Checklist for Millburn-Short Hills Home Sellers!

If you’re preparing to sell your Millburn-Short Hills home this fall, congratulations! With homebuyers eager to buy before mortgage rates and home prices continue to rise, you’ve got a good chance of selling your home fast. Plus, inventory is still relatively low, so you might get multiple offers.

It’s important to be familiar with the steps in the home-selling process before you’re right in the middle of it. BHG Real Estate shared a basic seven-step checklist for home sellers. As a New Jersey real estate agent, I’ll go into detail for you about each one:

1.  Hire a real estate professional! Right away, you’ll create a trusting partnership with a professional, who can walk you through each step of the home-selling process. You’ll discuss market trends, recent sales, realistic expectations, timelines and next steps. You need to find a good match, so don’t be afraid to ask questions! As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I’m always willing to answer any questions you have.

2.  Set price expectations. You and your agent can work together on this. Determine what you need to net from the sale. Find out what your home is worth. Have your agent share with you what other homes like yours are selling for in the Millburn-Short Hills area. Consider an appraisal, which will let you know if there is any damage that needs to be dealt with.

3.  Declutter. This is a step that every home seller needs to take but that most dread. Over the years, we accumulate a lot of stuff! Potential homebuyer don’t want to see that stuff. They want to see a move-in-ready home that looks like a model. So clean out all your closets, cabinets and storage spaces and get rid of whatever you can. Make the home spotless.

4.  Host a garage sale. This is a great idea for those of you who end up with a lot of items to get rid of after you declutter. Rather than just tossing them, you might as well try to earn some cash for them! This could be put aside for closing costs, moving costs or home repairs. Also, you could let garage sale customers know that you’re selling your home. They can spread the word!

5.  Pump up curb appeal. Potential homebuyers see the outside of your house before anything else, so you want it to look memorable and inviting. Keep your lawn green and lush, but also mowed and manicured. Trim your trees and bushes. Plant blooming flowers in your gardens, or place flower pots on your front porch. Power wash your exterior. Hang a welcome sing on your front door.

6.  Transfer or cancel utilities and insurance. You want to do this after you have a homebuyer or after you have bought your next home. You don’t want a surprise bill coming in the mail after you have moved out!

7.  Get prepared for the closing. This includes bringing keys and remotes and other items that might not even cross your mind. As your New Jersey real estate agent, I can prep you for this and let you know what you need to do.

Selling your Millburn-Short Hills home is an exciting adventure! Let me help walk you through the process and support you every step of the way. Contact me!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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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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What Makes a Good New Jersey Real Estate Agent?

When you’re selling your Millburn-Short Hills home, it’s important that everything goes as smoothly, quickly and painless as possible. At the same time, you want the process to be successful in terms of money, closing agreements and timetables.

As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I understand what New Jersey home sellers want from their agents! Because I was recently named the top Realtor in the state of New Jersey for sales volume, I also know what it takes to successfully sell a New Jersey home.

When choosing an agent, don’t just go with the first name you find! Choose an agent that you know will get the job done. The KCM Crew recently shared five demands that home sellers should make of their real estate agent. Because I agree with all of them, I’ve created a summary here:

• Find an agent who will help you price your home correctly, right from the start. Many agents will agree to your desired listing price and then hit you with a price correction later. Data shows that your home will sell more quickly if priced correctly right away. Selling to the buyer isn’t the only job, either. The appraisal by the bank has to agree with the price, too.

• Find an agent who understands your personal needs and timetable. Why are you deciding to sell your New Jersey home right now? Is it because you found another home to move into? Is it to downsize or move up, or to relocate for a job? Your agent should do whatever she can to ensure that you move by the date you need to move by. (This isn’t always possible, but don’t accept a lack of effort on the agent’s part!)

• Find an agent that takes many challenges off your plate. There is a lot involved in the home-selling process. Your agent should be able to help you with much of it, such as researching homes in the area similar to yours, listing your home online, getting potential homebuyers over for showings and open houses, negotiating and getting all the paperwork together.

• Find an agent that can help with you relocation. Chances are, if you’re moving out of your current home, you’re relocating to a new home. Your agent should be able to help your coordinate your closing so that you can close on your current home and move into your new residence immediately. You don’t want to be caught without a roof over your head!

• Find an agent who can get your house sold. That is the purpose of you going through the process of selling, right? Your agent should be straightforward and more concerned with your home sale than your feelings. If something needs to be done, like a price change or a repair, you need an agent who will come right out and tell you. No beating around the bush when it comes to selling a home!

Like I said, I was named New Jersey’s top Realtor for sales volume, so you know you’re getting a trusted New Jersey real estate agent when you work with me. You can also check out my testimonials. When you’re ready to sell your Millburn-Short Hills home, contact me!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Selling Your Millburn-Short Hills Home Yourself? 5 Points to Consider!

As the New Jersey real estate market improves, a few home sellers may be tempted to try and market their homes themselves. After all, it starts looking easy to sell your home when home prices are going up and buyer demand is high!

However, there are several reasons why selling your home on your own puts you at a disadvantage. Here are 5 big reasons why!

1. Real estate professionals help prepare home buyers for the market. We provide referrals to mortgage companies and educate home buyers about sales trends. Think about the number of first-time home buyers in the market today; a sale-by-owner situation does not give them the assistance they need in order to be "ready to buy." 

2.  The multiple listing service includes a database of homes for sale that is distributed to major websites. Simply put, sale-by-owner websites do not get the same exposure, or the visitor traffic.

3.  Automated, online home value estimates are not as accurate as a professionally-prepared comparative market analysis. Only a real estate professional, with access to the very latest, local sales data, can provide accurate pricing guidance.

4. Real estate professionals are trained negotiators. Our goal is to help buyers and sellers make a deal happen. While we provide many services up front to both buyers and sellers, we are not compensated unless a transaction takes place. If you attempt to sell your home yourself, all the marketing expenses and work will fall on your shoulders from the start.

5. Real estate professionals operate under a code of ethics and standard of practices. We are licensed, and we are required to commit to ongoing education to remain on top of industry changes. We are well-prepared to deal with evolving issues that can arise in the market.

The bottom line is, I can help you sell your Millburn-Short Hills home for top dollar! I will provide a comparative market analysis, along with details about recent home sales in your neighborhood. I will also provide staging suggestions and complete 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
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See My Listings
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