1. Work with a Good Real Estate Agent

One of the most important things you can do when setting out to purchase Monmouth County real estate during the summer is to work with a good real estate agent. Pauline Poyner, a Monmouth real estate agent can help to streamline the moving process dramatically in addition to finding the home that is perfect for you.

2. Choose the Best Day for Moving

In order to stay cool when moving in the summer, you should always aim for a cloudy day. As long as there isn’t a chance for rain, you’ll be able to stay dry while keeping the sun at bay if you move with clouds overhead. Check the forecast the week before to see which day will be best. Since moving can be stressful enough, it is important for the temperature and other conditions to be as comfortable as possible during a move.

Even if it is cloudy, it is important to make sure you stay hydrated especially when the temperature is up. You’ll be busy, and that makes it easy to forget, but keep water by the doorway so you see it as you go in and out.
3. Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is essential to streamlining your move. Plan for extra expenses, pet sitters during your move and last minutes items you forgot to pack. After all, moving in an unorganized fashion will do nothing but cause you a headache. The more you can plan ahead, the better.

If you’re looking to find your dream home this summer, call Pauline at 732-933-5527 to find a great home in a great location. “Like” Pauline on Facebook for more great moving tips as well as Open Houses in the area.

Hazardous Items

It probably sounds like common sense to say that you cannot move hazardous items, but what you might not realize is what constitutes hazardous material. For instance, did you know that nail polish remover is on the list? Other materials include batteries, fertilizer, fireworks, lighter fluid, paint and paint thinner, matches, motor oil, pesticides, weed killer and charcoal.

These are all things most of us have in our basements, storage closets and sheds. You might think you are saving money by packing up these items instead of buying them new for your new home, but once they are opened they can cause problems that are more costly than replacing a few quarts of oil. It is important to note that you cannot dispose of these things in the regular trash.

Valuables

It is best to handle your valuable and irreplaceable items personally. Do not trust the moving company or a friend to help you pack these items. Misplacement can cause a lot of stress and despair—handle them yourself.

Things you should include on this list:

• Air line tickets
• Important keys
• Check books
• Computer storage devices
• Photos
• Files, financial and medical records
• Antiques and collectibles
• Other valuables such as money, furs and cameras

Pets

Pets are a beloved member of your family, and while moving and packing is stressful for us, it is the same for our pets. Your cat or dog will most likely be affected by your stress and the extra activity of packing. This might affect your furry friend’s behavior. Consider boarding your pets or have a trusted friend or family member pet sit during the busiest days.

Packing up

Plan ahead to make sure you have all of the boxes and containers you need. If you’re trying to save money, ask around with friends and family who have perhaps recently moved or who have businesses. Otherwise, it is essential to have enough boxes of the right size and strength.

To keep your belongings safe and secure tape the bottom of every box and keep your heavier items in smaller boxes and to the bottom of the boxes with lighter items on top. Don’t be afraid to use too much paper.

When packing breakables, use a lot of paper to wrap items and create cushion between them. Pack one room at a time to keep things together and so you don’t get too overwhelmed. Label the side of every box with contents and the room the items go in.

If you are looking to buy or sell property in Monmouth County, you deserve the very best! Looking for a seasoned professional that can maximize your holding or negotiate the best deal for a new acquisition? Look no further. Pauline Poyner is ready to assist in creating a successful real estate transaction. “Like” Pauline on Facebook to keep in touch with updates and listings!

Curb Appeal Exercise

First, we will start with a little exercise. The next time you come home, stop across the street to get a good view of your house. Think of what the first impression of your house and yard area is. Then, consider what the best exterior features are, and how you can enhance them.  Lastly, decide what the worst exterior features are and how you can improve them.

Park where a future buyer would and walk toward your house, looking around as if you have never seen it before. What could you do to make things more attractive?

Take some pictures of your home and make a list of some problem areas you may have discovered. Clean up and repair things first, and then work on some larger projects to make the lot more attractive.

Also, don’t forget about your backyard. Most people driving by will try to take a glimpse at the yard in the rear, so if it is visible from another street, include this in your efforts.

Do your curb appeal exercise again at dusk. Since most people are more free after work, this is when they’re more likely to drive by.

Curb Appeal Tips

If you can afford it, apply a fresh paint job. This can do wonders for a dingy house. Drive around your neighborhood and find color schemes that look good for ideas.

Install a more attractive front door if it is lacking, or add a fresh coat of paint to the door and shutters. Also, if your house numbers are not easy to see, replacing them can make a huge impact!

Since spring is less than a week away, it is the perfect time to start planting! Add a few flowers around the front of your house that are already in bloom, and you’ll be surprised how much brighter the outside of your house looks!

