home selling tips: Preparing Your Home to Sell
- 05/07/23 03:06 PM
The absolute best time to sell a Westfield area home is in June, according to data compiled by HomeLight. So if you plan on putting your property on the market, you need to start preparing your home to sell right now. Follow this handy guide to make the process a little easier. Preparing Your Home to SellClean it UpThat includes both the inside and the outside. Vacuum and/or mop. Make sure you dust everything, including the baseboards, the window sills, and those hard-to-reach areas. Buyers use all of their senses when looking at a home. So, a property that both looks and … (4 comments)
home selling tips: Selling Your Home: The Best of Times, The Worst of Times
- 02/17/23 01:31 PM
You probably have heard that real estate is all about location, location, location. But, honestly, sometimes it really depends on your timing, timing, timing. So, when selling your home, what is the best time to list it on the market and when should you think about waiting? Selling Your HomeBest Time to Sell Your HomeWhile home sales declined throughout the state last month, the Westfield area (including Plainfield, Scotch Plains, and Cranford) still favors the seller. We live in a highly desirable area. Buyer demand remains relatively high compared to other areas of the state. However, many cities and towns in the … (2 comments)
home selling tips: How the Capital Gains Tax Affects Home Sellers
- 09/09/22 12:30 PM
You sold your Westfield area home this year. You also earned a nice profit from your sale. Congratulations! But, come April 15th, you may end up owing some money because of what you made from your home sale. That is called the Capital Gains Tax. However, there are a few ways you can reduce and sometimes even eliminate this tax. How the Capital Gains Tax Affects Home SellersWhat are Capital Gains?First of all, it helps to know what capital gains means. In real estate, the difference between what you paid for your luxury NJ home when you initially bought it and what … (2 comments)
home selling tips: Home Appraisal: Does Extra Clean Add Extra Value?
- 07/22/22 11:38 AM
Whenever a buyer finances their purchase with a mortgage loan, the lender requires a home appraisal. If the property's appraised value falls below the agreed-upon price, your sale may fall through. So, as the seller, you want to make sure your property is in tip-top shape before the appraiser comes through. Once you get into the escrow phase of the sale, you need to go through your home once again to ensure it looks great for the appraiser. That includes cleaning it until everything sparkles. Home Appraisal: Does Extra Clean Add Extra Value?Bottom line? No, cleanliness technically does not affect your appraised … (4 comments)
home selling tips: How "Days on Market" May Affect Your Home Sale
- 05/27/22 01:22 PM
Most homebuyers look at the size of a property, its location, and the price right away. But, some buyers (as well as their REALTORS®) also look at how long the property has been on the market. Why? Newer listings get the most traffic. When it sits on the market for a while, buyers begin wondering what is wrong with it. Also, they believe the seller might be more willing to entertain a lower offer. Find out how the days on market can affect your home sale and what you can do to change it. How "Days on Market" May Affect Your Home … (5 comments)
home selling tips: The Real Estate Agent's Role in a Home Sale
- 05/13/22 11:02 AM
Real estate shows like "Flip or Flop", "Good Bones", and "Unsellable Homes" make it appear easy to sell your home. All you need is a little paint and polish and buyers practically beat down your door, right? Not so fast. It takes a little more finesse and a lot more experience for the typical homeowner to sell their home. And that is where hiring a real estate agent comes into place. The Real Estate Agent's Role in a Home SaleSetting the List PriceFirst of all, a good REALTOR® knows how to determine a proper list price. Why is this important? Because if … (5 comments)
home selling tips: Home Seller Tip: Watch Out for "Fake News"
- 05/06/22 01:32 PM
Oftentimes, we hear fantastical stories about recently sold homes. Maybe your neighbor fielded several offers after only one day on the market. Or you heard about a friend of a friend who sold their rundown property for tens of thousands over their asking price without putting any effort into fixing it up. Unfortunately, these tend to be the exception rather than the rule. Yes, the Westfield area real estate market still favors the seller, according to Realtor.com. However, a home seller needs to keep an eye out for "fake news" when they put their property on the market. Otherwise, they might … (3 comments)
home selling tips: Decluttering Tips That Help Sell Your Home and Organize Your Move
- 04/28/22 11:19 AM
One of the top priorities when getting your Westfield area property ready to sell is to get rid of the clutter. This helps prepare your home for staging. Remember, staged homes sell faster and for more money than unstaged ones. However, clearing your space with intention performs double duty. How? Organizing your "stuff" not only clears the clutter, but it also helps you when it comes time to move. Use these decluttering tips when preparing to list your home for sale. Decluttering TipsStart Right AwayFirst, start the declutter process right away. It might surprise you how long it takes to go through … (5 comments)
home selling tips: Easy Landscaping DIY Projects for the Home Seller
- 04/22/22 02:02 PM
Ever get the itch to do a DIY project? Whenever we do, our favorites involve getting outdoors and mixing up our landscaping features. Whether it's as simple as installing some lighting or a little more time-consuming like re-plotting plants, a fresh look for the lawn always gives your Westfield area home a fresh look as well. Plus, this offers the best first impression for home buyers. Since we are entering the busy home buying period right now, you need to put your best foot forward when selling your home. Landscaping always needs to be included in your staging strategies, too. Here … (2 comments)
