Somers Point Real Estate Buyers and Sellers Information - Joseph and Johnna Zarroli, Somers Point Realtors

Somers Point Real Estate for Sale by Joseph Zarroli and Johnna Zarroli of Island Realty Group - Fasy Real Estate

Joseph Zarroli and Johnna Zarroli exclusively sell Real Estate at the Jersey Shore and are available 7 days a week 364 days a year for all your real estate needs!
For further information please call your Somers Point Realtors at
609.402.8900
7am to 11pm 7 days a week.

Somers Point NJ Condos, Homes and Investment Properties
Somers Point New Jersey Real Estate - Atlantic County New Jersey Real Estate
Joseph Zarroli -and- Johnna Zarroli
Somers Point NJ Realtors - Island Realty Group - Fasy Real Estate
609.402.8900
OceanCityJoe@verizon.net
Somers Point Condos, Homes, Building Lots and Investment Properties for Sale

Welcome to Our Buyers and Sellers page...
Information whether you're Buying or Selling Somers Point New Jersey Homes, Condos
and other Real Estate!

Buying a Home

Interested in buying a house? There are a few steps involved in this process

Pre Approval
You should get yourself pre-approved so that you will know the price range for which you are qualified. Meet with a loan officer and go over your financial information with him. With this knowledge, contact your realtor and start looking!

Choose a Realtor
Be very candid with your realtor so that he or she will understand exactly what you want and need. She then can help you select homes that interest you. Also, if possible, try to get everyone who is buying the home to go on all appointments. This will save you not only time but may help you get the house of your dreams when the market is "hot".

Making an Offer
As soon as you find a house or houses that you like, ask your realtor to do a comparative market analysis on these properties. This will help you in deciding a price for a good offer and better your chance of purchasing one of these homes. Your realtor will go over the agreement of sale contract with you so that you understand all the terms. At this time, it is also wise to consult a real estate attorney to review your agreement. Your offer will then be submitted to the Seller and negotiations will proceed until both you and the seller come to a mutual agreement and everyone signs. In New Jersey you have three days before a signed contract becomes final.

Title Company
Your realtor will submit these signed agreements to a title company of your choice, and they will then order a title search and any other documents etc that are needed for settlement.

Apply for a Mortgage
Your next responsibility is to make application for a mortgage, if needed, by giving your loan officer (mortgage company, bank or mortgage broker) a copy of the signed agreement. He will then start that process going. Your personal financial information will be verified and they will have the house appraised and surveyed if necessary.

Inspections
It is generally suggested that you get a home inspection as well as a termite inspection and any other inspections that are necessary such as well and septic if applicable. Once your mortgage loan is approved, you will receive a copy of the commitment letter with the terms stipulated. You may need to correct some of these stipulations in order to get your final commitment. Now is also the time to order your homeowners insurance, flood and fire insurance also. A date and time for the closing is finalized.

Pre Closing
Just prior to the settlement, you will receive a copy of the closing costs so that you will know what to expect at the settlement table and to make sure you have enough certified funds or cashiers check to cover any differences needed such as the balance of the down payment.

Walk Through
Settlement day is here and just before settlement, it is advisable to do a walk through of the property. Check to make sure the appliances and heating/cooling system are working. If furnishings were to be left, make sure they were and vice versa. The property should be broom swept.

Settlement
Settlements usually take about one hour. You may bring an attorney with you. Your realtor will also be there. You will be signing all the necessary loan papers and other documentary required by your mortgage company. There are affidavits to sign from the title company and internal revenue forms.

Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of your new home!

Selling a Home
Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. How much is it REALLY worth? How long will it take to sell? How do you handle buyers making undesirable offers? There are steps involved before you sell also.

Decision
Selling a home is both an emotional experience and a financial challenge. In most situations, selling a home requires a major affirmative decision of the family to start the process. That process can be easy or complicated depending upon timing, knowledge, strategies, or even a little luck.

Asking Price
Pricing your home is both an art and a science. Achieving the optimal price is the result both of objective research into comparable properties and a gut feeling about your property and the current market. The right price should attract buyers, allow you to earn the most money possible, and help you sell as quickly as possible.

Tips to Sell
First impressions are lasting impressions. Curb appeal is so important as this is the first impression made upon the prospective buyer. Make sure your yard is mowed, shrubbery trimmed, front door clean and in good repair, trash free and toy free. (See Curb Appeal below)

Showing Your Home
Your home should be shown by appointment only. If you do not get much notice, straighten the house and leave before or when the realtor and clients arrive. The buyers feel more comfortable to discuss the house when you are not around. If you cannot leave, make yourself invisible. Do not offer any information unless you are asked. Your realtor should be able to answer their questions. Make sure all animals are removed from the house or secured so as not to bother others.

