westfield home Archives - Luxury Homes/Top Towns

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 Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

When is the Best Time to Put Your Westfield Home on the Market?

July 27, 2018 by Scott Gleason

Thinking about selling your Westfield home? If so, you might want to do it sooner rather than later. Currently, we’re enjoying a seller’s market. Buyers want luxury Westfield homes. Demand runs high, especially during the summer. Therefore, now is a great time to put your home on the market.

Westfield Home Seller Tip: Best Time to Sell

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According to national statistics, August is the best month to list your home. While some luxury Westfield homes sell within 30 days, others may take longer. If you list now, you are more likely than not going to be celebrating the holidays at a new address. In fact, you may even be able to move on to a new home before school starts in the fall. But you’ll need to list it soon to take advantage of the throng of buyers on the market. Also, statistics show that homes sold in July or August tend to do so about seven days faster than during any other month of the year. Contact me today so we can create the best seller’s strategy for your Westfield home.

Taking Advantage of Our Seller’s Market

Yes, we’re currently experiencing a seller’s market. However, that may not be the case for long. Sales tend to wane after school starts in September. In the harsh winter months, they drop even further. Many financial experts still believe we could see interest rates for a 30-year fixed-rate loan rise above 5% by the end of the year. For many buyers, this might delay their decision to buy. You must strike while the iron is hot. And it’s hottest right now.

If you want to take advantage of our current seller’s market, contact me. Let me get to work marketing your Westfield home. I know I can find the perfect buyer for your property.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Why Hasn’t My Westfield Home Sold Yet?

June 15, 2018 by Scott Gleason

You put your Westfield home on the market weeks ago. Buyers stopped by in the beginning. But the steady stream of visitors has dwindled down to a slow trickle. This shouldn’t happen. You’ve got a great house that buyers should love. So, why hasn’t it sold yet?

Westfield Home Sale “Don’ts”

Pricing Based on Feelings, Not Facts

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One of the biggest culprits for a stagnant listing is the price. Even a Westfield home with the finest amenities won’t sell if the price is too high. Table your feelings for now. This is business. It’s not personal. Ask your Westfield REALTOR® to run comps on the recently sold homes in your area (within the last 30 days). Find ones similar in age, style, and amenities to your own home. This gives you an idea of what buyers are currently paying. Then, price your home accordingly for a successful sale.

Neglecting the Optics

Next, take a long look around your Westfield home. Have you cleared out the clutter? Remove bulky furniture, most of the accessories, and all personal items from every room. You want buyers to picture themselves in the space. They can’t do that when you have too much “stuff” lying around. Also, add a fresh coat of paint where necessary. Make those repairs you’ve been avoiding for years no matter how small they may be. And deep clean everything (carpets, upholstery, drapes, etc.). Finally, does the front of your home look crisp, clean, and inviting? Curb appeal ranks high with most buyers. If they don’t like what the outside looks like, they are less likely to venture inside.

Drab Listing Photos

Never underestimate the power of good listing photos. Most buyers surf the internet for their next home first. If your photos don’t “wow”, they might pass your home over. Talk to your REALTOR® about hiring a professional photographer. They’ll know how to light to perfection and which angles to use to show off your home the best.

No Marketing Plan

Just because you list your Westfield home doesn’t mean buyers will come. Implementing a good marketing plan makes a world of difference. If your REALTOR® hasn’t marketed your property well, it might be time to find a new one.

Not Being Flexible

Finally, you should try to be as flexible as possible when it comes to viewings. Sometimes, you may only receive a 30-minute warning that buyers want to see your Westfield home. Let it happen. You don’t want to lose out on a sale because you limited viewing times to two hours on a Thursday afternoon. Buyers want to see homes on their schedule. Accommodate them as much as you can.

Having trouble selling your Westfield home? Put these tips into action and the right buyer will find you soon enough. Contact me if you have any questions.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Why You Should Sell Your Westfield Home Sooner Rather Than Later

January 26, 2018 by Scott Gleason

After the boom and subsequent bust of the mid-2000s, the US real estate market hit hard times. Banks tightened their lending standards, making it more difficult for buyers to receive funding for a home purchase. But that all seems to be behind us. A stronger economy, low unemployment, and high consumer confidence have rallied the market. If you’ve been on the fence about selling your house, 2018 might be the year to make it happen. But don’t wait too long. You’re going to want to sell your Westfield home sooner rather than later.

Why Sell Your Westfield Home Now?

