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.

Changing Realtors

Many relationships, both business and personal, fail.  It’s an unfortunate fact that not every pairing is made in heaven, whether it’s a friendship, a marriage or a business partnership.  You may find yourself wondering whether it is time to “break up” with your Summit NJ realtor and find a better match.

Why would I change real estate agents?
People switch agents for any number of reasons.  They may not feel that their Summit NJ real estate agent is aggressive enough.  They might not like his marketing techniques or there could be a personality clash.  It could even be a matter of ethics.

Can I legally change realtors?
The answer to this question depends on whether or not you have signed a buyer’s or seller’s representation contract.  If you have, you are obligated to stick with your agent till the contract ends.  Then you are both free to do what you like.  If you have not made any contractual agreements, then you are free to choose another agent at any time.

Is it a good idea to switch realtors?
This point is not as clear as the legal conundrum.  When you are buying or selling Summit NJ real estate, you should try not to bounce from agent to agent because word gets around.  You won’t want to be seen as a problem client.  Change agents only if you feel the work is truly not being done.  Before you make the switch, carefully consider your expectations and determine if they are reasonable.  You may want to talk to a friend or colleague to see if you could be in the wrong.

When should I make the change?
If you have signed a contract, you cannot legally switch realtors till the contract has elapsed.  On a more person note, you should not feel badly about switching agents if they are not doing the work.  Marketing a home is hard work and it takes a lot of effort.  Combing the Summit NJ listings for the right home for someone else is just as hard.  Your realtor should be working hard for you and if he isn’t, it’s OK to find someone who will.

Is there a proper etiquette for this situation?
There is no official policy for dropping a realtor but basic etiquette applies.  A brief note, written with kindness, stating your reasons for changing would be appropriate.  A realtor cannot improve if he does not know what he is doing wrong.  You might even be able to salvage the relationship with a dose of honest communication.

It’s not healthy to stay in a bad relationship and that includes business partnerships.  If your partnership with your realtor has failed, assess your goals and your expectations and move on to a healthier relationship.

Once seen as a movement on the fringe, “going green” has gone mainstream. Increasing energy costs and the public’s growing concern for the environment are fueling a market based on products that are easier on the planet. Making eco-friendly choices when you’re buying or selling Summit NJ real estate has never before been so important.

There are many ways to go green when you’re looking to buy a home. When you are searching the Summit NJ listings, you can look for green choices like Energy Star rated appliances and furnaces. This widely recognized program from the EPA gives it seal to energy efficient products in 38 categories. If you are buying a newly constructed home, look for neighborhoods where the developer has sought to maintain some of the land’s original character and plant life. Leaving older trees in place will cut down on soil erosion and conserves water. Since they already have established root systems, you won’t have to water them nearly as much as a freshly planted sapling. Check out a builder’s options. See if they use recycled or renewable resources products in their homes. Your Summit NJ realtor can point you to builders who used green construction techniques and renewable resources.

Your Summit NJ real estate agent can also help you make eco-friendly choices when you are selling your property. Choose renewable products like bamboo when you update your flooring. You can recycle that old carpeting you’ve pulled up, too. If you are updating the appliances, look for Energy Star rated brands. Think about making your HVAC system go green as well. The potential savings in the monthly bills can be a deal-making selling point for your potential buyers. Be responsible to the planet when you being to declutter and stage your home. Use low VOC paints to freshen up without the new-paint smell. Give you belongings another life by donating anything usable and recycling as much as possible. Even your cleaning products can be green. Many brand-name cleansers have a green product line. You’ll save money and produce less waste if you use cloth cleaning rags instead of paper towels. Make your curb appeal ecologically sound by using native plants and shrubs. They have lower water requirements, need less chemical pest-control and are beautiful additions to your landscaping.

Even little changes can add up to a big difference for our environment. Switching out just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb to a compact florescent bulb can save around $32 dollars a year in NJ. With all these advantages, why not go green?

As your Madison 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 Madison 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 Madison 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 Madison NJ real estate market needs.

