According to ERA Justin Realty's Kristen Davis, the customer and client is the reason for her job, for without them she wouldn't have a purpose.  Well recognized throughout Bergen County, residing in Rutherford for over forty years with her husband Mike, they have raised their children Kyle, Christopher and Jillian.  She is a parishioner at St. Mary's church, and is active in the American Cancer Society's Rutherford Relay for Life, as well as the NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association) walk.  She shares tips and hints and accessibility features to better area homeowners.
 

ERA Justin Realty: How Accessibility Features Can Serve Homeowners of All Ages and Abilities

 

We all need a helping hand from time to time, but prefer to remain as independent as possible. Accessible features in a home are a way of lending ourselves a hand, and staying in our own house for much longer than we otherwise might.

 

“As more members of the baby boom generation - which comprises the largest segment of America’s population - reach retirement age, many of them show a preference for “aging in place” in their own homes rather than moving to traditional elderly communities and facilities. This trend has created more interest than ever in the designing and retrofitting of homes for maximum ease of use. Heightened awareness of the needs of disabled people of all ages, and increased legislative attention to their rights, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), have also helped drive a trend which can benefit all homebuyers,” stated ERA Justin Realtor agent Kristen Davis.

 

Continuing, "The customer and client is the reason for my job, for without them, I wouldn't have a purpose."  She is well recognized throughout the area, residing in Rutherford for over forty years with her husband Mike and children Kyle, Christopher and Jillian.  Kristen is a parishioner at St. Mary's church, and volunteers with the American Cancer Society and the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA).  She enjoys fund-raising activities for causes close to her heart, and loves spending family time in addition to reading and running.

What has come to be called “Universal Design” is a set of standards for making every house a welcoming home for inhabitants of all ability levels. These include placing light switches and thermostats low enough, and electrical outlets high enough, for anyone to reach; outfitting hallways with railings and showers with grab-bars and stools; replacing doorknobs with levers; offering ramps as well as stairs, and doorways that can accommodate wheelchairs; and minimizing falling risks through secure, low-pile carpeting. Though there was a time when accessibility was considered an obstacle to resale value and desirability, attitudes – and demographics – have changed, and Universal Design is now considered a resale advantage. This potential extra salability can be achieved through minimal effort and expense. For instance, in many cases a room can be made wheelchair-accessible simply by changing the direction of a swinging door.

 

Kristen continued, “The simplicity of such measures – and their popularity with potential homebuyers – makes it equally desirable to build a new home with these considerations in mind, or to retrofit an existing home with them. No one has to feel they’ve turned their home into a medical facility –you can avoid this with some smart and simple methods that enhance convenience and are common sense for all homeowners, while maintaining the more intangible comforts of home, like independence and familiar communities. In addition to the convenience offered by making these types of upgrades to a home, there are government loan programs that can help subsidize accessibility modifications. Talk to one of our ERA Justin Realtor agents about accessible-home options in any area where you may be interested in buying. He or she can also find out about financing opportunities and other ways to keep your path to satisfying and secure homeownership a clear one.  Other important information I will provide includes a comprehensive market analysis (CMA) report of today's market values and pricing your home in this current economic environment.

 

ERA Justin Realty, a leading area Realtor serving Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex Counties is part of the ERA global real estate network which was named a recipient of the J.D. Power and Associates Award for Highest Overall Satisfaction For First Time Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms, based on responses from 4,834 home buyers and sellers surveyed.  We also proudly share that we have been the #1 brokerage for closed Rutherford sales for the past fourteen years. No other brokerage can offer that."

 

Kristen concluded, “To learn more about ERA Justin Realty, our staff of Realtor agents and our award-recognized programs and services we provide, call our team who can be reached at either of our two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue.  By phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. Also view 1000's of homes at our websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com. 

Strong Seller Competition Requires Attention For A 2015 Showing

Ilene Harpuder, with lifetime membership in the NJAR Distinguished Sales Club and graduate as an ERA Relocation Specialist, offers 2015 tips and hints when selling, including curb appeal and staging your home for immediate recognition, a feeling customers get from the upkeep of the house and grounds, and how comfortable this makes them imagining themselves as the new owner.

Strong Seller Competition Requires Attention For A 2015 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'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.

 

ERA Justin Realty’s Ilene Harpuder 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 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. Repainting 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.”

