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Beatrice Bloom, Princeton Real Estate Agent

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WHAT’S THE ONE THING HOME BUYERS CARE MORE ABOUT THAN LOCATION? PRICE! 

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – January 15, 2020

WHAT’S THE ONE THING HOME BUYERS CARE MORE ABOUT THAN LOCATION? PRICE! 

Overpricing your home to earn a bigger profit may seem like a good idea at first. But chances are, if you don’t get the pricing right, your home will sit on the market many more days than it should, which plants the idea in prospective buyers’ minds there is something wrong with your home. And this means your home very well may end up selling for even less than asking, in addition to the lengthy amount of time spent finding a buyer, which can be stressful and costly. 

Don’t ignore the comps. Most of us are very emotionally attached to our homes, which leads us to believe it’s worth more than it really is. If your next door neighbor’s home in a similar condition to yours was sold in the past six months and has a comparable square footage and number of beds/baths, this is what you will need to focus on when determining an asking price. Because not only will prospective buyers and their agents already have that information, and more importantly, the appraiser assessing your home’s value once it’s under contract certainly will, too!

Take note: just because the internet claims your home is worth a certain amount, it is unlikely that is what your home will ultimately sell for, as that estimate doesn’t take into account the condition of your home, which is a huge determining factor.   

Finally, choose wisely if you decide to invest in renovations prior to listing your home. While kitchens and baths tend to have the best ROI, they are still not necessarily a dollar-for-dollar investment.

PREPARING YOUR HOUSE FOR WINTER

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – December 18, 2019

PREPARING YOUR HOUSE FOR WINTER

It is that time of year, the temperature has dropped and the leaves have fallen. Here are some things you should consider to prepare your home for the chilly days:

–    Protect your pipes, make sure the interior of your home is at least 55 degrees

–    Turn off sprinkler systems and outdoor faucets

– Get a snow shovel, snow blower or hire a professional to remove snow

– Have sand and de-icer on hand to prevent slipping or worse a fall

– Clean your chimney and get firewood

– Make sure trees and limbs are clear of the house

– Get a professional energy audit

– Make sure to have a good hot cocoa recipe on hand to warm up after spending time in the cold winter air

PROS & CONS OF ARTIFICIAL TURF

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – December 11, 2019

PROS & CONS OF ARTIFICIAL TURF

Homeowners are using artificial turf for many different applications, including lawns, play areas, dog runs, putting greens, pool surrounds, and more.

If you’re wondering if synthetic turf is a good choice for your home, consider these pros and cons:

PRO: There’s no need to hire a lawn crew or do your own mowing, trimming, and weeding. You also won’t have to invest any time or money on fertilizers or reseeding trouble spots. There are no watering requirements which further reduces cost.

CON: Leaves from nearby bushes and trees will still accumulate on an artificial lawn. If you don’t remove them, weeds can grow in the leaf debris, creating another yard chore.

PRO: Depending on the quality of the product, artificial turf can last 15 to 25 years. 

CON: Premium artificial grass can cost upwards of $20 per square foot, installed. 

PRO: Synthetic grass is often manufactured with partially recycled materials. 

CON: Turf manufacturing is not an environmentally-friendly process, and most materials cannot be recycled when it’s time for a replacement.

Source: National Association of Realtors

INTERIOR COLOR TRENDS 2020

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – November 20, 2019

INTERIOR COLOR TRENDS 2020

Every year a huge group of respected designers, architects and big paint manufacturing company representatives gather several times for special conferences. Interior color trends 2020 are exactly what they have been discussing recently. These meetings take place in Milan, Paris, New York and other fashion and   design oriented big cities.

Popular paint colors 2020 will be of great variety. We guarantee you will be able to find several options to your taste. Since interior trends 2020 all accent the decor you choose to use, the color trends 2020 will be of calm and neutral shades. Moreover, they assist in accenting the sophisticated elements of the interior.

· French Vanilla for the most tender bedroom color

· Mint is among the winners of interior color trends 

· Hazelnut living room paint colors offer a classy look

· Gray green offers a unique approach to interior trends

· Warm Gray is another neutral that offer a calming effect 

· Red and purple bedroom colors will replace pink.

Source: Design Decor Trends

HOW TO SUBMIT AN OFFER THAT’S MORE LIKELY TO GET ACCEPTED

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – October 23, 2019

HOW TO SUBMIT AN OFFER THAT’S MORE LIKELY TO GET ACCEPTED

How to Submit an Offer That’s More Likely to Get Accepted

While it may seem there isn’t too much within your control when it comes down to making an offer on your dream home, considering using these tips to increase your chances of submitting an offer that gets accepted:

  • Understand the market. An offer not only identifies what you are willing to pay for the house but also what you think it is worth. 
  • Consider motivation. A seller’s motivation can tell you a lot about their willingness to accept a lower offer. 
  • Be timely. You have less negotiation power if the seller has been presented with multiple offers. The sooner you put in an offer, the quicker you can find out whether or not your offer has been accepted or if you will be given an opportunity to revise it.
  • Offer a higher earnest money deposit. The earnest money deposit (EMD) accompanies your offer letter. It signifies a serious, sincere commitment to wanting to purchase the house.

The home-buying process can feel overwhelming at times. Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve your timeline while also increasing the chances of having your offer accepted. Do your research, try your best to be patient, and you will be in your new home in no time.

SHOULD YOUR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY COVER YOUR MORTGAGE?

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – October 16, 2019

SHOULD YOUR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY COVER YOUR MORTGAGE?

Your home is one of the biggest financial investments you and your family will make. If you are the primary person responsible for paying the mortgage, have you considered what would happen if you passed away before the mortgage is paid off and who would become responsible for the payments? Unfortunately, the act of paying off the mortgage could become a financial burden to your family. So, what’s the best way to try to cover these expenses and gain some peace of mind?

When it comes to choosing homeowners’ life insurance, you may have heard about mortgage life insurance, as well as term life insurance. Mortgage life insurance only pays off the mortgage of the house, and your beneficiaries will receive no other money from that policy. So, some experts will recommend getting term life insurance instead of mortgage life insurance because it allows you to buy coverage beyond just the mortgage repayment to meet all of your family’s needs. And depending on your age and the condition of your health, the premiums, in general, tend to be lower with term life insurance compared with mortgage protection insurance. 

Take the time to make a careful, informed decision when purchasing life insurance and work closely with a trusted agent, who can help you decide on the best plan for you and your family.

Beatrice Bloom