Southampton Township, NJ

OK--so I'll bet there are more than just two! But these are the two I heard this week, more than once, and from different sources. Ready? Here they are:

"I'm in no hurry to sell my house"

and...

"I'm not going to give my house away!"

The First Phrase: "I'm in no hurry to sell my house." Translation-- I want it priced higher than what is recommended, I want to "test" the market, I think I can get more for my house if I'm willing to wait.

The Reality: Overpricing a house rarely brings in MORE money. Especially in a declining market, the longer a home sits, the LESS it will sell for. And LOTS of overpriced houses are out there, sitting, waiting, and waiting... and expiring.

The Second Phrase: "I'm not going to give my house away!" Translation-- I have an idea in my mind of what my house is worth and it has nothing to do with your silly "comparative market analysis!"

The Reality: Does anyone give their house away, really? Really? Maybe other agents have experienced the "house give-away" but I surely haven't! Your house is only worth what the buyers are going to pay AND what it will appraise for, given the market. It has nothing to do with the love and care you've given it all these years, or what you paid for it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it did?

Those two "phrases" that make agents cringe do so because they don't help you sell your house for the best price possible. So, what should you be saying if you want TOP DOLLAR for your home?

"What do I need to do to make it show as best as it can and what price would you recommend?"

There it is: the most successful sellers are willing to do what it takes to make the house show well and are willing to be honest about the price and the current market conditions. Successful sellers recognize that the seller controls two of the most important factors in selling a home: price and condition.

When looking for a Realtor to list your home be willing to look at the facts, at the realities of our current market and what that means to you. Look for a Realtor who will tell you the truth and who is not just telling you what you want to hear.

If you want to be assured you'll get the most money possible for your house, invest in a home stager to make sure your home shows at its absolute best. Then, follow the advice of your agent and price it to sell!

Michele Rose is a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ. She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 5 years. In 2007, she formed Rose-Colored Staging to help sellers market their homes with professional home staging.

The Southampton Township decision makers, who are also residents, try to avoid the use of pesticide, but will also make weighted decisions and take action when necessary to avoid larger ecological damages.

Such is the case with the 2008 Gypsy Moth program that is begin carried out under state (and U.S. Forestry Service) guidelines and control. 

Gypsy moth egg mass surveys, conducted by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJ DOA), indicate that gypsy moth populations will be very high during May and June 2008. Leaf feeding by the caterpillars of this pest will cause severe defoliation of many of our trees. Consequently, the municipality has entered into a cooperative control program With the NJ DOA and the U.S. Forest Service. This program is being operated on an integrated approach, utilizing a pesticide with a naturally occurring active ingredient to reduce defoliating populations of this forest pest. The aerial spraying will be employed around residential and recreational areas to reduce thee loss, while natural control agents will be encouraged to reduce pest levels in remote, uninhabited areas.

In our area, only the biological Insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki (FORAY 768, EPA Reg.#73049-49) will be applied once by aircraft at a dosage rate of 38 B.I.U.s (64 oz.) per acre by Downstown Aero Crop Service (DEP Lic. # 90029), 339 Harding Highway, Vineland New Jersey.  The spray operation is expected to begin on or after May 1, 2008 through June 1, 2008 or until completion. The exact date of application will depend on climatic conditions and the development of the caterpillars and trees in you area.

A municipal contact person may be reached at 609-859-2736 to answer any questions you may have about the exact timing and dates of treatment.

To insure precise placement of the spray material, aircraft will conduct treatments only when there is little or no wind. Daily spray operations normally are conducted early in the morning between 5:30 a.m. and 2:00p.m. and possibly between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in the evening. However, no pesticide application for gypsy moth control will take place between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. during operations Monday through Friday only. 
 
Although S.t.k. has very minimal risk to humans or wildlife, individuals wishing no exposure to either themselves or their children, before or after this one hour no spray shutdown time should remain indoors during the treatment. if you must go outside, wear rain gear or use an umbrella to prevent contact with the spray material, especially If you bear the aircraft working in your area.

Trained personnel from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and our municipality will assist 10 the program. Pilots will be carefully briefed  to insure that the spray material is being applied m the proper areas as directed.

The program is being conducted to protect and preserve the municipalities and your valuable shade tree resources. Your understanding and cooperation will be very much appreciated.

Individuals wishing additional information about pesticides may contact the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378. For emergencies call the New Jersey Poison Control Information and Education System at 1-800-222-1222. For pesticide regulation information, pesticide complaints, and health referrals call the New Jersey Pesticide Control Program at 1-609-984-6507.

Upon request, the pesticide applicator or applicator business shall provide a resident with notification 12 hours prior to the application, except for Quarantine and Disease Vector Control only, when conditions necessitate pesticide applications sooner than that time.  

Source: NJ DOA


Click here for more information about the New Jersey Department of Agriculture's 2008 Gypsy Moth Suppression Program, spraying schedules for other spray zones, and change updates.

Copyright 2008 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved.

To keep up with local Southampton Township news and events, the official Southampton Township web site maintains a community events calendar as well as local township news on their township home page.

Lenape Regional School District has announcements and news about individual Shamong Schools, including Seneca High School and also about the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center which provides local and top professional entertainment.


Additional information is available at ...

Southampton Township School District

Southampton Township Business Association

Southampton Township Community Newsletter

Southampton Recreation Association

LeisureTowne Village

Burlington County Library - Medford

By the way, if you want to learn about Southampton's past, visit the Preservation Commission of Historic Southampton  and Southampton and Vincentown Vignettes of History

Local Area Newspaper: Central Record

Copyright 2008 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved.