home selling 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 RE/MAX Select, 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 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”

Click here for an instant “No Strings Attached” valuation of your home.

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

Click here for an instant “No Strings Attached” valuation of your home.

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

Tips for Selling Your Westfield Home in the Summertime

July 6, 2018 by Scott Gleason

Westfield summers are hot in more ways than one. We’ve been under a heat advisory several times over the past week alone. High temperatures make house hunting uncomfortable for many people. Furthermore, people tend to go on vacation or head to the beach in their free time more often at this time of year. But you want your home sold now. Heed these tips for selling your Westfield home in the summertime and you’ll be setting a SOLD sign in your yard in no time.

Tips for Selling Your Westfield Home in the Summer

Change Up Open House Times

Click here for an instant “No Strings Attached” valuation of your home.

Usually, open houses take place over the weekend. After all, that’s when people tend to have the most available free time. However, during the summer, many Westfield residents head out of town. Instead of a Saturday or Sunday afternoon open house, change it up to a Thursday evening. This provides interested buyers an opportunity to view your home before they leave. More traffic to your door increases your chances of selling your Westfield home.

Show Off Your Backyard

Summer provides the perfect backdrop for backyard barbecues and pool parties. So, show off your backyard with a fun barbecue. Put up misters to keep guests cool. Hold off until evening to allow the outdoors to cool off a bit. Serve up fresh lemonade and throw some hot dogs on the grill. Add covered seating areas for people to get out of the sun. Pretty lanterns, colorful cushions, and party lights help create a festive atmosphere. Make sure your deck/patio and outdoor furniture are neat and clean. This relaxes potential buyers and allows them to see how easy it would be for them to entertain in the space.

Alternative Advertising

Usually, we suggest focusing primarily online when advertising open houses. However, during off-hours in the summer, more and more people begin to unplug. They leave their devices off or at home. When selling your Westfield home in the summer, it would be a good idea to start advertising your open houses early. That way, people can incorporate them into their busy schedules more easily. Also, set up “open house” signs in high traffic areas on the streets outside your neighborhood to guide people to your front door.

Slightly altering your marketing plan when selling your Westfield home during the summer can be very beneficial. Make potential buyers comfortable and they’ll be more apt to picture your home as their own. When you’re ready to sell your property, contact me.

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