Category: Uncategorised

It is getting easier now more than ever before for people to successfully sell their houses entirely online. Because of that, the online marketplace has become increasingly cluttered, leaving you up against some tough competition. So we wanted to bring you some tips from the pros on using the internet to sell your home – that way you can make your house stand out and increase the chances of selling your house fast!

Using the internet to sell your home – 7 things to consider

Go Where The Buyers Go:

With all of the different listing portals these days, you have a ton of different ways to find buyers. Check out some of the other listings around you, what are some of the top sites that come up in your area? More than likely it will be Zillow and Trulia. Whether you love them or not, it’s impossible to deny that they’ve got a good hand in generating real estate-related traffic. Now, if you put your house on the MLS, then it will automatically end up on Zillow and Trulia a few days later. This is obviously great for you since that will assure that your property gets the maximum exposure.

Additionally, there are services that you can buy that will syndicate your listing to all of the top sites, that way you need only input your property’s information once and rest assured you have covered all of your ground.

Consider A Premium Listing:

Ever notice how when you search for a property on a major site like Zillow, there are certain properties that always show up first? They are the ones that pay to be there, just like how you’ll see the same agents pop up over the listings. To get instant traction to your listing, it might be worth the added expense to have your listing placed at the top.

Create A Website Just For Your House:

Creating a website that’s sole purpose is to showcase your house is a great way to make it stand out against the competition. It enables you point out all of the great features of your house and gives a unique perspective to make it more memorable. Nowadays, you can design a website with very little ease and almost no cost. A some SEO, some quality content and a little imagination, you will quickly be able to build a site that can compete with the big names when it comes to showing off your house.

Hire A Professional Photographer:

Hiring a professional photographer to can mean the difference between getting your house sold this month and having it sit on the market until next year. We already know that a photograph is worth 1000 words, so make sure that the words being described by your property are ones that will entice people in and want to see in person. Images will be the tool that you can leverage most when using the internet to sell your home.

For some potential buyers, it’s hard for them to envision themselves living in your home if you have too many personal belonging and memorabilia hanging around. Use this as an opportunity to get a head start on the packing you need to do for the big move and declutter your entire house. Pack away what you know you will not need and get it out of the house and into storage. It’s important to get it into storage so that you house doesn’t have extra junk stacked all over the place. If you have extra junk it gives off the impression that there is not enough storage in your house – an idea that you don’t want to put into the heads of your potential buyers.

Write A Good Description of Your Property:

You want to be as accurate and as detailed about your house as you can when using the internet to sell your home in NJ. Make sure to highlight all of the selling points to draw in as many potential buyers as possible. It is also important to reveal any defects or problems with your property so that you make sure you are staying within your duties to disclose all pertinent information about your house.. If you’ve recently fixed the roofing, disclose it. If you have a large, open floor plan, then you should mention that, too.

Choose Your Words Carefully:

When folks are on the hunt for a new house and they have read a ton of different listings, all the different descriptions will start to run together after a while. For the lack of more adjectives, all houses start to be described as “beautiful” or “cozy.” Don’t just blend into the crowd! Use descriptive language that makes your house stand out from all the others. Do what ever yo can to paint a pictures that causes people to need to see the house in person.

Follow The Data:

Acquiring, understanding, and using data will almost guarantee you a quick sale when you are using the internet to sell your home. By following the data, you’ll be able to:

• Run comparable of any recently sold houses in your area.
• Locate and contact the best agents in town. Online reviews will ensure you find the agent that is best for you!
• Study market trends for real estate in your area. Ask questions such as: when is the best time of year to sell my New Jersey house? What are the current buyer demographics?

Have you been thinking about selling your house in New Jersey? If that’s the case, you might already be considering the repairs and upgrades you want to make before you put it on the market. While some changes will prove to be lucrative decisions, there are other upgrades that are not worth the time or the effort in what you will get back for your efforts.  So let’s go over some upgrades to avoid before you sell!

Upgrades to avoid before you sell

Make changes and repairs to your property before you list it, is a sure way to get the most traffic to your property. But one mistake that too many sellers make is getting too crazy with upgrading throughout and begin to add items that don’t necessarily increase the overall value of the property. There are even some  upgrades that can even end up turning buyers off! So, before taking out a sledgehammer and busting down walls, make sure to know what upgrades to avoid before you sell. From there, only make adjustments and repairs that will pay for themselves. You only want to bring in items that will substantially increase the value of your home.

Do Know Your Market

The goal is not to make your house the nicest on the block. Your goal is to appeal to widest range of buyers necessary. See what your market demands. For instance, if you notice that every other house in the area has a back porch area and grilling pit, then it is safe to assume that that is what buyers in the area are looking for. But if its not something that everyone has, you are better off not adding it. Fewer people will be willing to pay more to have the back porch and grilling pit, therefore it is not going to yield the return that you are looking for.

Don’t Add a Pool Unless YOU are Swimming In It

You will almost never get back the cost of what it takes to put in a pool. It is not uncommon for people to spend over $50,000 by adding a new pool when it will only add like $10,000 more your homes overall value. So the only way you should opt for putting in a pool is when its something you are doing for your family’s enjoyment because you plan on using it. After that, a pool will cost you more than it adds in monetary value. Main Point: A pool will not provide a return on your money spent. 

