Here is some useful information to help you claim the home buyer tax credit.

IRS Form 5405, which was released just recently, has been revised to allow you to claim the extended and

expanded home buyer tax credit. The revised form includes a section for repeat buyers who are eligible to claim the $6500 tax credit.

You must attach the HUD-1 form or some evidence of the real estate transaction with your tax return, if you are claiming the home buyer tax credit (whether for $8000 or $6500).  If you are claiming the repeat buyer credit, you must also provide evidence that you have owned and used your prior residence for 5 consecutive years.  The Form 5405 instructions indicate that property tax or homeowners insurance records are sufficient for this purpose.

Remember that tax returns claiming the home buyer tax credit must be filed manually (i.e., you cannot utilize the IRS E-File automatic system).

For more details, visit the IRS American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Information Center.

Many years ago, when my favorite aunt died, my parents - as the geographically closest siblings - took charge of cleaning out her house, and distributing her furniture and other household goods to her many nieces and nephews.  They discovered that the den and basement were full of "stuff" - old newspapers, memorabilia, files about her many interests - and bags of unopened mail!  Apparently, in addition to never throwing anything away, my aunt had latterly been unable to cope with the daily influx of mail and all of the decisions that demanded.  What a mess!  Unpaid bills, yes, but also undeposited checks - many outdated.

About 5 years ago, my parents acknowledged that Dad, who had had a number of strokes, could no longer cope with living in a 2-story house - even a chair lift was insufficient.  So, they decided to sell their beautiful home, and move to a condo.  My mother, then a feisty 87-year-old, was able to take charge of sorting and clearing the house, mustering a veritable army of helpers - including me.  Since I live 600 miles away, I was able to visit only once / month.  My task, then, was going through cartons of "stuff," to determine what was still of value to us, and what could be thrown out or given away.  Guess what?  Some of those cartons contained my aunt's papers and photos - still hanging around, after 20 years.  Of course, there were also cartons of items from my parents' life together - and some of my own souvenirs and clippings.

Time passed faster than I could complete the sorting during my once / month forays to the North, so a number of these cartons found their way to the storage room at the condo.  My father died last year.  This year, Mother found that she could no longer cope with the condo and making meals, and chose to move to a retirement home, where she would have a large measure of independence, but others would make the meals.  Last Spring, then, I found myself faced with some of those same cartons.  I made more progress on the cartons, this time, but could not get to the drawers and shelves, which my mother - legally blind from macular degeneration - was now unable to address, herself.

The move from the condo to the retirement home was complex, involving 5 different moves:  most to the retirement home, a lot to me in New Jersey, some to a neighboring city for nieces and great-nieces, some to the Salvation Army, and some to the dump.  A wonderful moving planner, who specializes in the needs of the elderly, organized everything for us.  Nevertheless, a lot of Mother's household belongings that she no longer had space for, were moved with her.  And so, the sorting and tossing has continued, once / month, ever since.

Through all of this year's moving stresses, I have been thinking of the first piece of advice we give our sellers: get rid of everything you no longer need, and don't plan to take with you.  In other words, "tidy up" and de-clutter your house, so that it looks more spacious to potential buyers.  It's difficult advice for many people to take, because it involves a lot of decision-making and sheer labor.  Ultimately, however, making that effort leads to an earlier sale and a much smoother move.

Look around your own home.  How much of that advice should you be taking, yourself?  Even if you don't plan to move in the near future, consider the challenges you will face when you do have to move - and are just that much older, with that much more "stuff" to deal with.  Suppose a calamity should strike - as they do, far too often - and you are unable to make those decisions, yourself.  Who will be left to cope with your collection of memorabilia and "stuff"?  Your children?  Your grand-children?  A disinterested estate agent?

And so, I recommend that each of us tackle one room each month, and clear it out.  Our homes will look better, we will have a sense of accomplishment, and our families will bless us!  I plan to take my own advice.

Every now and then, I like to share an article that I have found interesting or helpful.  Such is the case, today.

RISMedia, which publishes a lot of information about real estate and housing, recently posted an article called "9 Home Improvements to Promote Healthy Living in Your Home."  Unlike many, this articles focuses on your own health, rather than on the health of the environment (although the two are definitely linked).

