ERA Justin Realty's 2013 Girls Rutherford Little League softball team making their debut at the recent softball parade. Featured are the excited team members with Dennis Stafford, coach, George Netelkos, manager. Coaches not  pictured, Mike King, Lazz DeGennaro, Al Anderson and Tim Chase.

                    ERA Justin Realty Rutherford Little League Girls Softball 2013

 In early spring 2011, ERA Justin Realty was approached and asked if they would like to be a sponsor of a Rutherford Little League girls softball team. Without hesitation the answer was a resounding yes. This was brand new to Rutherford as girls softball was new to the Little League programs.

Broker Ron Darby said, “Our answer each year since then has been an resounding yes. Girls softball was long overdue as there had never been girls Little League in Rutherford. This was to be the start of something wonderful for our town. And at the end of each season it has been proven to be a big success with many wonderful girls Little League teams sponsored by many of our outstanding area business leaders. ERA Justin Realty’s girls Little League was on its way, our team each year was formed, their uniforms were delivered and the excitement began as our team took part in the Little League parade.”

Ron Darby with co-owners Jennifer Darby Metzger and Carol Darby and their ERA Justin team of real estate agents have offered strong thanks to the Rutherford Little League, Rutherford Recreation Department, and the Softball Committee for their effort in making each a successful season for all of the Little League players.

Jennifer and Carol added, “Our manager and coaching staff including Dennis Stafford, George Netelkos, Mike King, Lazz DeGennaro, Al Anderson and Tim Chase are very proud of how our team will play and will demonstrate true team effort throughout the season while having fun.”

Ron concluded, “At ERA Justin Realty the words, ‘There is a difference in real estate companies’ is more than a phrase. We believe strongly in community and our sponsorship of the team is exceptionally rewarding. Because of our support of community activities and our charitable contributions, we proudly received the prestigious ERA worldwide 2003-2012 Commitment to Excellence Award.”

Readers who would like to add their best wishes to all of the teams can direct them to ERA Justin Realty at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue.  By office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD.  More about the team can be viewed at www.ERAJustin.com.

New Jersey Association of Realtors awarded ERA Justin Realty Circle of Excellence Awards. Broker-owner Jennifer Darby Metzger, Fara Espandi, Cathy Vick, Broker-owner Ron Darby, Carol D. Calamari, Office coordinator Michelle Korosy and Broker-owner Carol Darby.

                ERA Justin Realty NJAR 2012 Circle of Excellence Awards Presented

Bergen County: Each year the New Jersey Association of Realtors honors its top producers in sales and listings sold. Based upon Realtor production with focus to detail, agents throughout New Jersey are awarded for their outstanding efforts.

It is important to recognize remarkable achievements of the best-of-the-best because of the positive impact that these award achievers have on their buyers, their sellers and the communities in which they conduct their daily real estate business. 

Ron Darby and Carol Darby, ERA Justin Realty brokers and co-owners offered personal accolades to the ERA Justin Realty team of sales professionals and they stated, “When you examine the structure of each real estate transaction, one can appreciate the reasons why these fine sales-professionals have been awarded.  There are groups of individuals involved, including buyers, sellers each with their attorney, mortgage lenders, appraisers and underwriters, home, termite and radon inspectors, community building inspectors for the final certificate of occupancy and other varied inspectors. Add to transactions hand-delivery of documents, dozens of hours on the phone with buyers and sellers and only then can one appreciate the value of this outstanding NJAR award.  Our best-of-the-best 2012 Circle of Excellence Bronze winners include, Jennifer Darby Metzger, Fara Espandi, Cathy Vick, Carol D. Calamari and Grace Tirrito. On hand to offer congratulations at the RealSource Association of Realtors presentation was Ron Darby, Carol Darby and office coordinator, Michelle Korosy.

Korosy added, "We are extremely proud of our achievers team efforts.  Each year they exceed  buyer and seller expectations.  They are truly Realtor brokers and agents of choice and would love to be your Realtor.”

All ERA Justin Realty full service Realtors 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 and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

ERA Justin Realty Teammates Receive Honors - Agent Opportunities Offered

ERA Justin Realty's excited teammates seated L to R: Wayne Kubs, Daniel Jones, Allyson Kubs, Albert Rottini, Carol D. Calamari. Standing L to R: Adrian Tridel, Jennifer Darby Metzger, Pamela Collins, Salvatore Macri, Min (Steve) Yi and Denise Leonessa. Not pictured is Justin Fung.

