Bergen County Real Estate Podcast with Jeff & Debra Adler

Here are three tips that will help you move safely amid the pandemic. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationA pandemic isn’t an ideal time to move, but some people simply don’t have a choice. If you’re facing a move in the coming days or weeks, here are three tips that will help you do so safely and as easily as possible:1. Remember that it’s worth spending extra money. The American Moving & Storing Association recommends passing on free recycled boxes from supermarkets and opting for new ones if possible. The reason is simple: Doing this minimizes your exposure to the coronavirus. Also, stock up on adequate disinfectants and wipes for yourself, your moving truck, and any shared equipment. If it makes sense in your situation, hire a moving company to handle the move for you safely and strategically. Many moving companies currently provide virtual estimates and contactless moving.“  Stock up on adequate disinfectants and wipes for yourself, your moving truck, and any shared equipment.     ” 2. Remember that preparation is more important now than ever. A move can sometimes become a disorganized affair, but now is the time to make it as neat and orderly as possible. By minimizing the moving time, you’re minimizing contact and exposure. 3. If you’re doing the move yourself, clean the truck and any shared moving bins or boxes. If you’re hiring a moving company, inquire about the specific measures they’re using to deal with the pandemic, both with their equipment and employees. A move can be a frustrating experience, but don’t throw caution to the wind and get careless. Be mindful of ongoing advice about masks, social distancing, and hygiene. As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you. 

These three simple home updates will get you the best ROI when selling.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWhat upgrades will get you the best return on your investment when selling your house? To get the maximum value out of your home projects, focus on smaller tasks; they can actually have a larger impact on the aesthetic appeal of your house without breaking the bank. Here are three of the best ROI updates:1. Small bathroom remodel. This could be as simple as getting new countertops, repainting to a brighter color, or re-tiling the shower. All these projects will have a massive impact without having to completely demolish the bathroom. These projects alone can bring a 102% return on your investment.2. Update landscaping. Landscaping is the first thing buyers see when looking at your property, aka curb appeal. You can simply add fresh mulch and plant flowers. You only get one chance to make a wonderful first impression, and vibrant landscaping can certainly boost curb appeal. The average investment for landscaping is a bit pricier: $3,500. However, it almost always has a 100% return on investment.3. Minor kitchen facelift. Repainting the cabinets and getting new hardware will make an outdated kitchen feel new again. These modest changes can bring around a 97% return on investment.Landscaping is the first thing buyers see when looking at your home.We have excellent connections with contractors and designers that can help with any of your home project needs. If you’d like a referral or have other real estate-related questions, please feel free to give us a call at (201) 825-1266 or email us anytime. We’d love to hear from you. Most importantly, at this time, please stay safe and healthy.

Here are three great home staging items you can buy at a bargain. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationIf you want to sell your home quickly and for top dollar, it’s important to make sure that visiting buyers never have to stare at any empty rooms or bare walls. The “deserted warehouse” look is out, so if your home isn’t staged attractively, you’re missing out because plenty of other houses will be.The good news is, you don’t have to spend a lot of money staging your home attractively. Buying expensive items to upgrade your home isn’t necessarily the way to go if you don’t have the budget for that. One unexpected place to look for staging props, for example, is Walmart. A few dollars spent on the right items there can go a long way. Check out the bargains they offer to amp up your home staging without breaking the bank.“  You don’t have to spend a lot of money staging your home attractively.    ” Here are three items you can buy that will do the trick:1. Fluffy bathroom towels. Bathrooms are the second-most important area and selling feature in a home (next to the kitchen), and fresh, fluffy, colorful towels are the perfect accent for them.2. Faux plants. If you (like me) struggle to keep real plants alive, then faux plants are a great addition. There are some absolutely beautiful ones out there, and they sometimes look so real that it’s easy to assume they are.3. Candles. Candles add warmth, character, and an inviting scent to your home. You can get LED candles or the real thing, but LED candles don’t provide the same ambiance that real ones do, which is why I prefer the real deal. Remember to be responsible for where you place your candles.Bonus tip: Pictures and other accessories help divert a buyer’s attention away from a part of the home you may not like that much.If you’d like to know more home staging tips or have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m here to help. 

