Selling a Home February 12, 2018

Avoid These Selling Mistakes

Selling a home?  Avoid these selling mistakes

Selling a home is a major life event that can trigger a lot of feelings – and a lot of decisions that just might wind up working against you!  After all, your home is special to you; it’s your castle, your retreat.   It reflects your taste, your style,your hard work (or even your lack thereof)…  And your home holds memories, as well as your belongings.  Maybe lots of your belongings.  

There are basic things that you’ll be asked to do when you put your house on the market.  Some of these things may seem a little unreasonable, maybe a little harsh, but these are the things that help sell homes.  Some homeowners have trouble following the advice of real estate professionals when first putting their home up for sale, then wonder why it’s not selling.  So let’s learn from their mistakes…

Overvaluing a Home

The truth is simple.  If your home is overpriced, it just won’t sell.  It’s important to take note of similar homes in your neighborhood that have sold and see what they went for.  An experienced real estate agent will be able to tell you what your home is worth.  And, though you might have put a great deal of money into making renovations to your home, don’t assume that you can just add that onto your home’s value.

You put too many restrictions on showing times, or you are always present at showings

It’s just common sense. Agents must be able to access your home to show it to prospective buyers.  Your home should be kept clean and ready to show, sometimes on short notice.  Also, if your house is going to be shown, that is the time to leave for a little while. Buyers can become very uncomfortable if you are hovering around while they are looking around.  They may not feel free to tour your home and address any issues they see with their realtor.  They might just leave your home without giving it the consideration they might have if you were not there…

Your Home is just not clean enough

A visibly dirty house is not going to make a good impression on buyers.  Stained carpets, streaky windows, dust…  Your home has to be “best company” clean, and kept that way.  You never know when your house will be shown. If necessary, have a cleaning service come in for a one-time deep clean, then make sure you maintain that clean!   Make sure bathrooms are clean every morning, beds made, no dirty dishes in sink or on countertops, no piles of laundry around.  Do a quick scan before you leave the house in the morning and make sure clutter is put away, and all rooms look their best.

Your Home is just too cluttered – and has too much personal “stuff” around

Here’s a simple truth.  When people see clutter, they think “Not enough storage space!”  Now is the time to start the de-cluttering process.  In addition to making your house show-ready, it will make your packing and moving to your new home that much easier!   Donate what you can, and the items that you really want to keep you might want to consider packing up and storing.  This goes for closets, too.  Yes, buyers will be looking into your closets, and again don’t want to feel there is no space.  Donate what you no longer wear, pack up and store out of season items. Linen closets and under counter cabinets should also be uncluttered.

Then comes the really hard part…  Taking down all those photos of your family, the kids’ school portraits, vacation shots.  Buyers need to be able to walk into your home and visualize it as their home, not yours!   Your walls should be a neutral canvas that will let the buyer envision the possibilities.

Your Home needs a lot of repairs!

Most buyers don’t want to move into a home that will require the expense and effort of making lots of repairs, even if some are just “small” repairs.   The less repairs needed, the more appealing your home!  

And, last but not least…

You don’t have the right real estate agent!

The right agent will help keep you from making these selling mistakes, and others, and will then market your beautifully clean, uncluttered, depersonalized, correctly priced home so that you can achieve the best results!  

Agency News and Awards February 12, 2018

Green Team Awards Ceremony for 2017

Geoff Green takes the name of his company, the Green Team, quite seriously.  Being an agent here is all about being part of a team.  It’s about perfecting your craft, providing consummate service to each and every client.  Also, it’s about providing support to your team mates. Furthermore, it’s about reaching for and achieving goals.   At the Green Team Awards Ceremony, those goals were recognized.  On January 26, 2018 the Green Team family came together to celebrate a very good year.   2017 saw many agents not only succeed in their goals, but surpass them.  As a result,  Geoff presented the framed certificates with pride.

Geoff was asked how it felt to have so many of his agent’s reach various levels of success.  “I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude,” he replied.   After starting this company 13 years ago, Geoff is seeing his goals surpassed by people he deeply cares about.  One of the things that he loves about this business is its ability to help improve, even change, lives.  And knowing that he has had a part in creating the training, the support, the vehicle and the opportunity for change means everything.   Because, above all, this business is about people.

