RON DARBY INDUCTED IN ERA HALL OF FAME

RON DARBY INDUCTED IN ERA HALL OF FAME

On Tuesday, May 12, 2020, ERA Real Estate inducted Broker of Record for ERA Justin Realty, Ronald A. Darby into the ERA Hall of Fame. Established in 2013, the ERA Hall of Fame honors affiliated individuals and companies who have consistently earned high levels of recognition and have made contributions and lasting impact on the culture of real estate and history of the ERA brand over the decades.

Ron’s career began in 1961 as sales manager of K Realty where he focused and built that brand into a successful 5 office firm with two Rutherford offices, plus offices in Lyndhurst, North Arlington and a South Jersey office location serving Stafford Township and Long Beach Island. In 1972, from the Stafford Township office, Ron was responsible in purchasing individual and multiple building lots where they built nearly 200 custom single- and multi-family dwellings in Beach Haven West and Ocean Acres.

Ron was later encouraged by Justin Tokarski, founder of Justin Realty, to form a partnership to duplicate the success he created at K Realty. In 1980, a few years after joining Justin Realty, Ron joined the ERA Franchise and the company became ERA Justin Realty. 35 years later, “ERA Justin Realty is one of the most successful one-office firms in the ERA network,” according to Sherry Chris, President and CEO of ERA Real Estate.

Ron’s passion for real estate, and his love for the community is what is admired most. Ron has been a mentor to many and has seen the success of his agents through the years, particularly with his daughter and partner, Jennifer Darby Metzger. “Ron has always been a true inspiration and role model to me, not only as a business partner, but as a father,” Metzger says. “I feel very fortunate to learn this craft from a true pioneer in the business. I contribute much of my success and tenacity through his teachings and guidance throughout my life. I feel truly blessed”.

“I am very humbled to be given this honor”, Darby says. “Being a part of the ERA Franchise has been an amazing partnership through the years. They say when you love what you do, it’s not work. That’s why after being in this business for over 50 years, I’m still ‘working’. It’s a part of life for me.”

ERA Justin Realty has been serving the Rutherford and neighboring communities for over 50 years. We are your area’s Full Service & Experienced Real Estate Company. Contact one of our experienced Real Estate Professionals at 201.939.7500 to help guide you through the real estate transaction and see why We are ERA, Better In Every Way.

The Benefit of Changing Your Air Filters Regularly

 

The Benefit of Changing Your Air Filters Regularly

Air filters are a central, but often overlooked basic home maintenance task. Getting the most value out of your home can be as easy as changing out your air filters. Homeowners that ignore the filters in their heating and air conditioning systems risk higher energy costs, damaging expensive equipment, and diminishing indoor air quality and personal health.

So, why is changing your air filter so important? Cristina Munoz shares why changing your air filter regularly will benefit you in the long run. Cristina states, “First of all, a clogged air filter can cause extensive damage to your system. There are many particles floating in the air around us at the microscopic level such as flakes of skin, pet dander, and residue from cooking, to name just a few.” If you check your air filter’s condition regularly, you ensure the longevity of your system — saving yourself thousands in possible repair and replacement costs. Dirt and neglect are one of the leading causes of heating and cooling systems failing, yet such failure is completely avoidable.

Secondly, changing the air filter in your system ensures cleaner, fresher, healthier air. This is better for everyone in your home, particularly children and the elderly, and most especially for those suffering from allergies and/or asthma. In referring to the latter, a clean air filter means you are not constantly circulating dust, dust mites, pollen and the other small particles in the air. Instead, your system will be able to purify the air, leaving it clean and healthy.

Thirdly, aside from protecting the HVAC system from unnecessary damage, cleaning out or changing a clogged air filter will also save you a significant amount on operating costs. In simplest terms, a dirty air filter uses much more energy than a new, clean air filter, which means a much higher electricity bill for you.

To the above point on energy wastage, failing to clean and replace your air filter on a regular basis is failing the environment. An air filter that is clogged means a harder working HVAC system, thus it also means a lot of carbon monoxide and other greenhouse gases, by extension being released. Going green and running your home in an eco-friendly manner need not necessarily mean bending over backwards and giving up all forms of comfort. Something as simple as changing an air filter regularly can go a long way in making a difference.

