Record Open House Attendance

My listing at 60 Acadia Drive had over 25 families come through, with an average of 3 to 8 people per family, it was like I was having a party! What fun! In addition to invited guests, interested neighbors, and Sunday sign shoppers, I also had realtors bring their clients.

The result? Multiple offers and an accepted offer in 4 days after the Open House well over the asking price.

The spring season is underway and buyers are out there looking for properties to beat the April 30th tax credit deadline for both buyers ($8,000) and sellers ($6,500). For the weekend of March 20-21, over 18000 people visited Weichert Open Houses, the best Open House attendance this year! Also, the average number of attendees at a specific Open House increased as well.

Of my 6 listings I had on the market at the begining of the year, 5 of them are under contract and scheduled to close. Sellers are happy and you can be too!

THINKING ABOUT SELLING! BUYERS ARE OUT THERE!

Call Clara: 856-264-1058

Grants available for Oil Tank removal, installation and leak remediation

Do you have or know someone with an underground oil tank that is currently inactive because they switched to another fuel source or went to an aboveground tank? Grants are available to offset the cost of this expense. Before putting your home on the market for sale, be sure to take the steps in advance to have the tank removed.

New Jersey has a grant to assist with the cost of this process. In addition, some companies, like Merdian Environmental Services, will do the work, provide a "contractor non-leaking certification form", forward the certification form along with all the NJEDA required forms to the homeowner to fill out along with a copy of paid invoices and receipts, as needed. The homeowner can then sign the forms and submit them with copies of their last three years tax returns and a $250 non refundable application fee to the NJEDA. Reimbursement usually takes 4-6 weeks.

NJEDA will reimburse up to $1,500 for the removal of a non-leaking underground oil tank and up to $3,500 for the removal of a non-leaking underground oil tank and the installation of a new aboveground oil tank.

If the oil tank has leaked, there is another grant from the NJDEP UST Fund for any clean up costs up to $500,000 that a home owner would be responsible for, and in the process have the oil tank removal and installation costs reimbursed to the home owner.

This program is available to residents of the State of New Jersey, with a taxable income of less than $250,000 per year and a net worth of less than $500,000, not including the value of their primary residence and retirement savings (401k/IRA/pension). This program is also available to non-profit orgnizations. Other restrictions and eligibility requirements apply.

Please feel free to visit the NJEDA at njeda.com or newtanksnj.org for more information and to download and review the required forms.

Homeowners should verify that they are qualified by using the"Grant Worksheet" to determine if they pass the Financial hardship test. In order to qualify for a 100% grant reimbursement the applicant's annual expenses need to be at leas 51% of their annual taxable income. Some companies like Meridian Environmental, supply these forms with their oil tank removal proposal. Meridian Environmental can be contacted at 732-281-1900 or 609 654-0660 for more information. Let Meridian Environmental know that Clara Lyons referred you.

Thinking of BUYING or SELLING?

Click on the Home Values link top right on this page to get FREE information about the value of homes and the services in neighborhoods that interest you.

Contact Clara at 856-1058

Relationships! Relationships! Relationships!

My Sunday Open House at 219 Mimosa Dr in Cherry Hill was typical in most respects.

Like usual I put out at least 8 directional signs, balloons, & flags. Like usual I had a sign in sheet for guests. Like usual I turned on all the lights, opened all the blinds and turned on the fans...YES, we are past the snow and it was a gorgeous SUNNY SUNDAY. And like usual a neighbor or two stopped by to see what was going on with the home and I had some very lovely families stop by as well.

So what was different! This Sunday I had the opportunity to just talk with one of the families. They really loved the home...They are working with an agent and the property is not my personal listing...so I was really present to the joy of just engaging in conversation.

Unlike some realtors, I am in this business for more than just the sale. I really enjoy sharing my experience and knowledge of the market with others. Also each person I meet provides something very special that adds to me and I hope I give something back.

Yes we talked in great deal about real estate and I offered them everything I would offer to my VIP clients. I gave them the new tax credit benefits for buyers and sellers. I told them about other properties that might also interest them. We talked about the challenges of selling the home they own. They shared with me about their family and what they really needed and wanted in a home.

I shared with them about this website and how they could get home values and neighborhood information on this website just by clicking the HOME VALUES link.

They were my last guests of the day and they were in the house between clients and until the Open House ended, well over an hour. It was a pleasure, just being in relationship.

To top it off...and this is happening to me often, I was stopped twice while I was picking up my directional signs by neighbors. One wanted to know about the house..and in the middle of the street we chatted for awhile about the real estate market. The second person shared information with me about neighbors and we talked about the possibility of listing a property.

Both people stopped me because I acknowledged them, greeted them and smiled. Not because I expected anything..but because I enjoy being in relationship. Life is more than the work, the tasks that make up the work...It's about people...and the lives we touch each and every day.

Thinking about BUYING or SELLING? Call Me: 856-264-1058