Would you operate on yourself?  Write your own Last Will and Testament?  Plan your retirement by yourself? Of course not!

The biggest decisions in your life deserve the expertise of a professional!  If you're thinking about selling your home  -- most likely your biggest investment --  here are some good reasons why you should consider going with an agent rather than FSBO:

• OBJECTIVITY:   IT TAKES YOU OUT OF THE MIX.  Let's face it, you love your home.  But  let's also be honest.... you're a little biased.  Having an agent puts space between you and potential buyers.  It removes the emotion and allows an objective person to negotiate on your behalf.  
  


• FAR-REACHING MARKETING.  The goal is to reach the greatest number of potential buyers,so that you maximize what you get in the sale.  Can you do that by putting a "For Sale By Owner" sign on your lawn?  Today 90% of buyers are searching on the internet.  Multiply listing your home with an agent is just the beginning.  A full-service agent will make sure that your property has a strong internet presence including a variety of websites, hundreds of search engines and social media.  Think about it like fishing....you want to cast a really big net.
  


• PERSONAL SAFETY.  How do you know who you are letting in your house when someone calls?  Are they a serious buyer?  Are they preapproved?   Do you really want to be there by yourself at an open house with strangers walking through?  Hiring an agent and having a lockbox protects you by making sure that at all times a licensed professional is there to take prospective buyers through your home.   The listing agent has a record of each time the lockbox is opened and who opened it.   
  


• KNOWLEDGE OF THE MARKET.  You may think you have an idea of what your home is worth based on what a neighbor's house sold for last year, but have you seen the inside of the houses that are active on the market, under contract, and recently sold  in your area?  It's likely your agent has, and so have buyers!  They are comparing your house to the others they've seen.  An agent can advise you how to strategically price your house based on the current competition and recently sold comparables.
  


• CONTRACTS, DISCLOSURES AND OFFERS, OH MY!  An agent can help you wade through the numerous disclosures and paperwork that go along with selling your home.   Real estate transactions involve a lot of documents and your agent can help you make sense of it all.
  


• FROM CONTRACT TO CLOSE:  TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT.  Even if you are lucky enough to get a buyer right away, do you know what's involved from contract to closing?  There are a lot of moving parts to the transaction with deadlines and consequences  -- negotiations, attorney review, mortgage preapproval, inspections, environmental issues, mortgage commitment, utility transfer, etc.   An experienced agent knows how to orchestrate all the pieces so that the transaction proceeds with minimum stress to you.

• ARE YOU REALLY SAVING MONEY?   Of course, the reason sellers try to sell on their on own is to avoid the commission.  But the fact is that in most cases, because of strategic pricing, the ability to cast a "wider net" and expertise in negotiating, a sale through an agent will net the homeowner more money in the end, without all the aggravation and stress.
  

If you're thinking about selling your home, and maybe going FSBO, call me and let's talk about it.  

The video illustrates the yearly wear and tear on the homes systems and appliances, the fact that breakdowns are likely and frequent and how a home warranty service agreement can help protect against breakdowns. 

Several years ago, I decided to purchase a home warranty on my home, and it has come in handy several times -- for a kitchen sink blockage and a broken attic fan, for example.  Check out the video, and if you want more information, give me a call.

On a beautiful autumn day like today, there are so many fun things to do for all ages in and around North Jersey!  

Here's a sampling for Sunday, October 13, 2013:  

Source:  www.mybergen.com

If you're thinking about buying, here's an interesting article about what happens if you wait..... with home prices and interest rates both rising, delaying your purchase can make a big difference in your monthly payment.

BUYING A HOUSE... THE COST IF YOU WAITED

The  market has quickly shifted to a seller's market, with low inventory but a lot of buyers.  With this shift, it's important for homeowners to realize that there is a built-in check to the current exuberance:  the appraisal.
When multiple offers are received, the seller needs to carefully consider all aspects of each offer.  The "best" offer may not be the one with the highest purchase price.  The buyer's down payment and ability to qualify for a mortgage in some cases could trump the offer price. 
Careful analysis of the offer is one very good reason why it is prudent for a homeowner to use an experienced agent rather than going "for sale by owner." 
Call me if you'd like to talk about your options and what's happening in your local market. 551-427-6343.

DID YOU KNOW....

The police departments and OEM's of many local towns now offer text messages through the Nixle Community Information Service. To receive Text messages from your Police Department and Office of Emergency Management, sign up at www.nixle.com.

These notifications allow residents to obtain important and timely information during emergencies when electric power may be interrupted.