News | Move or Improve

October 5, 2020

Similar Process to Love It or List It on HGTV

If you love home remodels and are constantly looking for ways to upgrade your home, you are probably familiar with the TV network, HGTV. On the network is a show called Love It or List It where homeowners must decide if they want to IMPROVE their home or MOVE to the next. It consists of a realtor and project designer that take homeowners to see houses to possibly move to while remodeling their current home at the same time. Of course, the HGTV show Love It or List It makes the process look much more glamorous and gives viewers an unrealistic expectation of how it works.

MOVE or IMPROVE in NJ can be compared to Love It or List It popular show, except our process is more practical and for real people like you. We will provide you with a MOVE analysis and an IMPROVE analysis to help you decide which is the most efficient decision for you and your home.

MOVE or IMPROVE in NJ is a team of realtors and project designers that will walk you through the process of remodeling or selling your home. We will provide you with a MOVE analysis that includes the current market value, a list of updated task items, a strategic plan for marketing and selling your home, local homes that have your desired updates, and so much more!

On Love It or List It, they have actors that simply take your list of needs in a home and try to find local ones to meet your criteria. Most of the time, the homeowners are not thrilled with the houses they show them as they never meet their basic criteria. Not to mention, they have a limit of three houses that they are shown. With our trusted realtor, Jacki Venezio, you are sure to be shown several New Jersey homes that you fall in love with.

With your IMPROVE analysis, award-winning Project Designer Neil Parsons and the Design Build Planners team will provide you with a personalized list of desired upgrades, remodeler budget ranges, design, and an architectural fee estimate, and more!

This does not compare to Love It or List It, where they only provide you with a number estimate that is never enough in the end. There is always an issue with the design of the house that causes homeowners to pay thousands of dollars more! MOVE or IMPROVE’s HGTV services will be realistic for your home from the start and assist your ideal house dream with professional advice and a feasible plan.

The producers on the show supposedly do not let the homeowners choose most of the work they want doing to the house and instead do whatever they feel is best for the show (Shinners, 2016). You can rely on MOVE or IMPROVE in NJ to respect your wishes on your remodel while offering you expert advice on what may be most functional for your home!

As you can see, while HGTV shows are entertaining to watch, they are not always as realistic for the average homeowner like yourself. When debating if it is best to MOVE or IMPROVE your home, call our experts Jacki Venezio and Neil Parsons at MOVE or IMPROVE in NJ today for a FREE phone consultation!

Design Project, News

May 28, 2020

The Question: MOVE or IMPROVE?

Many people are being put in a situation in which they are working from home or at the very least, spending more time at home in general. After the shelter-in-place phase, many of us will realize whether want we want different about our surroundings. Now is the time to MOVE or IMPROVE. Our team can help you find your new home or design a remodel for your existing home.

One potential option is a brand new basement remodel! While other rooms in a home are designated for specific purposes, a basement can be used for anything! Home office, home gym, movie theater, play room…the possibilities are endless.

Another great idea is a brand new gourmet kitchen! With this shelter-in-place time, many have taken to spending a lot more time preparing meals in the kitchen. While many have been opting for more food delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, many have also opted to use this time to take up an interest in cooking! This would also be the perfect time to upgrade your current kitchen layout so that you can fully enjoy your new hobby even when we are in better times.

Another great option is an outdoor living space. While many are taking the time to enjoy more time outdoors, an outdoor living space provides an ideal way to interact with the outside world. The possibilities include options such as a fire pit or even a grill.

However, if you see moving as a better option, our teams of realtors are ready to assist. Please let us know if you have any questions on MOVING or IMPROVING as we are here to help.

News

November 2, 2019

10 Year Smoke Detectors

Have you ever encountered a moment of panic when your smoke detector goes off in the middle of night? Certainly more of a disturbance than your morning buzzer going off, most people have been in the situation of popping up in the middle of the night, looking for any potential issues and making sure everyone is safe.

More often than not, this issue is a “false alarm” and the battery simply needs to be changed. However, that doesn’t make the experience any less frightening. And for any number of reasons, the device still seems to act up in the coming weeks. A simple solution… getting a sealed ionization smoke alarm with 10-Year Lithium Battery.

