18 minute read
REAL ESTATE
PASCACK VALLEY REAL ESTATE Make moving much easier
It should come as no surprise that the warm weather kicks off one of the busiest times of year in the housing market. Warm weather makes it more comfortable to see and display homes, leading to more listings and open houses.
Bureau, the average person in the United States changes residences more than 11 times in his or her lifetime. With each move, the process of moving may become more familiar. But even the most practiced nomad can find moving to be an overwhelming experience.
Research areas carefully
Buyers are advised to do their research when seeking new towns or cities to call home.
There are many factors to consider, including school district ratings, proximity to shopping, distance from work/commute times, availability of transportation, climate, and crime ratings.
Before falling in love with a particular home, potential buyers can visit the area in which the home is located during a typical weekday to get a feel for the atmosphere.
Check out shopping centers, observe the residents and drive by the schools and businesses. This can help paint an accurate picture that may or may not differ from that depicted in the real estate listing.
Stack the deck
Working with qualified professionals who have gone through the moving process before can make for easier work for buyers and sellers. Ask for recommendations regarding real estate companies, real estate attorneys, home inspectors, insurance agents, and all of the other people who will assist with buying, selling and moving.
Carefully vet these professionals, relying on third-party reviews as well as any information provided by the Better Business Bureau.
Secure temporary storage
It can help to put some belongings into a storage center prior to moving, and then gradually take items from the storage unit to your new home. This will free up space to make repairs to your new home and give you time to figure out decorating schemes while ensuring clutter wonʼt get in the way of renovation projects. New homeowners also can take their time sorting through boxes and getting rid of items they may not need in their new homes.
Get estimates and verify licensing
The BBB advises consumers to verify all licensing for movers. Solicit at least three inhome estimates and get those figures in writing. Confirm insurance coverage for the company chosen, and be sure to have all agreed upon information spelled out explicitly in a written contract. Red flags to consider include movers who donʼt make on-site inspections for estimates and those who demand payment in advance before the move.
Have a first-week survival kit
New homeowners can pick up takeout restaurant menus and premade grocery store meals. In addition, stock up on staples such as paper plates, toilet tissue, light bulbs, and cleaning supplies in advance of the move so you wonʼt have to unpack everything at mealtime or when you want to clean after arriving at your new home.
Even the most practiced nomad can find moving to be an overwhelming experience. Those on the cusp of moving and nervous about packing up and leaving can employ a few tricks to make moving much easier.
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The process of buying a home can be unlike any experience prospective buyers have ever had. After finding a home they like and coming to an agreement on a sale price with the seller, buyers can expect to add many items to their to-do list. One of the first things to jot down on that list is scheduling a home inspection.
Home inspections are a vital
HOME INSPECTIONS 101
part of the home buying process. Such inspections can protect buyers as they're on the cusp of making what will likely be the most significant investment of their lives.
What is a home inspection?
The American Society of Home Inspectors defines a home inspection as an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house. Inspectors will conduct visual examinations from the roof to the foundation of the home. Additional structures on the property, such as sheds or detached outdoor
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Understanding the home inspection process can help buyers during an exciting yet potentially nerve-wracking time in their lives.
living areas, are not typically included in the examination.
What do inspectors examine?
The ASHI notes that inspectors will examine the condition of various parts of the home. The heating system, central air conditioning unit, interior plumbing and electrical systems, roof (though inspectors will not climb onto the roof), attic and insulation will be examined.
Inspectors also will examine walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, the foundation of the home, basement (or crawl space), and structural components.
Can a home fail inspection?
Homes cannot fail home inspections, which are just assessments of a home's existing condition. Municipal inspections are separate inspections conducted by government agencies to verify that a property is in compliance with local codes. Home inspectors will provide detailed reports describing the condition of a home and indicate if any repairs are in order.
Do I really need a home inspection?
A home inspection is a vital component that can help buyers make the most informed decision possible. Forgoing an inspection can leave buyers vulnerable to potentially costly repairs and issues with a home that might have been detected with a proper home inspection. In addition, some lenders insist that buyers have home inspections conducted before they will allow them to borrow money.
Home inspections can protect home buyers as they prepare to make the most significant financial investment of their lives. More information about inspections can be found at www.homeinspector.org.
REAL ESTATE & BUSINESS How to build a more energy-efficient home this summer
With weather forecasts calling for a warmer than normal summer and social distancing encouraging us to spend more time at home, we could all benefit from boosting our homeʼs energy efficiency to save on energy bills. Here are some big and small changes that could help:
Start with a solid foundation. If youʼre adding an extension to your home, a pool to your backyard or even planning a custom-built dream home, choose sustainable materials that promote energy conservation. Instead of traditional wood-framing, consider insulated concrete forms from Nudura. The eco-friendly alternative features thermal mass walls that can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 60 percent a year.
