The Benefits of Working with a Team to Sell Your Home

When it’s time to sell your home, you need the experience, industry knowledge and local market expertise that only a real estate professional can provide. But what additional benefits does working with a real estate team offer to you, as a homebuyer or seller? And does your choice of real estate companies make a difference?  

The answer, of course, is YES. Danielle Sette, Jessi Davidson and Jennifer Zenquis of Team Sette Davidson explain the benefits of working with their team -- and all of the team -- at ERA Justin Realty. 

Increased Accessibility

When one member is unable to take your call or show you a property, there is another agent available to assist you. “In addition to having Team Sette Davidson at your service, we are also supported by an ‘agent on call’ at the ERA Justin front desk to make sure that no call goes unanswered,” Danielle explains, continuing, “And that also means we are more likely to connect with any interested buyers.”

Greater Pool of Knowledge

“When clients work with our team, they have access to our collective experience and expertise,” Jessi points out, adding “It’s a tremendous asset to share best practices for serving our clients with our broker and co-workers at ERA Justin.”

“Having a second opinion is always a benefit to the consumer,” adds Danielle.  “That’s why we also ask all the agents in our office to preview new listings through ‘caravan’ and offer their price opinions.  This way the consumer benefits from our entire office’s expertise as well.”

Streamlined and Effective Negotiation Process

“With so many moving parts, having a team on your side will help ensure that nothing gets lost in the shuffle,” says Jessi. 

“Not only are we able to discuss and bounce ideas off each other, but we have the backing of the entire team here at ERA Justin,” notes Jennifer. “When it comes to setting a price, making an offer, or coming up with leverage in a negotiation, we can tap into the collective knowledge, experience, and connections of the many experienced agents in our office.” 

To find out how Team ERA Justin can support your home buying or selling needs,  contact Team Sette Davidson, or any of our experienced sales professionals, at 201.939.7500 or stop by our office located at 118 Jackson Avenue in Rutherford.

Understanding Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval

Understanding Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval

There’s plenty of real estate terms used in transactions. Needless to say it can be confusing for buyers and sellers trying to navigate the process. Danielle Sette and Jessi Davidson of Team Sette Davidson at ERA Justin Realty understand. “The home loan process might feel overwhelming and difficult to understand. You’ve probably heard that you should pre-qualify or be pre-approved for a mortgage if you’re looking to buy a property. These are two key steps in the mortgage application process. Some people use these terms interchangeably, but there are differences that every homebuyer should understand,” states Sette. Danielle and Jessi break down the difference between the two.

Pre-Qualification

The first step in obtaining a home loan is to meet with a lender and get pre-qualified. Davidson says, “The pre-qualification process is based on consumer-submitted data. The lender will review with the buyer their financial situation and discuss income, job stability, debt and credit.” Pre-qualification can be done over the phone or online, and there’s usually no cost involved. Once they have performed a basic review of the qualifications and run credit, they will issue a Pre-Qualification Letter to the potential buyer, which will identify how much you can expect to borrow, the maximum sales price, any down payment requirements and basic terms of the loan, such as interest rate.

 

The Pre-Qualification letter is used to provide evidence that the buyer has been reviewed by a lender who is vouching for their ability to obtain a loan.

 

Your pre-qualified amount isn’t a sure thing, because it’s based only on the information you’ve provided. It’s just the amount for which you might be approved. A pre-qualified buyer doesn’t carry the same weight as a pre-approved buyer, who has been more thoroughly investigated.

Pre-Approval

Getting pre-approved is the next step, and it’s much more involved. You must complete an official mortgage application to be pre-approved, and you must supply the lender with all the necessary documentation, such as pay stubs, bank statements, assets, etc, to perform an extensive check on your financial background and current credit rating. The lender can pre-approve you for a mortgage up to a specified amount after reviewing your finances. You’ll also have a better idea of the interest rate you’ll be charged on the loan at this point, because this is often based in part on your credit score, and you might even be able to lock in an interest rate.

 

You’ll receive a conditional commitment in writing for an exact loan amount, allowing you to look for a home at or below that price level. A Pre-Approval letter is almost like shopping with cash; the only remaining piece of the puzzle is the property you are buying.

 

Danielle Sette and Jessi Davidson are REALTOR Sales Associates with ERA Justin Realty, both ready to discuss your home-buying questions and needs. To reach either of them, or any of our experienced Sales Professionals, call 201.939.7500 or stop by our office located at 118 Jackson Avenue in Rutherford.

ERA Justin Realty's 2019 Five Star Professionals

ERA Justin Realty's 2019 Five Star Professionals

A focus for buyers and sellers are the force that motivates the staff of active Realtor Agents at ERA Justin Realty. In fact, the firm tracks the continuing activity of 100 real estate firms who service the vast reaches of area communities and ERA Justin Realty has again proven itself to be an area real estate market leader. Seven outstanding Realtor Agents have been cited as 2019 Five Star Home Professionals and Rising Star designations.