Common brands like Kididie and First Alert are readily available at Lowes, Home Depot, and even online through Amazon, some cities and states now require these specialized smoke alarms. Many New Jersey towns insist in these for the mandatory fire inspection before a home sale. Professional realtors will inform sellers of this in advance to take care of as not to have delays in the process. The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing smoke alarms every 10 years and current estimates suggest that smoke alarms are in 96% of US homes. However, it is estimated that approximately 20% of them are not function due to battery issues.

This is not a problem with the 10-Year Lithium Battery Alarms. Since they are sealed, they are completely tamper proof. Further, due to the lithium battery, they are entirely capable of working for the full 10 years, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. They are available as both smoke detectors and smoke – carbon monoxide combination detectors.

These batteries are also immune to power outages. Further, these smoke alarms are known as “ionization” smoke sensors meaning that they are quicker to detect smoke and fire as opposed to their predecessors. So if you’d like to avoid late night scares, annoying “chirpring” from faulty smoke detectors, it is recommended, even if you city or state does not require it, that you upgrade to the far superior 10 Year Lithium Battery Smoke Alarm Detectors for your home and your family’s safety.

News

October 5, 2019

Good Luck in Real Estate

The real estate business, while rewarding, can be extremely challenging. While a good deal of hard work is required, there is something to be said for luck and positive energy in every potential transaction. Superstition, tradition, ritual…nothing is off-limits when it comes to what is often one of the biggest transactions in many people’s lives. Anyone who has been through the real estate process knows that no stone can be left unturned until there’s the final “SOLD!” at the end of the tunnel. Read below to find some potential “good luck” ideas that may aid you in your real estate endeavors.

Feng Shui: From space clearing to positive energy generation or flow, this is a field that has been around for quite some time and is gaining a lot of traction
Saint Joseph: Known as the “Patron Saint of Real Estate”. There are thousands of stories that burying a Saint Joseph statue on the property has helped speed along the process. However, there are different thoughts on the best positioning of the statue—so make sure you do your research and choose the option that feels right to you!
Beware of the Number 4: While much is made about the number “13” in U.S. culture, the number “4” is considered bad luck in Chinese culture. The English pronunciation of “four” is very close to the Chinese pronunciation for “death” and thus could potentially represent misfortune.
Essential Oils and Natural Products: As the essential oil market continues to grow; many people believe that essential oils; which let off a distinct scent can help set the mind and mood of the potential buyer. Some also believe in burning sage to send off bad spirits

While there are many different rituals that can be performed in the “luck” side of real estate; it will always be a challenge; there is really no substitute for hard work and determination. Therefore, it is important to align yourself with a continuously grinding real estate agent that is constantly working hard in your best interest.

Real Estate Home For Sale in Front of Beautiful New House

Case Study, News

October 5, 2019

Beware of This Real Estate Tactic

Because of emotional ties and pride, most homeowners believe their home is worth more than it actually is. Knowing this, sadly and unprofessionally, all too many real estate agents prey upon that belief.

The value of a home is what a willing and able buyer is prepared to pay for it. The best way to predict this dollar amount is to research the “comps.” That is the comparable homes that have sold over the past six months in the neighborhood. Plus and minus adjustments do have to be made for different features and conditions. This baseline creates a very good reference as far as how much to list a home for sale. This process is called a Market Analysis.

If priced correctly, a newly listed home in a town’s median home value range should sell within the first 30 days on the market. If there are no offers or just low ones in the first 30-90 days the correct strategy is often to make a price reduction.

Some realtors, on a listing appointment, will suggest that a higher price than proper market analysis will forecast. Homeowners will think that means more money in their pockets when their home sells. So they select this particular realtor with high hopes. Then, after the home doesn’t garner any interest and offers at that price point, the realtor suggests a price drop, most likely down to the correct market price. The once optimistic, unsuspecting homeowner might think that they own lost 30 plus days. In fact, they very well may have lost out to the best buyers in that crucial window of opportunity causing their home to sit much longer than expected, unsold on the market. Through the listing agreement, you will now be obligated to stay with this agent for months, losing both time and money.

A realtor that suggests you drop your home’s listing price by $30,000 may only be losing out $500 +/- in commission while you are losing thousands. But as this article suggests, an over-inflated home listing price merely gives owners hopes of extra money in their pocket. The reality is that it can cause a greater loss of time and money over and above the difference of the zealous listing amount and the correct marketing listing.

Be smart. Do your homework. Work with a professional realtor that has a proven track record that they can easily illustrate to you. Hire someone that you trust and feel comfortable with knowing they will have your family’s best interest first and foremost.