52 / 72
www.theconnectionsnj.com
Call
908-500-9213
or visit
www.hollypartyrentals.com
Tents • Tables & Chairs • Grills • Stereo Equipment
Cotton Candy Machine • Bounce Houses & More!
We Have All Your Party Needs!
10%
OFF
Selected
Rental
Equipment
Expires 12/31/17
Most consumers, when look-
ing at homes in person or online,
are attracted to current trends
and contemporary finishes.
In recent years, home staging
has taken an increasingly impor-
tant role in presenting a home
for sale. Staging goals include
removing distracting personal
possessions, minimizing the
amount of furniture and storage
required for living, and stream-
lining colors and finishes. These
techniques combine to create an
environment in which the great-
est cross-section of potential
buyers could feel comfortable
and excited about dwelling in
the space. Staging can be a dra-
matically effective way to broad-
en and enhance a home's
appeal to a new generation of
homeowner.
Television shows and photo-
browsing websites have rein-
forced the notion that choosing
a home is a simple matter of
finding a space that reflects
one's personal style, with or
without additional effort to cus-
tomize or improve what is being
purchased. While there are buy-
ers ready to “roll up sleeves”
and transform a home, a greater
number of buyers seek a living
space they can inhabit without
making any immediate changes.
In an era where decorative
home staging prevails, it is easy
to overlook the importance of
continued, long-term mainte-
nance in preserving the value of
a home. Buyers lured by trendy
paint colors and new light fix-
tures might not think to notice
the age of the furnace, or the
condition of the roof and win-
dows. Exterior factors, masonry
and landscaping surrounding a
home can be a source of existing
value, or require additional
investment. The current environ-
ment of limited inventory and
multiple offers has conditioned
buyers to make quick bids, often
without all of the relevant details.
Buyers must request and exam-
ine a Seller’s Disclosure docu-
ment for facts about a home's
major systems and maintenance,
before making any decision.
Sellers who are ready to embark
upon cosmetic improvements or
staging in preparation for sale,
should also carefully consider
any outstanding maintenance
requirements. It may be wiser to
invest in repairs prior to listing,
rather than waiting until a
buyer's home inspection reveals
flaws.
A home’s outward appear-
ance, or “curb appeal” is a
strong factor in its readiness for
sale. Beyond the obvious appeal
of a well-staged home, buyers
and sellers should always look
carefully at the less trendy but
more traditional components of
a home's structure. Here, they
will discover the true value of a
home.
By: Johanna Wiseman
See ad on page 3
VEHICLE STORAGE
Most a ordable and trusted storage facility
310 Park Ave. Plain&eld, NJ 07060
908-444-8530
Conveniently located o$ I-287, Routes 78 and 22.
Within a residential/commercial complex across from
the Downtown Plain%eld Train Station.
EXOTIC
CLASSIC
ANTIQUE
$175/month
- Seasonal or Year-Round Terms
Visit our website:
prostoragenj.com
PRO STORAGE
Garage
PAGE 52
home
&
design