What is topping the list of New Jersey Buyer concerns? New Jersey Sellers take note!

New Jersey was hit hard by Irene. In my work as a New Jersey Real Estate Agent specializing in Somerset County,  I witnessed deals delayed and some derailed by Irene.  But a more enduring impact of this vicious storm was how it changed the conversation with Buyers in the New Jersey Real Estate market.  Topping the list of Buyer concerns in the “post Irene market” is now...

“Was the property impacted by Irene?”

I work with a lot of New Jersey Buyers and the questions that are asked are pretty predictable, deal to deal are...

How is the market doing overall?    

Do I think we’ve bottomed out?    

When did the current owner buy?     

What improvements have been done?

What’s the township assessed?

What is my estimate of value?

But here in New Jersey, all of these questions have been trumped by “Was the home impacted by Irene?”  And the fact of the matter is if the Buyer doesn’t ask, the Agent does.

I’ve observed this shift in New Jersey Buyers' thinking at the ground level and share it with you because like most organic movements, it is on its way to having a seismic impact that deserves the attention of New Jersey Sellers.

In the aftermath of Irene, we’ve all witnessed plenty of ripped up carpets from water damage – either in our own homes or piled high along the curbs of our roadways.   What I’ve learned from my own experience and those of my clients is that when water is involved, what may seem like a minor issue should be taken seriously!

The homeowners that ripped up carpeting could see the impact clearly, the water stain on the floor board traveling further than the damp carpet would foretell.  When water strikes it moves and the damage it does in its path can be long lasting.  My bet is that 90% of the time people respond by just running the dehumidifier on overdrive and thinking the problem is resolved.  But it is what you cannot see that will trip you up down the road when it comes time to sell and an inspector examines your home.

Irene will stay on our collective mind for a while, and then we’ll all move on to other concerns.  But the hangover from Irene will endure and I anticipate that the only question that will top “Was the home impacted by Irene?” and that is...

 “What did you do about it?”

My advice to New Jersey homeowners is to have the right answer to that one!