Our Five Star and Rising Star real estate professionals in New Jersey deliver outstanding service and client satisfaction. The Five Star Professional research team contacted thousands of recent home buyers, as well as other consumers. Phone, mail and online respondents rated their service based upon criteria such as overall satisfaction and whether they would recommend the professional to a friend.

Ron Darby, ERA Justin Realty Broker Co-owner proudly offered, "An incredible honor to have our agents awarded. We are very proud of Lee Schilare, Jessi Davidson, Kristen Davis, Michelle Korosy, Julia Dagistanli, Fara Espandi and Danielle Sette for their efforts, service to their buyers and sellers and the communities they serve throughout Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex Counties." Jessi Davidson and Danielle Sette are designated as Rising Stars.

The Five Star Professionals research team conducts market research to define and promote professional excellence in the industry we serve and assists consumers in selecting service professionals based on objective research tailored to the real estate profession.

For upcoming Spring 2019, our winners will be pleased to provide a current market price analysis of your home at no cost or obligation. The report features current homes on the market, homes that have sold and closed and details as to the current value of your home. It will also give specifics as to what a seller may do to make it more marketable. Invite them in, it will be rewarding for your sales process.

2019 Tips on Dressing and Pricing Your House For Strong Showings

As important a landmark as buying a home is in people’s lives, if you’re selling a house you’ll have to put careful thought into customers’ first impressions, because many sales will be made or lost before they reach the front door, or as soon as they walk through it. Danielle Sette and Jessi Davidson Team ERA Justin Realtor agents share tips for pricing your house correctly when readying for a sale.


Danielle 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. A new paint job is an investment that might be considered if it more than pays for itself, and neat landscaping, trimmed shrubs, and new flowers put 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 and have customers focus more on your home’s possibilities. The clearing out of clutter is crucial."


Jessi added, "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 it in as general taste as possible. Personal memorabilia, collectibles, and eccentric wall colors and furnishings should go out with the clutter. Repainting rooms in a neutral white also helps convey the sense of spaciousness. Clean windows, fresh flowers, and other small details with a big impact are what you want to be remembered. 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.”



ERA Justin broker Jennifer Darby Metzger added, “A little effort now saves you a lengthy process later. First impressions will expedite the sale and securing the services of our qualified Realtors will make it all the surer. One of our ERA Justin Realtor agents can guide you in all these matters, 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 current 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.”

ERA Justin Top Producers Report for 2018 Smart Sellers Think Like Buyers

ERA Justin Top Producers Report for 2018 

Smart Sellers Think Like Buyers

ERA Justin Realty’s Danielle Sette and Jessi Davidson exceeded market challenges for 2017. To be successful, these sales professionals know what makes for a successful listing and sale and advise that smart sellers should think like buyers.  This advice continues into 2018.

Jennifer Darby, broker co-owner said, “There are plenty of homebuyers focused on buying while they can still lock in a low mortgage rate. So, the 2018 housing market should present good opportunities for sellers who understand how to maximize profit in this selling environment. Buyers are concerned about perceived value.  For this reason, pricing is more important than ever, as is property condition. Buyers are less forgiving of defects. So, ideally, you should review defects before you put your house on the market.”

Danielle said, “Listings are most salable when they're new on the market. To maximize your opportunities, your home not only needs to be priced right and properly prepared for sale, you also need a comprehensive marketing plan. You want to make sure that information about your listing reaches as many potential buyers as possible. Jessi and I and our  ERA Justin Realtor agents are proactive in advising potential sellers with comprehensive information when reviewing the sale of their house.   We provide you with a marketing plan with samples of our marketing materials that will be used to promote your house, as well as strong Internet exposure on our major websites and our full page continuous advertisements in The South Bergenite, an award-winning North Jersey Media Group publication.”

Jessi added,  “A listing on the Internet isn't enough though. Buyers don't look at listings that don't have photos. You can gain an edge on the competition with the many photos and a video tour of your house that we create and are on the Internet as soon as your house is opened to the market. For these reasons, we receive referrals from many sellers who had a positive experience buying their home through us and decide to list with the our Realtor agents who represented them as buyers. Our aim is to sell for the highest price possible. Don't list for less than a price you can accept. But, keep in mind that overpriced listings won't sell. The majority of houses include a bank appraisal as part of the mortgage process.  Our ERA Justin Realtor agents will be able to advise you about an effective list price for your home.  We offer our Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), a comprehensive study of your house in comparison with others that are on the market, that have sold, that have expired, as well as upcoming 2018 updates.  It’s offered at no cost or obligation simply by phoning our office.”

Danielle and Jessi concluded, "Multi-thousands of listings and sales have been generated since we opened our offices in 1950. We can be reached at either of our two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue, by office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Also view 1000’s of homes at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com."

Danielle Sette Offers Market Insights: Rather Than Sitting on the Fence …Why Not Own It?

Danielle Sette Offers Market Insights:

Rather Than Sitting on the Fence …Why Not Own It?

ERA Justin Realty, a leading real estate brokerage since 1950, serving Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties, is  experiencing extremely strong real estate market conditions.  In fact, the firm is #1 in closed Rutherford transactions for the past 16 years. Danielle Sette, a Realtor agent with the firm offers the following insights for consumers who are considering buying a home.