If you want to keep the air in your home clean and avoid unnecessary repairs, consider replacing your air filters every 30 to 90 days, with the former being preferable and the latter being the absolute maximum you should allow between changes.

Cristina Munoz is a seasoned Real Estate Sales Professional with ERA Justin Realty. To reach out to Cristina or any of our real estate professionals to discuss any of your real estate needs, call us at 201.939.7500.

ERA Justin Realty’s First Quarter LEADERS Award Winners Offer Tips During this Economy

ERA Justin Realty’s First Quarter LEADERS Award Winners Offer Tips During this Economy

ERA Justin Realty announces its Leaders winners for the first quarter 2020. The Leaders Awards at ERA Justin is an internal awards program designed to recognize those agents that meet and exceed their goals and the company’s goals on a monthly basis. The first quarter winners are (pictured, left to right): Lee Schilare, Cathy Vick, Carol Calamari, Fara Espandi, and Catherine Nimmo.

“Each one of these agents knows that the impact of buying or selling a home goes well-beyond a simple transaction,” says Broker/Co-Owner, Jennifer Darby Metzger. “They do not just push for the next transaction, going for quantity over quality. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. These agents don’t treat real estate as a job, but as a lifestyle. That is the key to their success.”

And now more than ever, during these times of uncertainty, these agents are here for their customers. We asked these successful agents what they would like to tell their current customers --or their future
customers--during this time about selling or looking for a home. And here is what they said.

• Homes are still selling, the industry is just operating differently. If you’re still interested in selling your home, there are options that are available to help you do so, all following the rules set forth by the CDC and the National Association of Realtors.
• You can use this time to get your home ready for sale.  Repair what you can. De-clutter and get rid of anything you are not taking with you. Refresh your home by painting, changing old doorknobs, buying new couch pillows. Whatever you do, you will always be adding value and putting yourself in a better position for your home to stand out above the rest when the pandemic is over. 
• Don’t panic, this is only temporary. People always have to move for jobs, school, growing families, downsizing. The lull in activity is temporary and the market will return.
• If you’re going to sell now, be flexible and be ready to negotiate. Sellers need to be flexible about the price, they need to be patient because the buying process may take longer, and they need to be ready to negotiate with any interested parties.
• Plan now so you are ready later. If you do have questions or need advice, now is the time to reach out to a real estate professional. Get all of your questions down on paper—from how to start the process to what’s involved. Being fully educated on the expectations of the real estate transaction will help the process go a lot smoother when you are ready.

“We are proud of these top-notch agents, who, first and foremost, are here for our community,” adds Darby Metzger. “This too shall pass, and when it does, our office, and our stellar agents will be here to serve you.” To connect with any of our real estate professionals, call 201.939.7500.

Creating An Eco-Friendly Home

The time couldn’t be better to move towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Think renewable, recyclable and reclaimed as you strive to create an eco-friendly home. Michelle Korosy, Realtor Sales Associate with ERA Justin Realty shares some conscious design tips to show you how to make your home earth-friendly and lovely.

Choose Eco-Friendly Wood Floors 

When opting for wood floors, choose living-green flooring, such as bamboo, cork or reclaimed wood. Bamboo flooring is formed from the stalks of sustainable bamboo plants; the surface is easily maintained, moderately priced and highly durable. Sound-absorbent, moisture-resistant and cushy, cork flooring is crafted from a renewable resource; only the outer bark of cork trees is used in its production, which means trees are left standing for future harvests. 

Decorate Your Space With Houseplants

Houseplants—whether hanging in a window, set atop a table or standing tall in a corner—perform as living sculptures that filter out airborne toxins, add welcome humidity to heated rooms, emit oxygen and improve a home’s overall air quality. 

