Princeton Real Estate

Beatrice Bloom, Princeton Real Estate Agent

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SOLAR PANELS; CREATING ENERGY WHILE SAVING MONEY

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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

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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.  

MOLD AND REMEDIATION

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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

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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.

DISCLOSE OR NOT DISCLOSE? THAT IS THE QUESTION…

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – February 27, 2019

DISCLOSE OR NOT DISCLOSE? THAT IS THE QUESTION…

Yes! You have a responsibility to disclose everything you know about your home.  It is considered illegal to conceal defects on your home. This does not mean that you have to go looking for problems but it does mean that if you are aware there is or was a problem you must let the buyer know.  The State of New Jersey requires you disclose known, latent (concealed) material defects in the property.


Although it is not required a pre-inspection can be useful.  This will alert you to issues that you can chose to repair or simply disclose letting the buyer know is an issue.  There is value in knowing what you issues may come up, get them taken care by a licensed contractor and disclose that you made the repair.  


If you do not disclose or try to conceal an issue you could have common law fraud case on your hands.  The moral of the story is to be completely forthcoming protecting both you and the buyer.

REASONS TO HIRE A REAL ESTATE AGENT…

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

REASONS TO HIRE A REAL ESTATE AGENT…

1. Negotiations – buying and selling home is personal and can sometimes influence your negotiating skills.  It is key to have a seasoned professional with a neutral view to facilitate the negotiations.

2. Matchmaking – there are times when an agent can make a match before a home comes to market.  Beneficial to both sides, the seller does not have to market their home and the buyer does not have any competition.

3. Paperwork – a professionally prepared offer with proper documentation adds value to an offer.   

4. Problem solving – in the event an inspection reveals the need for repairs to the property an agent can assist in the analysis of what is reasonable to ask for and have the transaction proceed.

5. They know the inventory and can show you homes that check the most boxes for your must have list.  

6. Getting to the closing table is more likely as you have a second set of eyes on title, financing and contingencies written into a contract.

Hiring a trusted ally to help you through this process will serve you well and get you to your goal of that new home.

Beatrice Bloom