Bergen County Real Estate Podcast with Jeff & Debra Adler Jeff Adler

Here are three tips that will help you move safely amid the pandemic. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home Search Selling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price Evaluation A pandemic isn’t an ideal time to move, but some people simply don’t have a choice. If you’re facing a move in the coming days or weeks, here are three tips that will help you do so safely and as easily as possible: 1. Remember that it’s worth spending extra money. The American Moving & Storing Association recommends passing on free recycled boxes from supermarkets and opting for new ones if possible. The reason is simple: Doing this minimizes your exposure to the coronavirus. Also, stock up on adequate disinfectants and wipes for yourself, your moving truck, and any shared equipment. If it makes sense in your situation, hire a moving company to handle the move for you safely and strategically. Many moving companies currently provide virtual estimates and contactless moving. “   Stock up on adequate disinfectants and wipes for yourself, your moving truck, and any shared equipment.      ” 2. Remember that preparation is more important now than ever. A move can sometimes become a disorganized affair, but now is the time to make it as neat and orderly as possible. By minimizing the moving time, you’re minimizing contact and exposure.  3. If you’re doing the move yourself, clean the truck and any shared moving bins or boxes. If you’re hiring a moving company, inquire about the specific measures they’re using to deal with the pandemic, both with their equipment and employees. A move can be a frustrating experience, but don’t throw caution to the wind and get careless. Be mindful of ongoing advice about masks, social distancing, and hygiene.  As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you. 

These three simple home updates will get you the best ROI when selling. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home Search Selling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price Evaluation What upgrades will get you the best return on your investment when selling your house? To get the maximum value out of your home projects, focus on smaller tasks; they can actually have a larger impact on the aesthetic appeal of your house without breaking the bank. Here are three of the best ROI updates: 1. Small bathroom remodel. This could be as simple as getting new countertops, repainting to a brighter color, or re-tiling the shower. All these projects will have a massive impact without having to completely demolish the bathroom. These projects alone can bring a 102% return on your investment. 2. Update landscaping. Landscaping is the first thing buyers see when looking at your property, aka curb appeal. You can simply add fresh mulch and plant flowers. You only get one chance to make a wonderful first impression, and vibrant landscaping can certainly boost curb appeal. The average investment for landscaping is a bit pricier: $3,500. However, it almost always has a 100% return on investment. 3. Minor kitchen facelift. Repainting the cabinets and getting new hardware will make an outdated kitchen feel new again. These modest changes can bring around a 97% return on investment. Landscaping is the first thing buyers see when looking at your home. We have excellent connections with contractors and designers that can help with any of your home project needs. If you’d like a referral or have other real estate-related questions, please feel free to give us a call at (201) 825-1266 or email us anytime. We’d love to hear from you. Most importantly, at this time, please stay safe and healthy.

Here are three great home staging items you can buy at a bargain.  Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home Search Selling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price Evaluation If you want to sell your home quickly and for top dollar, it’s important to make sure that visiting buyers never have to stare at any empty rooms or bare walls. The “deserted warehouse” look is out, so if your home isn’t staged attractively, you’re missing out because plenty of other houses will be. The good news is, you don’t have to spend a lot of money staging your home attractively. Buying expensive items to upgrade your home isn’t necessarily the way to go if you don’t have the budget for that. One unexpected place to look for staging props, for example, is Walmart. A few dollars spent on the right items there can go a long way. Check out the bargains they offer to amp up your home staging without breaking the bank. “   You don’t have to spend a lot of money staging your home attractively.     ” Here are three items you can buy that will do the trick: 1. Fluffy bathroom towels. Bathrooms are the second-most important area and selling feature in a home (next to the kitchen), and fresh, fluffy, colorful towels are the perfect accent for them. 2. Faux plants. If you (like me) struggle to keep real plants alive, then faux plants are a great addition. There are some absolutely beautiful ones out there, and they sometimes look so real that it’s easy to assume they are. 3. Candles. Candles add warmth, character, and an inviting scent to your home. You can get LED candles or the real thing, but LED candles don’t provide the same ambiance that real ones do, which is why I prefer the real deal. Remember to be responsible for where you place your candles. Bonus tip: Pictures and other accessories help divert a buyer’s attention away from a part of the home you may not like that much. If you’d like to know more home staging tips or have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m here to help. 

You can attract more buyers by promoting your home as pet friendly. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home Search Selling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price Evaluation When selling your home, one of the ways to attract a different breed of buyers is to promote your house as pet friendly. You should appeal to those who plan to share their new home with their animal friends. Almost any house can be marketed to pet owners, and if you take a little extra time to highlight the pet-friendly aspects of your property, it could sell quicker. You can tell your real estate agent that it’s fine for prospective buyers to bring their dogs along to scope out the home. Buyers are often impressed when sellers show their affection for pets. The best pet-friendly investment is to install a wooden or electric invisible fence around the perimeter of your yard. Also, the latest trend is to put a pet bath in the laundry room or garage, which is a sure-fire attention grabber. “ If you take a little extra time to highlight the pet-friendly aspects of your property, it could sell quicker. ” It’s equally crucial to hide those parts of the house that might initially turn off even the most ardent pet lovers. Agents everywhere love to use Febreze. Spritz it all around the furniture and pet beds before a showing to eliminate any odors. Even pet owners don’t like smelly houses. Also, be sure that your lawn is immaculate when showing your property; you can even hire a pooper scooper service. As always, please feel free to call or email us if you have questions about promoting your home to pet owners or any other real estate-related topic. We are always here to be of service to you, your friends, family, or anyone else you know that could benefit from our real estate expertise. We look forward to hearing from you!

Entering May, here’s a quick look at how the real estate market is doing. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home Search Selling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price Evaluation We’re back with our monthly real estate market minute for May. First and foremost, we hope you’re staying safe and healthy. We’re here for you to help with whatever you need during this time—just reach out. Our real estate market is moving along, as over 1,000 homes were listed in April and 480 went under contract. The fact that our market is so active is good news. To learn more about what’s going on in real estate and how we can help you, watch the short video above.

If you need anything at all while the country practices self-isolation and social distancing, let us know. We want to help. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home Search Selling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price Evaluation We just wanted to reach out to let you know that our entire team is ready to be an ally to you during these challenging times. Over the past few weeks, our team has been able to provide a variety of services, like running errands for the elderly and providing meals to those in need. We also helped find college students to tutor the children of parents who needed support with their homeschooling. If you need anything at all, reach out and let us know! In the meantime, stay safe and healthy. To see our full message, watch the short video above.