Awards were presented at Albert Wisner Library, followed by a Post Awards Ceremony Celebration hosted by Jeremy Miller of First Home Bank at the Historic Warwick Inn.

Presentation of awards was by category.

And the Green Team’s First MVP Award, for $10+ Million in Sales Volume, Goes To…

Finally someone broke Geoff Green’s record of $10 Million in sales in a year, and he couldn’t have been happier or prouder.  When Geoff first met Jennifer DiCostanzo, he told her that he saw her as becoming the #1 Agent in all of Orange County, not merely in the Green Team. When asked about how she felt on achieving over $10 Million in sales in 2017,  Jen replied… “Rewarded.”   “Humbled, honored to be recognized for all the hard work and long hours I put in.  This is something you don’t take lightly.  The numbers don’t mean everything.    You need tunnel vision; just focus on meeting the expectations and needs of your clients.  That is ultimately the goal, and in the end, everyone wins.”    Jen is excited to have raised the bar, both for herself and for her fellow Green Team associates.

Jen lovingly acknowledges the support and contributions of her family. She couldn’t have done this without them. They’re a team, organizing and having flexibility because of her often erratic schedule and long work hours.    Her recipe for success?  When you are given an opportunity, determination, hard work, keeping current, and keeping steady will keep you on track.  “When you love what you do,” says Jen, “it’s not work.  I can’t imagine doing anything other than Real Estate.”

In addition to the very special MVP Award, Jen was awarded Yearly Sale Leader for 2017 and Citizen of the Year, for her outstanding contributions to our local community.  In the middle photo, Jen and Vernon Yearly Sales Award Winner, Keren Gonen, happily display their awards.

 

 

And It’s Another Triple Win…

In the Vernon office, Keren Gonen scored a triple play.   In addition to being Yearly Sales Leader for 2017, Keren was voted Team Player and Citizen of the Year by her coworkers.  What makes this all even more special is that this was Keren’s first year as an agent.   Furthermore, to Geoff Green, Keren is a shining star, a remarkable sales person with tenacity and drive to be at the top.  Keren truly believes that where a person lives has a big impact on their happiness.  Therefore, she loves helping her clients, whether they are buying or selling, achieve their goals and enhance balance and happiness in their lives.  She dedicates herself to providing them with the best real estate experience possible.   In real estate, Keren has found her balance and happiness.  And, in the Green Team, a new home.

 Momentum Builder Award

This is a very special award for the Green Team Sales Associate who has created the most positive and consistent momentum in their professional career.  The nominee has had the same impetus reflected in many aspects of their professional career, and in their personal life.  This year,  Tammy Scotto was honored and moved the ceremony attendees with her story and words of inspiration.

 

 

 

 

The Captain’s Club

The Captain’s Club is one of the ways that Geoff recognizes and rewards the members of his team who have achieved a certain level of success in their business.  Agents who have achieved a sales volume of $3 Million or more are acknowledged.   There are benefits that go along with getting to this level.  According to Geoff, it’s about more than sales volume.  It is about showing that you have what it takes to be the captain of a team.

Captain’s Club – Warwick

From left to right:  Dean Diltz, Angela Murphy, June Cosgrove-Hayes, Pip Klein, Tammy Scotto and Vikki Garby.  Not shown in photo: Chris KimiecikNancy Sardo, Denise Schmidt and Lucyann Tinnirello .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captain’s Club – Vernon

 

 

 

 

From left to right:  Barbara Tesa, Charles Nagy and Keren Gonen.

 

 

Top Producer Awards

Agents in this category reached over $2 Million in sales volume.

From Left to Right:  Linda VanDeweert and Terry Gavan of the Green Team Warwick Office proudly display their awards, as do Ted Van Laar and Joyce Rogers of the Vernon office.  (Not Shown in Photo:  Stacy Springer, Vernon office)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And last, but definitely not least… 

The Warwick office selected Donna Roberts as its Team Player of 2017.  Donna is the person who is there for everyone, doing everything.  She keeps the agents and the offices running smoothly.  And, she did a remarkable job coordinating this event.  Thank you, Donna!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking forward to another great year!