Don’t Get Too Personal

Avoid a design that is too custom. It’s great if a particular set up worked well for your family, but that doesn’t mean it will work for every one. This would include overly designed kitchens, bathrooms or anywhere else you might consider one-of-a-kind. If you have any rooms that are painted in bold colors, you might want to paint over in a neutral tone, try to create an environment that is as neutral as possible. Remember, you are trying to appeal to the widest range of buyers possible.

Don’t Make Decisions for Your Buyers

If you have any big ticket items that need fixing, instead of making them yourself, consider providing a credit to your buyer so that they are free to make the adjustments themselves – they way that they want it done. Buyers see this as a creative opportunity to put their own spins on the house and more personalized to their own needs.  People are particularly attracted to the idea of choosing their own countertops and lighting fixtures. Main Point: Don’t choose upgrades based on your personal tastes.

Don’t mess with the Basement

Do you have a house with an unfinished basement? If, so… leave it that way. The costs to finish the basement aren’t worth what you will get back. Plus, many buyers will choose to renovate those areas on their own terms. If you haven’t renovated it while you lived there, there is no reason to do it now that you are trying to sell.  Main Point: An unfinished basement is best left that way.    

Do Make the Space Intentional

Keep the rooms as they were intended. Extra bedroom? Keep it a bedroom, not an office. Let the prospective buyers decide how they want to use the space. A room conversion will only knock down the perceived value. A 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home will get more traction than a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom + den at the same price. Also, a gym/office/library/breakfast nook can become confusing. Point blank: Plan your space with purpose. 

What are the Neighbors Doing?

Take a look at other homes in your neighborhood and keep your upgrades somewhere in the middle. If you go too far with your add-ons, you will be targeting high-end buyers. And maybe your neighborhood isn’t known for that. In addition, you will alienate buyers who love your neighborhood but don’t want to pay the high price. Point blank: Keep your property competitive within your neighborhood, but don’t take it too far! 

The subject of what real estate disclosures to use is important for both buyers and sellers to understand when doing a real estate transaction in New Jersey. The best rule of thumb? When in doubt, disclose! Try to be as upfront and honest as you possibly can. In this blog post, we are going to cover what is absolutely necessary for you to disclose, by law in New Jersey. 

What Real Estate Disclosures To Use in New Jersey

The best policy is to always be open and honest about the property, which will help you to not only avoid a potential lawsuit, but it is also going to make you an all-around more trustworthy person to work with, which everyone appreciates. When you start to hide defects or repairs that you have been putting off, those are the kinds of items that will come back to bite you in the butt in the end. Whether it comes back to you through a lawsuit or just old-fashioned karma… it’s better to protect your future by disclosing everything you know about the property when you decide What Real Estate Disclosures To Use in New Jersey.

Almost all real estate lawsuits happen because of non-disclosure.

So how should you determine what you are legally required to disclose? The best way to look at it is by asking, “does this affect the value of my property?” Here are some common concerns that should be addressed if they relate to your property:

• Concerns regarding the land. This could mean issues with the drainage, bad soil for building, or the potential for flooding. This could drastically prevent the property from increasing in value in the future.
• Foundational cracks or leveling issues. In some cracks that are really bad, or when the house has settled one way too much, there might be severe structural damage there, which is very costly to fix.
• Plumbing problems or sewage issues. Whether it is just a  leaky pipe or a more severe matter that is known about, they all should be brought to light, that way the buyer has the opportunity to investigate it further if they wish.  Some of the more expensive major repairs seem to come through water damage of some kind.
• Heating and HVAC. Any issues or irregularities in the heating or cooling systems definitely need to be addressed.
• Experiences with insects, critters, or bugs. This includes problems with termites, ants, cockroaches, rats, or moles – all of them need to informed of to your potential buyers. Consider hiring Terminix in New Jersey pest professionals to take care of those problems before you put your home on the market.
• Leaking roofs or missing shingles.  It’s important that you inform your buyer about these issues, otherwise, they are going to find it out during the next rainstorm, which they will not be happy about.
• Of course, lead paint should be a no-brainer. This is one of the most common disclosures in any real estate transaction and in fact, the absence of this form in a transaction for a house that was built before 1972 can get you in some serious hot water.
• Issues that can affect the right to the title. Determining rightful ownership is imperative to a successful transaction. This should be spelled out right at the very beginning of the deal, not left to find out during the escrow process.
• Documentation for past repairs. Keeping records of past repairs that have been made. as well as insurance claims that have been filed in the past is also important. You should be able to prove what work was done and the materials that were used.

In addition, there are some states that require a more thorough disclosure of the hazard zones, such as flooding zones, earthquake zones, and other kinds of environmental factors that may affect your land. Some areas also require you to report if there were any violent crimes that were committed in the house if it were considered common knowledge. However, not all states make this requirement, just do your due diligence to see if this is required in your state. When in doubt about any items that apply specifically to your property, just think about what you would care to know if you were to buy that home for yourself! It’s important to take all these things into consideration when you decide What Real Estate Disclosures To Use in New Jersey.

