Bergen County Janurary Market Report

www.RickRobinsonHomes.com

Bergen County NJ January Market Report

One of the great things about being part of a Real Estate Board is that I get access to these great Market Reports that tell me how the market is doing at a particular time and I can then pass that information on to homeowners. This will give them a small glimpse of how the market is doing in Bergen County.

As Realtors we can tell potential clients what the housing market is doing in their area but the homeowners might not believe completely what we are telling them, and this report will validate what we say and help our potential clients get a feel for how long it might take to sell their home and if it is a Sellers or Buyers market as well as how much they might sell the home for.


Photo curtsey of photo bucket

We can also get a feel for how long a home is taking to sell. Right now it seems that the Inventory of Single Family homes for sale is LOW there is only a 4 month supply this means if no other homes were to be put up for sale and with the current amount of Buyers out there ALL the for sale homes would be sold in 4 months and there would be nothing available to buy. This makes NOW a great time to list your home. There are more Buyers than there are homes for sale. (Sellers Market)

A single family home days on the market average is 79 days in the last 12 month period, and they are selling for 96.3% of asking price.

Condos have a days on market average of 103 and they are selling for 95.5% of list price within the last 12 months. Now these numbers can change rather quickly so it is important to keep up to date on what is happening in the market trends and this is why you should always hire a Realtor to Buy or Sell a home.

I would like to apply for that job.....Go to my website to see what homes are for sale near you.

Until Next Time...




 

Time to start thinking about next years backyard makeover!

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Time to start thinking about next years backyard makeover!

I know it is winter time now but that means that while everyone in the cold climates are stuck indoors and getting cabin fever already, we can start to imagine our backyard makeover for next summer….

Maybe you have always wanted a pool or maybe a portable spa?

Some of you may already have these items but need to give your back yard a facelift, how about a new deck or patio?

One of the most common makeovers is the patio or deck; these can be made from all different kinds of material,

    ·       wood

          ·       treks decking

·        pavers

                                             ·       Concrete the options are plentiful.

First thing you need to do is decide how big or small of a deck or patio you need or want. When it comes to spas a good rule is to have the patio at least 3 feet larger than the spa itself to have some walking room around it.

Another great makeover idea is landscaping, I love to see backyard gardens around a pool or spa they just add some peacefulness to the area, I think so anyway.

·       When considering landscaping it is best to hire a professional to do the layout and install as most of the contractors have a detailed education and experience in these matters and can give you some great ideas.

Lighting is also a great mood enhancer. There are several lighting options as well.

                    ·       Spot lighting to highlight a beautiful tree or the house itself.

·       Low level garden lights to accent a walking path

               ·       Stick lights to go around the perimeter of the deck or spa

               ·       Paver lights. Designed to be flushed with the pavers but illuminate

                      ·       Step lighting for wood or treks decking, a lighted step area for safety when going up or down the steps.

Fire pit area is one of my favorite things to do as well. There are several types of these you can choose from.

          ·       Wood burning

·       Propane

     ·       Natural Gas

                                                ·       Outdoor fireplace (also wood burning)

No matter what your ideas are; start thinking now about what you would like to do so you will have plenty of time to design and re-design the plans (believe me you will be glad you started now).

Until Next Time….

www.rickrobinsonhomes.com

So you are thinking about buying a home that has a pool? What should you do?

I hear these questions often and here are some of my suggestions:

First thing you need to do is get a professional to do a complete pool inspection that includes a pressure test of all the plumbing lines. When they do a pressure test they will fill all the lines with water and get the pressure in the lines up to 10-15 lbs and they will watch to see if the pressure starts to drop this could indicate a leak in one of the plumbing lines.

An inspection will also give you an experts opinion on the condition of the pool equipment it's possible age and if there is any repairs they feel should be made right away, the biggest issues I have found is an older heater that leaks and or does not fire up. Repairs can be costly if you need to replace equipment. If you have a concrete pool then you may need to have the pool re plastered or tile and coping repairs these can be a costly repair that you should not have to be responsible for. Re plaster jobs could be in excess of $5000.00 tile and coping could be the same.

A vinyl liner pool is different as long as the vinyl liner is in tact and not leaking you should be OK a liner can fade, but this will not change the integrity of the pool itself. A new liner can run from $2000-$3000 for the liner and then another $1000 for the installation.

Once you determine that the pool is sound and you have a good report from the inspector you can go to the homeowner and ask for credit for any pool repairs needed before you close on the house.

Once you own the home take a water sample from the pool to your local pool supply center and have the water tested. They will tell you what you need to add to the water to keep it clean and safe for swimming, they can also guide you on proper maintenance and operation. A pool is a great feature to have in the backyard, it can be fun for the whole family and give your kids some great summer fun.

With a little knowledge and patience, a pool can be a great STAYCATION at home and save you a great deal of money on those costly trips to the beach.

So go ahead and buy that house and go swimming.....

Until Next Time....