Buying a homeHousing Market NewsSelling a Home February 11, 2018

Green Team Business Review – February 2018

 

The 2018 Scoreboard:

Green Team’s Warwick office had a very good start to the year.  January was up over all previous years, a very positive sign.  The total sales volume was $5+ million for the month, over $1 million more than last year.  It’s too soon to start comparing agents’ individual numbers.  However, there is a lot of enthusiasm among the team. The market continues to grow and the feeling is that the Green Team will outpace market growth.   The 2018 goal for the Warwick office is $80 million in total sales volume.  With this strong January start, we’ll see if the rest of the year follows suit.

The Vernon office had an increase of almost 60% over last year’s January sales. The sales team is growing, and the hope is that with even more key agents joining the highly motivated and talented New Jersey team, sales will increase.  The 2018 goal is $32,000,000, but a year-end total of $40,000,000 seems possible.

 

 

 

Selling a Home February 9, 2018

The Impact Staging Your Home Has on Sales Price [INFOGRAPHIC]

Staging Your Home

Some Highlights:

  • The National Association of Realtors surveyed their members & released the findings of their Annual Profile of Home Staging.
  • 50% of staged homes saw a 1-10% increase in dollar value offers from buyers.
  • 77% of buyer’s agents said staging made it easier for buyers to visualize the home as their own.
  • The top rooms to stage in order to attract more buyers are the living room, master bedroom, kitchen, and dining room.

Contact one of our Real Estate Sales Agents for advice on how to best stage your home to get top dollar.

Housing Market NewsMortgage and Home Loans February 5, 2018

Whether You Rent or Buy, Either Way You’re Paying a Mortgage!

There are some people who have not purchased homes because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize, however, that unless you are living with your parents rent-free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s.

As Entrepreneur Magazine, a premier source for small business explained in their article, “12 Practical Steps to Getting Rich”:

“While renting on a temporary basis isn’t terrible, you should most certainly own the roof over your head if you’re serious about your finances. It won’t make you rich overnight, but by renting, you’re paying someone else’s mortgage. In effect, you’re making someone else rich.”

Christina Boyle, Senior Vice President and head of the Single-Family Sales & Relationship Management organization at Freddie Mac, explains another benefit of securing a mortgage as opposed to paying rent:

“With a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, you’ll have the certainty & stability of knowing what your mortgage payment will be for the next 30 years – unlike rents which will continue to rise over the next three decades.”

As an owner, your mortgage payment is a form of ‘forced savings’ which allows you to build equity in your home that you can tap into later in life. As a renter, you guarantee the landlord is the person building that equity.

How much house can you afford?

Interest rates are still at historic lows, making it one of the best times to secure a mortgage and make a move into your dream home. Freddie Mac’s latest report shows that rates across the country were at 4.22% last week.

Bottom Line

Whether you are looking for a primary residence for the first time or are considering a vacation home on the shore, now may be the time to buy.

 

News and Advice

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Agency News and Awards February 2, 2018

Barbara Tesa wins Fourth Quarter Sales Award

 Green Team New Jersey Realty in Vernon, NJ is proud to announce that Barbara Tesa is the recipient of its Fourth Quarter Sales Leader Award.

 Though relatively new to Green Team New Jersey Realty, Barbara is no stranger to the real estate industry – or to winning this award!  She was also the recipient of the Third Quarter Sales Leader Award.  When asked how she feels about winning the quarterly award for the second time, Barbara replied, “I’m certainly encouraged by my 4th Quarter sales results and I’m still smiling over that!  The truth is, I love what I do and I’ve been fortunate to have met and helped really terrific clients with their real estate objectives in 2017.  As I focus on 2018, while I plan to expand my marketing, those clients and their referrals will remain important to furthering my success…all of which is made easier through the continued support of the Green Team.”

Barbara has over 20 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate management and 10 years as a licensed real estate agent in New Jersey. Barbara and husband Rudi reside at Crystal Springs, where they enjoy resort living amid the natural beauty of Sussex County, and where Barbara also practices her craft.  In addition to her expertise in the sale and purchase of resort homes, Barbara is a member of the Garden State Multiple Listing Service, National Association of Realtors and the Sussex County Association of Realtors.

