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
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle

Home Equity Sees Recovery in Millburn-Short Hills Area

Fewer homes are underwater in value, according to the latest report from CoreLogic. Improvements in home values are being seen nationwide as well as in Millburn-Short Hills!

I won't keep you in suspense! CoreLogic says that 88.1 percent of homes in the New York-White Plains-Wayne N.Y-N.J. statistical area have positive equity!

While we are a few miles away from the core metropolitan area, our home values have seen a similar, progressive rise in recent months. Please keep in mind that this is a broad statistic and home values will vary by neighborhood.

CoreLogic's report also shows that homes at the higher price ranges are gaining equity at a quicker pace. Here are some more findings:

86 percent of homes valued at $200,000 or more have equity, compared with 72 percent of homes valued at less than $200,000.

  

Homes with a combination of outstanding primary mortgages and home equity loans accounted for $315 billion of negative equity nationwide. 

 

6.5 million negative equity borrowers hold first liens without home equity loans. The average mortgage balance for this group of borrowers is $213,000. The average underwater amount is $45,000. 

3.9 million negative equity borrowers hold both first and second liens. The average mortgage balance for this group of borrowers is $296,000.The average underwater amount is $80,000! 

In other words, the total amount of mortgage debt outstanding plays a role in how quickly homes recover equity. And because second mortgages were used as a down payment method during the boom, some homeowners were heavily leveraged from the beginning. These homeowners have deeper hole to escape, but fortunately the market trends are cooperating. 

If you are preparing to sell your Millburn-Short Hills home, let's start with a comparative market analysis to find out your home value in today's market! I will also provide a net sheet to show your estimated sale proceeds. 

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
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle

New Jersey Home Buyers Face Changes in Markets and Mortgages

2013 is presenting a different real estate market and lending environment for home buyers! If you are thinking of buying a home in New Jersey, keep these facts in mind!

First, CoreLogic reports that the New Jersey home market is showing improvement, but of course we still have a wide variety in market condition. Neighborhoods that have good commuter access are seeing more buyer demand and shrinking home inventory. In other areas there is still an impact to home prices caused by foreclosures and the past recession's unemployment trends.

What this means is, there are attractive deals for first-time home buyers in New Jersey, but you need to know where to look. Home inventory is limited, and as we near the spring season, buyer competition will heat up.

Next, there are 3 changes to the mortgage environment in progress, and while these won't be show-stoppers, you need to be aware of them!

1. Mortgage interest rates are trending higher and are expected to gradually climb up throughout the rest of the year. You can watch rates by looking at the weekly rate survey by Freddie Mac; it's at the bottom left of the home page. Please keep in mind that the actual interest rate you may qualify for could be different.

2. FHA-backed mortgages, which are popular for first-time home buyers, have new qualifying guidelines. The mortgage insurance premiums have also increased in cost, and you can no longer waive them as your loan matures. Mortgage insurance covers the lender in case of default. I can refer you to a good mortgage lender who can explain FHA loans in more detail.

3. The new Consumer Protection Act changes the way lenders must look at loan applications. The rules basically abolish the risky mortgage practices that led to the housing crash. Lenders must prove that the borrower has the ability to repay the debt; not just during an introductory interest rate, as in the case of adjustable-rate mortgages, but also through the life of the loan. It means that new ARM loans will be phased out, for all practical purposes. Self-employed loan applicants will continue to face tough criteria. Get used to the picky underwriting process; it's here to stay!

All together, it means that home buyers shouldn't take anything for granted. The markets change, rates change, mortgage rules change. This is why you need expert guidance to help you capture the best opportunities and succeed in your home buying plans!

When you are looking for the ideal Millburn-Short Hills or Summit home, let me be your guide to the market! I have the latest information about home prices, neighborhood trends, schools and more - everything to help you find the best home for your needs!  

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate professional, I will give you expert assistance with the home buying process from A to Z, from home search, to negotiations and closing. Contact me today, and let my 18 years of experience be your home buying advantage!

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

5 Easy Ways to Catch Home Buyer Attention in Millburn-Short Hills NJ!

It's a New Year! If selling your Millburn-Short Hills or Summit, NJ home is one of your goals for 2013, I can help! In fact, I have 5 tips for attracting home buyer attention that you can put to use right away. I'll get to those in a moment!

First, I want to let you know that before you spend money on home updates, you should obtain a comparative market analysis to find out your home's price range in today's market.

You should also obtain a net sheet that estimates your proceeds after expenses are subtracted from the sale. This is all part of a listing presentation, which I offer for free, and with no obligations.

Even if you are not ready to sell this instant, getting this data now helps you make wise decisions about where to spend money on updates - or if you should spend money at all. Having some idea of your home's competitive position on the market gives you a starting point. When you are ready to sell, we will update the CMA and the net sheet before you determine a listing price.

