Ten keys to listing your house now

September 9, 2020

Why utilizing professional help makes all the difference

If you're thinking about selling your house and moving to a maintenance-free community like Lantern Hill, it's not too late to take action. According to real estate experts, summer is the busiest time in the real estate industry. And it's even busier this year in New Jersey with limited inventory on the market and motivated buyers.

"Summer is the most popular time for people to want to schedule their move. When you consider the time it takes to market your house and settle on a property, many homes start getting listed earlier in the year,"says Alli Krug, personal moving consultant at the Erickson Living-managed community in New Providence, N.J. "Serious buyers are always looking, so the earlier you list your house, the less competition you'll face," Krug adds.

Is it already too late to get started? Not for those moving to Lantern Hill. Erickson Realty and Moving Services offers complimentary assistance to get their house ready for the market, including downsizing, selection of a real estate agent, and recommendations for trusted moving companies and other professionals.

"Whether you want to move to Lantern Hill in a couple weeks, a couple months, or a couple years, we can help you sell your house so you can start enjoying the Erickson lifestyle whenever you're ready," she says.

Tips for a successful sale and easy move

1. Schedule an in-home or virtual visit with Personal Moving Consultant Alli Krug to assess your house with a buyer's eye. She'll help you identify problem areas that need to be repaired, like peeling paint, broken fixtures, and old carpeting. She can also recommend trusted repair people to complete those projects.

2. Get organized. One of Krug's specialties is helping her clients decide what they'll bring to their new Lantern Hill apartment home and planning exactly where those items will fit using her magnetic floor plan and miniature furniture pieces. By visualizing your new home, it's easier to part with unnecessary items that you may choose to gift, donate, or sell.

3. Brighten up. Repaint the interior of your house with light, lively neutral colors.

4. Wash windows and repair screens. You may not notice finger prints on your windows, but buyers will. And cleaning them will bring more light into your home. Not up for washing windows? Krug can recommend a local window washer too.

5. Revamp your entryway. Real estate professionals agree, one of the best ways to win over buyers is with a stunning entryway. It's an often-overlooked area of the home, because most homeowners enter their house from the garage or side door. But buyers will enter through the main entrance, so you have a grand opportunity to give a great first impression of your home's interior. Spruce up your entryway with a cute coat hook, throw rug, bench, or console table depending on the size and layout of your space.

6. Refresh décor with inexpensive updates. Textiles like pillows, throws, duvet covers, and towels in bright white bring a lively, spring freshness to your space.

7. Kick smells to the curb. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open windows to air out your home. Diffusing essential oils like lemongrass, citronella, and rosemary can refresh your home with a clean scent.

8. Tidy up your yard. Trimmed trees and shrubs, a freshly mown lawn, and mulched flower beds ensure you'll be the best-looking yard on the block.

9. Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. You will have potential buyers touring your house, so don't leave anything tempting out. Use a safe or safe-deposit box at your bank to store valuables.

10. Set the right price. Your real estate agent can help you choose an appropriate list price, but Krug's advice can help you make an educated decision: "Keep in mind that value is what someone else is willing to pay, not necessarily what the seller thinks it's worth," she says. "It can be a harsh reality, but it helps to think more realistically about the asking price.

People moving to Lantern Hill have direct access to Erickson Realty and Moving Services. This special program offers complimentary coordination of all realty and moving needs, including downsizing, home staging, packing and choosing a real estate agent. Krug will help guide you through the entire process.  Visit LanternHillCommunity.com to learn more.

About Lantern Hill: Lantern Hill, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities developed and managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 26-acre campus in New Providence, New Jersey. The not-for-profit community of more than 390 residents and 300 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, who provide independent financial and operational oversight of the community. Additional information about Lantern Hill can be found at LanternHillCommunity.com.

Photo: Trusted partners of Lantern Hill and Erickson Realty and Moving Services will help you get your house ready to sell and move.

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