Disclosures give buyers the chance to learn as much information about the house as possible,  before making the purchase.

The best way to look at all of this is by understanding that disclosing everything to the best of your ability, is giving yourself the highest form of security later, to make sure nothing comes back to bite you. If you decide to keep details to yourself, then somehow a minor needed repair will turn into a much bigger problem than you realized. Now of course, it is not uncommon for something to come up during the inspection process that you may not have known about and been prepared for. Imagine your price slashed down because of a defect that you were not aware of.

Any prudent buyer is going to choose to have the house inspected before they will close on a sale. This will allow them to address any necessary repairs ahead of time, and of course it will also effect their bargaining ability if they decide they do want to take the work on. An inspection is also a way of showing good-faith when you are selling a property. It proves that you’re proclaiming to the world that you confident that your house is in the greatest possible condition before you sell it.

Like we’ve previously mentioned, disclosure rules can vary by state. Your attorney, agent, or broker can give you a to-do list that will cover all of the requirements, specifically for your state. Make sure to review the list entirely and report any information that might pertain to your house. When possible, report the dates when any upgrades or repairs were done. Complete the form, as honestly as possible. In the event that you do have questions, it’s always best to address them to a lawyer if you can, as opposed to just an agent. Important questions like that might not be within the scope of your agent’s experience, so you want to everything you can to lessen your own liability.

What is it that makes some homes sell right away and then others will sit on the market for months before they sell? And what about your house in New Jersey? In this blog post, we are going to try and help you to consider a reason why your house in NJ won’t sell… and what you can do about it!

There is no doubt that selling a property takes work…which is why so many people tend to put it off. In order to have a successful sale, you need the price, the property and the buyer to all work out together. In order to make this possible, you as the seller need to take a good, hard look at the property, as well as what your asking price will be.

Why Your House in NJ Won’t Sell – 7 Reasons Why

You’re Asking Too Much

Too often, people are so quick to get there property on the market, without having first really considered the amount that they will actually take home. Merely “guessing” what its worth and then neglecting counting all the additional costs, will might be setting yourself up for unrealistic explanations.

That is why it’s important to meet with a real estate professional from the start, so they can help to paint a picture of what you can expect as far as costs go for things like commissions, taxes and closing costs. An agent can also help to give you an idea of some comparables of what other houses are going for in your neighborhood. Pricing your house competitively is going to get the highest number of potential buyers to your house as quickly as possible, so it’s important not to come in too high, because you run the risk of looking irrational, and no one wants to work with an irrational seller.

It is also important to note that if you later decide to lower the price of your property, it is going to be visible to all the potential buyers who find your house on the MLS, as well as the other real estate marketing sites. If you are lowering the price of your home too often, it is going to look like something is wrong with your property.

Clutter Is A No-No

Despite how much you like your “stuff”… at the end of the day, it is still YOUR stuff. Which makes it hard for someone else to imagine them living in your house and making it their own. So why not help them but and give them a blank canvas to look at and imagine themselves living there? Here are some quick tips you can use to implement that:

• Store away all of your personal items.
• Clear out any paperwork from your workstations and kitchen tables.
• Take all of your pictures down.
• Put away any personal items like your toothbrush, soap and bathrobes.

While you are in organization mode, go ahead and give the whole house a thorough cleaning. To be honest, your usual habits towards cleaning might not be up the standards of  the other people who are checking out your house, so its time to get a little more serious about being a neat freak – the value of your home depends on it!

You Can’t Compete

So you are thinking of listing inNew Jersey…But do you understand what you are up against? It’s important that you are aware of the other properties that are available in your area – essentially, the competition that you are up against. Make sure that you know of all the other properties that are available in your area and what your neighbors are asking for them, as well as what other recent houses have sold for. It is also a good idea to look at your county’s appraiser website in addition to the other real estate sites. It is also vital that you understand there is a difference in what people are asking for, versus knowing what those same houses are actually being sold for.

Additionally, it’s a good idea for you to understand the demographics of your potential buyers. Is it mainly families in your market? Then make your backyard more conducive to and set up for fun in the outdoors. Or maybe there are more young professionals… Then set up the extra room in your house as a bonus office or gym room.

Major Repairs Are Needed

This is where honesty becomes key. There might be a number of items that you may have been neglecting in the past, and by now, they are just normal to you. So its important to get an opinion for an outsider on what repairs really ought to be done. Ask your family or friends for their candid opinion – as well as your agent. You also might consider having an official home inspection done on your own, it will show buyers that you are serious and have nothing to hide. If there are major repairs that are needed, fixing those items is going to improve your chances of selling, as well as lower your an potential bargaining power that your buyer will have over repairs needed.