Work on your windows. Did you know that about 15 to 20 percent of your homeʼs surface is windows? This means any issues with them can have a major impact on your energy consumption. Take time to caulk any gaps or air leaks, and consider upgrading to energyefficient windows. Double-paned windows boost your insulation and help ensure your cooled, air conditioned air doesnʼt escape.
Switch to outdoor energy sources. Take advantage of the gorgeous weather to spend more time outside. Instead of cooking meals in your energy-intensive oven that also heats up your home, break out the barbecue and enjoy dinner al fresco. You can also ease up on the clothes dryer by setting up a line and some pins in the backyard and use the wind and sun for drying power.
Install a smart weather station. Technology can help you make sure youʼre consuming energy wisely. A smart thermostat is a great idea, but a smart weather station can work with it and other devices to go a step beyond, programming them around current and predicted weather patterns. For example, it can ensure your scheduled sprinkler wonʼt go off in the middle of a downpour.
Be mindful of your refrigerator. If you arenʼt careful, a lot of energy can be used by your fridge. First, make sure the one in your kitchen (and basement) is a newer model, as older ones can cost hundreds more a year to power. Then, clear it out so the shelves and drawers arenʼt overcrowded, which makes the fridge work harder to pump cool air throughout. Finally, if you let leftovers cool on the counter before putting them inside, your fridge will use less energy.
Find more information at nudura.com. With forecasts calling for a warmer than normal summer and social distancing encouraging us to spend more time at home, we could all benefit from boosting our home’s energy efficiency to save on energy bills.
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Free property alert system from clerk
In a continuing effort to protect Bergen County property owners from fraud, the office of County Clerk John S. Hogan offers a Property Alert System.
This free service provides Bergen County property owners with an immediate email alert whenever a document is recorded with the clerkʼs office under the ownerʼs name or property (municipality/lot/block).
“Sadly, property and mortgage fraud is a fast growing crime in our country. Scammers record fraudulent documents (like fake deeds) or record fake liens against property owners. In some instances, fraud on real property may not be discovered until the owners seek to sell their house,” Hogan said in a press release recently. Bergen County property owners can sign up for the service by visiting the Bergen County Clerkʼs website (bergencountyclerk.org), go to the “services” drop down, select “land records” and click onto “Property Alert.”
“Itʼs as simple as registering your name or business name and your email address and you will be notified electronically if a document is recorded with your name or property,” Hogan said.
He added, “Any tools, such as this early warning system, that can help protect Bergen County residents from fraud are useful and beneficial to our property owners. Iʼm pleased to offer them this free service as way to protect one of their most important assets.”
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BEFORE
Township rejected on $1M bid for private swim, rec club
BY MICHAELOLOHAN AND JOHN SNYDER
OF PASCACK PRESS
TOWNSHIPOFWASHINGTON
When the votes were tallied, the Townshipʼs hopes for purchasing the Swim and Recreation Club at 464 Ridgewood Boulevard North were sunk.
The Townshipʼs $1 million bid to acquire and operate the private, not-for-profit, 6.4-acre club—closed in the pandemic and not reopened for 2021—was rejected by the clubʼs voting members by an almost 3:1 margin, according to unofficial results.
Councilman Michael DeSena told Pascack Press that he learned the Townshipʼs offer came in a distant second.
He said of 72 families eligible to vote, 49 ballots were cast. A summer camp outfit won on 35 votes, the townshipʼs bid won 13 votes, and Superdome Sports netted one vote.
Mayor Peter Calamari took to his Facebook page on July 24 to say that he had just been informed by the club that a final vote took place and members had accepted another offer.
“Obviously I, and I am sure a great majority of residents will share in my disappointment by this decision. The offer the town made was exactly what the board asked for. I am, however, proud and grateful for the level of enthusiasm and motivation shown by the public in contacting the elected officials to express their opinions.”
He told Pascack Press later that he was thinking “99% optimistically” when he put in the $1 million bid, adding, “We tried. You donʼt win them all.”
However, in his Facebook post, he laid the blame at the feet of councilmembers Michael DeSena—who has challenged him for mayor this year—and Steve Cascio.
Calamari asserted “It bears mentioning that I was informed a deciding factor in their choice was the underwhelming interest and enthusiasm and apparent lack of commitment shown by some council members during the councilʼs vote to acquire the property and make a good faith effort to make a town pool viable.”
He said Council President Stacey Feeney and members Desserie Morgan and Tom Sears “were firmly in favor of the purchase.”