Remodel Wisely 

When updating your kitchen or bath, choose eco-friendly surfaces and furnishings to bring contemporary vibes and timeless character. Look for cabinets constructed of sustainable woods, like bamboo or eucalyptus, or keep your old cabinets out of the landfill and “upcycle” them with paint. For countertops, look at items that are crafted of recycled glass, as well as concrete, quartz and butcher-block types made from reclaimed wood or bamboo.

Freshen The Walls

Perk up a room with eco-friendly paints and wallpapers that won’t adversely affect your home’s interior air quality. Shop for zero- or low-VOC-emission paints, wallpapers, stains, caulks and adhesives. 

Insulate

When you think of insulation, the color pink probably comes to mind. But as it turns out, insulation can be green, as in earth-friendly, too! To make your house more energy-efficient and eco-friendly, look for fiberglass insulation alternatives, such as sheep’s wool, aerogel, Thermacork, polystyrene, cellulose, icynene, and even denim!

 

Support The Locals

Check Craigslist, Etsy, and social media sites for nearby artisans, woodworkers, potters and similar who offer eco-friendly decorative items like furnishings, artworks and accessories. By shopping locally for handcrafted items, you eliminate energy expenditures involved in long-distance shipping and can strengthen the town’s economy. 

Shop Secondhand

One person’s trash could be your finest going-green treasure. You will never know what you will find! Shop thrift stores, estate sales and online auctions for eco-friendly home décor. Relying on existing objects to round out your decor will greatly impact what’s (not) going into landfills.

The eco-friendly style of home is growing in desirability and will always be a smart choice. By investing in a more eco-friendly home, you won’t just be helping the environment during the building or remodeling process, but throughout the life of the home. To help in the search for your future home, contact Michelle Korosy or any of our Sales Professionals at 201.939.7500.

What If I Need to Sell My Home Now?

 

Every day that passes, people have a need to buy and sell homes. That doesn’t stop during the current pandemic. Mike Anderson, REALTOR Sales Associate at ERA Justin Realty states, “If you’ve had a major life change recently, whether with your job or your family situation, you may be in a position where you need to sell your home – and fast. While you probably feel like timing with the current pandemic isn’t on your side, making a move is still possible.”  Rest assured, with technology at your side and fewer sellers on the market in most areas, you can list your house and make it happen safely and effectively, especially when following the current COVID-19 guidelines set forth by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

You may have a new baby, a new employment situation, a parent who moved in with you, just built a home that’s finally ready to move into, or some other major part of your life that has changed in recent weeks. Buyers have those needs too, so rest assured that someone is likely looking for a home just like yours.

People are spending a lot of time on the Internet right now, given the stay-at-home orders implemented across the country. Buyers are actively looking at homes for sale online. Some of them are reaching out to real estate professionals for virtual tours and getting ready to make offers too. 

There Is Less Competition Right Now

Some sellers are temporarily removing their homes from the market right now. This can definitely work in your favor. If other sellers are removing their listings, your home has a better chance of rising to the top of a buyer’s search list and being seen. Keep in mind, listings will pick up again soon, as most sellers are only planning to delay the process by a couple of months. If you need to sell right now, don’t wait for the competition to get back into the market again.

This year, delayed listings from the typically busy spring season will push into the summer months, so more competition will be coming to the market as the pandemic passes. Getting ahead of that wave now might be your biggest opportunity.

The real estate agents at ERA Justin Realty are working hard every single day under untraditional circumstances, utilizing technology to help both buyers and sellers who need to continue with their plans. We’re using virtual tours to show homes currently on the market, staying connected with the buyers and sellers through video chats, and leveraging resources to complete transactions electronically. We’re making sure the families we support remain safe and can keep their real estate needs on track, especially as life is changing so rapidly. 

To contact Mike Anderson or any of our real estate professionals to discuss your real estate needs, call 201.939.7500.

Selling With Curb Appeal

Selling With Curb Appeal

First impressions do matter, especially in real estate. When selling your home, the tremendous importance of making a good first impression cannot be overstated. There’s not a seller out there who would want potential buyers to drive by and keep going because they do not like what they see on the outside. Buyers might be less likely to check out the rest of a house if the outside is rundown or unattractive—even if the interiors are stunning. If you’re looking to sell your house, great curb appeal will not only help you sell your home faster, but it can help the value as well. Kristen Davis, Realtor Sales Associate at ERA Justin Realty provides a few tips on giving your curb appeal a boost.