Read and enjoy: http://rismedia.com/2009-11-29/9-home-improvements-to-promote-healthy-living-in-your-home/#ixzz0Zsk6LlPd

Sometimes, it is inevitable that a home on the market is vacant.  Many different reasons may lead to this unhappy condition:

• The seller was transferred to another town, and had to move before the home sold.
• The seller retired to a senior community, and chose to move immediately, rather than wait for the home to sell.
• The owner died, and the home is being sold by the estate, after the contents have been disbursed.

Whenever a vacant home is for sale, special care must be taken to ensure the security of the property and to speed the sale.  I've identified four areas that require attention and planning:

1. Security
2. Systems
3. Exterior cosmetics
4. Interior cosmetics

All of these areas are, technically, the responsibility of the seller, but the REALTOR® may recommend trustworthy local service providers.

Security

The first consideration is security - ensuring that the home is not vandalized.  Verify that all of the door and window locks still function, and always leave them locked.  Inform the local police that the home is vacant, and request that they check it, routinely, while on patrol.  Should a window be broken - whether by accident or through vandalism - have it repaired, immediately, so that visible damage does not invite further vandalism.  All of these tasks are, technically, the responsibility of the owner, but the REALTOR® may provide assistance.  The REALTOR should immediately report any damage that occurs. 

Systems

Although it may be tempting to save money, don't turn off the utilities.  Ensure that there is oil in the tank, or a functioning gas supply, to keep the house from getting too cold - especially if the home is situated in a Winter climate.  When temperatures drop at night, as they have been lately in New Jersey, the pipes may freeze.  That could lead to extensive damage and costly repairs.  It is also important to avoid having prospective buyers come into a cold house; a cold house is an unwelcoming house.  For economy's sake, set the thermostat to a lower temperature - say, 60°F.  Keeping the electricity on is also necessary, so that lights can be turned on, to show the house to advantage, and to illuminate otherwise dark corners. 

Exterior Cosmetics

Overgrown, uncared-for grounds make a home look terrible!  Even the most desirable home is difficult to sell, if it is sitting amidst a mess.  Arrange for weekly or bi-weekly care of the grounds:  mowing the grass, weeding the flower beds, raking the leaves, shoveling the snow, picking up the trash - whatever is needed, according to the season of the year.  Hire a gardening service to perform these tasks.  The REALTOR should note and provide regular reports on the condition of the property. 

Interior Cosmetics

Although it is advisable for a seller to "depersonalize" the house, so that buyers can imagine themselves in that house, completely empty rooms can have the opposite effect:  if buyers cannot see a furniture group in the room, it may be harder for them to imagine how their furniture would fit or look.  So, if possible, leave some basic furniture in the home - at least in the living room, dining room, and master bedroom.  If it is impossible for the seller to leave any furniture behind, then consider having the home staged by a professional.  To save money, one could explore companies that will "rent a room" of furniture.  It is also good practice to leave toilet paper, soap, and towels in the baths.

Looking after security, systems, and exterior and interior cosmetics for a vacant house may seem like a lot of expense.  However, doing so will ensure that the house sells more quickly - saving money, in the long run.

I absolutely love libraries!  They are chock-a-block full of books (a personal weakness), in all forms (print, audio CDs, and audiotapes), as well as a host of other resources (including newspapers, periodicals, and DVDs).  They are staffed by the nicest, most helpful people in the community.  And, they have comfy places to sit and read or study.

Warren Library

Recently, I spent a happy couple of hours researching the history of Warren Township. The Reference Librarian was especially helpful, finding appropriate books and showing me the packed vertical file that I can pore through, when I'm ready for that.

(If you, too, are interested in the history of Warren Township, I have posted some starting points on my Warren Township webpage.)

The Warren Library is located in the handsome Municipal Complex on Mountain Avenue, just East of Warrenville Road. It looks out onto the Warren Township War Memorial, an elegant but sober tribute to all of Warren's citizens who perished in wars, starting with the Revolutionary War and continuing up to the Iraqi War.

Occupying a two-storey building, the library is well stocked and has lots of room for reading and studying. Two coin-operated photocopiers are available, too. If you have not yet visited the Warren Library, make a point of doing so - soon!

Congratulations to Bernardsville Public Library!

Another reason to visit your local library is the terrific programs that are offered for children and for adults.

The Bernardsville Public Library was recently honored as a winner of the New Jersey State Library's contest on Best Practices in Early Childhood Literacy. Congratulations to the library on earning statewide recognition for the "Literacy on the Go" kits, which the library makes available to parents.

The competitive New Jersey State Library program recognizes the criticality of pre-school literacy development to a child's future academic success, and encourages local libraries to help parents provide needed developmental activities.

