Today was a great day as I met up with my Metro Buffini Networking Group in Teaneck. This is a group of similar minded real estate professionals that synergize once every quarter on the real estate market, discuss hot topics and get educated on something related to our industry. This is a group of people I would trust to refer my clients and their friend to. So if you need real estate services out of this Central NJ area, I would be glad to refer you to the “best of the best” in the industry that will take care of you, the way I take care of my clients, with only the best service.

It was very interesting, as we met at Heritage Point in Teaneck for our meeting I was exposed to a very new idea to me. It was a retirement community, which looked more like a hotel than an apartment building. In fact, this “hotel” style was indeed a “rental” property for senior citizens. A fellow member’s dad is there having just sold his home in Bergen County and now lives in a brand new “apartment style” 2 BR, 2 bath, living room, dining area and kitchen with all the amenities!! The price is a bit steep, so it won’t be for everyone. But it provides a maintenance free lifestyle with nothing to worry about and it is close to the culture of Manhattan. Starting rent is $3,000 per month, there is fine dining on premises which the residents have 2 meals a day (which we all experienced firsthand as we dined during out meeting…and it was delicious), full daily activities, spa facilities, on-site health care, lovely “lobby area” with coffee and tea served throughout the day. My colleague’s dad even has “maid’s service”, but this is an optional service.  If this has any appeal, give me a call. I have a brochure I received from the community and would be glad to connect you to the right person, if you would like to learn more.

The rest of the meeting was a presentation by a professional organizer and a professional stager. The purpose of staging is to make conscious decisions on how to utilize your space to create a warm, inviting feeling. You need to remove all clutter and remove old wallpaper, for example, so the buyers will feel, “Yes, I could live here; this feels like home.”

The professional organizer is a benefit for anyone moving too. She can evaluate the space that you are moving to (assuming you are downsizing) and advise exactly how much kitchen equipment, towels, linens, etc you can take to your new home. She will work side by side with you to help you evaluate and make those difficult decisions on what to keep and what to purge and what to donate. She has a list of resources for your donations, so you feel it goes to a good cause.

After seeing their presentation, it solidified ever more to me, that preparing a home for sale is not an option anymore, but imperative. When you are ready to sell, your home must be ready too! Yes, it takes time…yes it costs money, but in the end, it is much less than any price reduction that you will do AND it will sell quicker and for more money!! These professionals can come into your home on a consultation basis and then can be hired on an hourly basis. A fully staged home can range from $1,200-$1,800 to stage using your own furnishings and the stager will provide accessories for your use free for 3 months. What dramatic before and after pictures.