Preparing your Summit NJ real estate property for sale can be a challenging task. When you add children to the mix it can seem nearly impossible. Keeping a home clean, uncluttered and ready for a showing is definitely tougher with little ones but there are some tricks and tools that can make it a little easier.

Laundry Baskets
This simple dollar store item can help keep your floors toy free. Pick up several of the nylon pop-up type at a discount store. These can be folded up when not in use and stored in a drawer or another unobtrusive place. Keep at least one in each room. Make sure there is a clear spot in each room’s closet that matches the size of the basket. When your Summit NJ realtor calls asking for a sudden showing, you can sweep any toys, diapers or even actual laundry into the basket and into the closet. It’s an instantly clean floor.

Secret Storage
Storage items can hide a multitude of sins. However, when you are staging your Summit NJ real estate agent has probably advised moving your larger pieces out of the home in order to better show off the space. Much of your storage can be lost. Secret storage items can return some of the clutter-busting space you so desperately need.

Storage ottomans are a great example. You can tuck away story books and blankies inside a stylish and comfortable piece of furniture. An ottoman takes up far less room than a cabinet or an armoire. However it can still impede traffic flow so be sure to use sparingly. You can also seek our coffee tables and other pieces with secret storage compartments.

Art Boards
Your kids shouldn’t feel like their accomplishments and art are less important when you put your home in the Summit NJ listings. Your fridge may not the family gallery any more but they should still have a place to show off what they’ve made and done. Make an art board that can be slid under a bed when it’s time for the open house. All you need is a large piece of foam core board. You can make it as fancy as you like by covering it with fabric, framing it or painting it or just leave it white and let the art take center stage.

Foam core is extremely lightweight so it can be hung on the wall with little more than poster putty. It can be purchased at any craft store at a very small cost. This small step will help keep you kids feeling “at home” even when you’re selling the home.

Put these kid-friendly staging tips to use before your next open house.

The economy is forcing many of us to make some tough choices. We’ve been trimming luxuries from the budget and adjusting our lifestyles to conserve funds. Many people are relocating for a much needed job. Most of us are cutting costs wherever we can. Some home sellers have chosen to forgo the call to their Summit NJ realtor in favor of listing the home as for sale by owner (FSBO) in order to save money. Others question whether or not this move is wise considering the current market trends. In today’s market is a FSBO a good idea?

The answer is a definite maybe. Selling as a FSBO is doable, no matter the market. However, it is not an easy task and it’s never as simple as it seems. It takes a great deal of work to market and show a home, find the right buyer and negotiate a selling price. A Summit NJ real estate agent doesn’t make a commission for doing nothing. If you are considering a FSBO, carefully consider the pro and cons of doing so and the personal commitment you will have to make to do it. Be sure that you are ready and able to take on the responsibilities that selling a home demands.

Pros
The biggest plus to putting your home in the Summit NJ listings as a FSBO is of course money. You will not have to pay a seller’s agent a commission. Thus, your net profit on the home will be a bit larger. This is the sticking point for most home sellers who choose FSBO transactions. You also won’t have to go through the hassle of interviewing and choosing the right real estate agent. You won’t have to wonder what is being done to market your home or if it is getting the proper attention from you agency. You’ll have more control over the entire process, including when your home is shown and when or if you hold an open house.

Cons
For many Summit NJ real estate sellers, the biggest deterrent to a FSBO is the time commitment required. You will spend a large amount of time researching prices, creating a marketing plan and implementing your strategies. You will also have to field all the calls and deal with all the potential buyers. This will include the hopelessly unqualified, the looky lous and the bargain hunters. You will have to sift through a lot of undesirable buyers before you find the right one.

You’ll be showing your home to strangers in the evening and on weekends. You may even have to take time off work to accommodate a potential buyer. Not everyone can afford to miss work, even to sell their home. Be sure that you are able to schedule the time to do the legwork.

Another major con is the potential for error in a FSBO. If you have never sold a home or are unfamiliar with the process there are any number of place where a mistake can cost you more that you would save in commission. Pricing, for example, is a common place for mistakes. Many sellers simply overestimate the value of their home because they are unable to be objective.

If you choose to list as a FSBO, take advantage of the wealth of information available to you online. There are support groups, informational websites and even realtor sites containing excellent advice. This site has a section devoted to helping FSBO sellers, too. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Placing your home in the Summit NJ listings means getting into top condition first. Small repairs will cost you less money if you do them yourself now rather than making a concession for them later. While you home probably won’t need a major renovation, it could probably use a few fix ups. Plan you repair budget wisely to get the best pay off for your dollar.

Doors and windows
The latest report from the National Association of Realtors puts new doors at the top of their annual list for repairs that add the most value for their cost. Replacing an old wooden door for a fresher, safer exterior door will give your Summit NJ real estate property a whole new look. It’s sure to impress buyers.

Another impressive update is adding energy efficient windows. It may not be a particularly exciting change but it’s certainly attractive to buyers. Replacing your old, drafty windows will make more of an impression on buyers than decorative fixes like light fixtures because it will impact their monthly bills.

Flooring
One of the most commented upon features in a home is the flooring. Your Summit NJ realtor hears it all the time. Hardwood floors are very desirable right now so if yours are covered in broadloom, you may want to consider revealing them. Even if you uncover the wood flooring in one main room of the living area, it will give the buyer a sense of what lies beneath the rug in the rest of the home. If you don’t have original hardwood floors, consider you budget and think about having them installed. If your listing includes the words “hardwood floors” it automatically garners more interest from buyers.

Roofing
If your roof is old or in need of repairs, go ahead and add a new roof to your budget. You won’t be able to conceal it from a home inspector and no one wants to hear bad news with a closing date already scheduled. The cost of replacement will likely be less that the concession you would have to make when the home inspection is completed. Plus, a new roof also looks great in your listing details.

Walls
Fixes to the walls are usually the least expensive on the home seller’s to-do list. Your Summit NJ real estate agent is probably going to ask you to apply a fresh coat of paint anyway, so it’s a good time to patch any holes and repair any damaged spots. A quick lesson at the local hardware store is sufficient to teach most home owners how to make small repairs. This quick and simple step will give your home a fresh, clean, new look that buyers will appreciate.

A few repairs can really pay off when you list your home. Plan out a budget and your home will be a show stopper on the market.