The other day, I had a client approach me in the grocery store. I’d helped her buy the home they’re in now, and her husband had just been transferred across the country. They needed to sell their home, but she was concerned about the economic crisis facing us right now. Unfortunately, this is a fairly common worry these days. However, if you’re in the same situation, and you need to sell your home soon, there’s not really any need for serious worry. Homes are still selling every day, and with the right steps, yours could be one of them.
Realistic expectations are key. Your house may not be worth what it was five years ago, and you have to realize that if you need to sell now. Understand what your bottom line is, and realize that the home improvements you’ve made over the years may no longer be a factor in the price of your home. Moreover, though, trust your realtor to help you decide the value of your home in today’s market.
Be prepared to move immediately. Buyers are a bit more concerned these days, and in some cases, they can be ready to take possession immediately. If you’re going to need a month or two to move out, that can be a real problem with some deals. The sooner you can leave, the better it will be for potential buyers.
Do a bit of home improvement. Before you ever put your home on the market, be sure to add a few touches of improvement here and there. A few cans of paint can do wonders on the inside, and ensuring the outside of your home is pleasing is important too, even in the winter. Simple things like ensuring your driveway is shoveled if it snows, and keeping the mud porch clean can actually improve your chances of selling the home dramatically.
If you need to sell now, there really is no cause for serious concern. The right steps and a bit of patience on your part will get your home sold, even in this market. If you’re ready for an agent who cares about your needs, don’t hesitate to call me right away.

A lot has been said in the news regarding the recent drop in oil prices.  Oil peaked at around $145 a barrel just a few weeks ago and now it seems to have come down to below $120 a barrel.  Summit, NJ real estate as well as real estate markets around the country have been hurting partially as a result of the high price of energy, so this is definitely a welcome respite for anyone looking to purchase a home.

However, you should not take this decrease in oil prices as a sign that energy is slowly going to work its way back to normal.  All indications are that oil prices will rise again at some point in the near future and indeed we can easily expect that the era of cheap oil has been left a long way behind.  This means that while the Summit, NJ real estate market along with the other real estate markets of the country have been made more attractive in the short term, the high price of oil will affect Summit, NJ real estate again at some point in the future.

As a result, you need to act decisively in the present or in the near future if you plan to make a big move in the Summit, NJ real estate market.  There is no telling how long this lull in oil prices will last.  The last time oil prices started to rise, they did so continuously for years before stopping and lowering slightly.  Oil prices not only affect your ability to heat your home, but they also affect all of the services delivered to the Summit, NJ real estate market on the back of oil-based propulsion.  For this reason, using the current plateau in oil prices to secure your Summit, NJ real estate property would be a very good idea.

Everyone knows how important it is to use a Summit, NJ Realtor if you are serious about buying or selling a home in the Summit, NJ area, but what most people don’t realize is that they are the biggest reason why a realtor is a success. The communication between you and your realtor is the most important factor in finding the perfect Summit NJ home for you and your family. Some people think that once they hire a realtor, they simply wait for the realtor to show them the perfect house, but the truth is, the better the communication is between the two parties, the better chance you will have of finding the home of your dreams. Let’s take a look at just a few examples of how your realtor can help you find the perfect piece of Summit, NJ real estate.

When you first sit down with your Summit, NJ real estate agent, you will be asked several important questions that will help to determine what kinds of homes your real estate agent will show you. Not only will you be asked about the price you have in mind, but also on the style of house you would prefer, what the home needs to be located close to for you to consider buying it and any other deciding factors that will make a home irresistible to you. However, the questions that your Summit NJ real estate agent will ask you are just the beginning of the process. Your real estate agent is here to help you make your dreams of home ownership come true so take this time to communicate any preferences, ideas, likes, dislikes and must haves that you desire. Let your agent know of any “deal breakers” or any other conditions you have. Many people don’t realize the sheer amount of volume that the average Summit NJ real estate agent deals with so any information that you can provide that will help narrow the search is always welcome.

It is also important to note that the communication process between you and your Summit NJ real estate agent is a process. As your search for your dream home begins, remember to keep your real estate agent updated on any changing needs, wants or conditions that you decide on at a later point. Your Summit NJ real estate agent will only be satisfied when you are satisfied with your new home, so don’t hesitate to communicate along the way.

Deciding to sell your Summit, NJ home is a big decision and one that most people don’t take lightly. In the last few years, the concept of “staging” your home has become common place, but did you know there are a whole series of things you can do with your home long before it goes on the market to impress those that may want to buy it? Here is a partial list of things you can do for your own piece of Summit, NJ real estate to help it sell faster than ever.

If you have chosen the spring, summer or early fall months to sell your home, there are quite a few easy things you can do to the exterior of your home that will make it significantly more inviting to prospective buyers. First, start with your lawn. In most cases, simply mowing the lawn on a regular basis is enough, but if you have trouble growing grass on your lawn, you might want to think about investing in some grass seed or even some sod assuming the cost isn’t too outrageous. A surprising amount of Summit, NJ real estate is sold thanks to a well kept lawn.