Housing Market News February 1, 2018

Housing Market Review January 2018

How did the real estate market finish in 2017?
There are three things we should look at:

  • #1 New home sales are at the highest level in a decade.
  • #2 Sales of previously owned homes are at the highest level in more than a decade.
  • #3 Starts of single-family homes are the strongest in a decade and applications to build such properties advanced at the fastest pace since August 2007. More than a decade.

Whether we’re looking at new home sales, existing home sales, or new construction home starts, all the numbers are greater than they have been in at least the last ten years. So we can see that 2017 finished off very strongly, and many in the industry believe 2018 is going to be a great year. There are a couple of things that we have to take a look at as we move into 2018. First, let’s take a look at mortgage rate projections.

If we look all the way to the right of the chart above you’ll see the average of all four projections. Now look at the 2018 fourth quarter forecast and we see that the projected average is over 4 1⁄2%.

Currently, interest rates are sitting just about 4%.
Will this impact the market? The chart below shows total home sales for 2017 and what each of the top industry experts is projecting for 2018.

As you can see, National Association of Realtors, Freddie Mac, the Mortgage Bank Association and Fannie Mae all see a dramatic increase in the number of houses sold in 2018. It’s clear to see that the experts who came up with these projections don’t seem to think that’s the market will be affected by an increase in interest rates.

Probably the most important thing we can look at as well is “What does the buyer think right now“.

We can see from the Buyer Traffic chart above (December numbers aren’t in yet) that in September, October,  and November of 2017, there was more buyer traffic, more buyer activity, than at any time at all during the rest of the year. Including the spring buyer’s market (March, April, and May). So, there are more buyers out there right now shopping for houses than there was last spring.

Wrap-up

Experts are saying they believe that 2018, as long as more listing come into the market, could be a phenomenal year. As a matter of fact, Bloomberg Business said this: “America’s housing market is gearing up for a robust year ahead. Builders are more optimistic, demand is strong and lean inventory is keeping prices elevated.

Agency News and Awards February 1, 2018

Green Team Business Review – January 2018

 

The 2017 Scoreboard

 The first order of business at the Green Team monthly market review meeting was the Agents’ Scoreboard. In Warwick, Jennifer DiCostanzo finished first, for the second year in a row.  Jen closed out $10,500,000 in sales volume, beating Geoff Green’s single year, all-time Green Team record!  Geoff was more than happy to relinquish the title “Number One All Time” to Jen.  Nancy Sardo came in second, with sales at $7,200,00, more than doubling her total from 2016.  Tammy Scotto was third with sales of almost $5,000,000, way up from $1,350,00 in 2016.  Most agents had a solid year and saw increases over last year.  Linda VanDeWeert saw her sales volume rise from $1,017,000 in 2016 to $2,147,000 in 2017. Perhaps the most dramatic difference was in Chris Kimiecik’s numbers, which went from sales of $260,000 in 2016 to $2,900,000 in 2017!    With a total sales volume of $74,000,000, it looks like the Green Team will be among the top ten agencies in Orange County.

In the Sussex County office, Keren Gonen just finished her first year in the real estate business.  She also finished number one on the scoreboard, with $4,300,000 in sales volume.  She is, according to Geoff Green, a rising star!  She is followed by Charles Nagy in the number two spot, with $3,600,000 in sales volume.  Barbara Tesa is in third place with $3,300,000 in sales volume, which does not include sales from her previous agency.  According to Geoff’s predictions, Barbara will be even higher up on the scoreboard in 2018!

“How is the Market?”

When asked this question, agents must be clear on the trends that have been occurring in their local markets and be able to explain them and the effect they may have on the client’s real estate needs.

Community Support January 31, 2018

Giving Back to our Communities

2nd Annual Light Up the Holidays Contest

The Green Team’s 2nd Annual Light Up the Holidays Contest and the generosity of our communities made the holidays  brighter for two local charities.   This year, Green Team’s Warwick office selected Warwick Playground Dreams as its designated charity.  And Green Team New Jersey Realty in Vernon raised funds for the Vernon Township Senior Center.  Agents from each office hit the streets, the phones and their email, contacting local professionals and businesses and asking them to become part of this community effort.     Becoming either a Gold, Silver or Bronze Sponsor,  donations were made out directly to the charity, in amounts corresponding to the level of sponsorship.   The 2017 sponsors have a permanent place on our website and you can view them here.