You can attract more buyers by promoting your home as pet friendly.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWhen selling your home, one of the ways to attract a different breed of buyers is to promote your house as pet friendly. You should appeal to those who plan to share their new home with their animal friends. Almost any house can be marketed to pet owners, and if you take a little extra time to highlight the pet-friendly aspects of your property, it could sell quicker. You can tell your real estate agent that it’s fine for prospective buyers to bring their dogs along to scope out the home. Buyers are often impressed when sellers show their affection for pets. The best pet-friendly investment is to install a wooden or electric invisible fence around the perimeter of your yard. Also, the latest trend is to put a pet bath in the laundry room or garage, which is a sure-fire attention grabber. “If you take a little extra time to highlight the pet-friendly aspects of your property, it could sell quicker.” It’s equally crucial to hide those parts of the house that might initially turn off even the most ardent pet lovers. Agents everywhere love to use Febreze. Spritz it all around the furniture and pet beds before a showing to eliminate any odors. Even pet owners don’t like smelly houses. Also, be sure that your lawn is immaculate when showing your property; you can even hire a pooper scooper service. As always, please feel free to call or email us if you have questions about promoting your home to pet owners or any other real estate-related topic. We are always here to be of service to you, your friends, family, or anyone else you know that could benefit from our real estate expertise. We look forward to hearing from you!

Entering May, here’s a quick look at how the real estate market is doing.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWe’re back with our monthly real estate market minute for May. First and foremost, we hope you’re staying safe and healthy. We’re here for you to help with whatever you need during this time—just reach out. Our real estate market is moving along, as over 1,000 homes were listed in April and 480 went under contract. The fact that our market is so active is good news. To learn more about what’s going on in real estate and how we can help you, watch the short video above.

If you need anything at all while the country practices self-isolation and social distancing, let us know. We want to help.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWe just wanted to reach out to let you know that our entire team is ready to be an ally to you during these challenging times. Over the past few weeks, our team has been able to provide a variety of services, like running errands for the elderly and providing meals to those in need. We also helped find college students to tutor the children of parents who needed support with their homeschooling. If you need anything at all, reach out and let us know! In the meantime, stay safe and healthy. To see our full message, watch the short video above.

These are the three home design trends you’ll want to keep an eye out for in 2020.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWhen’s the right time to purchase your first home?The answer varies across age groups. One out of every five parents expect their child to own a home by age 25, but this doesn’t quite align with reality. Younger adults tend to feel the most pressure owning a home, but they’re still waiting on their own terms. Millennials between the ages of 25 and 34 have been slow to catch up to the rates of homeownership that Gen Xers and baby boomers did when they were in that age range. Millennials are marrying at later ages and have high student debt to blame for delaying their homeownership debut, and they now represent the largest home-buying force in the housing industry.One out of every five parents expect their child to own a home by age 25, but this doesn’t quite align with reality.Overall, millennials tend to feel the most judgment from their parents in relation to their life goals, whether that pertains to buying a home, getting married, or gaining financial independence. Purchasing a home is one of the most complex and expensive decisions most of us will make, so it’s easy to see how not choosing the right style, location, or size can invoke criticism from relatives. This is why it’s important to work with an experienced Realtor when making this milestone decision.As always, if you have questions about this or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to call or email us. We’d love to help you.

If you’re looking for a few ways to make your home cozier and inviting as the weather gets colder, you’re in luck. Here are my top tips.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationIt’s that time of year where we channel the cozy and warm vibes as the weather gets colder. There are plenty of ways to bring a warm, rustic look to your home without breaking the bank. Here are three cozy ways to warm up your home decor this year:1. Use canvas and burlap. Not only are these fabrics durable, but they give your home a more rustic feel. Seek out this fabric for your curtains, pillows, upholstery, and more. It really gives your home more of a cabin-like feel. The material works great on lampshades, ottomans, and barstools as well. Canvas laundry bags, magazine bags, and storage bags are good ideas, too.Cozy textures are simple to add, but they should be done minimally.2. Use natural colors. When considering paint, look to nature. Being immersed in the great outdoors is the idea, so focus on earth tones with splashes of colors. Look at browns, deep yellows, oranges, and greens for your color pallet.3. Use cozy textures. This is simple to do and should be done minimally. Add a chunky knit blanket, woven basket, flannel sheets, or soft wool rugs.These are just a few of the ways to get your home ready for the cold and keep you snug and cuddly inside. Stay warm out there!If you have any real estate-related questions for me, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Want to make some eco-friendly upgrades to your home? Here are two to consider.There are many eco-friendly home upgrades you can make, and today we'll highlight two of the best options available.The first is energy-efficient light bulbs. These types of bulbs have been around for some time, but many homeowners are just now starting to realize their benefits, which include a longer lifespan and the ability to reduce your electricity use.Home automation is often thought of as a luxe amenity, but it’s also one of the most effective ways to make your home eco-friendly. LED light bulbs come in a variety of colors and easily fit into many types of designer light fixtures, which allow you to incorporate stylish and efficient lighting design throughout your home.The second is smart home technology. Home automation is often thought of as a luxe amenity, but it’s also one of the most effective ways to make your home eco-friendly because it allows appliances to run with the least amount of required energy.Automated controls for security, temperature, and lighting that come from one single device will replace energy-consuming features and add extra function simultaneously. Additionally, the sleek design of many of these devices seamlessly blends technology throughout the home to complete a modern and stylish design. If you’d like to know more about what you can do to your home to make it more eco-friendly or you have any other real estate needs we can take care of, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you.