 

Ilene 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 Realty real estate agents can guide you in all the above matters and more, from supplying a checklist of presentation tips, to recommending affordable painting contractors from his or her industry connections, to helping you stage and 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 2015 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 Realty proudly receives the prestigious ERA world-wide ‘Commitment to Excellence Award.' Only outstanding business entities are honored and receive it. For these reasons ERA Justin Realty should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice. ERA Justin Realty sellers have put their reviews of the company in writing. They have on file for review, ‘Real Estate Results In Writing’ their report of nearly 800 reviews and testimonials from their sellers and buyers.

 

Ilene and all of the ERA Justin Realty full service real estate team 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 websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

ERA Justin Realty Provides Pros and Cons of Real Estate Negotiations

Cathy Vick has been with ERA Justin Realty for over thirty years, creating purchases and sales in the multi-millions of dollars. The RealSource Association of Realtors selected her as Realtor of the Year from several thousand members. She has served her community in a variety of civic commitments and also finds time every year to raise money to help send children suffering from Muscular Dystrophy to summer camp.

 

                 ERA Justin Realty Provides Pros and Cons of Real Estate Negotiations

 

Negotiating a home purchase is a focused process. After preparing a contract to purchase, the seller may or may not find it acceptable, and modifications may be necessary. Buyers usually focus on price when they think of striking a deal with the seller. But the purchase offer encompasses all the terms and conditions that will apply if the sale goes forward. It's a detailed legal document. Sellers often don't accept the buyer's first offer in its entirety. For instance, the seller might like the buyer's price, but not the date he wants to close the sale. Or, the buyer could ask for possession of the property when the deal closes, and the sellers might need to rent back for a while. It's common for buyers and sellers to engage in several rounds of counter offering back and forth before they arrive at a contract that's mutually acceptable. For these reasons a qualified Realtor agent can be a necessity.

 

ERA Justin Realtor agent Cathy Vick said, “For example, sellers of a property received several offers. Two of the offers were close to what they were hoping for. Rather than countering back and forth, they asked their listing agent to talk to the real estate agents who represented the buyers who made the two best offers. The sellers wanted to know if either or both of the buyers would be willing to pay more in order to wrap up the deal, sometimes requesting their highest and best offer. 

 

The sellers reached a verbal agreement with one of the buyers, which was promptly solidified in writing. When house hunting, It's critical to keep in mind that verbal agreements to sell real estate aren't binding. To be legally enforceable, a contract to buy real estate must be agreed to in writing by both buyer and seller. One prospective buyer learned this lesson the hard way. He preferred to negotiate verbally with the seller for the purchase of the property. After several days of verbal negotiations, the buyer and seller reached a verbal agreement on price.

 

The details that make up the entire purchase agreement hadn't been discussed. When the buyer finally sat down with an agent to put his offer is writing, other buyers were expressing interest in making offers. One of the other buyers did step forward with a written offer for a higher price that was presented to the seller along with the offer from the buyer who had initially made the verbal offer. The sellers happily accepted the highest offer, which was much better than the offer made by the buyer who preferred to wait to put his offer in writing.

 

”Vick continued, “Unfortunately some buyers and sellers may feel that negotiations about issues that are less significant than the price can be carried out with less pressure on a more casual verbal basis. But, until you have a fully ratified written contract having been concluded and out of attorney review, you don't have a binding agreement. So, if another offer shows up before you've agreed in writing and out of attorney review, to all the terms of your purchase contract, the sellers may be under no obligation to sell to you. Even if you're diligent about committing your offer and all counteroffers to writing, both you and the sellers have the right to withdraw. Be sure to consult a knowledgeable real estate attorney if you have any questions about whether you have a binding contract."

 

“There is a difference in real estate companies,” continued Vick,  “Presenting consumer information, we believe, is in order to exceed sellers expectations of what ERA Justin Realty is about, and we don’t offer just the basics.  In that way, we know that our sellers will hold us in the highest regard.  Our sellers have put their thoughts in writing. We have on file for the asking, ‘What people are saying’ our report of nearly 800 reviews and testimonials from our sellers and buyers.  No other area real estate firm can offer that.”

 

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. Also view 1000's of homes at their websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

ERA Justin Realty Welcomes Daniel "Dan" Willis to their Growing Team

ERA Justin Realty Welcomes Daniel "Dan" Willis to their Growing Team

Rutherford:   Attention to detail.  Sound familiar?  These are important words at ERA Justin Realty, the firm that asks buyers and sellers to compare.  They state, “There is a difference in real estate companies,” and they live those words in their daily activities as well as with those who join their firm. Jennifer Darby Metzger, broker co-owner stated, "We proudly welcome Daniel "Dan" Willis to our team."