You know your house better than anyone, and you want to make sure it looks its best so the next owner can enjoy it as much as you. Ready to sell? Count on Pauline Poyner, member of Monmouth and Ocean County Association of Realtors and number one real estate sales agent in Monmouth County. “Like” Pauline on Facebook to see what she can do for you today!

Budget

First, before anything else you should set a budget. As much as we would all love to have an endless supply of funds to decorate with, this just is not realistic. You should put a cap on that decorating budget of yours so you don’t start reaching out of your price range. Now that this is out of the way, the fun begins!

Theme

Start by choosing a style that you want. This can be modern, contemporary, traditional, eclectic, European, country or anything else you desire! Perhaps there is a more specific theme you are looking to portray such as a rustic Tuscan home, a Spanish villa, or a tropical escape. Keep your style or styles in mind when it comes time to taking the next steps.

Furniture

Once you have decided on a style, pull out your trusty notebook and start sketching out each room. Make some notes on what furniture is a must have for the room and identify which items must be brand new. You can make great statements in your home with new pieces and quality pieces you can refurbish, found through garage sales, flea markets and auctions.

Paint

Next it’s time to start thinking color. A useful tip is to start with an accent piece that you have already purchased, or are searching for and work from there. Begin choosing your colors for your floorings and walls after you pulled out the colors from this piece.

Decorate!

Now that you are finished with the walls, it is time to start filling the space! Hopefully you have some furniture purchased after going around to stores. You can set up the room, and then add the accessories! Remember, you do not need to go with traditional accents or furniture. Feel free to be creative and experiment with unique objects, such as using an old trunk as a table! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, you can fix anything and sometimes mistakes end up being even better than you planned!

Now that your style and budget is locked down, don’t let anything stand in the way of creating that perfect home! But remember, before you can start decorating, you need a house! If you’re still searching for that place to call your own, rely on Pauline Poyner and “Like” her on Facebook to start house hunting today!

As a qualified and dedicated agent, Pauline Poyner knows how important it is to have a trusted and educated realtor by your side during this important moment in your life. You may be hesitant to rely on someone other than yourself, but there are many reasons to use a real estate agent that work to your advantage!

Better Access

It is a real estate agent’s full-time job to act as a contact between sellers and buyers. This means that they will have easy access to all other properties listed by other agents, and know the steps to take to get a deal together.

Knowledge of the Neighborhood

Real estate agents have the inside scoop on the local market. They can indentify comparable sales and give these facts to you. They can also point you in the direction to find out more information about schools, crimes, demographics and more. You may know on your own that a home was on the market for $400,000 but your agent will know it had upgrades and sold for $100,000 after 6 months on the market.

Education and Experience

You do not need to know much about real estate if you work with a real estate professional that does. To save yourself the struggle of learning everything there is to know about buying or selling your home, why not hire a person with more education and experience? Of course it is great to do your research, but it is a real estate professional’s job to already know the facts.

Information on Market Conditions

Real estate agents can disclose market conditions, which will guide your buying or selling process. Many factors go into how you proceed, such as the average per square foot cost of similar homes, average days on the market and ratios of list-to-sold prices. This information will have a huge impact on what you decide to do.

Negotiation Skills

Top agents know how to negotiate well because they are able to remove themselves from the emotional part of the transaction, which buyers and sellers may not be able to do. This is part of their job description- they are professionals who are trained to present their client’s case in the best light possible. Your real estate agent can convey your concerns to the buyer or seller’s agent. Ultimately, your agent will be a better person to negotiate prices and discounts without pushing anyone’s buttons.

Hiring a real estate professional can save you stress and confusion when buying or selling your home. As a seasoned professional, it is Pauline Poyner’s pleasure to put her hard work and experience toward finding the best deal for you! “Like” Pauline Poyner on Facebook and find out about upcoming open houses, events and more!

It’s almost 2012 and you know what that means, it’s time to make your New Year’s Resolutions! Have you been considering buying a home but haven’t made the first step? 2012 is your year to be a homeowner! Pauline Poyner knows first-hand how happy people are in their new homes and so she’s sharing some tips so you too can make a resolution to own a home in 2012!

There are many aspects involved in becoming a homeowner that can make people resistant to take the first step but by following these steps to buying a home, you can make the purchase easier on yourself!