Poor Photos

Nowadays, the internet is the number one way to sell a house. And the number one thing that people are looking for when they look on the internet is pictures. It is our opinion that nothing will faster destroy a listing than bad pictures. But on the flip side, that means that well done, professionally shot photographs have the ability to create all the buzz about your property and bring in a ton of sellers. Do not go with an agent that walks around your house with a camera phone and then calls it a day – you want someone who will bring in a professional photographer and really highlight the attributes of your home. Circling back to the other tips makes sure there isn’t ANY clutter within your pictures. Even if you do decide to put all your junk back after your pictures are taken… put the extra effort into creating great photographs – if you don’t, then that can easily be a reason for Why Your House In NJ Won’t Sell.

Your Agent Isn’t Working Hard Enough

There are some agents that are truly amazing and will go to the ends of the earth to get you the best deal for your house… and then there are other agents that will try to slide by with the bare minimum and hope for your house to sell. Unfortunately, there are a lot of agents out there that got their license in hopes of just trying to make a fast dollar. Be sure you know which one it is that you are hiring because hiring the wrong agent can be a major reason Why Your House In NJ Won’t Sell. Savannah Properties is a cash buying company that is genuinely interested in helping people to work through their property problems! If you have a problem, it might be out of the ordinary for a regular agent. After all, agents tend to specialize in houses that are in “new, top of the market” condition, but we specialize in helping people solve their property problems, and we are not afraid to get our hands dirty.

Issues With Title

Having a property with a lien or other issues that affect title can make it really difficult to sell your property to a traditional buyer. Situations like your grandmother giving you a property that wasn’t ever properly transferred to your name, are, unfortunately, all too common. If you are facing title issues of your own, don’t let that be a reason for Why Your House In NJ Won’t Sell. We can work through any title issues, so just call us today!

If you are behind on your mortgage payments… you may be wondering, should you just give your home back to the bank? This article is going to help you weigh out your options to see what is best for you.

Give Your Home Back To The Bank – Yes or NO?!

No one tries to lose their house. But life happens, and sometimes your financial circumstances make a turn for the worst and it becomes too much to manage, so you get behind on your mortgage.

If the situation becomes too dire, unfortunately, you might be forced to actually surrendering your house back to the bank in New Jersey, which can leave you in need of a new place to live. Additionally, there are also long-term repercussions to worry about, like the long-lasting impact it will make to your credit (and the ability for you to get another home later down the line).

These are things that no one wants to have to deal, especially for long periods of time. The good news is there are some things you can do today that will help you take some proactive measures to prevent further damage and help you get back to financial independence.

An overview of foreclosure

Depending on where you live and the type of mortgage that you have, the foreclosure process can vary greatly, which will affect the way in which that you have to give your home back to the bank.

Typically, when you neglect about 3 months of your mortgage payments, the bank will first start to send you late notices, and then the more late you get, warnings. After so many months of being late, if you still have not caught up on the missed mortgage payments, then your bank will begin the process of putting your house up for auction to pay for the debt.

If your house is sold at auction, the length of time that you are allowed to stay in your house before you will get kicked out is going to depend on which state you live in. But no matter which state you are in, at some point, you’ll need to find another place to live when you give your home back to the bank.

The good news is, you’ve got options!

If you make the decision to have your house foreclosed on, that will have the most detrimental effect on your credit score. As opposed to actually giving the house back before it gets foreclosed on. When you do that, it’s what’s referred to as a “deed in lieu of foreclosure”, which isn’t going to hit your credit as seriously as a foreclosure would.

This is because when you decide to surrender the rights of ownership to your house back to the bank, you are saving them a lot of money that they’d normally spend to carry out the foreclosure process, and in turn you’ll also avoid getting the foreclosure mark on your credit score when you give your home back to the bank.

Another option you have is to sell your house before it goes to auction. Depending on where you are at in the foreclosure process will depend upon how much time you have to sell. For instance if you are just a few payments late but you know it will only get worse, you might try to list it on the market to see the highest price you could possibly get before its too late. One thing to keep in mind is when you “list your house”, most potential buyers are going to use financing, which can take a couple months before the sale will actually go through. So if you have a few months before your looming auction date, this is the best way to go.

However, if you are on a time crunch and only have say, a few weeks before a fast approaching auction date, then you will want to look at other means. Selling to a real estate investor is going to get you out of hot water faster than any other option. A credible real estate investor like Savannah Properties has the ability to buy your property within weeks or even days, so that you can avoid an auction at all costs. It’s true that no real estate investor is going to give you top dollar for your house, but they will give you a fair price, given the circumstances. Another added bonus besides a fast sale is that they will also take on any needed repairs your house might need, so you don’t need to put any money into it before you sell. It is a great option that will prevent you from having to give your home back to the bank.

At Savannah Properties, we can come up with a solution that works for you and be flexible to your looming auction date. reach us today at Savannah Properties to see what we can offer you for your home — even if there are repairs that are needed.

I don’t want to give my home back to the bank in New Jersey!

So, why do some people decide to sell their house versus going through a foreclosure?

Even though people may not want to sell, they know that losing their house through foreclosure will create more hassle in the long run. Sometimes it is time for a fresh start, which is exactly what selling your house can provide. In some cases, you might even be able to make money (depending on how much equity you have) which can help provide for a fresh start. If you know that there is just no way that you are going to be able to get caught up, then the faster you sell your house, the better. The faster you can get out of the house and move on, the better off you will be. You will save the months of delinquent marks on your credit and you will avoid the foreclosure mark as well. So the short-term pain of selling your house will still be a better choice than the long-term pain when you give your home back to the bank.

