Westfield Seller Tips Archives - Luxury Homes/Top Towns

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 RE/MAX Select, 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 RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

How to Sell Your Westfield Home Before the End of the Year

November 2, 2018 by Scott Gleason

The end of the year is quickly approaching. You want to put your Westfield home on the market. But, you’re unsure if now’s a good time. Should you wait until spring, when more buyers will be searching for properties? Don’t wait. There’s still time for you to sell your Westfield home before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. But you’ll need to act fast and follow my advice below.

How to Sell Your Westfield Home Before the End of the Year

Create a Standout Online Listing

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According to Real Estate Agent University, 90% of home buyers begin their search online. If your online listing doesn’t catch their interest, they’ll move on to another property. Therefore, in order to sell your Westfield home before the end of this year, you’re going to need to make your listing stand out. Use a professional photographer to capture the best images of your Westfield home. They know which angles and lighting make your property look its best.

Embrace the Holidays…But Not Too Much

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about selling your Westfield home in the fall. In it, I discussed using “seasonal” decorations instead of traditional “holiday” ones. Adding a few holiday touches here and there is perfectly fine. In fact, it can even create a sense of sentimentality with buyers. You just need to keep these holiday touches to a minimum so as not to overwhelm potential buyers. Using warm fall colors in pillows, blankets, vases, and throw rugs are decorative accents. Recreating Santa’s village will cover up everything your home has to offer.

Get a Home Inspection

Another great way to sell your Westfield home before the end of the year is to get a professional home inspection done. Inspectors look for potential problems lurking inside your home. A pre-listing inspection allows you to fix these problems before you put it on the market. This helps smooth out possible speed bumps in the selling process.

Don’t Neglect the Curb Appeal

When you sell your Westfield home, you need to keep up your curb appeal. Clear out fallen leaves on a weekly basis. Paint the door. Clean out the gutters. With leaves gone from your home’s trees, your property is more exposed. So you want to make sure there is no cracked or peeling paint anywhere along the outside of your home. Straighten up the shutters and add a coat of paint that complements the main house color for an extra polished look.

Holiday Themed Open Houses

Open houses provide a great marketing tool for selling your Westfield home. You need to get your house in shape for any open house you host. But during November and December, you might want to play up holiday themes. Decorate your dining table as if you’re preparing a massive Thanksgiving or Christmas feast. Offer up pumpkin pie or muffins as treats for your guests during November. Christmas cookies and eggnog make great treats in December. How about a tree-trimming party after Thanksgiving is over? Allow buyers a glimpse into what they can expect holidays to feel like and they’ll be more apt to see themselves making this space their own right away.

Be Flexible

Whenever you sell your Westfield home, you need to be flexible about showings. End-of-year buyers are serious about purchasing properties. But their schedule may not align with yours. If you want your home sold by the end of the year, you need to accommodate buyers no matter when they want to see your home.

Offer Buyers Incentives

Offer buyers any incentive you think will entice them to buy your Westfield home. If they’re interested in the furniture, add it to your contract. Do they want new appliances? Spending a little bit to complete the sale quickly will be worth it.

Bike MS NYC 2018 Results

Finally, I’d like to give a great big shout out to everyone who supported Team Guys & Dolls on our quest to complete Bike MS NYC 2018. Thanks to all of you who donated, we managed to raise over $15,000 this year. Not only did we meet our fundraising goal, but we managed to exceed it as well. Your money will help fund research towards finding a way to obliterate this devastating disease once and for all. Thank you again for all of your support. We greatly appreciate it!

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

Selling Your Westfield Home in the Fall

September 28, 2018 by Scott Gleason

The “busy season” for Westfield real estate may have already passed us by. According to national real estate stats, home sales hit their peak in most markets during August. However, buyers remain on the hunt for a Westfield home all year round. When selling your Westfield home in the fall, entice them to view your home with a few seasonal staging ideas.

Selling Your Westfield Home in the Fall

Think “Season”, Not “Holiday”

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With the Autumn season, too many people fall into the Halloween motif. But not everyone celebrates or even likes Halloween. And kids might come with their parents to view your Westfield home. When selling your Westfield home in the fall, stick to seasonal decor. It’s fine to add some holiday touches close to the actual holidays (Halloween and Thanksgiving, in particular). However, for Halloween, keep these decorations simple, sparse, and family-friendly. Add harvest-themed items like gourds (including but not limited to pumpkins), pinecones, leaves, and other natural elements.

Spice Up Your Interior With Warm Colors

A neutral palette appeals to more Westfield buyers. But, add pockets of color when selling your Westfield home in the fall. The colors of choice? Rich burgundy, pumpkin orange, fire red, and golden amber hues create lovely accents. Easily implement them into your existing color scheme with pillows, throw blankets, bedding, towels, vases, candles, and even artwork.