"Dan comes to ERA Justin Realty with nearly 3 decades of sales experience, but most importantly a deep love of his hometown of Rutherford. Having been born and raised here by parents of ten children, his roots in the community run deep. In fact, his paternal Great-Grandparents first settled in Rutherford in 1883. Later on, his Grandfather began a medical practice here and was a contemporary of the Doctor/Poet William Carlos Williams. Both his Grandfathers were on staff at St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic.

A product of the public school system here, Dan brings a keen eye for Design & Architecture. He was granted a BS in Design from the University of Bridgeport, in Connecticut. His personal knowledge of the area in Southern Bergen County is based on both his life here, and the oral history handed down from his father and his aunt. His Dad, Ben Willis, thoroughly enjoyed being Director of Cultural and Historic Affairs in Bergen County."

Dan said, "One can not help but fall in love with Rutherford and it’s tall trees, neighborhood schools, and majestic older homes. That love is only deepened with the knowledge of the tapestry of it’s neighborhoods, the development of it’s early farmlands, and it’s growth from a resort town for New Yorkers. Another reason to love Rutherford is it’s focus on families. Rutherford is a family-friendly village with a robust Downtown, and quick access to the culture of New York City. My mother Kay eventually became an author and national expert on Parenting. She shared her wisdom throughout the tri-state area with her Mothers’ Matter program. Her first office was on Ames Ave in town. Her success led her to dozens of TV appearances on TODAY, GMA, CNN, and (her favorite) the Oprah Winfrey Show. Oprah enjoyed her motherly wisdom so much she invited Kay back - a rare honor. Kay loved raising her ten children here."

Jennifer added, "Most real estate agents would not spend so much time talking about their family. Dan believes that you cannot talk about how special Rutherford is without knowing the stories of the people who came before us. Built Churches. Started businesses. Raised families. Teachings of our schools. We have produced Captains of Industry. Professional Athletes. Ambassadors. Renowned Writers. But what Dan is most proud of is the ability of Mothers and Fathers to make a home, build a life, and raise their kids in wonderful and caring neighborhoods."

Contact Dan at ERA Justin Realty to hear more about the history and future of our corner of the world. He’ll be happy to share his knowledge and expertise with you and make buying or selling a home in Rutherford and our other communities one of the smoothest and stress-free processes imaginable. ERA Justin Realty received the prestigious ERA ‘Commitment to Excellence Award’  continuously from all across the ERA nation and are again cited as an ERA Top-100 realty firm.  For these reasons ERA Justin Realty and Dan Willis should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice.

The ERA Justin Realty full service Realtor team 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 website at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.

ERA Justin Realty Sponsors Girls Little League Softball

Girls Little League Softball was on its way. Teams formed, the excitement began with a parade through Rutherford leading to Memorial Field for their first games. Team coaches added, “We are all very proud of how well the girls play and their show of true team effort throughout the seasons, while having fun."

 

                                 ERA Justin Realty Sponsors Girls Little League Softball

 

Flashback to spring 2011, ERA Justin Realty was approached to be a sponsor of a Rutherford Little League girls softball team. Without hesitation the answer was a resounding yes, never realizing that that team would be honored as the champs for that season.

 

Ron Darby ERA Justin Co. broker co-owner said, “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 the first season it was proven to be a big success with many wonderful girls Little League teams sponsored by many of our outstanding area business leaders. Girls Little League was on its way, teams were formed, the excitement began each season with a parade through Rutherford leading to Memorial Field for their first games and in a blink now several seasons later, great success for many girls teams.”

 

Team coaches added, “We are all very proud of how well the girls play and their show of true team effort throughout the seasons, while having fun."

 

Darby 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 our teams each year is exceptionally rewarding. Because of our support of community activities and our charitable contributions we proudly received several prestigious ERA global community awards.

 

Readers who would like to add their congratulations to any of the girls 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, who will pass your congratulations forward. More about the teams can be viewed atwww.ERAJustin.com in community news.

For our Communities, ERA Justin Realty Partners with Local Farms

For our Communities, ERA Justin Realty Partners with Local Farms

 

Today everyone has very busy lives. Running here and there, driven by the demands of technology and wanting instant communication, gratification, results and fast foods. We at ERA Justin Realty thought it was time to take a deep breath, reflect on quieter times and bring forth our efforts to give back to our communities.