Rates Remain Low…for Now

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While 3% may be a thing of the past, rates remain historically low. Currently, they’re in the low 4% range for a 30-year fixed-rate loan. Some financial experts believe we will see rates hit 5% and above by the end of the year. Buyers know this. They want to take advantage of lower interest rates. So, they’re out there looking for their next home right now. On the flip side, if you plan on securing a mortgage loan to buy your next property after you sell your Westfield home, you’re going to want to utilize lower rates for yourself as well.

Lower Inventory + Higher Demand = Seller’s Market

Buyers want Westfield homes. But inventory has limited the number of properties available for sale. That translates to greater profits for sellers. With consumer confidence up and the stock market hitting record highs, buyers feel more secure about becoming homeowners. A low inventory means that they are more willing to make concessions in order to make a deal work. However, more inventory is expected to begin to hit the market by the end of 2018. That gives buyers more options to choose from. The earlier you sell your Westfield home, the better for you.

Rise in Prices Expected to Slow Down

Most real estate markets across the country have experienced a steady increase in prices. While they are expected to continue their upward trajectory, it will be much less than it has been in the last couple of years. If you sell your Westfield home earlier in the year, you stand to make a nice profit. When you’re ready to sell your Westfield home, contact me.

Tax Assessment Appeal for 2018

Do you have reason to believe your Westfield home’s value was incorrectly assessed? Are you planning on filing an appeal? Union County residents can do so between February 5th and April 2nd, 2018. Last year, I hosted a tax appeal seminar with local tax appeal specialist Jennifer Jacobus, Esq. She provided valuable insight as well as answers to common questions. The entire seminar is available for you to view online here for free. I promise you that it will be well worth your time to watch it in its entirety.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Tips for a Quick Westfield Home Sale

December 15, 2017 by Scott Gleason

Selling your Westfield home during the winter presents itself with certain obstacles we don’t experience any other time of the year. First, there’s the weather. Fewer buyers are willing to trudge through the snow and freezing temperatures to look at homes. Then, there are the holidays. With just nine shopping days until Christmas and 16 days until New Year’s Eve, everyone’s running around preparing for parties and presents. Follow these tips for a quick Westfield home sale and you’ll be able to tick that off your “to do” list in no time.

Tips for a Quick Westfield Home Sale

Deep Cleaning

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First and foremost, in order to achieve a quick Westfield home sale, you’ll need to clean your home from top to bottom. Everything needs to be cleaned, including baseboards, cupboards, drawers, appliances, floors, walls, and windows. Heavy draperies, carpeting, and upholstered furniture should be deep cleaned as well. This is where foul smells like to hide, especially when smokers and pets are present in your home. You can do this yourself or hire a professional to get the job done. Talk to your REALTOR@. He may be able to recommend a good local crew.

Stage it to Sell

Once you’ve cleaned up your Westfield home, you’re going to want to stage it. While this can be done by you, I highly recommend having a professional staging company do it for you. They know how to maximize the positives and minimize the negatives to get your Westfield home ready to show.

Listing Photos

After the cleaning and staging, it’s time for photos. Since the majority of buyers turn to the internet before they start looking, you want your listing photos to stand out. Again, this is where hiring a pro helps. Nicer photos help facilitate a quick Westfield home sale, especially in the luxury market. A professional knows how to use light and angles to show your home off to its fullest potential. The money you spend getting your home ready to sell will be well worth the investment.

Make Sure the Price is Right

My next tip for a quick Westfield home sale is to price it right for the market. Have your REALTOR@ pull recent comps in your neighborhood. See what other homes with similar amenities are selling for. Then, price it competitively. Otherwise, you may sit on the market for a while.

Let it Show

Finally, be ready to show your Westfield home at any time. You never know when you’ll receive a call from your REALTOR@ telling you that someone wants to stop by to tour your home. Make sure it is always in tip-top condition. Then, be prepared to make yourself, your family, and your pets scarce while viewings take place.

Westfield Area Y Men’s Club Christmas Trees Still Available

Are you one of those people that wait until the last minute to put up your Christmas tree? Just a reminder: the Westfield Area Y Men’s Club still offers trees for sale. Our lot at 200 Elm St remains open from 5 pm to 9 pm every Monday through Friday and 9 am to 6 pm every Saturday and Sunday through December 23rd. There’s still time to purchase your tree. But hurry. The closer we get to Christmas, the slimmer the selection becomes. When the last tree sells, that’s it for us for the year, even if that happens before the 23rd. If you see me there, make sure to say “hello”. Money raised from the sale of our trees goes directly to local Westfield charities.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes