There can be no doubt – owning a home is a wonderful thing. It is a powerful feeling to reach a point in your life when you can purchase your very own home. But with great power comes great responsibility. Some of these responsibilities can be a bit wearing at times… one of those being property tax. Not unlike the prices of seemingly everything, they go up and up with no sign of relief. Even after your mortgage is paid off, those taxes are something you will be paying as long as you own your home. Here are a few simple tips that may help you lessen the pain of property taxes.

Go Easy on the Curb Appeal

The evaluation process that tax assessors use is made of a set of guidelines that have been put in place to be followed to the letter. That said, however, there is a level of subjectivity that can still be contained within those guidelines. A house that is not as appealing as the home right next to it will have a lesser assessed value than the aesthetically pleasing home. Sadly, that’s just the way it is.

The comparison to other homes in your neighborhood is what property tax assessments are all about. Because the assessor will likely schedule their visit in order to assess your home, you will know ahead of time whether or not you should be dressing up your home’s appearance. As unfair as it sounds, the fewer improvements you make on your home and the more you dress it down, the lower your assessment will likely be.

Should you sell your home, on the other hand, that is the time when you want to increase your home’s value with lots of pretty dressings and extras (stainless steel appliances, new countertops, shiny fixtures).

Take a Good Hard Look at Your Property Tax Card

Visit your local assessor’s office and request a copy your property tax card. Few people know that this is actually an option. What this card provides you with is the information about your home that has been gathered over time. It is the holy grail upon which your property taxes are based.

Included on this card will be your home’s type and number of fixtures, room count and dimensions, the lot size, etc. Additional information may discuss improvements that have been made to the home and any notes about them as well as a ‘special features’ section.

Do bring any issues and discrepancies that you see to the attention of the tax assessor. A re-evaluation may be scheduled. Mistakes happen, even with tax assessors, so do not ever take it for granted that everything on your tax card is gospel. Townships are under no obligation to fix discrepancies, even if they know something’s wrong unless you force their hand.

Take a Good Look at Your Bergen Neighbors

Your tax card is not the only tax card that is available for your perusal. Feel free to look at the tax cards of other properties in the area to see what you’re up against. What you’re looking for here are homes that are similarly laid out but that have huge differences when it comes to what they have been assessed at.

Granted, if two properties are laid out the same but one has a gorgeous swimming pool with Jacuzzi, a massive shed/man cave out back, and a spacious two-car garage – but the other home doesn’t have all that – yes, there’s going to be a considerable difference in what each of those homeowners pay for property taxes.

And again, if you see major discrepancies it’s good to bring it to the attention of the tax assessor. A reevaluation may be in order.

Accompany the Assessor through Your Home

When the tax assessor walks through your home, go along with them. It’s not that you don’t trust them to be alone in your home, but left to their own devices they may concentrate solely on all of the dressy, pretty aspects of your home. If your roof needs replacing or your appliances are out of date, feel free to bring that to their attention so that they notice things other than your beautiful fireplace or your fancy chrome faucets.

Tax Assessors Don’t Have X-Ray Vision

Do you have to let the tax assessor into your private domain? No, you do not. But if you don’t let them in to do the evaluation of your home more may be left more to their imagination than based on fact. They may assume that the inside of your house is new and shiny when in reality, you have kept improvements to a minimum.

Building Up Your Home Means Building Up Your Property Taxes

Again, this is the sad truth. Any addition of permanent fixtures to your home –  i.e. a beautiful shed, a pool with Jacuzzi, a sprawling deck –  these are all going to add to your assessment thereby adding to your property taxes.

If you really want to add to your home it won’t hurt to find out ahead of time just how much that addition may increase your property taxes. You should be able to research an estimate of how much  improvements/additions would hike up your property taxes by contacting the local tax and building department.

Too many people the make the mistake of assuming that their tax bill is carved in granite. Some due diligence and a bit of research and you may be able to find some relief from the pain and strain of having to pay exorbitant property taxes. The different levels of property taxes as they apply to different Bergen neighborhoods is also something that you want to consider when you’re looking for a new home so feel free to discuss that concern and any other concerns you may have about the purchase of your new home, with your realtor.

The top selling months of the year are right around the corner. Spring may well be when a young man’s fancy turns lightly to thoughts of love, but it is also the time when many families’ minds turn to buying and selling homes. If you are looking at selling your property this year you will likely want to get that house on the market as soon as possible. And if your neighbor or a house down the street that is comparable to yours is selling as well, you’re going to need to do everything you can to not only get the best price but get more than they are getting for their home.

That is the goal, after all. To get as much money as you can for your home but by selling it within the shortest time frame as is possible. The following tips should assist you in your endeavor.

Property Marketing is Key

Making sure that the marketing of your home is done correctly is a key factor here. What an effective marketing strategy isn’t, however, is simply placing your house on the MLS and letting it get picked up by thousands of other websites. Selling a home takes hard work and proven prospecting techniques. Sitting around waiting for the phone to ring isn’t going to work.

Hire a Reputable, Local Realtor

This step may seem like a no-brainer but you would be surprised at how many people decide to sell their homes by themselves, without any help from a realtor. Can it be done? Of course. Technically, that’s more money in your pocket. But the small cost of a realtor’s commission can be well worth it. Let the realtor deal with the headaches, the haggling, the questions, the marketing, the videos, the photography, the legalities, and so forth. You have enough to worry about with moving your entire household to a new location.

Allow the Buyers to Sell Themselves

Given the right motivation, many buyers can sell themselves on the purchase of your home. High-pressure sales techniques may work on the car lot but this is no way to sell a home. A good approach is to inquire of a buyer exactly what it is they are looking for in a home. This will start the ball rolling.

The Price Is Right

This is a dicey little area. Ask too much, and you not only ruin the value of your home but you may attract the wrong kind of real estate agent with that inflated price. Then again, you don’t want to give your house away and not make top dollar from the sale of it. An attractive price will motivate a buyer. Once again, a reputable real estate agent comes in very handy here as they will be able to take a look at comparable homes in the area and tell you straight out whether or not you’re asking price is appropriate for the market.

Is Your House Ready to Sell?

Inasmuch as buyers may sell themselves on your home, your home (if done right) can go a long way toward selling itself. Your house must be ready for its close-up and be at its most presentable for every showing. Note: relying on a picture taken with an iPhone may not be the most flattering. There’s still nothing like using a real camera to take professional grade photos and videos.

Make Whatever Adjustments Are Necessary

Nothing here is carved in stone other than your contract. Adjustments might need to be made. To increase the value of your home, low-cost but exceptional home improvements can be made. If you’re asking for a substantial price, the entire house better look like it’s worth it, and then some. See what your neighbor’s home sold for and if they didn’t get the price they were asking, figure out why. Make sure that the weak points that undersold their homes don’t have the same effect on yours.

And finally – Just as important as the right reputable realtor is the follow-up. And since you have put so much thought and care into picking your realtor, this will hopefully not be a problem. A good realtor will do the necessary follow-up with either the buyer’s agent or the buyers themselves. If you get a chance to talk to the prospective buyer do not take anything they may say personally. Don’t be angry, don’t be rude, simply inquire as to any constructive feedback they may have.

If you’ve watched any amount of HGTV, you know how important staging can be in the selling of your home. The inventory of homes for sale is bound to be on the rise. April, May, and June are the biggest buying months of the year. Here are a number of suggestions for spring home staging tips that can help raise the odds of your home not only standing out among a flood of new listings, but selling quicker so that you can enjoy the beautiful weather this spring and summer.

Set Out Attractive Treats

House shopping can be hard work. It’s easy to build up an appetite because buyers don’t have the time or remember to eat. Why not set out a snack consisting of individually wrapped treats and tie them with a pretty ribbon. Whereas time may not have been spent in the kitchen otherwise, now buyers have a chance to linger and gaze at your kitchen in all its elegance.

Refreshment and Information for Your Buyers

Fill your sink with ice and bottled waters so that potential buyers can feel refreshed and revitalized while viewing your home. Put out plenty of informative flyers with your address, a photograph of your home, and your phone number so that people can take them home with them. You can print these from your computer.

Mail Out Additional Information

A local title company can provide you with a direct mailing list, at no charge, for homes in your neighborhood. Using first-class postage, you can mail out individual, UV coated, oversized postcards in full color with a picture of your home and information.

Advertise In Living Color

For online and newspaper advertisements, even though it may cost a little more, use a full-color picture. Take a bit of extra time while picking your photograph by looking through seasonal choices and pick the photo(s) that is most flattering to your home.

Balloons Promote Feeling Good

Party supply stores and stationery stores have inexpensive, shiny, brightly colored helium balloons. Buy some from your local everything’s-a-dollar store. This lends a happy, party like atmosphere to your showing. Tie them onto the open house signage, outdoor fences, porch columns, etc.

You Can’t Depend on the Weather

Because mother nature will undoubtedly try to throw a wrench into your plans, at the entrance of your home, make sure that there is an umbrella stand and a mat available so that potential buyers can wipe off their shoes – or take them off entirely.

More Colors Will Do You Good

Again, you can shop at one of the inexpensive stores in the area to buy lavender, pale blue, pink, and/or yellow pillows, throws, towels, etc. and place them strategically about the house. These soft spring colors will brighten up the atmosphere. Place out rolled washcloths in imaginative designs and layer towels on the racks.

Clean Carpets and Polish Floors

Even though your carpet is going to see a lot of traffic during showings, make sure that it is clean, fresh, and new looking. The same can be said for hard floors be they linoleum, ceramic, or hardwood. They should shine and twinkle. Don’t forget to bleach any grouting that has dulled over the years.

 Bring the Outdoors Indoors

Cut some fresh peonies or lilac branches – or pick up a bouquet or two of fresh flowers – to add a fresh feel and natural aroma to your home. There isn’t a manufactured spray on the market that can take the place of the scent of fresh flowers or flowering branches.

Clean, Clean, Clean!

Whenever possible, open the windows to allow a fresh breeze to blow through your home. Get rid of all spider webs and accumulated dust, scrub out that bathtub, wipe down the blinds. And, something that very few people think of, make sure the draperies and curtains are clean and fresh smelling.

Remember to dress up the curb appeal of your home. Don’t just concentrate on the inside. In fact, try cutting the grass on a diagonal just to give your lawn a unique look. Trim along the edges of walkways and sidewalks, trim bushes and shrubs, wipe down the mirrors, and wash all of the windows inside and out. You can also ask your realtor for any further suggestions or helpful hints.