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 SaleWhat are "Days on Market"?"Days on market" (or DOM) are the number of days from when a property gets listed to when it enters a "pending" status. The average DOM varies from city to city. According to Redfin, Madison homes saw an average of 26 DOM in April 20... 06/03/2022

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 you price it too high, it may turn buyers off. Even in a seller's market, homes still need to be priced appropriately for the market. If you cannot get buyers through the door, your home will simply just sit there. Then, you will need to ... 05/20/2022

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 end up very disappointed.Misleading "Facts" for the Home Seller in Today's MarketYou Don't Need to Fix It UpYou may have heard that buyers will purchase a Westfield area home no matter what shape i... 05/13/2022

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 personal items, memorabilia, etc. The sooner you begin, the less stressed you will feel about meeting your home listing deadline. Also, simply start in one room and work your way throughout t... 05/06/2022

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 are our top five easy landscaping DIY projects!Easy Landscaping DIY Projects for the Home SellerCreate a PathwayTo guide you and visitors throughout your yard and link different areas together, install a pa... 04/29/2022

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, and sale of the buyer's current home. If a contingency is not met by closing, the buyer can walk away with their Earnest Money Deposit in ha... 04/22/2022

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 one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce it up. Generally, it can also be a do-it-yourself project. Make sure to cover any walls with scratches and chips. Then consider updating any accent walls with a more neutral coat.Repair FloorsHardwood fl... 04/15/2022

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. Any money you spent on these and anything else associated with the actual sale of your Westfield area home may be tax-deductible.Improvements/RepairsPerhaps your property needed some... 04/08/2022

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 décor, such as paintings, nature images, and plants.Think Sleek Instead of ComfyModern-day buyers are leaning toward modern, crisp, clean interiors over comfy, homey looks. W... 04/01/2022

What do Short Hills, Westfield, Summit, and Chatham Township all have in common? Great schools. Great homes. Awesome people. Oh, and they all made Niche.com's 2022 Top 20 Best Places to Live in New Jersey List. How did Niche.com determine their rankings and what made these Westfield area cities so special? I'm glad you asked.Westfield Area Cities Named Among Top 20 Best Places to Live in NJHow Niche.com Determined RankingsNiche.com gathers data from various sources, such as the US Census, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the Tax Foundation, the FBI Uniform Crime Report, local surveys, and more. Then, they sort this information into 15 separate categories. Cost of living and higher education rate receive the most weight (12.5% each) while the shortest commute makes up 2% of each city'... 03/25/2022

COVID-19. An aging population. Fewer donors. Fewer donation sites. All of these things contributed to our current nationwide blood shortage. But you can help change things. Over the next couple of weeks, make an appointment to donate blood at one of two Westfield area blood drives.Westfield Area Blood Drives - March 2022Westfield Blood DriveThe Westfield blood drive takes place from 2 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday, March 16th at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Gallows Hill Rd. You may schedule a donation time by visiting the New York Blood Center's website here. As of the writing of this post, several appointment times remain available.Cranford Blood DriveThe Cranford Blood Drive takes place from 1 pm to 7 pm on Sunday, March 20th at the Cranford VFW on South Ave East. While walk-ins ar... 03/18/2022

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 a shorter time frame for more money.How to Hurt Your Home SaleTake Your Own PhotosNo matter how great of a camera your cell phone provides, leave the photo-taking to the professionals. Most real estate agents work with a professional photographer. They may eve... 03/11/2022

We have definitely experienced a lot of "ice" lately. But, if you want to shake off the winter chill with a little heat, come to the Cranford Fire and Ice event this weekend. It's free. It's fun. And it's something the entire family can enjoy.What: Cranford Fire and Ice 2022Where: Downtown Cranford When: Saturday, February 26th, 12 pm to 4 pm (rain date: February 27th)Cranford Fire and Ice 2022Our winter chill definitely helps the ice carvers create amazing sculptures. Watch them in action at the Cranford Hotel, the Cranford gazebo, and the River & Rail Cantina. Warm up by watching live fire-breathers perform at the Eastman Clock Plaza. Then, go get your face painted for free at the Thirsty Turtle. While traveling around to see these fabulous sights, make sure to stop at any (or all) of... 03/04/2022