ERA Justin Realty Teammates Receive Honors

Agent Opportunities Offered

South Bergen County:  How many careers exist today when management truly works to help their team be successful. According to Jennifer Darby Metzger, a leading real estate broker co-owner of ERA Justin Realty and success cheerleader for her sales agents said,  “We work with our agents each day to help them achieve their goals, in a constant changing real estate industry.  We will be honored at the upcoming RealSource Association of Realtors membership meeting to have five agents awarded the 2012 NJAR‘Circle of Excellence’ award. Seven agents have been honored in our 'ERA Leadership Circle' category and seven agents in the ERA national 'Circle of Honor' category. These honors don't happen by chance. Our agents have the focus to achieve them which means strong commissions earnings to them.”

Realtor agents who recently joined the firm, Wayne Kubs, Daniel 'Danny' Jones, Allyson Kubs and Albert Rottini joined Carol D. Calamari, Adrian Tridel and  broker Jennifer Darby Metzger, all featured in a television commercial explaining the benefits of being part of the ERA Justin agent team and working with the firm. Other newer agents include, Pamela Collins, Salvatore Macri, Justin Fung, Min 'Steve' Yi and Denise Leonessa who added, "ERA Justin has been your trusted name in real estate since 1950. There is a difference in real estate companies. I wish I had transferred to ERA Justin months earlier."

Jennifer speaks from great experience.  The firm’s management team has hired, trained and guided agents to success hundreds of times. Many ERA Justin Realty agents have been with them for decades, with earnings greater than at many area real estate firms.

She continued, “As real estate trends change, as agents commission needs change, we watch and listen. ERA Justin Realty has one of the strongest 'Winning Edge' commission plans for its agents. We also give our agents buyer base potential with stronger advertising than many other real estate firms in South Bergen County.  Full color page advertising of our listings each week in theSouth Bergenite brings an abundance of potential buyers to our agents while giving our sellers more marketing exposure. We have been considered a real estate market leader by thousands of sellers and buyers since 1950 and offer a superior level of support for our agents.”

Continuing, she said, “Our company is always growing.  We are offering those who want a successful career in real estate to phone for a confidential conversation at (201) 939-7500. Give us a few minutes and we’ll give you a rewarding career. View our office websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.  If you are  career-minded but not advancing at your current firm, it may be time to make that phone call.  Making a decision to make the call is the tough decision, from there, the rest is easy. We’ll show you how!”

ERA Justin Realty operates two state-of-the-art Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue.  By office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. 

Global honors to ERA Justin Realtor Salespersons

ERA Justin Realty's Grace Tirrito, Carol D. Calamari, Jennifer Darby Metzger, Adrian Tridel, standing left to right and seated Kristen Davis, Cathy Vick and Fara Espandi know the secrets to real estate success. The secrets are simple and direct. Hard work and focus to their buyers and sellers. In addition to serving first time and repeat buyers and sellers, they continually receive referrals from past buyers and sellers for their exacting real estate services.

Global honors to ERA Justin Realtor Salespersons

Carol Darby, ERA Justin Realty Broker Co-owner offered congratulations to ERA Justin Realty's Grace Tirrito, Carol D. Calamari, Jennifer Darby Metzger, Adrian Tridel, Kristen Davis, Cathy Vick and Fara Espandi for achieving the ERA Circle of Honor. By meeting national ERA criteria within 2012, these Realtor salespersons have joined the ranks of top producing honorees under the ERA banner.

The ERA real estate network includes approximately 30,000 brokers and salespersons throughout the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories, with global reach in this world of technology.

ERA Justin Realty has been recognized by multi-thousands of buyers and sellers over their 63 years serving Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex Counties. Recognized as an area market leader, they proudly received the prestigious ERACommitment to Excellence Award, one of 14 premier firms across the ERA nation.  They are also recognized in the Muscular Dystrophy national organization with an elite President’s Club designation for their charitable fundraising activities. For these reasons ERA Justin Realty has been a buying and selling Realtor of choice.

All of the ERA Justin Realty award achievers 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. Also view 1000's of homes at their winning websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

2013 Recommended Work Before Selling

ERA Justin Realtor salesperson Denise Leonessa shares valuable information for 2013 sellers about to put their home on the market. Denise, coming from a salesperson position from another area brokerage is active with buyers and sellers at ERA Justin Realty.

 

ERA Justin's Denise Leonessa Reports On 2013 Recommended Work Before Selling

Sellers often order pre-sale inspection reports. This inevitably raises the question of how much, if any, of the recommended work should be done before selling.  Ideally, any defect that would be hazardous to agents and buyers who preview the property during the sale process should be corrected. An example is a trip hazard that might cause someone to fall. In addition, to maximize your return from the sale, you should repair defects that adversely affect how the property looks.

