Homeownership

SOLAR PANELS; CREATING ENERGY WHILE SAVING MONEY

Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – June 26, 2019

SOLAR PANELS; CREATING ENERGY WHILE SAVING MONEY

Solar Panels reduce energy costs, add value to your home, create less of a carbon footprint and can generate and 8-10% return on investment. There are some things that you need to know before you decide to move forward to making these changes to your home.

· What size system do you need

· How many square feet does your roof space allow for solar panels to be installed

· What is the annual amount of Kilowatt hour you can expect from your system

· Are there tax credits and other incentives

· Energy costs in New Jersey are expensive; what is the projected savings and how long will it take to recoup the cost of installing the system

When taking into consideration as to buy or lease the panels, you should know that if you chose to lease it may complicate things if you decide to sell your home.

GETTING YOUR HOUSE PREPPED FOR SALE

Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – June 19, 2019

GETTING YOUR HOUSE PREPPED FOR SALE

Decluttering your house is key to getting your home sold. Personalized decor and collections can limit the imagination of buyers. A way to look through your house it to use the KonMari method. For those of you that are not familiar, this method introduces the idea of only keeping items that are used and bring you joy. Tidying not by room but by category; books, papers, clothes and sentimental items. Take time to consider if the item is useful. When was the last time your used it? Is it something that you should pack away? Once you have gone through the process it will cut down on the items that you pack and move and will ensure that you are off to a great start in your new home.

THE COST OF WAITING TO BUY A HOME

Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – June 12, 2019

THE COST OF WAITING TO BUY A HOME

Fredie Mac is forecasting interest rates to rise to 4.5% by the end of the Fourth quarter in 2020. Corelogic predicts that home prices will appreciate 4.8% over the next twelve months.

Today Next Year

4.3% Interest Rate 4.5%

$250,000 Home Price $262,000

$1,231.60 Mortgage Payment $1,321.04

If home prices continue to appreciate and interest rates go up, waiting to buy could cost you thousands of dollars. Over thirty years, you could save $32,198 that money could used for retirement. Yearly you can save $1,073.28, perhaps you could take a weekend retreat. Monthly, you save $89.44, perhaps dinner and a movie.

Still on the fence? Let’s sit down and find out the difference a year could make in your life.

MOLD AND REMEDIATION

Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – June 5, 2019

MOLD AND REMEDIATION

Mold is ever present and can simply be a nuisance or can cause health issues. The key is to identifying what type of mold is in your home.

Mold likes moisture so you may see it growing in the grout of the tile in the shower or in the basement, in crawl spaces and on walls. It is worth the cost to hire a professional for remediation. Sealing off the infected area, using HEPA scrubbers and vacuums are able to capture the tiny mold particles in their entirety are all services a good remediation company will offer. Professionals use antimicrobial chemicals to clean the infected area after demolition. Once the area is treated, you may want to run a dehumidifier and consider taking it one more step, have the area treated to be resistant to water damage.

Good remediation companies are able to clearly communicate a remediation plan, use professional equipment and have years of experience.

MULTIPLE OFFERS

Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – April 24, 2019

MULTIPLE OFFERS

With limited inventory and many buyers, we are finding there are multiple offer situations happening in and around town. There are different ways for a seller to negotiate multiple offers. The terms considered are Price, Good Faith Deposit, Money Down, Financing, Closing Date and other contingencies such as inspections and financing commitment. Just because a person is willing to pay the highest price, does not necessarily mean they are the “best offer” Things to consider…

· They can accept the “best offer”.

· They can make a counter offer to one party letting the parties know they are awaiting a decision.

· They can ask for all buyers to put in there final and best offer at which time the owner will evaluate all of the terms and decide which is the best and most likely to make it to the closing table.

When you find that you are in this situation as a buyer, it is wise to go in with the strongest offer right from the start. This shows you are serious about getting the deal done.

KEEPING YOUR HOME SAFE WHILE ON VACATION

Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – April 10, 2019

KEEPING YOUR HOME SAFE WHILE ON VACATION

Give a trusted friend a key so the can bring in the mail, garbage cans, water the plants and walk through the house to make sure all in well.

Do not post on Social Media that you will be out of town. There are professional’s out there that comb the internet to target folks who will be away from their property.

If you are going to be away for an extended period of time you may want to give the police a heads up. Make sure you let the neighbors know too. The more eyes on deck the better.

Lights on timers and curtains as they are. Remove any valuables like jewelry computer that can be seen through a window or sliding glass door.

Unplug major appliances and turn off the water. No surprises when you arrive home!

Enjoy your trip knowing you took precautions to protect your home and your family!

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