If you have been struggling to sell your house for the last few months without any bites, you might find yourself saying, “My house in New Jersey won’t sell…help!” Well, this article is going to be one that you’ve been waiting on! Here, we are going to walk you through all of the potential issues that might be preventing you from finally getting that house off of your hands. The good news is, you still have a few great tricks up your sleeve that you might not know about so that you can get a fair price for your house.

If you have been struggling for quite some time, then you’ve probably already tried to lower your asking price.

Obviously, everyone’s out to the get the highest price for their home possible. Certainly, everyone wants to get more for their house than what they bought it for; but, if housing prices in your neighborhood have gone down, if the economy isn’t doing well, or if your house needs a fair deal of work to be done, then you might need to look at further reducing your asking price.

My House In New Jersey Won’t Sell…What Are My Options?

When my house in New Jersey Won’t Sell… the good thing to know is, you do have some options. Here are five things you might try to finally get that property off of your hands:

1) Remove it from “the Market”

Do you currently have your house listed with a realtor? Depending on how long it has been listed and what “activity” your house has shown since it has been listed, it might be working to your disadvantage. For instance, it your house has been listed for half a year and shows numerous price drops and offers that have fallen out of escrow, it may begin to look like something is wrong with your house and ward of potential buyers.

If that is the case with your house, then you might consider talking your house off the market for a few months and wait for the market conditions to improve before you try and put it back up for sale.

2) Sell it “Owner Financed”

If you really need to get the house off of your hands quickly, then selling owner-financed will open up your pool of buyers tremendously and give your more options for a quick sale. The is a situation in which you become the bank to the new owner and usually collect a down payment upfront and then the rest of the money in monthly payments. Of course, this way, you will not get all the money at once, but it will usually give you more money over the long term. If you are interested in learning more about this option and how it can work when my house in New Jersey won’t sell.. then this is a great article that explains in a little more detail. 

3) Rent it Instead of Sell It

If my house in New Jersey won’t sell and you need to move out into another home, instead of being stuck with both mortgages, you always have the option of turning the house into a rental property so that you don’t have to hold on to two mortgage payments. The best part about this option is depending on the rent conditions in your area, you might even end up making money each month if your rents can bring in more than what your monthly mortgage payment is. Just remember to factor in the upkeep and other additional expenses like repairs and maintenance.

Whether or not this is a good option for you will heavily depends on your current circumstance and whether the house is in rentable condition. You do want to make sure that you are providing a house that is in good, working condition so that you attract responsible and dependable renters. Make sure you do adequate screening of potential candidates and get a security deposit to cover your investment.

4) Consider a Short Sale

If you fit in the category where “My house in New Jersey Won’t Sell because I owe too much”, don’t feel hopeless – there are a lot of people within New Jersey that are in the same boat. You see this a lot with people who bought houses right before the crash in 2008 when housing prices were extremely inflated and now, the house isn’t worth what you paid for it (this is what is referred to as being “upside-down”).

In some circumstances, you might be able to negotiate with your bank to let you sell your house for less that what you still owe to the mortgage. Banks will usually accept a short sale if you are behind on your mortgages and it looks like you are heading to foreclosure, however, every bank has different rules and guidelines.

In order to do a short sale, you need a buyer on your side who is able to close quickly. That’s where we can help! If you are considering a short sale, reach us right away at Savannah Properties for a fast, no-hassle offer for your property.

However, it is important to keep in mind that a short sale will affect your credit score. Having a short sale mark on your credit history will show for a few tears and may prevent you from obtaining another mortgage, for a least a few years.

5) Consider a “Lease-to-Own” Option

A lease-t0-own option is when you rent your house out to someone and give them the option to buy your house at a specified time, or before the lease will expire. This is a good option when you are not able to find a qualified buyer because it gives you the ability to start collecting rent in meantime while your tenant saves up for a downpayment and also gives them time to establish good payment history with you. It’s very similar to option #2 “Sell it Owner Financed” but this way, you are giving each other a trial period beforehand to make sure it will be a good fit for the both of you.

You can also structure it in such a way that a lease premium is added to their monthly rent payment and that premium can count towards the down payment if they do exercise the option to buy (sort of like a forced savings plan for the tenant) – or, you can keep it as income if they do not exercise their right to buy later on.

My House in New Jersey Won’t Sell!

If you want to talk to someone regarding any of these options, please reach out to us directly for help and we can help you explore all of your options for selling your house in New Jersey. by filling out the form on this page to have someone contact you right away.

3 House Selling Tips In New Jersey: tips from the pros

Selling a house anywhere is almost never a simple process, much less selling a house in New Jersey. But then things can get particularly strenuous when you need to sell your New Jersey house fast. In this blog post, we will take a dive into 3 house selling tips in New Jersey – so that you can be on your way to a fast sale, while still putting the most money back into your pocket.

