THE GUIDE
MUST-READS DECEMBER HOME SALES
As we’ve all learned in the past two-plus years, anything can happen at any time. But if you plan to buy a new home in the Garden State soon, it’s a good idea to check out what the market has been up to in a similar season in the past. Consider these December 2021 stats before you get the ball rolling on your search:
12,602
The best design books are more than just design books. Such a volume is Establishing Home: Creating Space for Beautiful Life With Family, Faith and Friends (Rizzoli 2022, $27.99) by author, designer and Magnolia Home TV star Jean Stoffer. Her tome includes gorgeous photos of her home projects over the years, but interspersed are accounts of how she built her business and how she balances work with family life—and advice on how to follow your dreams. Getting tired of the dictum “less is more”? More Is More Is More: Today’s Maximalist Interiors (Rizzoli, $55) by Carl Dellatore shows off projects by some of today’s top interior designers, who reveal how maximalism is done. Rooms rich with color, pattern, print and texture fill 240 pages, which are both inspo for your next redesign and a how-to to achieve the look yourself. And how can you make your home look livable but still picturesque? Start by reading The Evolution of Home: English Interiors for a New Era (Rizzoli, $55). Design expert Emma Sims-Hilditch’s new book is full of counsel on decorating your home comfortably and stylishly to fit your lifestyle. Included are tips on how to mix patterns, how to choose fabrics, which color palettes work for which room and how to mix vintage with modern.
The number of single-family homes for sale, down 36.2 percent from December 2020.
7,628
The number of single-family homes that closed, down 18.9 percent from the previous year.
MAXIMIZE YOUR CURB APPEAL
4,082
New listings of single-family homes, down 21.9 percent from the year before.
$552,677
Average sales price of a singlefamily home, an increase of 8.6 percent over 2020.
38
Average days properties had been on the market, down 9.5 percent from the previous year.
16 NJHome
Source: New Jersey Association of Realtors
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SOME LIKE IT HOT…
…and not just in the living room. Should you install a fireplace in a spot other than the living or family room? Options to consider include the primary bedroom and the dining room, says Tammy Kaplan, designer at Images in Design in Cranford. “A fireplace in the primary bedroom adds a romantic element and makes any ordinary evening feel like a special occasion,” she says. A diningroom fireplace, meanwhile, brings us back to simpler times when a fireplace was a staple in the kitchen area for warmth. “This fireplace can be the main focal point of the room with a mantel or marble surround,” Kaplan says, “and is the perfect place to linger over a meal.” The type of fireplace you’ll consider depends on your budget, she says, as well as whether your home has a gas line. If not, Kaplan says, try an electric or wood-burning fireplace, but a gas fireplace is preferable because it’s easy to use and gives off the feeling of a real flame.
We know that expensive fixes such as finishing a basement, enlarging a backyard or installing central air conditioning add resale value to your home. But sometimes all it takes is a few swipes of paint to make your home more desirable to potential buyers. According to online real estate platform Ownerly, painting your front door in a black, shiny finish can add about $6,500 to your selling price. Why? Because curb appeal is paramount when it comes to buying a home, and a black front door is timeless, adding a feeling of mysterious elegance. “I recommend minimalist, contemporary and modern finishes, which are extremely appealing to today’s buyer,” says Taylor Lucyk, of Westwood-based The Taylor Lucyk Group – Christie’s International Real Estate Group. “Black doors, windows and gutters can really pop. Curb appeal is a big factor that contributes to the ultimate appeal of your home.” Other quick curb-appeal fixes: a new mailbox that complements the home, plants on the front porch and seasonal décor that reflects your personality.
10/31/22 10:46 AM