Real Estate Tip:

Real Estate Tip:

If the Real Estate Agency you are considering working with does not have access to both New Jersey MLS and Garden State MLS, then move onto another agency that does! Not having access to 2 of the LARGEST Multiple Listing Services in our area, cheats a seller from getting exposure to their home and cheats a buyer from getting exposure to available homes on the market.

Here at Golden Image Realty, we are members of New Jersey MLS, Garden State MLS, CoStar and Loopnet as well as having access to multiple websites to help maximize exposure and get the most accurate data of today's real estate market in New Jersey.

If you are considering Buying, Selling or Renting? Consider Golden Image Realty, where you are not just a number but you are just as important as any other client who comes through our doors. We take pride in helping clients and customers achieve their dreams of home ownership and helping sellers sell their homes with no stress. Let us do the work for you! Call a professional at Golden Image Realty today 973-253-SOLD(7653)

EXPERIENCE DOES MATTER!
SELLING REAL ESTATE ALL OVER NEW JERSEY FOR 30+ YEARS!!!

Tips for Homebuyers!

Decorating Ideas: Coffered Ceilings

Decorating Ideas:
A COFFERED CEILING is one of the most popular ceiling designs today. They feature repeated sunken square or rectangular panels. The light fixture/fan is usually hung from the center panel while the other panels are sometimes designed with recessed lighting. A coffered ceiling creates the character of a room and requires very little decor to do so.
Check out this gorgeous room with a Coffered Ceiling, dark wood floors, white trim and grey walls.

Moving this Summer? Here are 10 Tips!

10 Summer Moving Tips by realtor.com

How to prepare for a seamless transition

If you're moving this summer, the busiest season for moving, you know how daunting it can be. But if you create a blueprint for your move, the transition from house to house will go more smoothly.

 

Here are 10 things you can do to prepare for a seamless transition.

 

1. Full serve, partial serve or a do-it-yourself move.  Can you do it alone or should you hire a licensed moving company for a full-service or partial-service move?  This is one of the first and often most difficult questions soon-to-be moving households face. The answer depends on your lifestyle, household size, budget and amount of time you have to get everything accomplished. Get written quotes from at least three licensed moving companies so you know you’re getting the best deal based on your specific moving needs.  Moving yourself or doing a partial-service move?  Packing calculators can make it easier to estimate the amount of boxes and packing materials needed.

2. Plan to unpack BEFORE you pack. Take photos of each room in the new home before you arrive with furniture, plants, appliances and family in tow. Write down on a clip board where each item should go in your next home before packing, and carry it with you on moving day. List out the major items that need to be assembled first. As you place each item in its new room, cross it off the list and you will be one step closer to enjoying your new home.

3. Be strategic about packing.  If you have more than a month to ‘pick up and move’, start early.  Complete a free change of address and schedule utilities ahead of time at Moving.com.  Start packing early.  Whether it’s one room, one cabinet or a drawer at a time, weed through what may be years of accumulation.  As you’re going through your belongings, divide everything into these helpful categories:  donate to charity, give to a friend, recycle, trash, pack now, or keep handy until moving day.  You’ll be surprised at how much you can donate, recycle or give to friends.  And, you’ll not be overwhelmed with the task at hand three days before you move. 

4. Moving is NOT child’s play. Plan ahead. Consider daycare on moving day, or get help from a friend or family member.  Provide lunch or some other appropriate thank you gesture if you do call in a favor. If that’s not an option, prioritize setting up safe places for your children to play in the new home on moving day so they’re not underfoot.  This will help everyone remain happy and calm on moving day.

5. Don’t fight with Fido. Sometimes we forget that all the packing and constant in-and-out of visitors is stressful for animals. Consider checking your pet into a daycare facility, or setting up a time for a friend to take them or check them into petday care. Don’t let your four-legged best friends get lost in the shuffle and remember to make day-of moving arrangements.

6. Keep track of small parts. Some items need to be broken down into pieces when moving, but do you know what to do with the small screws and washers that you end up with? Rather than tape them to the furniture, which can result in losing them, put everything in a baggie that is clearly marked and sealed. Keep all of the separate baggies together in one box on moving day and personally take it with you to your new home.

7. Take pictures of electronic hook-ups. Hooking up TVs, DVRs, home theater systems and computers can be challenging. Before unplugging any wires for the move, take a photo of the connections, print them out and label them in detail. This will create fewer headaches when setting up technology in the new home. Keep track of all loose wires using baggies or boxes that are clearly labeled, and personally carry these easy-to-lose items on moving day.

