,

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Figure Out Your Financial Strategy Before Moving In To Your Millburn-Short Hills Home!

Beginning the search for a brand new home in the Millburn-Short Hills area is always an exciting time. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or have more experience with the buyer process, looking for a home is always brand-new territory. With the ever-changing conditions of the Millburn-Short Hills real estate market, it can be tricky to figure out what kind of properties are in your range financially at any given time. That is where a financial strategy comes in.

Before you even begin your home search or hire your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, you need to make sure that you have a plan for the financial aspect of the transaction. Purchasing a home is a rather large investment, so if there is any time to start planning your finances, this would be it. As an expert in the Millburn-Short Hills real estate industry, I have worked with several lenders and know exactly what financial documents need to be in order before a successful home sale. My many years of experience as an agent have allowed me to help several home buyers create a financial strategy of their own. Here are some tips and strategies that will help you figure out your budget BEFORE you start your Millburn-Short Hills home search:

•    Ask yourself these questions: How long do I plan to live in this house? Where do I see myself in five or ten years? Do I have to or want to make home improvements? Do I want to keep cash on hand for other investments? Can I take financial risks? Do I want to be debt free?

Is your head spinning yet? These questions might seem difficult to answer, but they’re also imperative to figuring out your loan options and financial philosophy. They force you to consider your long-term future and plan your finances accordingly. A house isn’t just something you can easily return after you buy it; it’s a large investment that you will want to maintain for a long time. It’s imperative that you know the answers to these questions before continuing your search for the perfect Millburn-Short Hills home.

•    Use mortgage calculators. It’s important to figure out your month-to-month costs for various mortgages before settling on the right mortgage loan and picking the right price point for your home. It also helps you figure out how much you’d have to pay in various scenarios.

•    Shop around for the best rates. Don’t accept the very first loan offer you get. Go to a few different lenders and see what the best rates are. You need to figure out the best deal for your financial situation and your family, so explore a few different options before settling on one.

•    Lower rate or higher rate? Are you willing to pay for points to get a low interest rate, or would you rather keep closing costs down by taking a higher rate? This is a key decision that needs to be made for your mortgage loan, so consider it carefully.

•    Create your perfect loan. Be a little flexible. Combine features of different loans to create one that you are most comfortable with. It’s also important to have a loan that still allows you to accomplish your long-term financial goals, so do your research, consult an industry expert and figure out which options best fit your situation.

•    Don’t forget about your other costs! Many times, Millburn-Short Hills homebuyers get so caught up in what the mortgage will be that they forget to factor in their other costs! Don’t forget about your homeowner’s association fees, property taxes and insurance coverage when embarking on your home search. Believe it or not, the costs of these items can take you from one price point to another, so make sure to factor them in to keep your search limited to affordable properties.

•    Ask about alternative loan terms. Everyone has a unique financial situation, and as a result, there are many unique loan options to fit each situation. Ask about lesser-known loans, such as 20-year options. These loans do exist, they’re just not as publicized by lenders. Don’t be afraid to ask your lender for some alternatives. This could help you to find the best possible loan for your situation.

If you’re overwhelmed by having to consider all of this information, don’t be! As an experienced Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I have become knowledgeable in several aspects of home financing, and I also have relationships with several local lenders that can help you figure out your next loan. Using this information to build a financial strategy will help you avoid financial difficulties and unforeseen costs when you begin the search for your Millburn-Short Hills home.

If you have any questions about what you need to buy a home in the Millburn-Short Hills area, or you want the name of a lender in the area, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’m available to help you at any time you need me, and I’d love to answer your questions. I hope to hear from you soon!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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