Whether you are thinking of selling or your home is already on the market, here are some inexpensive ways you can draw home buyer attention!

1. Look at your home objectively. Take exterior and interior photos, and imagine a buyer looking at these photos online. What stands out, for better or worse? If you see clutter, garbage cans and overgrown shrubs, start by removing these negative impressions.

2. Exterior details are the first thing your buyer will notice. Look at your exterior lighting, mailbox, house number, front door, welcome mat, ect. They should be in good condition and be attractive accents. A handsome front door with gleaming hardware makes a great statement. Worn-out storm doors should be replaced.

3. Kitchen updates provide the most return for the money. You can make simple changes to update the appearance, such as painting cabinets and drawers and installing new handles. De-clutter counter tops and cabinets. Over-stocked kitchens look smaller than they really are.

4. Make room in your closets and storage areas so that buyers can see open space. If you're full to the brim, buyers may assume your home lacks adequate storage space. You may need to store some belongings at the home of a friend or relative, or temporarily rent a storage unit.

5. Add interior details for color, vibrancy and a sense of "new."  Seasonal, silk floral arrangements or fresh flowers brighten any table. Set the dining room table as if welcoming guests. Each room should have a focal point, and you can flip through home decor magazines for great ideas. Display new guest towels in washrooms, add new accent rugs to the floor.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. I will be happy to provide suggestions specific to your home!
 
As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate professional, I will provide the expert guidance you need for a successful home sale. Real estate is a four-season business - I can help you sell your home in Essex and Union County any time of year, in any market!  

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

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

How the "Fiscal Cliff" Could Affect Home Buyers in Millburn-Short Hills

If you have plans to buy a Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home in the upcoming year, you may be a bit concerned about the "fiscal cliff" debate that has been going on in Washington D.C.  While there is still hope for a compromise between lawmakers, if there is no deal before January 1st, 2013, a ream of automatic tax increases and Federal budget cuts will occur.

These could affect home buyers in Millburn-Short Hills and  Summit, NJ in several ways. Most immediately, payroll tax withholding will go up, which will affect wage earners across the board. Next, your income tax filing in 2014, for the tax year 2013, could result in fewer deductions and a potentially higher tax bracket. These changes won't directly prevent you from buying a home, but it could mean changes to your budget.

I'm sharing this infographic from Bankrate.com, which explains the impact of the fiscal cliff to individual taxpayers.

It should also be mentioned that if you sell your Millburn-Short Hills home any changes to capital gains tax rates will not change the allowed exemptions. For example, if you have lived in the home at least 2 out of the past 5 years, the first $250,000 in profit is exempt for single filers. If you are married filling jointly, that exemption becomes $500,000. So far, nothing in the budget debate affects this.

Naturally, all this information could change if a new Federal budget deal is approved in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, this gives you a basic guideline so you can discuss any concerns you may have with your professional tax preparer.

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate professional, I can help you buy or sell a home no matter the market conditions! Contact me today, and let my 18 years of experience be your market advantage!

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

How to Sell Your Millburn-Short Hills Home During the Holidays!

There are strategic advantages to selling your Millburn-Short Hills home during the holidays. Serious buyers are home shopping, and inventory is lower. The holidays are a popular time for vacations, and you could have buyers from around the country, or the world, looking for homes right here in Millburn-Short Hills! Your home interior may also look its best this time of year.   

If you have your Millburn-Short Hills home on the market during the holidays, make the most of the unique opportunities of the season by following these simple steps!

1. Decorate tastefully. A large, decorated tree can make a room appear smaller. Too many decorations can overwhelm a buyer’s senses and distract them. 

2. Minimize or remove religious decorations prior to a home showing. This is a personal decision on your part; keep in mind that you want buyers of all walks of life to feel welcome. This doesn't mean you can't display a nativity scene, but perhaps a small display in the house is better than a large, plastic, light-up scene in the front yard.

3. Keep clutter under control. Shopping bags and rolls of gift wrap should be out of sight. Clean up the kitchen promptly after baking projects. Keep plenty of open space visible on the kitchen counters.

4. Keep your home clean and be ready for short-notice showings. Buyers may have vacation time during the holidays, but that time is limited.  If they are interested in your home, be flattered, instead of feeling inconvenienced. 

Another great way to sell your Millburn-Short Hills home is by letting me help you! As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate professional, I will provide the expert guidance you need for a successful home sale. Real estate is a four-season business and I can help you sell your home any time of year, in any market!  