8. Packing cleaning products and toxins. Products such as detergents, pesticides and paint are heavy and unwieldy to pack. Dispose of as many as possible before the move in an eco-friendly way.  Call your city’s waste disposal department for guidance on proper disposal. For items that must be transported, pack them in a small box within a larger box for protection against leaks. Don’t overstuff boxes with these items! Consider marking these boxes in a different color, and seal them extra tight. Keep them separate from the rest of the boxes, particularly if you have kids and pets.

9. Consider getting full value insurance protection. If using a professional mover, it may cost a few dollars extra, but it provides peace of mind and eliminates later annoyances. Investing in full value protection means any lost or damaged articles will be repaired or replaced, or a cash settlement will be made at current market value, regardless of age. It's important to note that the required minimum coverage of 60 cents per pound would not cover the replacement cost of more expensive items such as a flat screen TV if damaged in transit.

10. Know your rights. If using a professional mover, research your rights as a consumer with either the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for interstate moves or contact the state agency within the state in which you reside for moves within state. Also, enlist the help of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or local law enforcement if the moving company fails to live up to its promises or threatens to hold your belongings hostage. FMCSA requires interstate movers to offer arbitration to help settle disputed claims.

Golden Image Realty

Realtor.com

 

Real Estate Tips: ATTENTION BUYERS

REAL ESTATE TIPS:

ATTENTION BUYERS!

FOR DAILY TIPS, ADVICE AND IDEAS FOLLOW US ON:

TWITTER: WWW.TWITTER.COM/GOLDENIMAGENJ

INSTAGRAM: WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/GOLDENIMAGEREALTY

FACEBOOK: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NJGOLDENIMAGEREALTY

Home Warranty- Is it worth it?

Is a home warranty worth the cost?
 

Whether you are buying your first home or selling a home and moving into another, a home warranty  could be a valuable protection for your finances and your peace of mind:

(click on link below to read article)

 http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-warranty-worth-cost/

 

For any questions on Real Estate, contact Golden Image Realty 

Office: 973-278-3600

Fax: 973-278-4279

Email: goldenimagenj@gmail.com

5 ways to boost Credit Scores

Thinking of buying but having trouble getting qualified for a loan?
Here's 5 Ways to Boost Credit Scores
If you have bad credit, you may struggle to get approved for a loan. Here are some ways to help you boost your credit scores and get a better rate: (click on link)
 http://www.realtor.com/advice/5-ways-boost-credit-scores-apply-loan/

Have you improved your credit score before? If so, what was the best advice you were given?

Call Golden Image Realty for more info. WE can help with all your Real Estate needs!

10 STEPS to making a financial budget!

 10 steps to making a financial budget from: money.cnn.com

Learn how to budget by following these 10 steps on how to bring your spending under control.

1. Budgets are a necessary evil.
They're the only practical way to get a grip on your spending - and to make sure your money is being used the way you want it to be used.
2. Creating a budget generally requires three steps.
- Identify how you're spending money now.
- Evaluate your current spending and set goals that take into account your long-term financial objectives.
- Track your spending to make sure it stays within those guidelines.
3. Use software to save grief.
If you use a personal-finance program such as Quicken or Microsoft Money, the built-in budget-making tools can create your budget for you.
4. Don't drive yourself nuts.
One drawback of monitoring your spending by computer is that it encourages overzealous attention to detail. Once you determine which categories of spending can and should be cut (or expanded), concentrate on those categories and worry less about other aspects of your spending.
5. Watch out for cash leakage.
If withdrawals from the ATM machine evaporate from your pocket without apparent explanation, it's time to keep better records. In general, if you find yourself returning to the ATM more than once a week or so, you need to examine where that cash is going.
6. Spending beyond your limits is dangerous.
But if you do, you've got plenty of company. Government figures show that many households with total income of $50,000 or less are spending more than they bring in. This doesn't make you an automatic candidate for bankruptcy - but it's definitely a sign you need to make some serious spending cuts.
7. Beware of luxuries dressed up as necessities.
If your income doesn't cover your costs, then some of your spending is probably for luxuries - even if you've been considering them to be filling a real need.
8. Tithe yourself.
Aim to spend no more than 90% of your income. That way, you'll have the other 10% left to save for your big-picture items.
9. Don't count on windfalls.
When projecting the amount of money you can live on, don't include dollars that you can't be sure you'll receive, such as year-end bonuses, tax refunds or investment gains.
10. Beware of spending creep.
As your annual income climbs from raises, promotions and smart investing, don't start spending for luxuries until you're sure that you're staying ahead of inflation. It's better to use those income increases as an excuse to save more.

