Strong Seller Competition Requires Attention For An Autumn Showing

 As important a landmark as buying a home is in people’s lives, you’d be surprised at how much of it can turn on snap decisions. If you’re selling a house you should consider  putting  careful thought into buyers' first impressions, because many sales will be made or lost before they reach the front door – or as soon as they walk through it.

ERA Justin Realty’s Broker Co-owner Jennifer Metzger Darby offers a menu of possible ‘first impression’ areas that an owner may want to consider.  “First consider curb appeal – the feeling customers get from the upkeep of the house and grounds, and how comfortable this makes them imagining themselves as a resident. You want to do everything you can to make them see your house as their house, both outside and in.  Some painting if necessary is an investment that should more than pay for itself, and neat landscaping – trimmed shrubs, new flowers – puts your prospective buyers in just the right frame of mind. Inside, kitchens and bathrooms should be in sparkling condition – these rooms are known to be what makes up many home-seekers’ minds. Removal of odors like pet smells and smoke will lessen distractions for customers you want focusing on your home’s possibilities, and clearing of clutter is crucial.

The fewer belongings you have crowding your rooms and closets, the bigger the home will appear, and the easier it will be for potential buyers to envision placing their own possessions there. Put some things in storage if you need to, or hold a garage sale to help cut down on some of the build-up you were going to clear out for moving anyway.  For buyers picturing themselves in your home, it’s also good to present the house in as general taste as possible – personal memorabilia, collectibles, and eccentric wall colors and furnishings should go out with the clutter. Rooms in a neutral white also helps convey the sense of spaciousness.  Clean windows, fresh flowers, and other small details with big impact – they’re what you want to remember. From major improvements to subtle touches that tip the scales in your favor, the features of a house that we often take for granted can be the ones that determine your home selling success. According to the National Association of Realtors^®, curb appeal alone accounts for half of all home sales.”

Jennifer continued, “A little effort now saves you a lengthy process later. First impressions will expedite the sale, and securing the services of a qualified Realtor^® will make it all the surer. One of our ERA Justin Realtor agent professionals can guide you in all the above matters and more, from supplying a checklist of presentation tips, to recommending affordable painting contractors to helping you rearrange the furniture. Whatever it takes, we can give you confidence that, for some buyer soon, the showing of your home will be love at first sight.  We also will provide a 2016 home market analysis  (CMA) with information in determining the true value of a house and the right asking price. In the end, however, the homeowner should decide on a price that he or she feels is competitive and consistent with the price at which other houses in the area have sold. Our CMA report for our Sellers is truly comprehensive in all aspects.  Complete with color photos and detailed information, it makes pricing easier for those planning a sale.  Truly, there is a difference in real estate companies, and our details will make the difference. We ask Buyers and Sellers to compare.  We believe that in order to exceed expectations of what ERA Justin Realty is about, we don’t offer just real estate basics, we try to be as comprehensive as possible.  In that way, we know that our Buyers and Sellers will hold us all in the highest regard. Our publication of nearly 800 Buyer and Seller reviews will give you the confidence in our firm."

ERA Justin Realty proudly received the prestigious ERA world-wide 2003‘Commitment to Excellence Award’, selected from approximately 3,000 ERA real estate firms. Only outstanding business entities are honored and receive it. For these reasons ERA Justin Realty should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice.

For more information on CMAs and dressing your house for a good showing, consumers can reach the ERA Justin Realty sales team at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue or 57 Park Avenue. By phone at (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Additional real estate information is also available at the firms 1000s of homes website at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.