• Assess your lifestyle. It’s important that you stay in your home for more than a few years if you buy, so make sure that’s feasible for you.
• Your credit will be looked at when you’re taking out loans for purchasing a home, so get copies and make sure you fix any problems you might find before you try to take out loans.
• Don’t look at homes you know you can’t afford.
• Decide what neighborhood you’d like to live in and look in this neighborhood and ones like it.
• Consider the school district in the town you’re looking to buy a home in. You’ll want a good school system for your own kids and even if you don’t have kids, good school districts give homes a higher value.
• Hire a real estate agent! Pauline Poyner is a seasoned professional whose excellent communication and negotiation skills will serve your needs and help you to be a homeowner in 2012!
• Get pre-approved for a loan based on your annual income, debt and credit score. This will make your offer more credible when you make one.
• Know exactly what you can afford before you make any big decisions. You don’t want to move forward with buying a home and realize too late that you can’t afford it.
• Prepare to make a 20% down payment on your future home in order to get loans.
• Make your sales contract contingent on a home inspection to protect yourself from unforeseen costs.

Make 2012 your year to become a homeowner! By following these steps, you can make the process of buying a home much easier on yourself and start the year right in a new home! Pauline Poyner can help you with your resolution to be a homeowner in 2012 by providing you with the best service in real estate! ‘Like’ Pauline on Facebook to learn more about her and to see some of Pauline’s featured properties!

Schools that wish to participate in the program will need to select a Hunger Challenge Coordinator, such as a parent, club advisor or PTA member, who will complete the registration, act as contact with the Foodbank and oversee the program at that particular school.  Different schools will be assigned different categories of which food items to collect.

The 2011 Holiday Hunger Challenge begins on September 26th and runs until November 21st. This program is a vital part of the community for both the schools participating and the community benefiting from the efforts. It is a great time for students to not only get involved in helping their community, but also to demonstrate and build leadership skills.

Knowing how important the Challenge is, local businesses from around the Monmouth and Ocean county areas come to the aid of the Foodbank to help make the program possible. Pauline Poyner is a proud sponsor of the 2011 School Holiday Hunger Challenge! As a member of Monmouth County and Ocean County Association of Realtors, and as a real estate agent for 16 years, community is very important to not only Pauline, but the homeowners she helps settle into the communities.

For more information on the School Holiday Hunger Challenge, visit the Foodbank online. For information on Pauline Poyner’s services, local events and tips on buying, selling or moving into a new home, “Like” Pauline on Facebook!

Let’s take a closer look at a beautiful Victorian town, Monmouth Beach. Featuring Victorian architecture, this shore town is undoubtedly charming. Monmouth Beach was incorporated in March 1906 after seceding from Ocean Township. The borough hall was built a decade later in 1917, and the community’s exclusive newspaper, the Monmouth Beach Herald, was founded in 1936.

A town of only one square mile offers more than its share of beauty with the ocean to the east and the Shrewsbury River to the northwest. Not only is the town surrounded by natural beauty, but there is also plenty to do in the area. In addition to the numerous beaches along the coast offering family fun, relaxation and a fisher’s haven, there is a seemingly endless list of things to do. Pier Village, located just minutes away in Long Brach, is an ocean-side shopping center with several great stores and restaurants.  The Shrewsbury River gives residents the opportunity to have some fun in the outdoors whether sailing, kayaking, fishing or a family picnic. You can even take time to pamper yourself at the Spa at Monmouth Beach. The spa offers a great deal of services including energy therapy, massage and beauty.

MONMOUTH BEACH FACTS

• 3600 residents in 1633 households
• 50% of the population is married couples with 23% of these couples having children under 18 living in the household
• Median age of 45
• Median income of $93,401
• Low crime rate – according to city-data.com the crime index in 2009 was only 64.9. the national average was 319.2 in the same year
• Home to the Monmouth Beach Public Library
• 5 to 10 minute drive to Sea Streak Ferry to New York.

Pauline knows there is a lot more to consider when relocating to Monmouth County. Before moving, you have to consider the type of jobs available in the area, the school system and safety. Below is a table illustrating the division of jobs in Monmouth Beach.

MONMOUTH BEACH SCHOOLS

The Monmouth Beach school system serves kindergarten through eighth grade. The mission of the school system is to create leaders able to handle the challenges that will arise throughout the 21^st Century. They use teaching techniques that acknowledge that all children learn in different ways and at different paces. Karen Ginty, a kindergarten teacher at Monmouth Beach Elementary School was named the 2006/2007 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. Ginty taught at the school for 33 years prior to receiving the award. Upon graduating eighth grade, students will attend Shore Regional High School in West Long Branch. Other towns that attend SRHS include Sea Bright, Oceanport and West Long Branch.

If you are considering a move to Monmouth County, Pauline Poyner and this information will assist in a smooth transition. Call Pauline today, or request a call to schedule an appointment to begin the journey to your dream home.

If you have any helpful information about Monmouth beach, feel free to post a comment and let us know your favorite Monmouth Beach spots!