Talking Real Estate in New Jersey

On March 01, 2009 at 13:00 PM, you are invited to an Open House at 735 County Road 579 in Delaware Twp.. If you are looking for a Resale - single family property in this area, don’t miss this rare opportunity to visit this magnificent property. For a preview of this Resale - single family property, check out my site at www.hunterdon-realestate.com. Please do not hesitate to Contact Me if you have any questions or wish to schedule a private showing.

On March 01, 2009 at 13:00 PM, you are invited to an Open House at 735 County Road 579 in Delaware Twp.. If you are looking for a Resale - single family property in this area, don’t miss this rare opportunity to visit this magnificent property. For a preview of this Resale - single family property, check out my site at www.hunterdon-realestate.com. Please do not hesitate to Contact Me if you have any questions or wish to schedule a private showing.

Home Inspections Avert Future Headaches

Suppose you bought a house and later discovered, to your dismay, that the stucco exterior concealed a nasty case of dry rot. Or suppose that when you fired up the furnace in the winter, you discovered a cracked heat exchanger leaking gas into your home. The best way to avoid unpleasant surprises like these is to arrange for a home inspection before you buy.

Home Inspections Help You Avoid Unpleasant Surprises

A good home inspection is an objective, top-to-bottom examination of a home and everything that comes with it. The standard inspection report includes a review of the home’s heating and air-conditioning systems; plumbing and wiring; roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, foundation and basement.

Getting a professional inspection is crucial for older homes because age often takes its toll on the roof and other hard-to-reach areas. Problems can also be the result of neglect or hazardous repair work, such as a past owner’s failed attempt to install lights and an outlet in a linen closet.

A home inspection is also a wise investment when buying a new home. In fact, new homes frequently have defects, whether caused by an oversight during construction or simply human error.

Getting an Inspector

Real estate agents can usually recommend an experienced home inspector. Make sure to get an unbiased inspector. You can find one through word-of-mouth referrals, or look in the Yellow Pages or online under “Building Inspection” or “Home Inspection.”

Home inspections cost about a few hundred dollars, depending on the size of the house and location. Inspection fees tend to be higher in urban areas than in rural areas. You may find the cost of inspection high, but it is money well spent. Think of it as an investment in your investment – your future home.

Some builders may try to dissuade you from getting a home inspection on a home they’ve built. They may not necessarily be trying to hide anything because most builders guarantee their work and will fix any problems in your new home before you move in. Some builders, in fact, will offer to do their own inspections. But it’s best to have an objective professional appraisal - insist on a third-party inspector.

An Inspection Will Educate You about Your House

Education is another good reason for getting an inspection. Most buyers want to learn as much as they can about their purchase so they can protect their investment. An examination by an impartial home inspector helps in this learning process.

Ask if you can follow the home inspector on his or her rounds. Most inspectors are glad to share their knowledge, and you’ll be able to ask plenty of questions.

Inspection Timing and Results

Homebuyers usually arrange for an inspection after signing a contract or purchase agreement with the seller. The results may be available immediately or within a few days. The home inspector will review his or her findings with you and alert you to any costly or potentially hazardous conditions. In some cases, you may be advised not to buy the home unless such problems are remedied.

You could include a clause in your purchase agreement that makes your purchase contingent upon satisfactory inspection results. If major problems are found, you can back out of the deal. If costly repairs are warranted, the seller may be willing to adjust the home’s price or the contract’s terms. But when only minor repairs are needed, the buyer and seller can usually work out an agreement that won’t affect the sale price.

The Most Important Questions Every Buyer Should Ask 

(click me to find out)

On April 20, 2008 at 13:00 PM, you are invited to an Open House at 9 White Oak Ridge Rd. in Lebanon Twp.. If you are looking for a Resale - single family property in this area, don’t miss this rare opportunity to visit this magnificent property. For a preview of this Resale - single family property, check out my site at www.hunterdon-realestate.com. Please do not hesitate to Contact Me if you have any questions or wish to schedule a private showing.

Buyers – Home Search Comparison Chart

Print out this worksheet and use it to make notes about the homes you visit on your home buying search. It will help you keep your observations and thoughts organized so you don’t get confused when you need to make a decision.

Features

Neighborhood Features

Overall Opinion

Get Your House Ready to Show to Buyers

A house that “sparkles” on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor, even though both are structurally well maintained.