Negotiations
Most times your first offer is your best offer. As to best offers, sometimes the highest price is not the best offer. Terms, down payments, qualifications of buyers, closing date etc all figure into the final price. If you can, make a counter offer. But remember, once you change the agreement, it is no longer an agreement until the buyer accepts your change.

Warranties
Adding a home warranty to your listing adds confidence and might result in someone purchasing your home over a newer home. Many people are nervous about old appliances and fixtures, etc. Buyers are much more comfortable with a house that includes a one year warranty. The warranty can be promoted in the advertising as a selling feature of the home.

Closing
As with buying a home, the closing takes place at the settlement table. The buyer has bought himself a new home and you receive the monies due you after commissions are paid, taxes, mortgage payments, condo fees if applicable and such are adjusted.

When you drive up to a house for sale, how does it look from your car? Does it appeal to you so that you want to see the inside.......
this is called CURB APPEAL.

Does the house look nice from the street? Does the house look in good repair? Is the landscaping weeded and trimmed? Is the yard trash free? Is all clutter removed from around the house? Does the home look inviting? How about the paint and roof? If the windows look clean, probably the inside is clean also. Are there flowers in the gardens?

Many buyers drive by a home and make a decision to not go inside just from their first impression. There have been many homes that agents, such as ourselves, cannot coax the buyers out of the car because they just don't like the looks of the home from the outside.

Tips To Improve Your Curb Appeal

Every seller knows that there home should have "curb appeal." But what exactly does that mean.
Before you go to the expense of replacing major components, try some of these tips:

Trim the vegetation around your home -- particularly those bushes that may conceal windows. Then be sure that your landscaping looks great all of the time, even if you have to hire a gardener while your home is listed.

Invite visitors into your home by placing yellow flowers near or at the entry porch. Yellow draws the eye, and potential buyers will feel immediately welcome.

If there is patio furniture or BBQ and playground equipment in the backyard, be sure it is in good repair.

If you know the day that your home will be shown, buy a loaf of frozen bread and bake it before the potential buyers arrive. Leave the exhaust hood off so the odor will spread throughout the house. When I was a real estate agent, (because I couldn't bake bread), I learned to take a cookie sheet with me to my open houses. I would put the oven on warm, and place the cookie sheet inside with a little cinnamon on it. As the cinnamon warmed up, well, you get the idea.

In the Master Suite bath a pleasant a odor is a good idea too. Do NOT use potpourri. Many people are allergic to it. Instead, get some cheap strawberry bath bubbles at the drug store, and run a half tub full of hot water with the bubbles. After you let the water out, the room will have a pleasing atmosphere, and most people won't know why.

I think it goes without saying, but I've learned to say it anyway…..The family room and a child's room needs to be picked up, and the beds made.

Take down family photos on the hallway and living room walls. If you're trying to sell your home, it pays to let the buyer imagine their photos on the walls. I don't think this is necessary in the Master Suite — As a matter of fact I believe that family photos on the dresser there and around the TV entertainment area of your home imply that this house is a "good family" place.

Speaking of hearth and home impressions, nothing says that more than a fireplace. If it is cold outside, light your fireplace, (provided it doesn't smoke). The image of a warm fire is universally appealing to buyers.

Remove excess furniture. I know, ALL of your furniture is necessary, but..... Take a tour of the model homes at your local builder, and you'll find furniture that is two-thirds of normal size, and very little of it. Why?…. Because it makes the rooms look larger.

Speaking of making things look larger, my last suggestion is the hardest one for me. My garage has never been clean, but you should clean yours out before you list your home, even it this means you have rent a storage facility. Also, leave the cars out when your home is to be shown.
If these tips don't help, then you can consider doing the expensive things. But give the tips above a try first. I can testify they can make a home appealing and that appealing homes get more offers.

Finally, in case your agent hasn't told you, if possible, you should leave the premises while your home is be shown to potential buyers. Your presence makes buyers uncomfortable, and they may not linger long enough, or be honest enough with their agent, if they think you can hear their conversation.

Joseph & Johnna Zarroli
REALTOR/OWNERS

          Cell: 609.402.8900
Office: 609.522.4999            Fax: 866.571.9766
email: OceanCityJoe@verizon.net

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