House Selling Tip #1: Increasing Your Odds

The first item you can do to get a faster sale is by staging your house.  Staging is essentially making sure that your home looks as appealing as possible to a wide range of potential buyers. You want to organize all your furniture in a way that works to showcase your homes greatest attributes.

When we talk about staging, this should also include the “curb appeal” of your home. Since the front of the house is the first thing your buyers will see, you want to make sure you give a strong first impression. What do they see when they first pull up to your house? Contemplate which kinds of fast, inexpensive improvements you might be able to make – like planting flowers or giving the driveway a power wash  – that will give your house a facelift.

If you just don’t have the time or the manpower to thoroughly clean the inside of your house, spending the extra money to have a local New Jersey cleaning service do it for you, will be money well spent. Once your home is spotless, it’s important to try and keep out of as many areas as possible so that it will stay clean. Avoid cooking any foods that linger, because you never know when you will get a call to have a showing and you will have to jump out at a moment’s notice.

House Selling Tip #2: Time to Upgrade

It goes without say that if you’re planning to move out anyway, the last thing you want to be shoveling money at is improvements that you won’t even get to enjoy yourself. So you don’t necessarily have to consider major improvements like a kitchen remodel, but you do want to make sure everything is in proper working order as well as consider some affordable upgrades that will surely increase the value of your property and make it more attractive to potential buyers.

For instance, if your washer and dryer are old and on their last leg, replacing them with some brand-new whirlpools will set you back a couple hundred bucks but it can substantially increase your houses overall value. Other things like having a new water heater or just bought air conditioning unit will put your buyers at ease that everything is in good working order and that your home has been well cared for.

If you do have some budgetary issues, then it can be difficult to make such required upgrades and repairs. If you do have a property in New Jersey that you want to sell but it requires more work than you are able to take on, we might be a good solution as we buy houses as-is. You don’t have to put in any time or money and we can give you cash. 

House Selling Tip #3: Don’t get Distracted

A big house selling tips to keep in mind is when a potential buyer looks at your property, you want them to envision themselves living there and that being their new home, not feeling trapped inside of your existing one.

You want to aide them in building an illusion and the easiest way to do that is removing any items that personalizes your home, like family portraits, personal art, and eliminating all traces of clutter.

If you are already know that your house is busting at seams in your storage areas, it would be worth your while to get a storage container to move all of your extra clutter. If you have too much stacked up in the garage or in your closets, it will give off the impression that there is not enough storage, something that no one wants.

The more open spaces you are able to create, the more spacious your house will look and feel. The last thing you want is clutter laying out for anyone to see… and you also want to avoid overflowing closets and drawers… since your buyers will be interested in checking them out.

New Jersey House Selling Tips: In Conclusion

We hope these 3 house selling tips were helpful! If you just don’t want to put forth any of the energy or money to get your house sold, you might want to look at more untraditional means of selling your house. Savannah Properties is a professional home buying company that specializes in buying houses with problems. We handle all of the headaches so that you don’t have to… and we can help.

Are you wondering how to sell your home quickly in New Jersey? Do you have a house that you need taken off of your hands A.S.A.P?

Whatever the reason – may be you have some pressing financial commitments or you need to relocate out of state because of another job – getting a quick sale for your property in New Jersey is just what you need so that you can move on.

The biggest stipulation that homeowners that have to sell their house fast will soon realize is that unfortunately, they’re at the mercy of the market. The market influences just how quickly they are able to sell and at what price. And you are probably aware that here in the New Jersey real estate market, things fluctuate on a monthly basis and it can be hard to find any solid ground. So, its important to know…

Which factors influence how to sell your home quickly in New Jersey:

Since there are so many factors that can influence how to sell your home quickly in New Jersey, it’s a good idea for you to know what to look out for.

Some of those elements will include:

• The state of the national economy
• The state of the local economy in New Jersey
• Current interest rates
• The current trends of your neighborhood
• The current condition of your home and the work that it requires
• The price you are asking for your home
• The asking prices of other, similar homes in your neighborhood

… this is a good starting point, but depending on the unique situation of your house, there can be tons of other factors as well.

Now, you might not have the luxury of time on your side, so waiting around for the market to rise in your New Jersey neighborhood may not be a feasible option. So that leaves you to face the harsh realities of selling in the current market. So here are…

Four steps to take on how to sell your home quickly in New Jersey:

1st, keep in mind that yours isn’t the only property that’s for sale.

At any given there, there are usually more than one house for sale in any given market, which are all competing for the buyers that are on the hunt for the best deal possible. So rather than just having a price in mind for what you want for your house, it’s important to know your competition and see what else is available in your neighborhood. It’s a good idea to know the conditions of the other houses and see what they are asking for. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples: you want to make sure you are comparing your home to other with a similar square footage, layout and style. And you definitely do not want to be the highest priced house in your area, unless your property offers substantially more than all the others if you went to know how to sell your home quickly in New Jersey.

2nd, take some time to think about who will most likely buy your house.

