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ERA Central Supports Move For Hunger
ERA Real Estate’s International Business Conference just ended and we were happy to see the excitement generated when the ERA family learned about Move For Hunger.
We met Max Lowy, Real Estate Program Director for Move For Hunger last month and knew that their mission was a perfect fit for our company and our agents. Move For Hunger is a non-profit organization that works with relocation companies across North America to pick up unwanted, unopened food from those who are relocating and deliver it to local food banks. To date, Move For Hunger is working with nearly 600 movers and 5500 Realtors in 47 states and has collected more than 2,400,000 pounds of food!
When asked about how real estate could help the Move For Hunger mission, Max said, “The opportunity for impact is incredible. Imagine if the industry truly put its full support behind this. We would do something that no hunger-relief organization has ever done before: create a sustainable, year-round program to address hunger in this country. If this is happening every day and can be supported by companies like ERA Real Estate , and state associations – then this will become the industry standard.”
ERA Central pledged our support on the spot and encouraged Move For Hunger to come the ERA IBC in Los Angeles to share their mission with ERA brokers worldwide. Max and Ben received a warm Team ERA welcome – we’re excited to be working with them to help New Jersey families in need put food on their tables.
For more information or to find out how you can help support Move For Hunger, visit www.MoveForHunger.org.
It’s time to apply for our EDGE Scholarship!
The vision of ERA Central Realty Group is to keep front-of-mind the fact that the success of our clients, our agents and our company is interdependent. Giving back to our communities is important to us – and supporting the next generation of professionals is something we believe in. The EDGE Scholarship is a way of honoring your family and the families that have supported us over the last two decades. We look forward to receiving and reviewing the applications each spring and continue to be amazed at the talented and driven students in our local high schools.
To be eligible for the scholarship program for the 2013-2014 academic year, college bound students from New Jersey must apply during their senior year, or within one year of receiving a high school diploma, and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Home schooled students are also eligible and are encouraged to apply.
The scholarships will be awarded to students who have demonstrated ethical, forward thinking, results-oriented life and work habits and who take a proactive approach to their own life and to the life in their communities. To be considered for the EDGE Scholarship, students should visit EDGEScholarship.com.
Our Vision
The interdependent nature of real estate seems ever more apparent. The past five years in the industry have reinforced the impact a healthy real estate market has on its community. An ethical, socially responsible company Continue reading
And the Winner of the Bordentown NJ Photo Contest is…
Our first community photo contest ended last night at midnight and we’re excited to announce the winner! With 373 votes, please join us in congratulating Peter Ciarrocca of Bordentown, NJ on his winning photograph of Crystal Lake in Bordentown Township!
We want to thank all of the talented photographers who submitted their work for consideration. The response from the community was wonderful and we are looking forward to hosting another contest in Bordentown in the future.
Peter Ciarrocca has generously donated his prize of $500 to the Bordentown Regional High School Soccer Program. We’re thrilled to send his winnings to such a talented and deserving group of young athletes. Please join us in congratulating all of the entrants on their work which is displayed below.
ERA Innovation Award – Stephanie Bellanova is the Shark Tank Winner!
Stephanie Bellanova and our Pro2Go marketing presentation won the ERA Shark Tank competition for the Innovation Award for Pioneering Business Concepts! We’re excited to announce that she will now move on to compete in the finals and face a panel of industry judges at the ERA International Business Convention in March 2014. Continue reading
Stephanie Bellanova interviewed by Fox Business!
August 22, 2013. Stephanie Bellanova, CEO of ERA Central Realty Group was interviewed by Fox Business last month. The article featured advice and tips for homeowners considering putting their home on the market. Stephanie and other local market experts gave their thoughts in this article by Kate Rogers published on August 22, 2013.
Homeowners who have been sitting on the sidelines mulling whether or not to jump into the market, housing experts offer the following advice: jump in.
Existing home sales jumped 6.5% in August to the highest level in four years and homebuilder confidence also climbed to its highest level since 2005 for the month. Whether the market continues to thrive once the Federal Reserve begins tapering its monetary policy remains to be seen, but experts say buyers are looking to act fast to take advantage of low mortgage rates, so sellers should be ready.
“It’s been this way for awhile, and there are more and more homebuyers and in many cases not enough inventory,” says Stephanie Bellanova, a broker-owner at ERA Central Realty Group in Central New Jersey says. “This is a push for sellers who want to get in there.”
If you’re looking to list your home, here are a few things you can do to get your property ready to list:
Think Like the Buyer
Many homeowners aren’t able to identify potential flaws in their home, says Bellanova.
“Look at your house through the buyers’ eyes,” she recommends. “We are blind to the things we pass every day, like a stain on the carpet. Put on your buyer’s hat—it can really help you see things you don’t normally look at.”
Many of the things that make a property feel like “home” to its current owner may turn off potential buyers, adds Adam Leitman Bailey, founder of New York City-based realtors Adam Leitman Bailey P.C.
“The things that you think make it a great place to live look like trash to the average buyer,” he says. “They need to envision themselves in that space, not you living there.”
Tip: Open all blinds to let natural light in the space when showing a home, Bellanova recommends.