[Some of the content in this post was originally published on July 1, 2009 and July 20, 2009]

In the Spring, a TwitterPal informed me that ABC13 had published a web article with the above headline.  Naturally curious, I sought it out.  You may wish to read it, also (it's still there!).

The primary way that the author recommends that you maximize home sale profits is to employ less expensive service providers for tasks like moving, storing, and inspection.

I would suggest that, rather than selecting providers based on the lowest bid, you select recommended service providers who have a good track record and are customer-service oriented.  Those are the ones who will provide the best value.

As a real estate professional, I have built relationships with local service providers, whom I trust, and whose work I can stand behind.  My company has an even more extensive roster of trusted service providers, for all the myriad jobs associated with buying or selling a home.  We can recommend local experts for

• Mortgages
• Title Search and Insurance
• Home Inspection
• Home Insurance
• Pool Inspection
• Oil Tank Testing
• Asbestos Removal
• Radon Remediation
• Estate Sales
• Legal Services
• Hardwood Flooring
• Heating and Fuel Oil
• House-cleaning
• Repairs
• Interior and Exterior Painting
• Plumbing
• Masonry
• Roofing
• Lawncare and Landscaping
• Pest Control
• Driveways and Excavation
• General Contracting

Information about these companies is available on my Preferred Partners webpage.  (Please be assured that none of these companies pays me or my company for referrals.)

Through my affiliation with the CENTURY 21 System, I am also offer you special discounts for such well-known service providers as

• Ace World Wide, the nation's leading residential and corporate moving company
• AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service
• Broadview Security
• CENTURY 21 Home Protection Plan
• Lowe's Home Improvement
• CENTURY 21 Mortgage Services
• JC Penney Custom Decorating
• Pop-A-Lock Locksmiths.

 In addition, I can provide you with special rates for hotels and car rentals - all through the CENTURY 21 Business Benefits program.

Contact me, for assistance with preparing your home for sale or move-in!

[Some of the content in this post was originally published: June 26, 2009]

Lately, most people find themselves talking about the weather - usually bad - at some point in every conversation.  It's not that people have nothing else to say, but rather that the weather has been so unusual: fast-moving, strong storms; hail; flash floods; even mini-tornadoes!  And now, Winter is approaching with inexorable inevitability.

If you're trying to sell your home, you may be feeling the effects of the weather:  fewer potential buyers may be viewing your home, and you may think that your home looks dreary, just as the weather is dreary.

Fear not!  Bad weather does not have to mean a bad showing.

First, be confident that buyers will continue to look for a new home - especially if their need is urgent.  So, make sure that your home is ready to welcome potential buyers, with helpful touches like:

• a new "Welcome" mat, umbrella stand, and boot tray outside the door
• a coat tree inside the door.

Second, ensure that your home looks cheerful, no matter what the weather:

• Maintain your external property, and pick up any storm debris immediately.
• Have the gutters cleaned more frequently, to prevent rainwater from spilling over the sides.
• Place planters of seasonal flowers on either side of the front door, steps, or sidewalk.
• Hang a cheerful wreath on the front door.
• Inside, keep the window treatments open, to let in as much natural light as possible.
• Place small bouquets of fresh flowers in the main rooms.
• Turn on the lights in otherwise dark corners of rooms.

Taking these simple steps will keep your home "smiling," even on gray days.

[Some of the content in this post was originally published: June 16, 2009]

I have just moved my blog to ActiveRain from another website.  ActiveRain really seems to be the place to be, so I have joined this splendid community!

Because my original Watchung and Warren blog contained some information that I still believe to be useful, I am going to repeat a few of those posts, here.  I'll indicate the original publication date, so you'll know just when I first wrote each post.

As time goes on, I will be sharing interesting information about the real-estate markets I serve, with a special emphasis on Watchung Borough (07069) and Warren Township (07059) in Somerset County, NJ.

Both of these communities offer the benefits of suburban life - quiet neighborhoods, larger lots, good schools, beautiful parks, excellent medical facilities - with the convenience of easy access to New York City and other important business destinations in Northern and Central New Jersey.  Whether you prefer to use public transportation or drive yourself, you'll appreciate the proximity of Watchung Borough and Warren Township to transportation routes.

For more information about each of these communities, check out these official municipal websites:

Watchung Borough, NJ 07069
Warren Township, NJ 07059

Wishing you a glorious year.

Robin Taylor Roth

[Some of the content in this post was originally published: June 5, 2009]