There are four questions that pet owners need to ask when they buy a home. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationMake sure to ask these four questions if you’re searching for a new house for you and your animal companions:1. What are the local pet laws? It’s not guaranteed that pets will be welcome in your new neighborhood, so make sure that you check your city and state laws for breed restrictions or limits on the number of animals that are allowed in a home.2. Does the house have pet-friendly floors? Carpet is bound to be destroyed by claws and dirt, so we recommend that you opt for distressed hardwood floors instead. Your pet and wallet will thank you.3. Can your pet handle the stairs? If your pets are growing older, consider whether they’ll be okay with the stairs in a multi-level property. To help your pets travel up and down with ease, look for a place with a carpet runner on the stairs.“  It’s not guaranteed that pets will be welcome in your new neighborhood, so make sure that you check your city and state laws for breed restrictions or limits on the number of animals that are allowed in a home.”4. Is the neighborhood safe for pets to roam? Your four-legged friends need plenty of room to walk and play, so when you’re shopping for houses, make sure to peek around the neighborhood for parks and walking trails that are close by. You’ll both be very happy you did. If you have any questions about this or other real estate topics, we encourage you to reach out to us. We’d love to speak with you. 

What should home sellers know before they begin their journey? Here are five great tips. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationI’m here today to talk to you about common mistakes that could sink your chances of a successful home sale. Though there really is a wealth of information out there for buyers, there isn’t as much available for those looking to sell. That’s why I’m here today to share with you five common but critical mistakes sellers should avoid when it comes time to list their property: 1. Pricing your home too high. There are three ways you can price your home: You can price it above market value and hope that a buyer comes along; you can price it at market value and take advantage of the interest it generates; or you can price below market value and potentially drum up a bidding war. Typically, pricing at or below market value is the best strategy in our market. 2. Not hiring a real estate agent. Many sellers assume that they can save money by not hiring an agent. However, the commission fee is a small price to pay for the service that an experienced agent can provide. Top-quality Realtors know how to leverage cutting-edge marketing techniques to help you earn top dollar for your home.“  Ordering a pre-listing inspection allows you to get ahead of any potential issues.”3. Not making home improvements before listing. Sellers should do whatever it takes to make their property shine before putting it on the market. Decluttering, cleaning, and staging can really go a long way. If your home doesn’t make a good first impression on buyers, you won’t be able to command the price that you deserve.4. Not ordering a pre-listing inspection. Ordering an inspection before your home hits the market will allow you to identify and possibly resolve issues ahead of time. Also, having a home inspection report ready for buyers to review can really expedite the process.5. Being present during showings. Buyers probably won’t be comfortable expressing their honest opinions about your property if you’re there listening in. When it comes time for a showing, it’s best for sellers to be gone altogether.We hope these tips were helpful to you. If you have any questions for us in the meantime or if you need our assistance with buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

When buyers view homes in person, their focus tends to shift toward two main areas of a home. Knowing what they are will help you maximize your sale price. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWhen buyers are looking at properties, they tend to focus on two main areas of a house: 1. The kitchen. Everyone gathers in the kitchen. If you’re thinking about upgrading your home to add value before selling, focus on this area. Modern-style kitchens are very popular right now. Buyers like to see lighter shades in the cupboards and countertops. It’s also OK to add in a few traditional elements, but stay away from rounded countertops, because those have really fallen out of fashion.“  If you’re going to spend money on upgrades, spend it in these two places.”2. The master bathroom. Buyers love to see upgraded master showers, freestanding tubs, and tile flooring. If you have carpet in your bathroom around the toilet or tub area, that must go. It’s a complete no-no. It's a huge turn-off for buyers. Buyers prefer light colors here as well.If you’re going to spend money on upgrades to attract buyers and add value to your home, these are the two main areas you’ll want to focus on. If you want any further tips or have any other questions that we can answer for you, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