Depending on the size and location of your home, it may be that a new family with young children will be most likely to move in… or perhaps a single, young professional looking to be close to downtown where she works. Or maybe it’s a small house on a quiet street where an older, retired couple might be looking to downsize. There are so many different reasons that someone has for buying a house and oftentimes their reasoning is influenced by family, work, and other lifestyle rationale. But once you understand their reasoning, it’s going to help you with our next point…

3rd, invest a little bit of time, resources, and efforts into preparing your property for your ideal buyer.

If you figure that the person most likely to buy your house will be a young family with children, then prepare it for such and make it more appealing to those kinds of buyers. Perhaps you should create a dream backyard setting complete with a swingset and the pool fenced off. You could also stage your extra empty rooms to look like a kid’s room or playroom and really help your buyers envision themselves living in and using the spaces that will impact them most. If the buyer most likely to buy your house is a single, young professional then perhaps you will want to set up that extra empty room to look like an office or gym. And in this case, you probably want the landscape in the backyard to be low maintenance and no hassle. Getting creative will help you more than anything if you want to learn how to sell your home quickly in New Jersey!

4th, enlist the help of a local New Jersey real estate professional to help you prepare, list, and sell your home.

Real estate agents can be an enormous help when it comes to selling your home. They are aware of what is going on in the market and have a deep understanding of what buyers are looking for because they are helping them every day! There are a plethora of quality agents here in New Jersey that you can work with…but not all agents are created equal. With everyone and their mom having a license these days, you want to make sure you are working with the best of the best. Make sure you are asking probing questions like, “how many other homes have you sold in this area?” or asking for referrals. Working with a good real estate agent will do wonders when you are looking for how to sell your home quickly in New Jersey.

If these 4 simple steps are followed closely, you will heavily increase your odds of selling your home quickly. However, there are also sometimes when you will need to sell your house even faster than that!

How to sell your home quickly in New Jersey: the FASTEST way…

There are some instances when you may not even have the time to check out comparables, much less redesign your backyard to fit a specific kind of buyer. While those are things that can be done to increase your odds of a quick sale, there are other times when you need it off your hands without any work, plain and simple. That’s where Savannah Properties comes in…

You can bypass all these steps quickly and easily by selling your house to a local real estate investment company for cash. At Savannah Properties, that’s exactly what we specialize in buying houses fast.

We are the perfect solution for homeowners that are either in financial distress or who do not have the luxury of time on their hands. If you are facing some form of crisis, such as divorce or a death in the family, when those events happen, the last thing you want to do is think about painting the house so it’s perfect for someone else! It’s much easier to simply pick up the phone and sell your house with one phone call.

Do you need to Sell Your House Fast During the Holidays in New Jersey but since it’s the holiday season, you’re reluctant or hesitant? Well with the right help, we can guide you to selling your house – not matter what the time of year is!  

Despite popular belief, the holiday season is actually a wonderful time to sell and can be used to your advantage! Since there are fewer houses listed on the market, it gives yours a chance to stand out to all the potential buyers. Believe, me people DO still move during the holidays, for a variety of reasons why. And the people who are in the market, are oftentimes the people that need to buy ASAP! This article will help you learn how to use this time of year to your advantage. Keep reading to learn how you can Sell Your House Fast During the Holidays in New Jersey!

Channel  Homey Feels: Warm and Inviting

No matter where you live or who you are, everyone loves to get a cozy, inviting vibe when they walk into a house. If you are doing a showing or an open house, make sure that you offer seasonal nibbles like cookies or a Christmas appetizer, and then seasonal drinks like hot cocoa or hot cider to do the trick. Not only does it give your prospective buyers a reason to hang around longer, it also puts them in a better mood. If there is a fireplace, make sure its lit, even if you live in warmer climate, as it will help to showcase all of the highlights of the property and create a sophisticated and inviting vibe.

Seasonal scents will also help to add to the atmosphere you need in order to Sell Your House Fast During the Holidays in New Jersey. Think gingerbread, orange, clove, pine, and fresh baked cookies… all scents that will help people to feel right at home. Just make sure that you are not using all the scents at once! You want to add to your cozyness ambiance… not clutter or distract your guests.

Hire the Help of a Professional

Enlisting the help of a pro to decorate your home isn’t a bad idea and the return you get on your money spent will be well worth it. Look for a reasonably priced interior designers or home stagers that will transform your home into the picture of cozy you would see in a Hallmark Christmas movie. The idea here is to bring in a professional that has an impartial eye and can give you their honest opinion of what buyers will be looking for in order to Sell Your House Fast During the Holidays in New Jersey.

Collaborating with a designer will likely require that you purchase some pieces to be fully purchased; however, you should also consider staging services that can lend you chic pieces to add the right touches. It’s super simple: they are delivered straight to your door and then you return the items after the sale. If you get a home stager that really knows what they’re doing, it should be very easy to Sell Your House Fast During the Holidays in New Jersey.

Don’t Overly Decorate

Even the most beautiful holiday decorations can appear cluttered if not used sparingly. Many of us have mismatched boxes of ornaments, collected over time and stored in a holiday hodgepodge. If you are selling your house during the holiday season, show some restraint with the items you put out. Rudolph with the missing nose should stay in his box this year.

