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When homeowners plan on remodeling, there are 7 key spaces they focus on, according to a survey taken by Better Homes and Gardens readers:

1.  Separate laundry room:  Convenience and practicality are the big watchwords in home improvement in 2012. And for many folks that means lifting the laundry room out of the basement and integrating it into other spaces of the home that will allow for more multitasking.

2. Additional storage space, built-ins, and walk-in closets:  Homeowners are not as willing to bump up their mortgages to buy more storage square footage these days, but they are seeking smarter spaces that can aid in home organization.

3.  Outdoor living area:  While big outdoor kitchens and gaudy outside fireplaces are out, smaller spaces that provide some outdoor living space and a connection to the home itself are gaining in popularity.

4.  There are plenty of reasons why homeowners would pay up for this added space when they might not for something else — the need to provide for an aging parent, a guest suite or a teen retreat.

5.  Home office or workspace:  Everyone in the household today needs somewhere to dock their electronics, and more home builders are incorporating that space into the core of their new houses. But homeowners can create that space as well within their existing kitchen or family room, in many cases.

6.  Everyday Eating space:  Several of the show homes at the International Builders Show in Orlando, Fla., in February featured not one or two but three or four eating areas/eating bars within the extended kitchen/family room area.

7.  Upgraded bathrooms:  Kitchens and baths have always been the most popular remodeling targets, with the kitchen being the focal point of most projects in the recent past. But this year the baths are getting more attention.

Now that the winter weather is upon us, it is important to make sure that your home is ready for cold-weather showings.  Here are some tips to see you through the frigid months:

• When it snows, make sure that sidewalks, walkways and paths are clear of snow and ice.  You don’t want a potential buyer slipping and falling while they’re trying to get to your front door.
• Make sure gutters are clear of debris.  When gutters are already clogged with leaves, pine needles, and the like, and then they fill with water, snow, and ice, there is a tendency to have them overflow.  This is bad enough when the temperatures are warm and you’re walking through a puddle of water and gunk, but add below-freezing temperatures to this and you have a recipe to have customers skating on thin ice.
• If you have tile floors or slippery hardwood, make sure you put down towels or mats where a visitor can wipe off their shoes thoroughly, and make sure floors are dry before touring the house.
• Baby, it’s cold outside…so if you have a fireplace, and your agent is bringing someone to see your property, use it.  Very few things say warm and cozy on a cold day  like a roaring fire!  Unless, of course, you’re offering hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Single Family home sales in the NJMLS market area are up nearly 15% in 3^rd Quarter 2011 versus the same quarter last year, while the Median Sale Price has remained steady. 

(NJMLS market area includes Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic Counties).

The NJMLS has released some new enhancements designed to make your experience on this website even better!

Open House Search by Date with Counts:  You will now see a new field on the criteria page to search by Open House Date.  Simply click on the drop-down menu which displays dates for open houses up through the next two Sundays, including the number of open houses on that particular date. 

Add Multiple Towns via Type Ahead Feature:  The location box on the Find a Property and Open House search pages now allow you to select towns one at a time via a “type-ahead” feature, or you can still choose from the town chart.  When you’ve made your selections, those towns will appear below the Location box with an “X” next to each, allowing you to delete towns you no longer want to search.

Remember Last Towns Searched:  The last towns searched will be remembered so if you leave the site and return later, this information will still be available.  If the search you did was for a single town, it will auto-fill in the location box on the Homepage.  If the last search you did was for multiple towns, these towns will be available by clicking on a new link that appears on all search pages, labeled “Load Last Towns Searched.”

There are some positive signs in the housing market.  Existing home sales were up 20% in August compared with 12 months earlier and foreclosures have dropped most of the year.  Additionally, home prices in July 2011 have climbed for the fourth straight month in a row.

