Home buying can be emotional.  A potential buyer can face bitter disappointments and irritating frustrations along with moments of exhilaration.  Sometimes you and your Summit NJ realtor can feel all these emotions in the same day.  If you keep your head, you can manage a drama-free home purchase.

It’s Business
Remember that real estate is a business.  Your Summit NJ real estate purchase is a business transaction, even though it has been a very personal choice.  Don’t take counter offers as insults and don’t think a delay is a personal attack.  You may have to bargain and fight to get a good deal but it is not about who you are as a person.  It’s about buying a product at a price you can afford, nothing more or less.

Get an Education
The best way to keep from entering into a dramatic scene is to know what is happening.  You should get a good education on the home buying process.  Your Summit NJ real estate agent will be a rich source of information but you should also do your own homework.  Read up, ask questions and find out what to expect from each stage.

Reserve Judgment
It’s easy to fall in love with a home in the Summit NJ listings.  It’s hard to find the perfect home that fits your budget, sits close enough to your work and schools, has all the features you need and passes inspection too.  Try to hold back your emotions and reserve judgment on a home until the offer is accepted and the inspection is complete.  Don’t throw any moving parties until after closing day.

Manage your Paperwork
The most dramatic moments can happen when you go to closing.  No one wants to get to the closing table only to walk away with the sale incomplete.  You must manage your paperwork to avoid this kind of scene.  If your realtor tells you to bring a document, put it in the car the night before closing.  Don’t take any chances.  Make sure your financing is in place and you know the exact amount, to the penny, of any payments you need to bring to closing.  Double check if you aren’t 100% certain of the total.

Your home purchase can be drama free.  How you react to a setback is entirely up to you.  Manage your emotions and your paperwork and you will sail through your home purchase without any theatrics.

Being Neighborly

Many potential Summit NJ real estate buyers are looking to buy a single family home so they can get away from the close confines of apartments, townhomes and condos.  While you do get a great deal more privacy and control over a single family home as opposed to a multi-family unit, you won’t be completely free of neighbors.  Unless you purchase a very large amount of acreage, chances are that you will have at least one or two nearby neighbors.

Life is much easier when it is lived with minimal conflict.  Neighbors can be a major source of conflict and stress.  Your Summit NJ realtor can point you towards neighborhoods with feature you desire, but unfortunately your neighbors can’t be prescreened for personality.  Sometimes we get lucky and find new best friends but more often than not, we have to work for a good relationship.

The first step in forging a healthy relationship with those who live nearby is to build respect.  You may own the property and be able to with it as you please, but you still must live among others so be respectful of their space as well as your own.  Here are some ways to build a good neighborhood reputation.

Keep is Clean
Your Summit NJ real estate agent will tell you that properties are judged by buyers on their exterior appearance in just seconds.  That includes the neighbors’ yards, too.  Keep your lawn in good condition and clear of debris to make a good impression.

Pet Patrol
Many, if not most, neighborhood arguments begin over pets and their behavior.  A fenced in yard can eliminate most issues by keeping your pet on your own property.  Be sure to pick up after your pet on walks and don’t let him eliminate on anyone else’s landscaping.  Repeat use of a particular shrub can and eventually will kill the plant.

Noise Levels
You won’t have nearly as much trouble with playing music or having noisy guests as you would in an apartment or condo.  Still, it’s best to keep the noise at a reasonable level outside your home.  Take a quick walk around the perimeter of your property during a party.  If you can hear what’s going on, so can your neighbors.  You can also generate some goodwill by warning the neighbors ahead of time or even inviting them to attend.

Support the Community
Your neighborhood is a community.  Supporting each other is critical, especially in our current times.  If you see that someone’s yard is becoming overgrown, don’t just complain and cast dirty looks.  Find out if they could use some help.  You may find that you have an elderly neighbor or one who has recently been hurt or become unemployed.

If you’ve been browsing the Summit NJ listings, be sure to take a look at the surrounding homes.  The people living in them will have a big impact on your future.

House hunting is fun – at least at first. It’s exciting to start looking at potential future homes with your Summit NJ real estate agent. Some house hunters lose their steam after a few weekends spent touring homes and navigating neighborhoods. Executing an efficient search is essential to prevent draining your energy and succumbing to frustration during your home buying process.

Go online first.
The internet is simply the best tool for implanting a planned home search. You can see multiple Summit NJ listings, maps of the area, school districts and nearly any other bit of information you need with some time spent online. Use this tool to help plan your route and choose the homes you’d like to tour. Be careful of spending too much time searching the online listings, though. You can end up in information overload quite quickly.

Maps and GPS
These are handy tools, one old school and one high-tech. Using an actual map to make home you’d like to drive by or tour will give you a better sense of their location. You can see the distance from your work or school much easier on a good old-fashioned map. It’s like seeing the pieces of a puzzle and how each fits into the whole. You can get a better perspective of the town as a whole rather than just concentrating in one area.

The GPS will be your best friend when actually doing your drive-bys and going to appointments with your Summit NJ realtor. Turn by turn directions can save you a lot of time in unfamiliar territory. A basic GPS unit can be picked up for under $100 at almost any store selling electronics. Most smart phones and many vehicles come with GPS already included. You can cut a great deal of frustration out of your search with this hand device.

Get the Numbers
Whether you use an iPad or a pen and paper, make sure you have a list of the homes you want to see in the car. You can use a notes app on your phone, have a spread sheet or carry a binder of print-outs depending on your personal preferences. However you do it, make sure you aren’t caught without an important address. You can also make notes and record your impressions of each Summit NJ real estate property you see.