 

"Our agents wanted to do their share and create a way that our families could eat healthy while helping our friends and neighbors in our communities do the same, said office coordinator, Michelle Korosy.

 

Jennifer Darby Metzger, broker co-owner added, "We are very proud to create our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) partnership. It's good for us and our communities!

 

ERA Justin Realty of Rutherford, New Jersey has partnered with a local farm to bring fresh produce to our local communities. You’ve heard of the benefits of  buying local. Now we’re offering a great way to enjoy fruits and vegetables grown right here in New Jersey and have the opportunity to make an investment in these locally grown foods, which in turn helps to keep New Jersey green!"

Michelle Korosy continues to coordinate the Community Supported Agriculture program at ERA Justin Realty, which serves as the pick-up location. CSA programs are run by local farms and involve consumers purchasing a share of the season's harvest. Once a week for 31 weeks, the farm will drop off bushels of fresh veggies and other to our office.

 

Korosy and Metzger liked the idea and wanted to bring the farm to Rutherford. With 25 members signed up for this season, Korosy said the program has become so popular they need to turn people away because they simply do not have the space to store the food at their office. By mid-summer, Korosy said the shares are huge. Justin Realty subscribes to Alstede Farms in Chester.

 

Korosy added, "We at ERA Justin believe in doing our part to help our communities stay healthy. We also are dedicated in helping support our local economy. Money spent with local farmers and growers all stays close to home, working to build our local economy instead of  being handed over to a corporation in another city, state, or country. Since the food moves through fewer hands, more of the money you spend tends to get to the people growing it. We are excited and we hope you are too! Here's to a healthy 2015 season!"

 

For information on this exciting new path and to learn more details and find answers to your questions, simply go to ERAFresh.org. You may also reach Jennifer Darby Metzger or Michelle Korosy the ERA Fresh CSA's coordinators at ERA Justin Realty at (201) 939-7500.

 

Realtor Morgan DePalma Joins ERA Justin Realty

 

Realtor Morgan DePalma Joins ERA Justin Realty

Jennifer Darby Metzger, ERA Justin Realty broker co-owner welcomed Morgan DePalma to their firm and stated, “Morgan's attributes parallel our business philosophy in that our buyers and sellers will benefit from his upbeat friendly and professional abilities to provide customer satisfaction.  This is of extreme importance at our firm. Morgan demonstrates this each day.”

Ron Darby, broker co-owner stated, "Morgan comes from a real estate background with a mother who was a Realtor and a father in the residential construction business. Starting young on building sites helping with floor installations, lugging materials and clean-up while helping readying Open Houses for weekend showings."

Morgan added, "My adult professional skills were honed in the financial industry. My background has led me to ERA Justin Realty and to hopefully meet you, back to the industry that has always been a strong part of me. I'm extremely excited to be with a brokerage with exceptionally successful agents, brokers and company policies where I can share my passions and knowledge with my buyers and sellers."

Upon accepting a Realtor position, he stated, "I joined the ERA Justin Realty team because of their goal driven yet family oriented office.  I want to work with a company where I can enjoy coming to work and be surrounded by professionals who know how to be successful for their buyers and sellers as well as keeping them as their company priority.  As your trusted professional, it is my goal to also be successful for you."

Jennifer added, "Morgan, a Bergen County resident resides with his wife Erin and son Jack with extended family residing in Rutherford and attending the local schools. Working with our ERA Justin agents, he knows that our high standards will match his. Our firm offers greater opportunities to serve the needs of his clients through strong marketing of listings as well as continuing education for our agents. We have proven this to thousands of buyers and sellers since opening our doors in 1950. Morgan and our team work to exceed expectations each day.”

Ron Darby concluded, "There is a difference in real estate companies. Attending on-going advanced training, seminars, round-table discussions with industry leaders and focus groups is what we continually do at our firm. We believe, in order to exceed seller’s expectations of what a real estate agent is about, we don’t teach just the basics. We want to learn, know and teach much more than is ever expected of us. In that way, we know that our buyers and sellers will hold us in the highest regard. Morgan is part of this process."

ERA Justin Realty sellers have put their reviews of the company in writing. They have on file for review, ‘Real Estate Results In Writing’ their report of nearly 800 reviews and testimonials from satisfied sellers and buyers.

Morgan and all of the ERA Justin Realty full service real estate team 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 websites at www.ERAJustin.com and www.ERAJustinRealty.com.