We’ll be seeing a change in inventory and a new generation in our market in 2019.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationThere are a few trends we’ll be seeing as we make our way through 2019. For several years, we’ve had a very low amount of home inventory in our market. More homes are coming on the market, but they’re still not enough to keep up with buyer demand. Nationwide, inventory hit the lowest level in recorded history last winter and only recently began to recover. We expect this growth to continue, but not at a large rate—we predict around 7%.Just a few years ago, most millennials were barely old enough to buy a home. Now they make up the majority of the home buying market, and this will continue to be the case in 2019. Currently, this generation accounts for about 45% of mortgages, compared to baby boomers at 17% and Gen Xers at 37%. And the homes millennials are buying aren’t just starter homes—many are already moving up.“  Inventory hit the lowest level in recorded history last winter and only recently began to recover.”If you have any questions about the landscape of the 2019 market, need further information, or would like to talk about your home buying or selling needs, reach out to us at 201-825-1266 or send an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

It’s that time of year to start thinking about our resolutions for 2019 on an individual level. But what about resolutions for our homes to run more efficiently? Here are 3 ways you can do this in the new year.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWe’re all familiar with the tradition of New Year’s resolutions, where we decide on changes we’d like to make in our lives for the coming year. Today I’d like to talk to you about that very thing, but with a twist: instead of the focus being on what we can change about ourselves individually, I’ll be discussing what we can change about our home for the new year. So how can you make your home run more efficiently in 2019? I have a few resolutions to consider: 1. Cut Energy Use. One of the biggest culprits of energy waste is your HVAC ductwork—heated and cooled air escapes through holes and loose connections found within your ductwork. As a cost-cutting measure and way to maximize energy efficiency, you’ll want to locate those areas of weakness in your ductwork and seal them off.“  Instead of the focus being on what we can change about ourselves individually, I’ll be discussing what we can change about our home for the new year.”2. Exercise Your DIY Skills. When most people think about calorie-burning through some form of fitness, building a fence is not the first thing that comes to mind. Believe it or not, you’ll burn some serious calories per hour building a fence—340, to be exact. Just by caulking windows and doors, you can burn 280 calories an hour! Cleaning rain gutters? You can burn as many as 272 per hour. If you have some home maintenance projects to do in 2019, keep that in mind!3. Use Maintenance-Free Materials in Your Home. If you haven’t already, think about making the switch to materials that keep stress and maintenance low and durability high. Fiber cement siding, for example, will withstand wear and tear by lasting up to 50 years. Another item to consider installing is LED light bulbs—becoming increasingly popular, these bulbs can survive for 20,000 to 50,000 hours between changes! For more information about what I covered today or for more home resolutions you can make for the new year, don’t hesitate to contact us anytime by phone at 201-825-1266 or email us at JeffAdlerJeff@gmail.com.

Paying down your credit card isn’t the only way to build good credit. Here are four equally-as-effective alternatives.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationIt really is possible to build credit without a credit card–you’ll just have to take a different approach. If you don’t trust yourself with a credit card quite yet, here are some tips:1. Start repaying your student loans. Assuming you have them, you can start repaying your loans while you’re still in school to begin building your credit score. Waiting until you’ve graduated is also an option. Either way, be sure to pay on time each month to build your score without a card.2. Use a credit builder loan. This is similar to a secured credit card. Once you’re approved, the funds in the loan are placed in a savings account or a CD until you’ve repaid the loan. At that point, the money in your savings is yours to keep. 3. Repay a mortgage or car loan. Since both mortgages and car loans report to credit bureaus, either of these will help you build your credit score. The difficult part in getting approved for either of these without an established credit history can be remedied by having a steady income and a good down payment. “  A credit builder loan is similar to a secured credit card.”4. Make sure you pay your rent and all your bills on time. Also, beware of advanced fee loans and other loan scams that prey on people with no or bad credit. These loans typically guarantee approval and ask for some type of upfront payment. Be careful.As always, if you have any questions about your credit or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. We wanted to share this message of gratitude from our family to yours.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationIt’s that time of year where everyone is expressing their gratitude and appreciation. We love that, but we believe in doing so all year long. We’re so grateful and blessed to be able to keep in touch with so many of our past and present clients. We’re so grateful for you remembering us and referring us to help serve all of your real estate needs. We hope you all have a very happy and healthy holiday season and a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Today I’ll be discussing the five worst home updates that a homeowner can do. Avoid these to keep yourself from wasting money on projects that bring poor returns.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWe often talk about the best home renovation projects that people do to add some value to their property; today, let’s discuss the worst. These are five home updates that you should avoid if you don’t want to invest more money in your renovation than these projects are worth.1. Over-the-top improvements. Before your minor upgrade turns into a home improvement disaster, ask yourself whether potential buyers in your area are likely to pony up for some posh upgrades. Unless you’re planning to stay in your home forever, we would suggest forgoing that steam shower and carved marble tub.2. Home office overhauls.  Home offices don’t generally pay off in resales, but if you’re working from home, they’re a must. Keep the structure of the space intact, especially if your office was once a bedroom or garage; those rooms can easily be restaged when it comes time to put the house on the market.3. Swimming pools. They’re great to have, but they’re really controversial from a buyer’s standpoint. Pools are neutral to some people, and some people just hate them and won’t even come look at your home knowing that you have a pool. “  Just keep it simple!”4. New roofing. Replacing your roof can help with resale, but don’t go overboard with the material—clay, tile, and architectural shingles don’t usually have as much of return on investment. If you’re in a townhouse or condo development, make sure that you check with them before replacing your roof, as some might require you to use certain materials.5. Specialized spaces. There is a limited audience for certain upgrades like wine cellars, slides that go between floors, and playrooms.My overall advice when it comes to home upgrades: Just keep it simple!

