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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Show Support and Celebrate this Winter in Millburn-Short Hills!

Each time that I meet with a buyer who is interested in purchasing a home in the Millburn-Short Hills, NJ area, one question that I hear frequently is, “How community-oriented is this town? Are the people warm, friendly and supportive?” Picking a location that suits the needs of your family is nearly as important as finding the perfect home, and so it’s understandable that before deciding to look at the many homes on the market in Millburn-Short Hills, that they would feel the need to find out how family-friendly the area is. As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I am always very honest when I hear this question: the answer is yes; of course we are community-oriented and supportive of one another!

Part of the reason that I keep myself in the know about the local happenings in the Millburn-Short Hills area is because when I start telling potential home buyers what a great community I live in, having specific examples to back up my argument helps. This winter, I am proud to say that there are several events happening that are not only fun, but beneficial to the community. In the interest of helping us be the supportive and giving neighborhood that people are looking for when they decide to relocate to Millburn-Short Hills, I thought I’d outline a few upcoming events that will prove to be both fun and rewarding.

“Come Together” Gala
Saturday, February 4th
Hilton Short Hills
41 John F. Kennedy Pkwy, Short Hills, NJ
The word “gala” typically conjures images of dinner, dancing and awards, and this celebration, being thrown by the Millburn-Short Hills Chamber of Commerce, is no exception. You can enjoy an evening of dining and celebration while participating in auctions that will benefit not-for-profit organizations in the area. Twelve of these local organizations will be honored with a “Major Not-for-Profit Serving our Community and Beyond Award.” The best part is that you can choose which of the organizations you want to support, and the Chamber will deduct 30% of the cost of your ticket and give it to that charity. Tickets are $100 per person, or if you have a large group, $950 for a table of ten. It’s bound to be a great evening, and it’s another fabulous way to show support for the community.

Senior Celebration Dinner and Fashion Show 2012
Wednesday, February 8th
307 W. Northfield Road, Livingston, NJ
There’s nothing quite like celebrating the talent of the high school kids in our area. All members of the Millburn-Short Hills community are invited to an evening of dining and fashion featuring our very own Millburn High School seniors as the runway models. Tickets are only $75, and the proceeds will benefit the Senior Celebration and the community’s efforts to keep graduation activities fun and safe for all students. It’s something that’s a little different, and let’s be honest: it will be fun seeing those high school students strut their stuff on the runway!

Chamber Music & Chocolates
Sunday, February 12th
Far Brook School
52 Great Hills Road, Millburn, NJ
If you haven’t already made Valentine’s Day plans, this local music event may be a great option! Not only will you enjoy wonderful chamber music played by some of the school’s faculty, but you’ll also get to enjoy some savory chocolate treats. There are a few distinguished guests, as well, including the star of the 1994 Broadway Revival of Showboat Andre Solomon-Glover. At only $20 per suggested contribution, this interesting and fun-filled event will benefit the Far Brook School Music Department’s Music & Instrument Fund.

Not only are these events going to provide fond memories, they will also help benefit several organizations that are important to our community. Whether you enjoy fashion, music or lavish galas, something on this list is likely to pique your interest. As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I consider it part of my responsibility to publicize these events and bring our community together. That way, when a home buyer interested in relocating to Millburn-Short Hills asks me to describe the community; I can use these events as examples of our area’s character.

If you have any questions about living in Millburn-Short Hills or want to find out more about these events, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to provide you with any and all answers to your questions. 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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Go Green This Winter in Millburn-Short Hills!

Among the many New Year’s resolutions you may have this year, one may be to go green. But becoming more environmentally-friendly isn’t only about making the appropriate upgrades to your home and carrying cloth bags to the grocery store. It’s also about becoming more aware of environmental issues and learning more about the area around us. Luckily, there is one place that you can become more eco-savvy in the Millburn-Short Hills area, and that is the Essex County Environmental Center!

As a Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I try to make it a priority to stay knowledgeable about many different events happening in the area because all of my clients have different interests. If I can let them know about something that is happening in the community that may be of interest to them, then I always take the chance to do so. This winter, the Essex Environmental Center is offering several nature programs for both children and adults. It’s the perfect way to start going green: the more you know about the environment around you, the better you can figure out how to improve it.

Here are a few of the events happening in the environmental center this month:

Thursday Evening Yoga Series
Thursdays, January 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th at 6:15pm
This soothing exercise program, geared towards adults, is meant to unwind the body and soul before bedtime. We know it’s not on the educational side, but it’s a great way to relax and start treating your body well! Dress comfortably and bring your own mat. The cost is $40 for the whole series, so if you’re interested, make sure you sign up!

Birding Hike in Essex County Weequahic Park
Thursday, January 12th at 8:00am
What better way to start learning about the nature around you than by going on a hike? Not only will this walk give you a little morning exercise, but you’ll also get the opportunity to learn about wintering ducks, gulls and birds while searching for them. The trail around the lake is easy, so you can really take some time to absorb your surroundings. The cost is only $8.00 for non-members and $6.00 for members, so sign up today!

New Jersey Woodturners
Monday, January 23rd at 7:00pm
This activity is perfect for those of you with a creative side. Learn the wonders of turning ordinary pieces of wood into stunning works of art at this fun-filled workshop! This is a monthly program offered by the Essex Environmental Center, so if you have fun at the first one, you can go back for more! The cost is $8.00 for non-members and it’s free for members. Enjoy expressing your artistic talents through wood!

Going green doesn’t have to be all work and no play! These fun-filled activities at the Essex County Environmental Center will make learning about the environment fun. You can find some more events happening at the center this month right here.

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate agent, I think it’s important to stay well-informed about what is happening in the community. It’s just another way that you can use me as a resource for all of your Millburn-Short Hills real estate needs. If you ever have any questions about buying or selling a home on the local market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to help you at any time. I hope to hear from you soon!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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