Autumn in the Air

Buyers use their eyes, ears, and noses when looking at a house. When selling your Westfield home in the fall, appeal to all their senses by incorporating autumn-inspired smells. Cinnamon, baked apples, and, of course, pumpkin spice evoke fond memories of the season. Use scented candles, potpourri, plug-ins, diffusers, or scented fragrance wax to infuse the air with the perfume of the season. Don’t go overboard, though. Some people can be sensitive to smells. Keep it soft and light.

Sentimental Seasonal Appeal

One final place to make an impact when selling your Westfield home in the fall is the dining room table. Thanksgiving means family get-togethers for most people. Attract interest and charm potential buyers by conjuring up pleasant memories of a Thanksgiving feast. Set the table as if you’re preparing a sit-down meal for the masses. Break out the fine china, your best crystal, and your elegant flatware. Use linen napkins and placemats. Create centerpieces with candles and natural elements. Use a fall-inspired table runner. Make buyers feel like this place is truly home.

Bike MS NYC 2018 Ride

On a personal note, the Bike MS NYC 2018 Ride takes place in just a few short weeks. Team Guys & Dolls would love your support. We’ve been training hard. We also managed to reach our $5000 goal. (Thank you to all who donated.) We’d love to set a personal record for donations this year. But we need your help to do so. If you’d like to support our team and join the fight to find a cure for MS, please visit our Team Guys & Dolls Bike MS NYC page to donate. Every little bit helps. Thank you.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes

Lesser Known Yet Extremely Important Home Selling Tips

September 7, 2018 by Scott Gleason

Are you considering putting your home up for sale? As we head into fall, the ways to market it may change slightly from how you would have marketed your Westfield home in the summer. We all understand how important curb appeal can be to lure in potential buyers. Proper home staging is also crucial to a successful sale. And, of course, you want to hire the best Westfield REALTOR® to take care of all of your needs. But there are a few lesser known yet extremely important home selling tips you should also focus on.

Home Selling Tips: Tasks You Need to Do Right Now

Market to Millennials

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The first of my home selling tips is to pay attention to millennials. Buyers ages 20 to 37 made up more than one-third of the real estate market across the country last year. So, don’t overlook the importance of marketing to millennials. Highlight any smart-home features on your property, including thermostats, security systems, energy-efficient appliances, and wireless networks. Buyers of all ages search these amenities out. But millennials list them as a top priority by far. Therefore, it makes sense to feature them prominently in any marketing materials. Also, make sure your REALTOR® uses social media as part of your promotional campaign.

Make Repairs Both Big and Small

Most of today’s Westfield buyers want a move-in ready home. Another one of my home selling tips you should remember is to repair or replace whatever doesn’t work correctly. You may think the small scratches on your hardwood floors give them character. And maybe you never got around to fixing the doorbell because knocking seems so much less intrusive. Buyers, on the other hand, don’t feel the same. Also, you want to make sure all of your electrical and plumbing systems work properly. Consider hiring a professional to conduct a home inspection. An inspector can point out potential problems. This gives you the opportunity to fix them before a buyer even knows about it. Every repair you decide to avoid making could cost you big discounts on your final sale price.

Hire a Pro for Photos

I cannot emphasize this enough. Good photographs are important. More than 80% of buyers start their home searches online. Therefore, hiring a professional to take photographs of your Westfield home sits pretty high on my home selling tips list as well. After your home has been staged, schedule a pro to come out and photograph it. They know the right angles and lighting techniques to use to truly make your house shine. You might even want to consider hiring a professional videographer to create a custom video tour of your property to use in marketing materials as well.

Prepare to be Seen

While photographs and videos are nice, they don’t compare to an actual physical tour. It’s rare for a buyer to purchase a property sight unseen. At some point, you will have people walking through your Westfield home. That means that you need to prepare for both open houses and private showings. Move all of your valuables, including jewelry, fine art, family heirlooms and even medication to a valuable location. Buyers look through cabinets, drawers, and closets. Simply tucking them out of sight might not be enough. Lock them up in a floor or wall safe. Ask a friend or family member to hold onto them for you. Or, take them with you when you leave during a showing. And it doesn’t hurt to put out some refreshments to welcome your guests.

Pet-Proof Your Property

Finally, one of the lesser known yet extremely important home selling tips you should heed is to pet-proof your property. Almost 70% of US homes contain at least one pet. Even so, buyers don’t want to be confronted with the sights or, worse yet, smells of an animal living in the house. Clean out the litter box daily and right before a showing. Do the same for your yard if you own dogs. Vacuum up pet hair regularly. Store pet toys, bowls, leashes, etc. out of sight before a showing, too. Deep clean carpets, drapes and upholstery to get rid of any lingering smells.

Add these home selling tips to your other list of tasks to complete for a successful Westfield home sale. When you’re ready to put your home on the market, contact me.

Scott Gleason, CRS at RE/MAX Select, Luxury Homes