From experience, REALTORS^® also know that a “well-polished” house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price. Additionally, buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is well maintained, they assume that what they can’t see has probably also been well maintained. In readying your house for sale, consider:

• how much should you spend to prepare your house for sale?
• exterior and curb appeal
• interior appeal

Before putting your house on the market, take as much time as necessary (and as little money as possible) to maximize its exterior and interior appeal.

How Much Should You Spend to Prepare Your House for Sale?

In preparing your home for the market, spend as little money as possible. Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren’t likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive polishes and touch-ups to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen.

Your REALTOR^® is familiar with buyers’ expectations in your neighborhood and can advise you specifically on what improvements need to be made and which improvements are most effective. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice.

Maximizing Exterior and Curb Appeal

When preparing to put your home up for sale, your first concern is the home’s exterior. If the outside, or “curb appeal” looks good, people will more than likely want to see what’s on the inside.

Here are some tips to enhance your home’s exterior and curb appeal to buyers:

• Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered. 
• Regularly trim hedges and weed lawns and flowerbeds.
• Be sure your front door area has a “Welcome” feeling.
• Paint the front door.
• In spring and summer, add a couple of pots of showy annuals near your front entrance.
• In snowy areas, keep walks neatly cleared of snow and ice.
• Check foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and deterioration, and fix any problem areas.
• Remove and repaint any peeling paint on doors and windows.
• Clean and align gutters.
• Inspect and clean the chimney.
• Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles.
• Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking.
• Reseal old asphalt.
• Keep the garage door closed.
• Store RVs and old cars elsewhere while the house is on the market.

Maximizing Interior Appeal

You want your home to look as spacious, bright and clean as possible. Also the home should look neutral – without a lot of your personal and sentimental objects - so buyers can begin to imagine living there.

Here are some tips to enhance your home’s interior appeal to buyers:

• Give every room in the house a thorough cleaning and remove all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms actually rent storage garages and move half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look.
• Use a professional cleaning service every few weeks while the house is on the market.
• Remove the less frequently used, and even daily-used items from kitchen counters, closets, basement and attic to make these areas more inviting.
• Make sure that table tops, dressers and closets are free of clutter.
• Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms: they should look as modern, bright and fresh as possible. It is essential for them to be clean and odor free.
• Repair dripping faucets and showerheads.
• Buy showy new towels for the bathroom, and put them out only for showings.
• Spruce up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by installing new curtains and cabinet knobs, or applying a fresh coat of neutral paint.
• Clean walls and doors of smudges and scuff marks.
• If necessary, repaint dingy, soiled or strongly-colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.
• Check for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement, and fix any problem areas.
• Seal basement walls if there are any signs of dampness or leakage.
• Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint and tiles.
• Replace broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings and other woodwork.
• Inspect and repair the plumbing, heating, cooling and alarm systems.

I’ve been in sales and consulting for over 25 years and one thing I miss are these kinds of discussion groups.  If everyone would take the time to write in their “best parctice” maybe we could all benefit.  The idea can be anything from follow up to how you do an open house.

A real estate buyer’s representative represents the buyer who is purchasing property in a real estate transaction.  Research by the National Association of REALTORS has shown that when a buyer’s representative is used, the prospective buyer found a home one week faster and examined three more properties than consumers who did not use a buyers representative.

The buyer’s representative works for, and owes fiduciary responsibilities to, the real estate buyer and has the buyer’s best interests in mind throughout the entire real estate process. 

A buyer’s representative will:

• Evaluate the specific needs and wants of the buyers and locate properties that fit those specifications.
• Assist the buyer in determining the amount that they can afford pre-qualify), and show properties in that price range and locale.
• Assist in viewing properties –  accompany the buyer on showings, or preview the properties on behalf of the buyer to insure that the identified specifications are met.
• Research the selected properties to identiry any problems or issues to help the buyer make an informed decision prior to making an offer to purchase the property.
• Advise the buyer on structuring an appropriate offer to purchase the selected property.
• Present the offer to the seller’s agent and the seller on the buyer’s behalf.
• Negotiate on behalf of the buyer to help obtain the identified property –  keeping the buyer’s best interests in mind.
• Asist in securing appropriate financing for the selected property.
• Provide a list of potential qualified vendors (e.g. movers, attorneys, carpenters, etc.)  if these services are needed.
• Most importantly, fully-represent the buyers throughout the real estate transaction.