Invest for Bigger Returns
Many buyers aren’t looking to invest in a “fixer-upper,” says Leitman Baile, so taking care of issues like broken air conditioners, leaky faucets or tiles on the roof, can go a long way in attracting more buyers and increasing a home’s value.
“All of those things can sometimes cause buyers to walk away, because they don’t want to deal with the problem or over estimate the cost of repairs,” he says.
Even investing a few thousand dollars for fresh paint in and on your home, can bring major returns. “It’s amazing how a little bit of money in the home pays off so much more,” he says. “I have seen $5,000-to-$10,000 in painting bring in an extra $100,000.”
Focus on the Kitchen, Bathrooms
These rooms are what sell homes, according to Keith Robinson, chief operating officer, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Mason-McDuffie. When putting your home up for sale, this is where you should pay extra attention and even spend a bit of money to make sure they’re up to date and clean.
“The more you can do to maximize those areas, the better you are,” Robinson says. “If you haven’t recently remodeled, you should find a smart economical way to show it as well as possible. They have the most fizzle and sexy—a bedroom is just a bedroom.”
Boost Curb Appeal
Many sellers spend the majority of their time readying the inside of their homes before listing, but Bellanova cautions not to forget the outside of your home.
“Impressions begin from the moment [potential buyers] get out of their car and are walking to your front door,” she says. “Make sure the bushes are trimmed back, everything is weeded and mulched, the doors and entryways are painted and more. The walk up to the house needs to be fresh.”
Have the Right Team in Place
Be sure your brokers are effective and can move quickly, says Leitman Bailey, as many buyers are making offers within 24 hours of viewing a home.
“You would be surprised at how many deals are blown because people don’t have their calls returned, or contracts don’t go out before the weekend,” he says.
ERA Central visits MDA Summer Camp!
We’re gearing up for our annual fundraiser to benefit MDA Summer Camp, and were excited to be invited to visit the New Jersey MDA Summer Camp which is happening this week!
Carol Stevenson, Director of Education and Training for ERA Central Realty Group will be joined by Sue Kelly, Office Coordinator, and Grace Soden, Broker Associate from our Freehold office at the campsite on Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Sue has been working for months to make this year’s Bowl-Over-MDA event at Colonial Lanes in Lawrenceville, NJ even more fantastic than last year is looking forward to having the opportunity to visit the camp which gives so many children “the best week of the year.” She shared her thoughts on tomorrow’s visit, “Together with Carol and Grace, I am honored to represent ERA Central Realty Group as a guest at this year’s camp being held August 2 – 9 in Hardwick, NJ. At MDA camp, kids with neuromuscular disease discover a world created specifically for them, and meet many other kids sharing the same needs and experiences. Working directly with the children for whom our fundraising benefits is a very personal and very rewarding experience.”
ERA Tough Mudders raise funds for the Wounded Warriors Project
On May 18th, Team ERA Mudders completed a Tough Mudder in Jacksonville, Fl. Four hours. Twelve miles. Working as a team to make it through obstacles like Everest, the Gauntlet, and ElectroShock Therapy.
The day was a culmination of months of training – to prepare for an event where the challenges are are as much mental as physical.
Stephanie Bellanova, Linda Shinn and Jennifer Razoux represented ERA Central Realty Group in Jacksonville with the full support of their NJ team behind them.
“In my leadership position, I’m always heading up the team. The Mudder taught me that it’s OK not to have it ‘all together,’ and that sometimes leaders need to rely on others for help.” Stephanie Bellanova.
The ERA Mudders did more than rock the course, they raised more than $7,500 to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. To date, Tough Mudder participants have raised over $5 million to support thousands of warriors returning from the battlefield.
Every dollar raised for the WWP is well spent
- Providing combat stress recovery programs
- Adaptive sports programs
- Benefits counseling
- Employment services
These programs and services aid in brave Americans’ transition from service-connected injury to civilian life.
In training and fundraising for the Mudder, Stephanie and Linda demonstrated the core belief that drives us at ERA Central. We strive everyday to be part of something bigger. It’s a goal that isn’t possible without relying on your team.
“Talk about a life-changing event! I participated in this Tough Mudder to be part of something bigger for ERA and the Wounded Warrior Project and if has forever changed my outlook on teamwork and reaching outside of my comfort zone. So thankful to have been part of it!” – Stephanie Bellanova
Two tough mommas ready for a Tough Mudder
They’re packing their bags right about now – two of our fearless leaders off to face a few fears head on for a cause you may have heard of, but not fully appreciated.
Stephanie and Linda are leaving tomorrow to complete a Tough Mudder in Florida and will join a team of ERA agents, brokers and staff – all getting down and dirty to raise funds for the Wounded Warriors Project.
The Wounded Warriors Project (WWP) has a simple mission – To honor and empower wounded warriors. They strive every day to fulfill this mission:
- To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members.
- To help injured service members aid and assist each other.
- To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.
You can learn more on the WWP website and get to know some of the warriors they’ve been able to help.
Stephanie and Linda have been training and fundraising for months to be ready for this event. We are super proud of them and can’t wait to share their journey with them. Join us in cheering them on (you know by now that ERA is all about the team)….we’re behind you every step of the way! Go TEAM ERA!