Poor furniture arrangement, junk drawers and crammed cabinets, over-filled closets, and cluttered countertops could sabotage your home sale if you’re not careful.  Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationLast time, I discussed five seemingly minor things that you should avoid doing at the risk sabotaging your home sale (which you can recap here). Today, I'll continue the discussion with four more silly things to watch out for before you list your home on the market: 6. Poor furniture arrangement. You might be rolling your eyes right now and thinking “What do you mean? You don’t like the way my living room is laid out?” or “How could that make a difference in whether or not my home sells?” Think back to when you saw the home you’re living in for the first time. Were you able to picture your own furniture in there or was the space too cluttered with the previous owners’ furniture? We’re not saying there’s anything wrong with your furniture or how it’s arranged, but you have to look at things through the eyes of a potential buyer and take yourself out of the picture.  7. Junk drawers and crammed cabinets. Buyers who are genuinely interested in your home will likely open everything and look everywhere. Don’t get nervous, though—they won’t open any bedroom drawers or anything like that. They will, however, open kitchen drawers and cabinets to get an idea of how much storage the home has. This is why decluttering is key. You may be forgiven for having one junk drawer, but the neater and cleaner you can make everything else, the better. You want people to see your space, not your stuff. “     You have to look at things through the eyes of a potential buyer ”8. Over-filled closets. The need to showcase your space, not your stuff, goesdouble for closets. Whether it’s a hallway closet or a master suite walk-in closet, your home’s closets will make a major impression on prospective buyers. Again, you need to look at these areas through the eyes of a buyer and box-up any offseason apparel or put away anything you’re not using. Just like with drawers, they’ll want to see how their stuff will fit in your closets, so it really pays off to have them clear and organized.  9. Cluttered countertops. Eliminating (or at least cutting down on) clutter in your home is key to getting it sale-ready. This is especially important in kitchens and bathrooms. While people may be impressed by your professional-looking juicers, blenders, espresso machines, etc., they’re much more interested in knowing whether they’ll have ample countertop room for their own stuff.  As always, if you have any questions about this or any other real estate-related topic or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you. 

Selling a home is stressful. Here’s how we make the process easier for our clients.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationToday I am here to talk to you about reducing your home selling stress. Most home sellers think that the work is done after they have decided to sell, but many are rudely awakened by a more stressful experience than they had previously expected. Here are a few ways that you can reduce home selling stress when it comes time for you to list.The first thing you need to do is recruit a great Realtor. A truly great Realtor bears the responsibility of carrying the stress for their sellers. We are the ones with the background experience and training to navigate most circumstances that you will come across. As a matter of fact, we recently closed on a property that needed a new septic system. That held up closing, which caused the sellers to be very stressed out wondering if the sale would close. However, we were able to be there for our clients, keep everyone calm, and get the transaction through to closing with minimal hiccups.In our experience, the most stressful times for sellers occur as a result of not sharing all of the information with their agents. Not being forthright with your agent is a huge mistake because your agent is not just your Realtor, they are your advisor as well. We have done this many times and we have the experience and knowledge necessary to make things as easy as possible for you. “It’s our job to be proactive and look for solutions.”We really want to make sure that you have the feeling that we treat your home sale as if it is our own. We want to be your Realtors for life, so making sure you have a positive, non-stressful experience is one of our main goals.It is our job to be proactive and look for solutions. We are always here to help our clients get through the process, and the more information we have from them the better. If you have any questions for us at any time or you have any real estate needs that we can assist with, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you soon.