While no one expects you to apply a whole fresh coat of paint to your home, touching up any problem areas a week or two before your home goes on the market is a great idea.

If your driveway is like most, you have small oil stains or other chemical spills from various cars that have leaked there over the years. Your local hardware store will have products that can give your driveway that recently paved look that can be quite inviting to any new home shoppers!

Even if you are not one for complex landscaping, investing a few dollars in inexpensive and colorful flowers can add that special flair to your home that could make it irresistible to home buyers.

Finally, if you have any lingering problems in your home such as a doorbell that doesn’t work or a screen door that has a tear in it, make sure you get those things fixed long before you invite people into your home to look at it. While those things can seem insignificant to you, chances are, they won’t be to people who look at your Summit, NJ real estate.

The town of Summit, New Jersey, is one of the most beautiful small towns in the United States, with a friendly and kind community that is ideal for raising a family. It’s also close to the big cities of Newark, New York and Philadelphia, making this small town a prime piece of real estate. However, even though the town of Summit, New Jersey, is in itself a prime place to live, you should still take into account the location of any piece of Summit NJ real estate that you may be looking to buy.

One question you will want to ask when looking at a particular piece of Summit NJ real estate is where the home is located. If you’re looking at a home that’s away from the downtown area, you’ll probably pay less than you would for Summit NJ real estate that is located in the heart of the town. However, in a town the size of Summit, New Jersey, having a home that is away from the main street area doesn’t necessarily mean that the home is way out in the countryside. A short walk and you will find yourself right in the center of town.

Another thing to look for when looking for that perfect piece of Summit NJ real estate that also fits your price range is the location of the home in regards to city landmarks. As mentioned before, homes along main streets or the downtown area are guaranteed to cost more than homes away from the heart of the township. Besides homes near centralized downtown areas, you have to examine the home’s proximity to other gatherings of convenience, such as schools or public parks. Summit NJ real estate that is located next to a school or park will almost assuredly be priced higher than other property. However, if you have children, or are planning for a family in the near future, the extra expense probably isn’t a concern to you.

In order to make your search for the best deal on prime Summit NJ real estate, you can use a variety of methods. You can start by searching through the local newspaper listings for homes to rent. If that doesn’t bear any fruit, turn your attention towards the internet. There are literally hundreds of websites, from major sites that focus exclusively on real estate to sub-listings on larger, more generalized websites like ‘Craig’s List’. These websites give you the advantage of touring homes you’re interested in from the comfort of your own computer chair.

Of course, you could always go the easiest route and visit an experienced and knowledgeable real estate agent like Kristin Balsley. These agents will work with you to find your dream home while not breaking your bank.

Regardless of whether you look online, through the paper or talk with a real estate agent, heeding what you know about the home’s location in relation to price will go a long way to helping you find your perfect home.

The first place that many young adults choose to go after they have finished their schooling is into the “big city”. They believe that they will find the most opportunity, and many are hungry for the amusements of the city. Many find after they grow older, however, that they do not enjoy living in the city anymore. What can you do, however, when your job depends on having access to the city? Many choose to live in a smaller city that is within commuting distance from the city. Every day, dozens of people contact Summit, NJ realtors, interested in having a home that is within commuting distance of their job but that is in a smaller, more comfortable city.

 Raising Families 

The number one reason that most people leave the big city to live in a smaller area is to raise a family. People find that they want to have room for their children to run around, and they yearn to live in an area where they know their neighbors and can feel secure living in the home they are in. It is true that most children do better in smaller schools, where they can get more individualized attention and can have room to do their best. Some children thrive living in smaller cities, especially when the parents can easily travel to a close larger city in order to have access to museums and theaters that the entire family will enjoy.

 Prices 

Prices are going up and wages aren’t following, which is one thing that has everyone concerned. Many find themselves moving to smaller city in order to be able to afford to own a home. The price of apartments in larger cities can easily bankrupt a family, whereas the price to actually own your own home in a smaller city is much more easily affordable, often allowing one partner to stay home while the other earns a living.

 Best of Both Worlds 

Living in a small city that is in driving distance to a larger city truly is having the best of both worlds. You have the ability to take advantage of all of the great things about the large city, and can experience the culture, yet you can go home to a quite house that you actually own.

If you’ve ever thought about moving into a smaller city, now is definitely the time. While the market is getting stronger, the time to pounce is now, especially if you want to get a great deal. For more information, please contact Kristin Balsley.