In addition, personalized items can make prospective buyers feel as if they are intruding. When you are showing the house, put away stockings with names and decorations made by the kids. Of course, you can put them back out after your guests have left.

Improve Your Curb Appeal

Since the front yard is always what potential buyers see when coming to your house, make sure that you give them a good first impression. The very most important step that anyone can do, no matter your budget is to make the exterior clean! You want to give the impression that the property is well cared for – even if it isn’t the nicest property. Including a few tasteful decorations can also help people to feel welcome.

Definitely don’t go overboard, but a few seasonal pieces can help cultivate an inviting space that you want to create in order to Sell Your House Fast During the Holidays in New Jersey. Incorporating lighting is also a nice touch for evening showings – just don’t go overboard. Use your neighbors as a gauge and try to keep pace with other trends you see. You don’t want to be the one  lighting up the block, however, you don’t want to be the only one without lights either.

Find The Right People

Consider the type of buyers that might be moving during the Christmas season. Families with children who are on a Christmas break. Investors that are looking to buy properties before the end of 4th quarter ends. Students and young professionals are also more likely to relocate around this time. To cover all your bases, ensure your house is marketed where it would encompass these demographic areas. You can advertise near schools, feature your ad within a local business journal or even put your listing in a college newspaper. The more ads you have out there, the faster you will be able to Sell Your House Fast During the Holidays in New Jersey

If we can offer you any advice, just remain optimistic and use some of these “out of the box” methods to seek out your ideal buyer! And if it ends up that you don’t find a buyer before December is over.. relax. January is right around the corner!

It’s that time of year again… yup, tax season is upon us! If you have or if you are planning to sell your New Jersey house in], then this is definitely the article for you! We are going to go over our special Tax Tips To Sell Your New Jersey House. Please note that the purpose of this article is to inform! We strongly suggest seeking the help of a real estate tax professional to get help with your particular situation. 

Tax Tips To Sell Your New JerseyHouse

If you have specific questions, it is always best to ask the IRS directly! 

Not All Profits Are Taxable

As long as you meet a few different criteria, then you don’t have to pay taxes on a high portion of your profits. Under most situations, you can exclude up to the first $250,000 for single person tax returns, and up to the first $500,000 if you file a joint tax return. Do keep in mind that if you end up selling for a loss, you can’t make a deduction for that amount.

Now this deduction only applies to people who are selling their primary residence, and may only be utilized once every two years. Further, in order to qualify for this deduction, you need to have lived in that home for a minimum of two of the past five years.

It’s also important to update your address with the IRS each time that you move.

More Exclusions

If the home is a rental property and you can’t meet the above requirements, you may yet be able to exclude a certain portion of the profits out of your income taxes. If you meet some of the IRS’ special conditions then you might qualify for a prorated, tax-free gain. Some special conditions would include a change in your health, a change in employment, or other unfortunate circumstances. It’s a good rule of thumb to say that if you have seen a substantial change in your income, you might qualify for assistance from the IRS to keep a portion tax-free. Make sure that you are exploring all your options for Tax Tips To Sell Your New Jersey House

Reporting the Sale

You’ll be required to report the sale of your house if you receive a 1099-S form from your closing agent. The purpose of this form is to provide the IRS with pertinent information regarding the proceeds of the transactions. In order to avoid reporting, ensure that there weren’t any profits in the transaction. If that is the case, then before closing you can let your agent know that the form doesn’t need to be issued. Make sure that this done because even if there wasn’t any profits involved, if the 1099-S form is issued, you’ll still be required to file with the IRS… even when there wasn’t any money owed.

Taxes for Capital Gains

If the property you’re selling an investment property or a house that you only owned briefly, it’s likely that you’ll still be subject to capital gains. They are completely dependent on which tax bracket you are in ie., how much you make. If you’re in a lower tax bracket, there is a higher chance that you won’t have to pay any capital gains. For those in the higher tax brackets, that means you may have to pay upwards of 20%. Even if you only owned the house for a short time, those sorts of assets will typically be taxed at the same rates as ordinary income.

Credits For First-Time Homebuyers

It does depend upon the dates that you purchased and sold your house, but you received a first time home buyer credit and then moved quickly after then you may be required to pay back all or a portion of that supplement that you received. Usually the rule of thumb is if you move within three years of buying the house, the credit needs to be paid back through the sale of the house. Special rules might apply for different situations, you can learn more about that through Publication 523 from the IRS.

You Can Deduct Your Sales Costs

Good news! When selling your New Jersey house, the IRS allows you to deduct any reasonable expense you incurred in order to successfully sell your house. That includes escrow fees, improvements that were made, any assessments, advertising costs, agent fees, etc. It’s important to keep a ledger of each dollar you spend in the pursuit of selling your property. Once tax time rolls around the corner, this will certainly amount to major deductions!

No matter the time of year you decide to sell, it’s always the best idea to find guidance from a real estate tax professional and ask a host of questions. You can also consult with your real estate agent, accountant, or attorney to make sure you are following a plan that is designed specifically for you in mind.