“During this time of home quarantine, sellers can start to work cleaning up their home on the inside and outside to get their house ready to sell”, Kristen says.  Buyers start making assumptions about a home well before they step inside. Taking the time now to ensure your home looks its best both inside and out will help sellers get the best price possible.
Here are simple, quick, and affordable strategies you can deploy to give your curb appeal a boost and entice buyers to view your home in person.

Power-wash
Give your home a scrub! Make sure your power-washing includes all brick, siding, walkways, and decks/porches.

Paint The Front Door
Your front door should speak to your home’s style. Make sure you pick a complementary color to the siding that will make a buyer feel welcomed.

Landscape
Get to work and mow, rake, weed, mulch, and trim! Pay extra attention to overgrown trees, bushes, and bare patches. Be sure to plant some colorful blooms to create that visual impact.

Illuminate Your Space
You’ll most likely do showings during the day, but just in case prospective buyers drive by at night, you’ll want to make sure it’s attractive 24/7.  Add lighting along pathways and porch entrances for a touch of elegance.

Windows
Make sure all windows are cleaned and dusted, and don’t forget the window sills. People will be looking at the windows to get an idea of how much natural light they allow into the home—and clean windows make a big difference.

Be ready for the rebound. The market will open back up and buyers will be coming out in full force! If you keep your curb appeal up to snuff, your home will be first on their list and can sell at a good value and in a reasonable amount of time.

To connect virtually with Kristen Davis, or any of our real estate agents, to get your house ready to sell, call 201.939.7500.

The Economic Impact of Buying a Home

The Economic Impact of Buying a Home

We’re in a changing real estate market, and life, in general, is changing too – from how we grocery shop and meal prep to the ways we can interact with our friends and neighbors. Even practices for engaging with agents, lenders, and all of the players involved in a real estate transaction are changing to a virtual format. What isn’t changing, however, is one key thing that can drive the local economy: buying a home.

We’re all being impacted in different ways by the effects of the coronavirus. If you’re in a position to buy a home today, know that you’re a major economic force in your neighborhood. When you buy a home, you’re making an impact. You’re fulfilling your need for shelter and a place to live, and you’re also generating jobs and income for the appraiser, the loan officer, the title company, the real estate agent, and many more contributors to the process. For every person or business that you work with throughout the transaction, there’s also likely a team behind the scenes making it all happen, so the effort multiplies substantially. 

Glenn Elliot, Real Estate Broker Associate at ERA Justin Realty offers, “And while we all wait patiently for the current pandemic to pass, there are a lot of things you can do in the meantime to keep your home search on track.” Below are some tips Glenn offers buyers who are currently on the search, or thinking about buying a home: 

1. Get Pre-Approved. Pre-approval for a mortgage will give you a better understanding of what you can afford and it shows you are a serious buyer. Gather the necessary paperwork like income verification, credit history, and any documentation on assets while you’re spending time at home and reach out to a lender for assistance.
2. Virtually Connect With An Agent. Today, more than ever, it’s important to start working with a trusted real estate advisor, so you are ready to move quickly when it’s time. Whether you chat by phone or video, a real estate professional can help you understand how to navigate the changing dynamics of today’s market without bringing your plans to a standstill.
3. Do Your Research. This is a great time to investigate down payment assistance programs, if necessary, especially if you think you may benefit from a low down payment option when you make a home purchase.
4. View Listings Online. You may not be able to check out some of the homes that interest you right now, but you can still look online for what’s available. Our office is doing virtual open houses and virtual tours and can help you start the process.

As a buyer, you have an essential need for a home – and you can make an essential impact with homeownership, too. That need for shelter, comfort, and a safe place to live will always be alive and well. And whenever you’re able to act on that need, whether now or later, you’ll truly be creating gains for you, your family, local business professionals, and the overall economy.

To connect virtually with Glenn, or any of our real estate professionals to help with your home buying needs, call 201.939.7500.