Denise Leonessa, an ERA Justin Realtor salesperson who transferred from her position at Prudential Professionals  says, “First impressions are important. So, if the fence or entry porch is deteriorating and look shabby, repair them. If the exterior paint is peeling, repaint. You get positive results when you repair a defect and improve appearance by doing so.  For example, let's say that the wood pest (also known as termite) inspector finds damage under the linoleum in a bathroom. If the linoleum is worn and outdated, you'll do better on the sale if you replace the floor covering with a new, trendier one. In the course of doing this the damage can be repaired. The result is that the house shows better and a defect is eliminated--two benefits for the price of one.

You certainly can't be expected to rebuild your home in order to sell it. Nor is this a sensible thing to do economically. As an example, take a house that had a deck that looked okay but wasn't safe. There was extensive damage scattered throughout the deck. The only way to repair the deck was to replace it. It would be difficult to get the job done in the timeframe in which the seller wanted to sell.  The deck was old and no longer met current code requirements. It would have had to be redesigned. So the seller decided to leave the deck as it was and disclose that the deck needed to be replaced. The future owners could have the new deck designed to meet their needs at a later date.

When structural elements are in need of repair and you haven't the time or money to repair them, it's a good idea to get repair estimates and make these estimates available to prospective buyers before they make an offer. This way, you're in control of the process and can find reliable contractors or engineers who will give you reasonable and not exorbitant estimates.

It can be unsettling to a buyer to discover that the roof is in poor condition or the foundation needs work. Most buyers will have no idea how much it will cost to make repairs. Fear of the unknown makes people anxious, which isn't a good frame of mind for someone who's trying to decide whether to buy your home.

As reported in Inman News, a pre-sale home inspector of an Oakland, Calif., home recommended that an engineer be consulted about a foundation that had settled. The seller hired an engineer who made a proposal for the repair. The cost was $20,000--not an insignificant number. But, it wasn't $40,000 or $50,000 as an inexperienced buyer might imagine.  If you choose not to make major repairs before selling, this should be reflected in your list price, especially if you have competition from other sellers.

Leonessa concluded, “Your trusted name in real estate since 1950, ERA Justin Realty lives by the words, 'There is a difference in real estate companies.'  Because of our daily priorities, we proudly received the prestigious ERA world-wide ‘Commitment to Excellence Award’, one of 14 premier ERA real estate firms from nearly 2,600 ERA offices. For these reasons ERA Justin Realty should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice.” 

All of the ERA Justin Realty full service sales professionals 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.  Additional cutting-edge real estate technology information awaits you at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

New Kid On The Block

Daniel Jones, ERA Justin Realtor salesperson is an active full time teammate.  His focus is on residential first-time and repeat buyers and sellers. With the active Spring market in place, he presents information about moving with children.

ERA Justin Realty Daniel Jones Report: New Kid On The Block

Moving during Spring 2013 can be a major change for all members of a family. Adult responsibilities are busy times when keeping track of all the tasks needed to make a move go smoothly. If you have children, this may be an important time to focus and keep their move in mind.

Sometimes what seems like a major disruption to grownups is viewed as an adventure to the kids. Still, changing homes can also change feelings of stability (in the case of younger children) and belonging (in the case of teens). These are special concerns for these age groups.

According to ERA Justin Realtor salesperson Daniel Jones, “The most important thing a parent can do is maintain positive routines as much as possible, to let the kids know that a big life change is normal, too. Try to keep calm about the move yourself, and your children will be more likely to follow your lead. It is advisable to be open about what’s happening and how everyone is  excited about the move.

This means keeping your kids in the loop at each stage of the move. They don’t have to get a vote, but it helps everyone for them to get increasingly use to the idea of this change. Bring them along when you look at houses, make them familiar with the new area you’re moving to, and investigate its attractions (including the athletic or extra-curricular offerings that appeal to your kids). Exploring some of this on the Internet is a good way to relate your relocation to an activity they already enjoy.

Encourage your children to express any worries, and do what you can to reassure them. If you went through similar experiences as a child, you can share how you dealt with it, if it was easy, so much the better, and if it was hard, your children will know they're not the only ones who have ever had to deal with change.  

 

Minimizing transitions and heading off family concerns are each essential to a smooth move with children. Try and arrange visits to the new school and meetings with the new teachers before the school year or semester starts. When you have more than one child, make bedroom assignments in the new house as soon as possible to avoid sibling strife (comfort, privacy and age seniority are all issues of kid politics that it is sometimes easy for grownups to forget).