In contrast, he noted “Councilman Cascio voted no twice. Councilman DeSena initially voted no on the first vote … I then asked the swim club for an extension and the second vote was taken. Councilman DeSena then voted yes but made it clear he did not support any efforts to make a town pool viable.”
Calamari said, “It showed a lack of commitment to the terms of the purchase and the vision that so many of our residents and constituents expressed and shared.”
We reached out to the swim clubʼs board for comment after hearing a vote on Monday, July 12 had rejected the townshipʼs offer. We also reached out to it for a reaction to Calamariʼs characterization via his Facebook post.
Club officical Loretta DeTitta said July 15, “The vote is not complete by any means. A very small portion of membership were at the meeting. We are still taking votes. The process at the moment is still private and confidential.”
On the question of Calamariʼs post—and who the winning bidder is—she said, “We are in contract with our buyer and not planning on a public statement until that process is complete.”
DeSena told Pascack Press turnout was low and that the administrationʼs lack of vision for a pool operation beyond two years, including its lack of interest in a feasibility study, were reasons members voted not to entrust the club to the township.
“Mr. Mayor, you are a liar. That would be my quote,” DeSena concluded.
Peter Tasca, general manager and director of operations for the third-place vote getter, Superdome Sports, a subsidiary of HFZ Capital Group, told Pascack Press on July 27 that his organization had “expressed interest in the club a couple of years ago” but did not hear back and moved on to a $5 million expansion acquisition in Brick.
Also unclear is what this means for the placement of any DPW equipment the administration had been intending to store on the grounds of its intended acquisition amid soil remediation at the longstanding DPW site, at the municipal complex.
Calamari did not respond to a Pascack Press request for comment on an email thread from Aug. 30, 2019 that appears to show him soliciting support from his campaign partners and others on council, all on private email addresses, for “an opportunity to purchase a sizable piece of property (a little over one acre) in a perfect non-residential location for $600k for a new, larger DMF facility.”
He cited “a constant parking issue at town hall. On regular days the lot is pretty full. Add any other activities like the Senior Exercise class and the Senior Meetings and it fills up past capacity, forcing our Seniors to clog up Hudson Ave and walk further to the building.”
He said “It would also enable us to add more desperately needed handicap parking. I have seen Seniors not able to attend the meetings because they couldn't walk that far, especially up the incline on Hudson. Think of the space we would have if the DMF building, equipment and employee cars were not taking up space.”
He added, “The larger location would give us an option to do our own Trash Collection for the residents, something weʼve been hearing from them for a while.”
That effort evidently did not pan out. The thread was provided to us, prior to the swim clubʼs board vote, by Councilman Steven Cascio, who appears to reply to Calamari simply: “I am not a fan of this specific property regarding this plan at this time.”
Feeney appears to say only, “I am in favor of this also [along with the late Art Cumming]. This only benefits our town. Also the temporary location for the DMF is an addedbonus. I also agree showing the seniors they are thought of (which they say they are not), by putting in more handicap parking is a great plan and very visible.”
DeSena appears to separate out the swim club bid from public works activities:“The swim club acquisition is priority one followed by dmf in my opinion.”
In the debate on bonding for the swim club, DeSena disagreed with Feeney over how many members would be required for the facility to break even and told the mayor that he also did not want to have DPW vehicles parked at the site should the town purchase it.
DPW vehicles are stored behind the Valley Bank, in the municipal lot, and on 35 spaces at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church for up to two years at a total cost of $60,600.
At the July 24 meetingʼs start, DeSena said he would vote for the clubʼs acquisition if the agreement stipulated that the pool would be immediately shut down and evaluated, that no DPW trucks would be parked there, and that the offer be for $1 million instead of $600,000 plus $400,000 for capital improvements.
Moreover, he said he wanted a feasibility study on the site to be conducted this year.
None of those conditions appeared to be in a draft motion read by the town attorney and presented to the council.
The administration has negotiated with the clubʼs board since at least early April, though the volunteer board had asked the township, and other potential saviors, for help years earlier. (See “Swim club seeks a way forward: Dragging unpaid taxes, stalled reimbursements,” Pascack Press, Sept. 30, 2019.)
By a 3-0 vote, the council authorized Calamari to spend up to the $850,000 he said was the negotiated amount for the site. That morphed into $1 million: $600,000 for the property purchase, and $400,000 for improvements.
On June 21, the council voted, 3-2, to submit a $1 million offer on the club. According to Township Attorney Kenneth Poller, the council needed a 4-1 majority to approve bonding for $1 million.
At that meeting, although three council members voted in favor, Cascio and DeSena opposed the offer and said they were unlikely to change their vote.
In advance of the June 24 meeting, Calamari took to Facebook to make a last-minute case for the purchase.
After a lengthy public comment session, the council voted, 4-1, with DeSena changing to an
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