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

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

Pricing Advice for Millburn-Short Hills Home Sellers

Getting ready to sell your Millburn-Short Hills home in 2013? You're not alone! Real estate surveys conducted during 2012 indicated that many homeowners are waiting until 2013 or later to sell. The reason? A common expectation of higher home prices.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to make a profit, or recover equity. However, the surveys also revealed that some would-be sellers have unrealistic expectations. For example, 32% of homeowners said they would list their homes for a higher price than what the market comparisons suggested.

Here is why over-pricing a home usually backfires:

1. Most home buyers need mortgages, and mortgages require appraisals. If you find a buyer who will accept your price, the appraiser is still going to use market comparisons to determine value. If the appraisal falls short, there's no mortgage, and no sale.

2. Thanks to the internet, buyers can compare your home to others in the same price range, in a matter of seconds. During those few seconds, they will make quick decisions based on price and photos. If your home doesn't appear to measure up for the money, they will discard it from consideration.

3. The first 30 days on the market are critical. Homes that are priced correctly create "buzz" in the market and receive attention from home buyers and real estate professionals. The more interest, the more showings, and the better chance of a good offer in a short period of time.

4. An over-priced home will be avoided and linger on the market. Eventually you are compelled to reduce the price. Even then, your home will not draw strong interest nor strong offers, as the extended days on market have created negative assumptions about the property.

The good news is, you can sell your Millburn-Short Hills home for top dollar, by understanding what "top dollar" is in our market! I will help you, by providing a comparative market analysis, along with details about recent home sales in your neighborhood. I will also provide proven marketing strategies for results!

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
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle
Contact Me

Enjoy Holiday Fun in Millburn-Short Hills NJ!

Ready or not, the holiday season is here again! If you need a boost for your seasonal spirit, or you're looking for holiday fun for the family, take some time for these Millburn-Short Hills events!

Bring the whole family and your friends to the 29th Annual Snowflake Parade in downtown Millburn on Sunday, December 2nd! The parade steps off at 1:30 p.m. from Millburn Avenue and State Street.

Stick around after the parade for refreshments with Santa in the courtyard. There will also be collection boxes for the "Toys for Tots" donation drive at Millburn Avenue and State Street, so please consider bringing a new, unwrapped toy for a needy child.

Enjoy the soaring, uplifting melodies of "The Sound of Music" at the Paper Mill Playhouse. This classic musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein was inspired by the true story of the von Trapp family in the late 1930's. It continues to delight audiences of all ages with its humor, charm and message of hope. Performances are scheduled through December 30th.

Create your own holiday decorations using natural materials at the Greenwood Gardens Holiday Greens Workshop, December 4th & 5th from 10:00 a.m. to noon. You will learn how to create garland and wreaths using the natural materials supplied by Greenwood. Registration fee includes all materials. There is another holiday workshop on December 12 teaching turn-of-the-century natural designs using greenery, fruit, nuts, and berries. See their website for registration fees and details.

Take a break from the mall this holiday season and enjoy the hometown events we have in Millburn! As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate professional, I'm happy to share examples of our community spirit and quality of life.

Whenever you are thinking of buying or selling a home, I'll be happy to help you! Contact me today, and let my 18 years of experience give you the advantage in our real estate market!

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

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
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle
Contact Me 

April fun in Millburn-Short Hills, NJ

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

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

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

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

Swamptails

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

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


Bloomfest at Branch Brook Park


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

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

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

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

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
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle
Contact Me

Get a mortgage now for your Millburn-Short Hills home!

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, it is my job to help you find the perfect home--one that is located somewhere you prefer, falls within your price range, and meets your needs aesthetically and in terms of space.  Finding that perfect home isn't enough, however.  You also need to plan for how you're going to pay for it!  (Though I do encourage you to search Millburn-Short Hills homes in the meantime to get started looking for that perfect home.)

Many of my clients--both new and existing homeowners alike--have questions about mortgages.  Will I qualify?  What's a good rate?  Isn't renting financially safer right now? Etc., etc.  I am excited to tell you that earlier this month CNNMoney announced that mortgage rates are near all-time lows, making this the perfect time to buy a home.  Fifteen-year mortgages haven't had this low of interest rates in over sixty years, and thirty-year mortgages are close behind.  At the time the article was written, fifteen-year fixed mortgage interest rates averaged 3.13% and thirty-year fixed mortgage rates averaged 3.14%.

Still on the fence?  Now's not a time to hesitate.  A report that just came out this week says that it is actually cheaper to buy a house than it is to rent.  Not only is owning a home a good investment that will pay off later, it will also save you money right now!  So, you've decided you want to take advantage of low mortgage rates, save money, and buy a Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home.  What next?

Order your credit report and clean up any credit issues you have.  Check local lenders and find who has the best rates.  If your credit is an issue, look into getting an FHA loan.  Lastly, don't forget to contact me to help you find exactly what you're looking for in Millburn Township!

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

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
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Twitter
Add Me to Your Circle
Contact Me