Westfield Seller Tips Archives - Luxury Homes/Top Towns

Home Sellers Benefit From a Pre-List Inspection

August 6, 2021 by Scott Gleason

Now is a great time to sell your Westfield home. Prices continue to rise. Interest rates remain low. And Westfield made the Top 10 List of Best Suburbs to Live in New Jersey. We keep seeing more and more buyers looking to move here. But even in a seller’s market, you need to make sure your property is in tip-top condition. That is why home sellers can benefit from a pre-list inspection.

Most buyers have a home inspection performed during the escrow process. But home sellers greatly benefit from a pre-list inspection, too.

Home Sellers Advice: Pre-List Home Inspection

No Surprises

One of the best reasons why home sellers should perform a pre-list inspection is because it eliminates the element of surprise. Your buyer will most likely have an inspection performed during the escrow period. If you get one done before you even list your Westfield home, you know the condition of your home as it stands today. Inspections uncover issues you may not have even been aware of. Performing one now allows you the chance to get ahead of it.

You have two options if you find issues during the home inspection. One, spend the money fixing it/them. If problems are fixed before you list your home, buyers won’t even know there was an issue to begin with. Or two, get estimates from local contractors for the cost of repairs. When the buyer performs their home inspection, you can present them with your findings. In turn, this may mean reducing your sale price in order to factor in the costs and make the sale happen. But it also shows transparency and due diligence on your part which sits well with buyers.

Money Savings

How does spending a few hundred on a home inspection save home sellers money? It allows you time to shop around for the best deal on repairs. Also, when you show the buyer that you recently updated an aging system (electrical, HVAC, roofing), it shows them that you put pride in ownership and took care of your home. Plus, when the buyer accepts the disclosure of any repairs made, they acknowledge that they accept the home in its current condition. This greatly reduces the chance that buyers come back later on in the transaction and ask for discounts.

More Marketable

Finally, a pre-list home inspection helps your Westfield home become more marketable. As I said before, buyers like transparency. It provides them with a certain level of trust that you are being forthright. Make sure you have the results of your pre-list inspection readily available to buyers as well as the proof of any completed repairs.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty, Luxury Homes

Determining the Fair Market Value of Your Westfield Home

June 4, 2021 by Scott Gleason

The real estate market is an ever-changing landscape. Currently, sellers wield the upper hand. But that does not mean that buyers will pay an astronomical amount simply because you asked for it. For a successful transaction, you must list your Westfield home at a price appropriate for the current market. Fair market value (FMV) helps sellers determine this price.

Fair Market Value

How to Calculate Fair Market Value

You must take into account several factors to come to a proper FMV. They change from month to month and sometimes even from week to week. Talk to your Westfield REALTOR® about how the market is behaving right now. Look at how much buyers paid for recently sold homes in your neighborhood recently. Look at the price-per-square-foot of homes similar to your own to provide you with an estimated value of your property. Hire an appraiser to assess the value of your Westfield home. All of these variables go into your calculation of FMV.

Fair Market vs Appraised Value

The appraised value is slightly different than the FMV. Banks use the appraised value of a home as part of their consideration in whether to approve or deny a mortgage loan. However, they will not approve a loan with an appraised value below the sale price. When that happens, buyers need to come up with money out of pocket to make up the difference or sellers need to lower their price. If neither side comes to an agreement, the sale falls through. Then, no one wins. But the FMV may end up higher than the appraised value. This happens in more popular neighborhoods. Again, discuss your options with your Westfield REALTOR® before deciding on what to list your property for when you decide to put it on the market.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty, Luxury Homes

Home Seller Resolutions for 2021

January 4, 2021 by Scott Gleason

I hope everyone welcomed in the New Year in their own fun yet safe way. Westfield came in at #1 on Coldwell Banker’s “Top Places to Live in New Jersey” last October. (It was #9 on Niche.com’s 2020 list.) But that comes as no surprise to anyone who lives here. With buyer demand rising, homeowners might want to put their properties on the market soon. As the new year begins, consider these home seller resolutions to make your house ready for a buyer in 2021.

If you wish to sell your Westfield property this year, take this time to tackle some home seller resolutions right now.

Home Seller Resolutions for 2021

Get Rid of the Clutter

One of the first (and possibly easiest) home seller resolutions to tackle is to declutter your Westfield home. Just because the holidays ended does not mean that charities do not need your help anymore. Go through your house room by room and start boxing/bagging up clothing, linens, appliances, toys, books, etc. that you no longer need or use. Then, donate these items to the local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or women’s shelter. Toss anything beyond repair into the trash.

