Westfield Area Real Estate

Westfield NJ is not just a place to live, it’s a ”destination,” and buyers expect a lot when they’re looking for a home in Westfield NJ. 

Just as you want to “put your best foot forward” when being interviewed for a new job, you want to put your Westfield NJ home’s “best features” on display when you’re trying to sell.

So, the first thing is to make sure your Realtor knows what you consider to be the  “best features” of your Westfield NJ home.  Most Realtors will ask … but if yours doesn’t, make sure you tell your Realtor what you like best about your home during your initial meeting with him or her.

Staging.   When I’m listing a home in the Westfield NJ area, I think staging is so important that I hire a professional “staging consultant” (at my own expense) nearly every time!  Most Stagers will tell you–beyond a neat and clean home–here’s what we need to focus on:

• Exterior maintenance is the first thing a buyer sees.  So,  
  • Start by mowing the lawn and trimming the shrubs so they don’t hide the windows or look overgrown. 
  • If your home has shutters, freshen them and the trim with new paint.
  • If your home has painted clapboard, it too may need to be re-painted.  Vinyl sided homes can be power-washed so your home looks fresh and well-maintained. 
  • Remove all toys from the driveway, walkway and front of your home.  Not only do toys detract from the attractiveness of your home, they can present a real hazard to visiting potential buyers.
• Re-paint Interior. Everyone’s home reflects their choices in decorating. If your son sketched “team banners” on his bedroom wall, you may wish to repaint his room since some buyers will worry they won’t be able to cover up the “artwork”.
• Paint colors should be neutral, but usually not white except for ceilings and trim. Taupe, grey and Vanilla come in enough shades to both match your current furnishings and provide variety.
• Wallpaper – Remove or Not?  Wallpaper patterns are very personal … if you can, remove the wallpaper and paint a neutral cover with white trim.
• Repairs – Many times, we live with small items that need repair, but which are not sufficiently bothersome to us to take the time to do them.  If you’re marketing your home, though, you need to take care of these.

MOST IMPORTANT:  Regarding repairs, remember:  Even if it’s  just a “little” problem, if it is obvious to the buyer, the buyer may think:  “I wonder what ELSE is hasn’t been maintained?” 

So, for instance, if your upstairs tub overflowed and left a water stain on a downstairs ceiling, you need to make the stain go away – usually by repainting the ceiling.

• Carpeting vs wood floors … While some people like carpeting, others prefer the gleam of wood. If your carpeting is relatively new and unblemished, ask your Realtor to note that you have wood floors beneath the carpeting. 

If, however, your carpeting is showing signs of wear, it will be best to remove it and have the wood floors beneath buffed or even refinished.

If you don’t have hardwood beneath the carpeting, consider investing in having hardwood installed in the main living areas (kitchen, living room, dining room, entry hall).  Nearly everyone searching for a Westfield NJ home wants (and expects) hardwood.

• Lighting can play an important role in a buyer’s sense of well being when they’re visiting your home.  If you make sure each room has plenty of light – open blinds and curtains, leave soft light on — your buyer will feel more cheerful and have a more positive opinion of your home.
• The pleasant fragrance of a reed diffuser is one of the best ways to entire a buyer.   A citrus fragrance, by the way, is preferable to a sweet fragrance – because citrus always smells clean!

The time-honored idea of “a pie baking in the oven” fragrance is not always a good idea since the buyers may not like the scent.  In general, cooking odors of any kind are a turn-off.  (Think “pregnant lady”)

• Camouflage flaws or short-comings with a little ingenuity.  For instance, does a room look too small?   Sometimes, removing a table or chair can make all the difference!  What you’re aiming for is serenity, ease of movement … flow. 
• Closet Space is important to nearly all homebuyers – as a Realtor, I often hear “you can’t have too many closets!”   You don’t want your closets to look stuffed, so a good rule of thumb is to remove 1/3 of everything in each closet.  This is also true of bookshelves and bookcases.
• Remove personal photos & memorabilia … all photos, etc., should be packed away in preparation for your move.  This removes things that would otherwise distract the buyer from her purpose – to see if your home should be her new home!

AMENITIES … should we add them?

The answer here depends wholly on your competition.  For instance, if most properties in your neighborhood have central air, you might want to add this amenity if it’s not too expensive.  Why not just lower the price of your home?  Because some so-called “amenities” are such “must haves” for the majority of buyers, your home might not otherwise sell!  CAUTION:  This is not always true, so please, please consult your Realtor before you incur the expense!

 Finally, ask your Realtor’s advice.  Realtors market many homes to many buyers.  A good realtor will know just what to suggest to make your Westfield NJ home stand out among the many that are currently listed in Westfield NJ Homes For Sale.

And remember:  “It is what it is” and having a dedicated Realtor market your home is, perhaps, the most important thing you can do to sell your home. 

Need More Answers NOW?   Call or email me today!  Or visit me on http://www.westfield-area-homes.com/

So you’re ready to sell … or are you?