Is there an alternative to FHA loan in Elizabeth New Jersey?Is there a better option for a low-down payment then an FHA loan? The answer maybe yes! First-time homebuyers as well as repeat buyers longed-for a home mortgage with a low-down payment of 3.5%. FHA loan remains the best choice not for long. Lenders are moving to CRA Community Reinvestment Act loans. This option may be better for some homebuyers and people looking to refinance a traditional FHA loan. One Out of every five buyers, chooses a FHA loan, with more options being availability this may shortly change. FHA loan are popular because it requires just 3.5 % down payment. Moreover, FHA mortgage rates are lower as compared with others. It also has flexible underwriting standards. This is really attractive especially when you ... 03/03/2022

Many companies experienced significant hardships over the past two years due to the pandemic. Local businesses found it particularly rough to weather the storm. The rallying cry "shop local" has never been as crucial as it is right now. To support local Cranford shopping, everyone is encouraged to visit downtown Cranford businesses on February 22nd. It could nab you a prize at one of them.What: $22 on the 22ndWhere: Downtown CranfordWhen: Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022Cranford Shopping: $22 on the 22ndAll that Downtown Cranford asks is that you go out on Tuesday, February 22nd. Get your nails done. Pick up a gift for someone special (including one for yourself). Drop off your dry cleaning. Meet someone for lunch. Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you keep your receipts. Then, visi... 02/25/2022

We support our own whenever we can, however we can. For the Cranford High School swim team, that means raising money for themselves and helping out the community at the same time. To that effect, they ask the public to help them by coming to their Cranford High Clothing Drive 2022 next weekend.What: Cranford High Clothing Drive 2022Where: Cranford Community Center (220 Walnut Ave)When: Saturday, February 19th from 9 am to 12:30 pmContact: Friends of Cranford Swimming (908) 347-0827Cranford High Clothing Drive 2022Please bring your gently used items to the parking lot between the Cranford Community Center and the library on Walnut Ave between 9 am and 12:30 pm on Saturday, February 19th. Members of the CHS swim team will be on hand to collect clothing, shoes, bedding, bath towels, beddin... 02/18/2022

We love our downtown area here in Cranford. There is so much to see and do. To encourage residents and visitors to stop there, many businesses participate in various "strolls" throughout the year. In October, we had the Scarecrow Stroll. Last month, there was the Souperhero Stroll. This month, we celebrate Black History Month with the Cranford Storywalk.What: Cranford Storywalk 2022Where: Downtown CranfordWhen: Now through February 28thAdmission: FREEContact: Cranford Library (908) 709-7272Cranford Storywalk 2022The Cranford Library teamed up with the Cranford Unity Project and Downtown Cranford to celebrate Black History Month with a Storywalk. Twenty different downtown Cranford businesses display one of the pages of the children's book "Overground Railroad" in their windows. This tell... 02/11/2022

Valentine's Day is just a couple of weeks away. Downtown Westfield wants to share the love with you and your sweetie. There are two separate Valentine's Day contests waiting for your entry. One provides gift cards to local restaurants and shops. The other helps you tackle your New Year's resolution of better health with a new Peloton bike. Both sound like great prizes to me.Valentine's Day Contests in WestfieldDowntown Westfield Gift CardsThis contest is so easy to enter. Simply visit Downtown Westfield's Facebook post about the contest here. Then, "like" the post. Finally, leave a comment where you tag your Valentine and tag the downtown Westfield restaurant or boutique you would like to take them to on Valentine's Day. Organizers plan on choosing two winners at random from all of the ... 02/04/2022

You’ve most likely heard the rule "save for a 20% down payment before you buy a home". The logic behind saving 20% is solid, as it shows that you have the financial discipline and stability to save for a long-term goal. It also helps you get favorable rates from lenders. But there can actually be financial benefits to putting down a small down payment—as low as 3%—rather than parting with so much cash upfront, even if you have the money available.Pros and Cons of a Small Down PaymentThe DownsideThe downsides of a small down payment are pretty well known. You’ll have to pay Private Mortgage Insurance for years, and the lower your down payment, the more you’ll pay. You’ll also be offered a lesser loan amount than borrowers who have a 20% down payment, which will eliminate some homes from ... 01/28/2022

This weekend's storm is just the latest of many that the Westfield area experiences this time of year. Most likely, it will not be the last. So, when the weather eases up, you might want to follow these winter storm safety tips for your home to survive during the next big weather event we see.Winter Storm Safety Tips for Your HomeCarbon Monoxide - The Silent KillerSome Union County homeowners keep a generator on hand for rough winter weather. That is smart. However, do not run these generators in your home. These generators emit carbon monoxide gases. Since they are both odorless and nearly invisible, they may easily fill up a room before anyone notices. Even generators placed directly outside of the home may allow dangerous gases to invade inside. Follow the directions from the manufac... 01/21/2022