Sparta, NJ

Hubby Chip & I excitedly planning a short vacation from our comfy home in Sussex County, NJ. We're headed to the White Mountains of New Hampshire to car-camp. You know, where you pull up to a site, unload a 4 bedroom tent with hot & cold running water, ask James the butler to don his flannel shirt, throw a gourmet feast on the barbie, etc.

What prompts me to do this? I want to see a moose in the wild. Better yet, many meese. (While I am aware that the plural of moose is moose, I have spent many sleepless nights worrying how geese feel about that. Besides, it amuses me - if no one else - to use the term meese and watch reactions; I'm big on funny and you're most welcome to laugh at me along with me!)

To the right is a photo of the only moose I will ever see in the Sussex County vicinity!

So, with a real estate transaction in which I represent both the home sellers and the buyers closing this week and a great colleague to back me up while I'm away, I off to hunt real meese.

Our moose-hunting arsenal consists of a couple cameras and a tripod, so no need to alert PETA to my plans. I may never blog again because I've warned Chip that I am staying in the White Mountains until I see a moose. He pointed out that it is a very long walk home, lovingly adding that he'll miss me in the interim. Bet you will too!

So, Chip and I will relax, enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature for a few days and hunt meese.

Oh - and one other dream. I'm hoping to return with ONE picture that is of the quality that Richard Weisser - Coweta Fayette Real Estate - Newnan homes for sale shares with us day in and day out.

The one to the left is from US wildlife authorities - free use. I intend to pose the meese against more greenery to yield better contrast. I'm utterly surprised that the wildlife folks didn't think of that but then again, they probably don't say meese either...

Real estate is expensive - whether you want to buy a home, to sell a home or just to maintain your investment. Here in Sussex County, NJ, many of us are sprucing up the garden, fertilizing our lawns or already thinking about a Father's Day gift. Others may have a hankering to repaint the Great Room, replace that washer & dryer, upgrade the kitchen counter.

How would you like to save 10% on your related purchases?

No need to have a move in the works!

Lowe's offers REALTORS^® a wonderful program from which anyone can benefit with a discount. Sure, there are limits and a few restrictions. I've found that the Home Depot stores serving Sussex County, NJ, Newton, Roxbury, Riverdale and Dover) gladly accept the competition's coupon. I cannot state that all Home Depots everywhere do, so please check your local store before you get in the checkout line!

If you are working with a real estate agent, please ask him or her to obtain this coupon for you.

Otherwise, I'd be happy to assist if you live in my Sussex County market area: Sparta, Crystal Springs, Hamburg, Hardyston, Stockholm, Lafayette, Vernon, Highland Lakes, Wantage, Frankford, Branchville, Augusta, Franklin, etc.

If you're further away, use the STATES button in the top right-hand corner and find someone in your market area to assist!

Please do NOT provide your contact details as a comment below!

Otherwise you may get unwelcome solicitations! Look to the right and you see a phone number and a way to email me. Use one and we'll start the process to get you a discount!

Fellow REALTORS®

Lots of clever ways for us to use Lowe's program - at no cost!. For example, I send all my Open House visitors a "buyer's discount" card - a supplement to other follow up. One can select snail mail or email versions. If you aren't already enrolled, think about exploring - just click the photo below!

At least in my area of Sussex County, NJ, the real estate market is less robust than it was in years past - and I know this is true in most regions of our county.

Those who want to buy a home are not lining up at my door, taking numbers like we do at the deli counter of our local supermarket. Few home sellers are getting multiple offers the first week their home is listed in the MLS - even in one of our most popular towns, Sparta - Sparta NJ Real Estate Snapshot - Homes for Sale Market data.

My stance is that we real estate agents need to respond by doing more, not less, to help our clients fulfill their real estate goals.

Sounds pretty basic, right? Most of us are going that extra mile and trying everything to get win-win deals for our home buyers and sellers.

Here is an example of something new I tried to increase showings of a home I have listed for sale in Hamburg, NJ: Innovative Marketing - Free Lunch. Wish I could tell you that I had 50 agents bring buyers to see the home that day, that we got 10 offers, and that it is selling well over list price. Alas, we did have a slight increase in appointments during my 3-week publicity blitz, but no offers yet.

1. The Hamburg home sellers are thrilled to have been the "first" in this program.
2. They and I do believe that my flyer distribution, email notifications, online postings, etc., generated more activity.
3. I diligently contact every agent after he or she has shown my listing and get as much feedback as I can.
4. I share that feedback with my sellers just as soon as possible.

Was I a Good Example or Bad Example?

When my husband, Chip, and his dear friend, who I'll call Max, were having lunch, Max mentioned his interest in owning a farm outside Sussex County that met very special requirements. Now, Chip is a real estate agent who specializes in land in the New York, New Jersey region. Chip, who just happens to have an excellent working relationship with a great residential Realtor, proposed we team up to see if there was anything out there for Max.

Good Example or Bad Example?

We located one possibility and Max wanted a peek. The home for sale was vacant and had been on the market over 3 months. The guest house was rented. Chip does not have a lockbox key because parcels of land don't have lockboxes. The day most suited for Max to see the farm I had a closing. Chip phoned both listing agents (who also have an assistant) about arranging access. Close to Easter, both listing agents were going to be away and didn't want to "pay" another agent in their office to meet Chip and Max at the farm. They suggested he make his own arrangements - particularly as his wife's keybox worked in this area outside Sussex County.

Good or Bad?

Chip and Max did tour the property, although access to the guest house wasn't possible. Max had some continued interest but needed to explore different and complicated deal structures. More importantly, Mrs. Max would need to see the farm and weigh in. The listing agents did not contact Chip to find out what his buyer thought. Late last week, they processed an 11% price reduction but did not call Chip to tell him. (I got an alert via the MLS the MOMENT the price dropped!)

Good or Bad?

On Saturday, I spoke with one of the listing agents to make sure I could bring my interested folks the following day. Max, his wife, daughter and friendly dog met Chip and me at the farm on Mother's Day. I waited until the next day (yesterday) to call the listing agents to try to get answers to the questions the Max family had and to explain that nothing more will happen until we can see inside the guest house, which has just been vacated. I do believe the listing agents are now hustling...

Good Example or Bad Example?

Your desire to buy a home or to sell a home in Sussex County (anywhere!) is serious business. We're talking about a HUGE financial investment. I'd be delighted to work with you, hopefully show you the extras that the right real estate agent can offer and be

A Very Good Example!

While inventory homes for sale in Sparta, NJ, remains highs, people are buying and selling homes every day. Home buying is a reality in Sparta, where we have some fabulous offerings - even within Lake Mohawk.

In April, 38 Sparta homes for sale went Under Contract - more deals solidified than in any of the preceeding 5 months! So far in 2009, April showed fewer homes were listed for sale. Based on Garden State MLS market reports for Sparta NJ, the list price to sale price ratio ticked up slightly to 96%.

Look for homes for sale in Sparta, NJ.

Let's sit down and talk about what impact - IF ANY - such GSMLS statistics should have on your real-estate plans!

UPDATE early June - Irene Kennedy has traded places and is how the number one real estate agent featured in Sparta, NJ on ActiveRain!

Well, if you time it exactly right and don't refresh your screen, I have the honor of being one of Active Rain's featured members. Even contacted the gentleman with whom I was featured to introduce myself.

Although fame may be fleeting, it still is a wonderful honor for someone new to this wonderful site to be front page news! Was tempted to sit up all night looking at my picture on the main page.

Free autographs given willingly - especially on real-estate contracts!

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