Buying 101 - TOP 10 TIPS for Buyers!

 Check out this article from: www.money.cnn.com 

The top 10 things you need to know when buying a home.

1. Don't buy if you can't stay put.
If you can't commit to remaining in one place for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner - even in a rising market. When prices are falling, it's an even worse proposition.
2. Start by shoring up your credit.
Since you most likely will need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover.
3. Aim for a home you can really afford.
The rule of thumb is that you can buy housing that runs about two-and-one-half times your annual salary. But you'll do better to use one of many calculators available online to get a better handle on how your income, debts, and expenses affect what you can afford.
4. If you can't put down the usual 20 percent, you may still qualify for a loan.
There are a variety of public and private lenders who, if you qualify, offer low-interest mortgages that require a small down payment.
5. Buy in a district with good schools.
In most areas, this advice applies even if you don't have school-age children. Reason: When it comes time to sell, you'll learn that strong school districts are a top priority for many home buyers, thus helping to boost property values.
6. Get professional help. Even though the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings, most new buyers (and many more experienced ones) are better off using a professional agent. Look for an exclusive buyer agent, if possible, who will have your interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process. Call a Real Estate Professional here at Golden Image Realty 973-278-3600 to help you get started!!!
7. Choose carefully between points and rate.
When picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points -- a portion of the interest that you pay at closing -- in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you stay in the house for a long time -- say three to five years or more -- it's usually a better deal to take the points. The lower interest rate will save you more in the long run.
8. Before house hunting, get pre-approved.
Getting pre-approved will you save yourself the grief of looking at houses you can't afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house. Not to be confused with pre-qualification, which is based on a cursory review of your finances, pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history.
9. Do your homework before bidding.
Your opening bid should be based on the sales trend of similar homes in the neighborhood. So before making it, consider sales of similar homes in the last three months. If homes have recently sold at 5 percent less than the asking price, you should make a bid that's about eight to 10 percent lower than what the seller is asking.
10. Hire a home inspector.
Sure, your lender will require a home appraisal anyway. But that's just the bank's way of determining whether the house is worth the price you've agreed to pay. Separately, you should hire your own home inspector, preferably an engineer with experience in doing home surveys in the area where you are buying. His or her job will be to point out potential problems that could require costly repairs down the road.
Call a Real Estate Professional here at Golden Image Realty to help you get started!

Decorating & Designing Ideas

Decorating & Designing Ideas: 
 
Recessed lighting really does make all the difference! Spotless dark wood floors and Crown Molding throughout, with a high ceiling and open room to give a spacious and clean presentation. Sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest impression! 

Call 973-278-3600 for more information or follow us on facebook, twitter, Instagram and blogspot for more details, tips and advice.

Visit our website at www.goldenimagerealty.com

Making the choice to Sell.

Some quick tips:

There are many reasons to sell. Some sell because they want a bigger home, some sell because they want cheaper taxes, some sell because of a Job Relocation, some sell to be closer or further away from family and/or friends, the list can go on and on... Whatever the reason may be, the most important things to keep in mind are knowing when to sell, remember why you're selling and does it make sense?

Quite often, when putting homes on the market, Sellers always have a big idea of how much they want to get for their home, business or investment property. As we all know, the best way to price your home for the market is to get the information from a CMA report, with that knowledge of how much homes in the area have sold for and are listed for, you can then figure out a Listing Price. Also keep in mind the balance on your mortgage, that is if you have one and updates you have done to the property. As a Real Estate Agent, I will work very hard to get you that listing price. With that being said, you as the Seller have to know when to draw the line and reduce the price, no matter what the situation is, unless you do NOT really need to sell. It is very important to pay attention to the market trends as they change. If you have to sell, unfortunately, you may have to take a loss but for the most part, most homes that are priced correctly and according to the market, will sell and sell quick. Therefore, when making the decision to sell, be sure that it makes sense and be sure to get as much knowledge of the market trend at that time. 

For more info call 973-278-3600.

Decorating & Designing Ideas

Decorating & Designing Ideas:

 This open-spaced staircase with cast iron railings and marble set entrance steps, gives such a welcoming and warm introduction to the beautiful golden pendant and brown mounted chandelier and light fixtures.