Bring your Gadgets
A digital camera or video camera can be a big help in remembering which house had what features. After a long day of house hunting, it’s easy to get them confused. I know of one client who actually bought what she later called “the wrong house” after a whirlwind weekend of house hunting. She was hunting long distance and didn’t have any reference photos once she got home. The home she purchased and the one she really loved were only a block apart so it was easy for her to lose her bearings.

Ask the Expert
Your agent is your greatest asset when you are house hunting. Be sure to tell her when you are tired, hungry, grouchy or overwhelmed. She can help make your house hunt a pleasant experience.

Some jobs are best left to professionals. If you’re selling your home you need to decide which projects to take on yourself and which ones will be best hired out. One thing is certain, though. When you place your home in the Summit NJ listings, it should be in excellent condition.

The condition of your home starts with the basics. Electrical systems, heating and air and plumbing along with the structural integrity of the home contribute the most to the overall condition and value of your Summit NJ real estate. Any problems with these areas should be left to someone trained and skilled in repairs. Small updates like replacing faucets or changing air filters are fine for do-it-yourselfers, but anything more difficult should be performed by a pro. Tackling a cracked foundation or a malfunctioning heat pump is probably not in the skill set of the average homeowner. Be wary of hiring friends or family to do this kind of work unless they are licensed professionals. Amateur repairs could cost you in resale value. Your Summit NJ real estate agent can suggest some qualified companies or individuals to help with major repairs.

Cleanliness is also crucial to condition. Very few things will turn a buyer away faster than a dirty or smelly house. Hiring a professional cleaning company for your home may be something you should consider. If you or any member or your family smokes, think about hiring a carpet cleaning service to steam clean all of your rugs. You may not notice the lingering smell of cigars or a pipe, but potential buyers will and their offers will reflect it. You may even eliminate people with asthma, allergies or other sensitivities from your potential pool of buyers. The same rule applies to the smoke smell from wood burning fireplaces. Pet stains and smells should be eradicated in the same way. Take a good look at your window treatments and see if they need to be sent off to the cleaners to be refreshed. Ask your Summit NJ realtor to tell you if she thinks your home could use a professional cleaning service.

While some jobs are easy to accomplish, others may take the expertise of a professional. Decide carefully which you can manage and ask your realtor to give you references for the ones you can’t.

There can be no doubt that the decision to buy your very own piece of Summit NJ real estate is not only one of the best decisions you can make, it is also one of the scariest, especially if you are new to the whole scene. The sheer amount of money and the complex buying process is enough to keep even the most self assured family awake at night. However, ever year, tens of thousands of people complete their first home purchase and although the majority of them go off without a hitch, there are a few things to keep in mind before you dive into the home buying pool.

Decide what kind of home you want

Your realtor is going to be your best friend when it comes to finding the perfect piece of Summit NJ real estate for you and your family, but the most information you are able to give them to start with, the quicker you will be able to find the home of your dreams. Decide on the number of bedrooms, the number of bathrooms and any other specific demands you can’t live without. Not only will this save you time over the long run, it will save your realtor time, as well.

Pre approval for a mortgage

Perhaps the single most important thing you can do to prepare to purchase Summit NJ real estate is to get pre-approval for a mortgage. Not only does a mortgage pre-approval help you in the eyes of sellers, it helps you in your search for a new home because it sets up both the high end and low end of what you can afford. You won’t waste time searching for a home that you can’t get a mortgage for once you are pre-approved.

Check your credit report

Your credit report has a direct bearing on the kind of mortgage you are going to be approved for. It will help you to be at your job for at least one calendar year before applying for a home loan, even if you have recently left a lower paying job for a higher paying one. By having insight into your current credit standing, you will know long before the bank pre-approves you for a mortgage where you stand and what you will likely be able to afford.

As your Berkeley Heights NJ real estate professional, I pride myself on giving my clients the information they need to make informed decisions. The chart shown above allows you to see the length of time that properties are on the market in the Berkeley Heights NJ area. This chart is updated in REAL TIME and shows the previous 60 day period.

The other statistic shown here is the median price for Berkeley Heights NJ real estate. Median (or middle) price is the threshold which divides the real estate market into two equal halves, in reference to pricing. One half of all homes in the market were sold at a price above the median home price, while the other half were sold below that price.

Contact me today for all of your Berkeley Heights NJ real estate market needs.

Why Berkeley Heights NJ Listings? 3 Reasons This May Be The Ideal Location for You

Berkeley Heights, NJ is a beautiful town in Union County, NJ. With a population just under thirteen thousand, it has much to offer potential residents, and with some of the most beautiful homes in the county, it should certainly be one place you consider in your search.

1. Berkeley Heights NJ listings offer a lot for families with children. Not only are there fantastic schools nearby, but there are also a number of recreational opportunities that are ideal for families of any size. From craft days in the community center to children’s plays to after school and evening programs sponsored by the community, there simply isn’t a better place in the state to raise kids.
2. Berkeley Heights NJ listings offer a simple commute to New York City. Located right on the Midtown direct train line, you’ll get the benefits of small town life without the hassle of trying to leave your city job in the process.
3. Berkeley Heights NJ listings offer unbeatable municipal services. From a great public library to emergency services that have some of the best response times in the nation, you’ll want for nothing when you choose Berkeley Heights.

Just last year, Berkeley Heights was named one of the best places to live in the United States by Money Magazine based on economic opportunity, safety, schools, things to do, and sense of community. Berkeley Heights NJ listings have much to offer. Check a few out today.