By planning ahead and doing some research you can reduce the risk of having a moving company take advantage of you.  It is important to do your homework to make sure you are choosing a company that is legitimate.  Here are some tips the NJMLS recommends to help you get started:

• Hire a name you know: Find a few moving companies who specialize in your area and have been in business for at least ten years.
• Get a referral: The best way to find out the reputation of a company is by word-of-mouth.  Ask for references.
• Ask for an in-home estimate: Transportation charges are based not only on the distance of the move, but on the weight of the items being moved.  To ensure accuracy, make sure the moving company looks at your belongings before finalizing a price.  Make sure you get your estimate in writing.
• Lowest isn’t necessarily best: Get three estimates, if one is much lower than the others, that could be a red flag.
• Don’t pay up front: Most companies may not even ask for a deposit.  Payment in full is usually required at the time of delivery.

Good luck!

Increase your curb-appeal by making sure that the outside of your home is ready for Fall weather.  Keep in mind that  a photo of your home is displayed on listings in the NJMLS, so this is the first impression that a potential buyer may get of a property.  A yard that is free of the clutter of dead leaves, plants, and shrubbery may leave a better impression in their minds.  Although the season for bright, beautiful flowers may be behind us, there are still some that bloom this late in the year such as Spray Roses, Cabbage Roses, Mums, and Bittersweet.  Create a nice display using seasonal items:  pumpkins, gourds, and Autumn corn are all colorful additions to your entryway.

Feng Shui is an ancient art developed over 3,000 years ago in China. How can this ancient practice aid in selling your home?  According to Feng Shui practitioners, the health and luck of the inhabitants of a space are related to the balance of energy, or chi, in that space.  Feng shui deals with the optimal placement of objects, (furniture, artwork, etc.) to promote the flow of energy between and around different areas of a home.  By applying Feng Shui principles to your home, you can unblock stagnant energy or rid your home of negative energy, allowing the positive energy to flow freely.  Practitioners believe that balancing the energy of a home will facilitate a quick sale. Once the energy flow is harmonious good things will follow!

Following feng shui principles, the entire house, closets, and walkway, should be free of clutter.  When there is clutter, energy stagnates.  This is a key concept in Feng Shui.  Clutter can be packed and stored in storage units away from the home. 

The front door is a very important area.  It is through here that energy enters the home.  The doorway should be uncluttered, the door cleaned or painted, and planters placed on either side.  The outside and entryway light should be on.  Landscaping should not block windows and unhealthy plants should be removed. The walkway should be unobstructed and in good repair.  This is the first impression buyers will have of your home and is the central entryway for chi.

The kitchen is a symbol of good health and prosperity.   It should be thoroughly cleaned, with counters emptied and shelves organized.  Place a bowl of fruit or a plant in the southeast corner of your kitchen.  The clearing off and organizing of counters, dressers, and tabletops, facilitates the free flow of energy.

All lights should be on in the home 2-3 hours before the showing.

Using these simple tips will at the least help to prepare your home visually for showings, and at best result in a quick home sale.  Consult a Feng Shui expert for a full assessment.  Good luck for a quick sale and keep that energy moving!

Condominiums used to be viewed as a way for a buyer to purchase a “starter” home at a lower price than most houses.  Although it still seems that some condos are lower in price than many single family homes, there are a myriad of other reasons why a condo may be the best purchase option for you:

Location:  Condominiums are often centrally located within a town, near public transportation, schools, stores, restaurants, nightlife, fitness centers, and job opportunities.

Extra Amenities: Some condos offer lots of great amenities such as pools, fitness rooms, entertainment or conference centers, and tennis courts.  The  great part about these is that they’re for your use, and more likely than not, your maintenance fees cover the care and cleaning , so you just get to enjoy!  Remember, you’re also not maintaining the exterior of the building, so although you’re paying a monthly fee to the condo association, you won’t be cleaning gutters in the spring or raking leaves in the fall.

Safety: There is a certain sense of security in just knowing there are other people living nearby.  Additionally, some condos have security systems such as gates and entryway intercoms.

Turn the Key and Walk Away: When someone says they want a home that is easy to maintain and manage, a condominium may be the answer.  For people who travel or spend long hours away from home, condos are ideal.