Homes are More Affordable – Housing prices  are currently affordable for qualified buyers because many banks, mortgage lenders and credit unions offer expanded and varied mortgage programs. Our firm works with many varied lenders with the anticipation that a mortgage program is available for your purchase.

Rates are Low – 30-year fixed mortgage interest rates remain near historical lows, but do fluctuate.  Our ERA Justin agents will gladly refer you to several lenders so you can verify a current rate based on your qualifications.

Timing is Everything – For qualified buyers, this is the time to buy. According to historical trends, when mortgage loan limits increase it decreases the availability and affordability of mortgage credit for many home buyers.

Homeownership is the American Dream – Nearly nine in ten Americans historically have felt that homeownership is an important part of the American Dream, according to a past New York Times/CBS News poll,

Financing is Available – Today’s borrower needs to have stable employment and sufficient income to cover the monthly mortgage payment and living expenses; adequate savings with a down payment; and, in general, and good credit. If you meet these basic requirements and plan to live in the home, you may be well on your way. Credit score requirements may be higher or lower depending on loan type, income history, property type and other factors.

“For qualified buyers, now may well be the time to make your move,” said Danielle.  “If a home purchase is in your future plans, I would encourage you to talk to one of our Realtor agents because now may be the time for you to act. There is continuing house inventory on the market for you to capture that dream home you have always wanted at a price and terms you can handle based on a lender's mortgage pre-approval.  But don’t wait too long, because mortgage rates and home prices won’t stay at this level forever.  Find your perfect home along with a mortgage that meets your needs with the help of our outstanding Realtor agents."

Danielle Sette Joins The ERA Justin Realty Team of Realtor Agents

Danielle Sette Joins The ERA Justin Realty Team of Realtor Agents

"As a resident of Rutherford for the past ten years, I have fallen in love with the small town sense of community that Rutherford and our surrounding communities have to offer. I have lived in several small towns in Northern New Jersey, but our local communities are definitely home to me. I have school aged children and cannot boast enough about the quality of education we enjoy locally. The small town community feel, the wonderful downtown shops and amazing restaurants are what makes this area so desirable to many. The accessibility to all major roads, highways, skyline views, NYC buses and trains just to name additional advantages of this area."

Coming from a procurement/customer satisfaction background, Danielle has transferred to the ERA Justin Realty family where her focus will be meeting and exceeding the needs of her buyers and sellers.

“With our knowledge of Danielle and her focused work ethics, she is a natural fit at ERA Justin Realty,” said ERA Justin Realty Broker Co-owner, Jennifer Darby Metzger. She continued, “During her free time she enjoys family and town sponsored events. After many years in corporate procurement and strategic sourcing in the retail field, she took time off to focus on raising her family. She resides with her husband, their two children,and their pet cat Aerie.

As a Rutherford homeowner and Lyndhurst landlord, she has always taken interest and been drawn to the market and happenings in our communities. She has channeled her experiences in corporate procurement, contract implementation and precise negotiation skills providing thorough detailed service to anyone with whom she works.”

Danielle stated, “My business background with strong contract management and customer service, coupled with my determination to exceed buyer and seller needs, will prove successful at the completion of each real estate transaction. With so many real estate firms to choose from, I chose ERA Justin Realty because of its success and warm and welcoming office. They are a long time area real estate firm with thousands of satisfied customers and clients. They are community focused with involvement in many charitable causes and events that I look forward to being part of in the future.

My personal time is also filled as a Junior Woman's Club of Rutherford volunteer doing community service since 2010 and editor for the JWCR Reporter Newsletter. I am the current President of the JWCR with 40+ membership and have been a board member since 2014. I’m also active with my daughters Daisy Troop, PTA and donate my time and provide social support to breast cancer patients undergoing treatment. We enjoy vacationing with friends at the Down East coast of Maine and we are active members of Our Lady of Assumption Church in Wood-Ridge.

ERA Justin was my number one choice in selecting an agency, as there is a great team of educated, respected agents with a stellar reputation for honesty and loyal service in this community. The level of training and the ability to be mentored by the best in Northern New Jersey is just a few reasons in choosing a career with ERA Justin.

I pride myself with attention to detail and being thorough with my work. I apply this to everyday life and would absolutely extend this personal philosophy to every client."

Danielle is also a member of the Real Source Association of Realtors, New Jersey Association of Realtors, and the NJMLS. She is a graduate of Ocean County College, Montclair State University and Kovats Real Estate & Insurance Schools.

Jennifer concluded, “We are pleased to have Danielle with us. Her knowledge will aid our entire sales team and her buyers and sellers will quickly discover that she is reliable, responsible and understanding of their needs.

Our team at ERA Justin Realty stand ready to serve you. Because of our daily priorities, we proudly received the prestigious ERA world-wide ‘Commitment to Excellence Award’ from ERA. For these reasons ERA Justin Realty should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice.”

All of the ERA Justin Realty full service Realtor agents can be reached at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue. By office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. View 1000's of homes at their websites at www.ERAJustin.com andwww.ERAJustinRealty.com.