Catch Up on Home Maintenance Projects

Next, a home seller needs to make sure their Westfield home is in tip-top shape to net the best sale price. This includes new paint where needed, replacing broken or missing roofing, repairing broken fixtures, and checking for leaky pipes. Even something as small as a wobbly mailbox or squeaky door hinges should be addressed before you place your property on the market.

Increase Your Curb Appeal

The outside of your Westfield home offers buyers their very first impression. So, make it a good one. Even while social distancing, a home seller can add curb appeal by simply trimming shrubbery and trees, clearing off the driveway and walkways, and keeping trash bins, tools, and toys tucked out of sight. As the weather warms up, regular weeding and lawn maintenance will be necessary to keep things neat and tidy.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty, Luxury Homes

Curb Appeal Projects to Tackle While Practicing Social Distancing in Westfield

March 20, 2020 by Scott Gleason

As more and more people get tested for COVID-19, we see confirmed cases in Westfield and the greater New Jersey area increase. Many businesses have either closed down for now or allowed their employees to work from home to limit exposure to the Coronavirus. Schools started up online teaching this week. Restaurants remain open for take-out or delivery only. We are urged to practice social distancing. But that does not mean you must stay trapped inside your Westfield home at all times. Breathe in some clean air and tackle those curb appeal projects you’ve been putting off. That will really help if you plan on placing your property on the market in the next few months.

While the mayor urges Westfield residents to practice social distancing, update your curb appeal with these simple, low-cost projects.

Easy Curb Appeal Projects

Yardwork

PE time for the kiddos. Give them each a rake and garbage bag and tell them to start cleaning up the leaves. Get down on your hands and knees and pull out all of your weeds. Older kids can mow the lawn. Grab some mulch at your local gardening center and freshen up the flower beds. Add flowers to your window boxes. Potted plants in pretty containers create lovely focal points on your front porch.

Clear Off Your Sidewalks

Over time, shrubbery and the lawn might begin to creep up onto your sidewalks and along the driveway. Another easy curb appeal project to tackle would be to trim these back to keep the pathways clear. Make sure to trim any spaces between the concrete as well. If you see mossy growth, power wash it away.

Speaking of Power Washing

Does your exterior paint look a little worse for wear? If the paint’s in good shape, you might just need to power wash the grime away. Tackle the windows while you’re at it, too. But, if you see chipped or peeling paint, you’ll need to repaint it. Power washing will only make that worse.

Add Some Color

Finally, I talked about planting some flowers before. They help add a nice pop of color. But, you can also add color by painting your front door a vibrant red or some other interesting color. This adds curb appeal without spending a lot of money on a new door. As an added bonus, an attractive front entry invites buyers inside.

I understand that times feel a little crazy right now. But I know we’ll get through this if we all do our part to practice good hygiene and social distancing. If you are thinking about selling your Westfield home, contact me. There are still buyers out there looking for houses right now. I’m always here to help.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty, Luxury Homes

Finding the Right Real Estate Agent

February 28, 2020 by Scott Gleason

Whether buying or selling a Westfield home, you need someone on your side who knows the local market. Navigating a real estate transaction can feel daunting sometimes. With your busy schedule, who has the time? Where do you start? To find the right real estate agent, keep the following tips in mind.

Finding the Right Real Estate Agent

Take Your Time

First of all, take your time. This will probably be the biggest transaction you are a part of in your life. Therefore, you need to find someone who knows the business. Do you know anyone who bought or sold a house recently? Ask them who they used and if they were satisfied with the experience. Would they use them again? Word of mouth provides some of the best recommendations possible. Make sure to get the agent’s name and contact info.

Interview Several Agents

Next, take that list of agents you compiled and set up interviews with each. Look for someone that you feel comfortable with. Some key questions to ask include:

How long have you worked in the Westfield real estate market?
How many homes do you currently have in escrow?
What was your hardest purchase/sale you were a part of? How did you resolve any issues?
How often can I contact you? Which method do you prefer? Text, cell, personal meeting?
Can I talk to some of your past clients?

Check Their License

Once you decide on which real estate agent you wish to hire, check that their license is current and valid. How? Visit the New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance website. You need their name and license number to perform a search. It’s simple and it’s free. This is a step many homeowners skip. Unfortunately, that could have dire consequences. So, take a moment to perform this quick search for your peace of mind.

Talk to Past Clients

Finally, talk to recent clients of the agent you choose. Ask them how they felt about their experience with the agent. Was the agent available when needed? How were their communication skills? Would the client work with them again? Good reviews usually mean good news. Bad reviews mean “move along”.

When you’re ready to put your Westfield home on the market or want to search for your next property, contact me. I’d be happy to help you in any capacity necessary.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty, Luxury Homes