Above all, be open and patient. If you pay the right attention, you will be letting your children know that, move or no move, the most important people in their life aren't going anywhere alone.”

“There is a difference in real estate companies,” continued Jones.  “ERA Justin Realty has been your trusted name in real estate since 1950. Presenting consumer information, we believe, is in order to exceed buyers and sellers expectations of what ERA Justin Realty is about, and we don’t offer just the basics.    In that way, we know that we will be  held in the highest regard.  Hundreds have put their thoughts in writing with their reviews of our services.  We have on file for the asking, ‘What people are saying’ our report of over 700 reviews and testimonials from our sellers and buyers.  No other area real estate firm offers that.  Are we proud?  Absolutely!”

ERA Justin Realty proudly received the prestigious ERA Commitment to Excellence Award, only eleven from ERA offices with approximately 30,000 brokers and agents. For these reasons ERA Justin Realty should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice.

 All of the ERA Justin Realty full service Realtor salespersons and brokers 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. Also view 1000's of homes at their winning search websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

SUGGESTIONS FOR A SMOOTH SAILING 2013 PURCHASE

ERA Justin Realtor salesperson Margaret (Peggy) McLaughlin has been an integral part of the firm for many years, coming from an earlier background with Van Winkle and Liggett Realty. With hundreds of sales and listings sold, she is now serving the needs of children and grandchildren of her original buyers and sellers. She offers suggestions for a smooth sailing 2013 purchase for first time home buyers.

ERA JUSTIN REALTY SUGGESTIONS FOR A SMOOTH SAILING 2013 PURCHASE

If you are one of the buyers coming off the fence, and now buying the fence with the purchase of your first home in 2013, congratulations! As you probably know, buying a home is one of the biggest financial commitments you can make. It also is a process filled with fun and emotion. To help keep you sleeping soundly, here are answers to three big questions that concern many potential first-time home buyers, answered by ERA Justin Realtor salesperson, Margaret (Peggy) McLaughlin.

“Question #1: How do you decide what to look for in a home?  It’s easier than you think. Sit yourself down and list what’s important to you in a home. The purchase of every home involves making tradeoffs, so be sure to prioritize your list. One element is architectural style. Do you prefer a Colonial, a Cape Cod or a modern look? An important factor to consider is living space. How much room do you need right now, and to meet anticipated needs?  Make a list of features that must be a part of your home. Perhaps that Olympic-size pool and tennis court can be put off for another day, but you may absolutely need an eat-in kitchen now! It’s all a matter of your taste and personal style. ERA Justin Realty offers varied styles from our current inventory throughout Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson Counties.

Question #2: Where should you begin the search?  That old real estate adage about ‘location, location, location’ aside, choosing where to live is usually determined by your personal circumstances and desires.  Do you have a particular community, or even a particular block, in mind? What is it about the location of your new home that is most important to you? Do you prefer an urban, suburban or rural setting? Consider proximity to work, schools, shopping, entertainment and houses of worship. Once you’ve narrowed your list of potential candidates, the Internet is an excellent tool for learning what a particular community has to offer.  We offer an extensive websites at www.ERAJustin.com  and www.ERAJustinRealty.com where you can view all of our listings with descriptions, extras offered, as well as our 1000’s of homes sections where you can literally view thousands of homes currently on the market.

Question #3: How can you find financing that makes sense?  With motivated sellers and proper pricing in recent years, homes have seldom been more affordable. Interest rates are lower than we've seen in decades. Innovative financing plans are available to fit a broad range of needs for qualified buyers. Still, the last thing you want to do is start out in your first home saddled with an uncomfortable level of debt. Seeking the advice of a professional who can give you the information on financing options that match your qualifications is a big step in the right direction. We can provide help with a choice of varied mortgage lenders because of your individual needs. Once you’ve narrowed your search, talk to one of our ERA

Justin Realty real estate professionals who serves the community you'd like to call home. Our ERA^® Realtor salespersons are trained to guide you through your purchase every step of the way. Our winning search websites reach around the globe to bring up-to-date information directly to you. Mortgage loan programs are available and expressly designed to meet the needs of qualified first-time homebuyers. Once you have answers to your important questions, the search can be fulfilling and fun!”

McLaughlin concluded, "Your trusted name in real estate since 1950, there is a difference in real estate companies. ERA Justin Realty proudly received the prestigious world-wide ‘Commitment to Excellence Award’  from ERA offices with nearly 30,000 ERA brokers and salespersons all across the ERA nation.  For more information 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 1000's of homes websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com."