home selling tips: What to Focus On When Considering a Home Offer
- 04/14/22 01:56 PM
You listed your Westfield area home for sale and received multiple offers for it. Congratulations! Many sellers dream of being in your position. Now, the hard part. You must decide which home offer to accept. (An embarrassment of riches, right?) Sometimes, however, the highest price is not the best offer. Consider these other important factors before making a final decision. What to Focus On When Considering a Home OfferContingenciesMost of the time, buyers include contingencies with their offer. These are conditions that must be satisfied before closing in order to complete the sale. Common ones include an appraisal, home inspection, loan approval, … (8 comments)
home selling tips: What to Repair Before You List Your Westfield Area Home
- 04/08/22 12:54 PM
Being named one of the best places to live in New Jersey is not enough. When you’re getting ready to list your Westfield area home, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that you are showing it in its best light. Taking time to highlight its strengths and fix up some of its possible weaknesses can make a big difference in how fast it sells. Here are the top four recommended repairs to make before you list your home. What to Repair Before You List Your Westfield Area HomeRepaint WallsGiving your home a fresh coat of paint before you list is … (2 comments)
home selling tips: Home Seller Tax Deductions
- 04/01/22 01:30 PM
Do you always find yourself scrambling at the last minute to file your taxes? You only have 17 days until this year's April 18th filing deadline. But do not worry. This year, you might feel fortunate to have procrastinated. Why? Well, if you sold a Westfield area home last year, you still have time to claim these home seller tax deductions. Home Seller Tax DeductionsCosts Associated With the Actual Home SaleStaging fees, escrow fees, agent commissions, etc. You paid somebody to spruce up your curb appeal. Maybe you performed a home inspection before you listed to avoid any unpleasant surprises during escrow. … (2 comments)
home selling tips: Staging Strategies for Your Westfield Area Home
- 03/25/22 01:07 PM
Staging your Westfield area home is all about putting the best foot forward for potential buyers. By highlighting its most desirable features, you can draw more interest to your home and leave a lasting impression that is sure to help you sell it more quickly. Here’s what you should keep in mind as you prepare for your next open house or viewing! Staging Strategies for Your Westfield Area HomeHelp Them Visualize Your Home as Their OwnMake it easier for buyers to imagine themselves making your Westfield area house their home by removing personal memorabilia, knick-knacks, and photos. Instead, replace them with simple … (1 comments)
home selling tips: How to Hurt Your Home Sale
- 03/04/22 10:33 AM
We live in a seller's market here in the Westfield area. Even so, you still need to prep your home to show off its best features. Most buyers look for a "move-in ready" home rather than a fixer-upper. In fact, sellers benefit from a pre-list inspection. So, you might want to consider hiring an inspector to come to your home before you put it on the market. But even if you decide not to do that, keep these home sale "don'ts" in mind to capture the attention of as many potential buyers as possible. Plus, you'll get your home sold in … (4 comments)
home selling tips: Curb Appeal Projects to Tackle While Practicing Social Distancing
- 03/20/20 01:48 PM
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 … (3 comments)
home selling tips: Selling Your Westfield Home in the Fall
- 09/28/18 12:48 PM
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 FallThink "Season", Not "Holiday" 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 … (0 comments)
home selling tips: Lesser Known Yet Extremely Important Home Selling Tips
- 09/07/18 02:27 PM
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 … (1 comments)
home selling tips: Tips for Selling Your Westfield Home in the Summertime
- 07/05/18 12:31 PM
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 SummerChange Up Open House Times Usually, open houses take place over the weekend. … (0 comments)
home selling tips: Where to Seek Honest Advice When Selling Your Westfield Home
- 06/30/18 04:12 PM
Homeowners tend to attach far too much sentimental value to their homes. They can't separate feelings from a home's monetary value. Thus, it proves difficult to decide whether your property could stand up to the scrutiny of potential buyers. That's when you need to seek advice from outside sources. But where do you go to get honest advice when selling your Westfield home? Whose Opinions Matter Most When Selling Your Westfield Home?Real Estate Agents When it comes to selling your Westfield home, a real estate agent provides perhaps the most informed opinion of what improvements you should make before putting your home … (0 comments)
Author Bio: Scott Gleason, CRS writes frequently about Westfield Real Estate, and surrounding towns. Scott works with sellers to successfully prepare and present their Westfield
new homes for sale, as well as guiding home buyers and real estate investors.
The absolute best time to sell a Westfield area home is in June, according to data compiled by HomeLight. So if you plan on putting your property on the market, you need to start preparing your home to sell right now. Follow this handy guide to make the process a little easier.
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