This year the Green Team changed things up a bit.   Instead of one, there were now three ways to participate.  You could enter your home or business yourself.  Or you could enter a business or someone else’s  home.  And this time.  the Green Team “elves”  drove around to take in the holiday decorations and also to take photos of homes they felt expressed the warmth and light of the season!  In each county, there were 1st, 2nd and third place winners, decided upon by committee votes.   Each winner received a framed certificate featuring a photo of their decorated home or business.

 

Presentation to Warwick Playground Dreams

On January 10, members of the Green Team Home Selling System in Warwick were excited to present representatives of Warwick Playground Dreams with donations totaling $3,650.  This non-profit organization is dedicated to making sure that children of all abilities have access to playground components that will allow them to play together in a safe, inclusive environment. The playground, located in Stanley Deming Park, will encourage the free play and creativity necessary for both physical and cognitive development.  A true labor of love, the playground will be community built in the Spring or Fall of 2018.   To donate or volunteer, visit the organization’s website.

Appearing in this photo, from left to right, are:  Donna Roberts, Adrienne Lepre, Geoff Green, Megan Cardenas, Keren Gonen, Jen DiCostanzo, Hannelore Chambers, Steven Lichtenberg, Kerri Fenton Foley, Toni Kreusch, Alan Norberg, Kim Lesley and, in front, Gianna Lepre.

 

 

The Orange County Winners, from 1st to 3rd place…

 

 

 

 

 





Presentation to the Vernon Township Senior Center

 

What better time to present donations to the Senior Center than at their annual holiday party!  There was a full house and joyous atmosphere as the seniors celebrated the holidays … and the donations totaling $2,750.  The money raised will help provide the seniors with new activities, craft supplies and other enhancements to the Center’s programs.  Jane Damstra, Director of the Senior Center (pictured on the left, being presented with donation checks by Green Team New Jersey Realty’s Barbara Tesa), has wonderful plans!  If you’d like to donate or volunteer at the Senior Center, click here for more information.

 

 

 

The Sussex County Winners, from 1st to 3rd place…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The true joy is in the giving…

And perhaps that is the most wonderful thing about this event.  Whether sharing your beautiful corner of the world, decked out in lights to celebrate the season… Or helping to raise money for a worthy cause,  or donating to that cause.  Or perhaps volunteering your time and expertise, maybe by helping to build a playground or teaching tech tricks to a group of seniors…  This is the true meaning of Lighting Up the Holidays!

Housing Market News January 23, 2018

Orange County, NY Real Estate Market Report for Dec 2017

Housing Market Report – Orange County, NY

We are pleased to share with you a Housing Market Report from December 2017 as well as a look at the trends for the entire 2017 year. We break down the local real estate activities and provide you with  stats, graphs, and analysis of our local and regional real estate market.

Average Days on the Market

The faster things are selling, the hotter the market.  Look for the lowest number on the graph as opposed to the highest. The calculation was changed in New York State. It’s now from the List Date to the Contract Date, rather than the Binder Date.

With the average number of days on the market continuing to decrease, the market continues to sizzle!  The average number of days a home was on the market in Orange County was 99.15 in December.  2017 has consistently had the lowest number of days on the market for all years since 2013.  At or below 100 days on market average for approximately half the year are solid numbers.

Average Price  

An upward trend is finally appearing, at or above all previous years since 2013.  Prices are coming up, which should hopefully unlock some inventory.  There are people who have been holding off selling their home, many waiting to retire to warmer climates, waiting until they could get a higher price for their homes.

 

Average Sold to Asked Ratio

The percentage a house sold for under or over the last asking price (not the original price).

The higher the number, the hotter the seller’s market.  

On average, sellers are having to negotiate less than 3% off of their last asking price.  This is a solid trend higher than any of the previous 4 or 5 years.

 

Homes that sold at 100% or more of last asking price

More than 30% of homes sold at 100% or more of their last asking price, another indicator of a strong market.

 

Units Sold

The term units here includes single family homes, condominiums, town house and multi-family homes with 1-4 units.

The most important indicator of a strong market is the number of units being sold.  The transaction numbers continue to be solid, above the last four years.

 

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