Finding the right home in Manhattan can take time and a lot of work. At times it can be overwhelming …after all it’s the most important decision you will make.

A licensed and professional Real Estate Agent can help navigate the process from beginning to end — and even after your closing — applying their expertise to your search to get you the results you deserve.

Using the right Agent can make all the difference between finding the home you have always wanted and frustration. Find an agent who can open the right doors for you. Find an agent who listens.

Look for an Agent, not a property since you’ll be spending much of your time with this person, read agent biographies, request recommendations, even call to interview them. Communication is 80% of the process, so make sure you and your agent connect.

Share all requested information. Letting your agent know what you want is the first step to successful communication. Many factors play a part in the selection of properties for you to view and there are a wide variety of properties in New York City. Give your agent a complete picture of you and your needs to avoid wasting time looking at properties that does not suit your lifestyle. Make a wish list. You may not get everything on your list, but a good agent will work to get you as much of your wish list as possible.

When looking at properties, give your agent a piece of your mind.While looking at properties, let your agent know what resonates with you for each property. A good agent will consider all of the input you have given throughout the relationship when selecting properties to see, not just your initial requirements. Perhaps your reaction to a property will bring to mind another option they would have otherwise struck from the list. As you see more properties with your agent, they will get to know how they can best assist you.

Be Open. Never feel that you have to hold back in your assessment of a property, your assessment of a contract, or your feelings on a situation. Your agent is there to help you and the more they know, the better off you are.

Pick one agent to assist you. In Manhattan, every agent has access to the same group of listings through RLS (REBNY Listing Exchange Service) which acts similarly to the MLS. Working with multiple agents will just make more work for you, in that you will have to manage a team of people, field many phone calls and emails, learn of duplicate properties and make the search for your home all that more overwhelming.

Whether you’re a buyer or seller, pick the agent who is right for you and work exclusively with them. Your agent works for you and if you choose the right agent for your needs, you’ll find that the process of buying or selling a home is not nearly as daunting as you think — because your agent will do all of the work. A good real estate agent is worth their weight in gold!

1. Plan ahead by organizing and budgeting. Develop a master “to do” list so you won’t forget something critical. To estimate costs, get quotes from two or three reputable movers.

2. Sort and get rid of things you no longer want or need. Have a garage sale, donate to a charity, or recycle.

3. Don’t throw out everything. If you’re inclined to toss it, you’re probably right. But one can go overboard in the heat of the moment. Ask yourself how frequently you use an item and how you’d feel if you no longer had it. That will eliminate regrets after your move.

4. Pack like items together. Put toys with toys, kitchen utensils with kitchen utensils. Your life will be easier when it’s time to unpack.

5. Decide what, if anything, you plan to move yourself. Precious items such as family photos, valuable breakables, or must-haves during the move should probably stay with you. Don’t forget to keep a “necessities” bag with tissues, snacks, and other items you’ll need that day.

6. Use the right box for the item. Loose items are prone to breakage.

7. Put heavy items in small boxes so they’re easier to lift. Keep weight of each box under 50 pounds, if possible.

8. Don’t over-pack boxes. That will increase the chances that items inside the box will break.

9. Wrap every fragile item separately and pad bottom and sides of boxes.

10. Label every box on all sides. You never know how they’ll be stacked and you don’t want to have to move other boxes aside to find out what’s there.

11. Use color-coded labels to indicate which room each item should go in. Color-code a floor plan for your new house to help movers.

12. Keep your moving documents together in a file. Including important phone numbers, driver’s name, and moving van number. Also keep your address book handy.

13. Back up your computer files before moving your computer.

14. Remember, most movers won’t take plants. If you don’t want to leave them behind, plan on moving them yourself.

15. Inspect each box and all furniture for damage as soon as it arrives.

Selling your home is like a job interview. You want to make a great impression!

I cannot begin to describe the number of instances, where I have gone to preview a seller’s home or brought a buyer and even renter – only to find the home dirty, dishes in the sink, food left on the kitchen counter, toys ALL over the house beds unmade, etc.

Do not assume it doesn’t matter. It does!!!!!

People are coming to inspect your home to see if they want to purchase it. By making a good impression, you increase the chances of getting your home sold or even rented,

The home for sale or rent should be clean, uncluttered, beds made and toys put away.
If you have pets, realize that many people are allergic to pets, and that shedding dog fur and cat dander are everywhere. When showing your home, pets should not be at home. That’s what friends, relatives and kennels are for – to help you with those darling fluffy family members!
Additionally, your home should be completely fur and dander cleansed. It should not be obvious to a potential buyer that you have pets living in your home.

If your home needs additional sprucing up, do consider a new coat of paint and staging! It works wonders.

Home staging is preparing a home prior to putting it on the market for sale.

Why stage your home? Staging a home can ensure a quick sale.

You may love the way your home looks, but potential buyers may not. When selling your home, staging it professionally can make your home more appealing and more attractive. It depersonalizes your home, reduces its flaws and very often, raises the value of your home. Very often it can bring a higher purchase price.

With shows like HGTV’s ‘Designed To Sell’, “Bought and Sold”, “Get It Sold”, “Buy Me” and TLC’s “Flip This House” home owners looking to sell their home, can learn valuable staging information that could be the difference of one’s home being sold quickly, or sitting on the market for a long time.

As a professional real estate agent, I have seen buyers cringe at red walls, pink bathrooms, clutter and other people’s pictures and momentos. Although this is important to the seller, sellers should not take this personally. Buyers want to see neutral, clean and uncluttered living spaces that they can envision themselves living in.

You can find professional home stagers in most cities by searching the Internet or letting your fingers do the walking in the yellow pages. You can also find these stagers from an accredited home staging school. One of the best ways to find a good professional home stager is to ask your broker. Brokers know the best stagers in their area.

Let the stagers do their job … regardless of whether you agree with their choices or not.

If you prefer to do the staging yourself:

• Get rid of clutter
• Put away photos and momentos
• If you have children, their toys should not be visible
• Clean and light fireplaces so they look inviting
• Clear kitchen and bathroom counters
• If it’s outdated, it should go
• Walls and carpeting should be neutral
• If furniture is oversized, put some in storage
• If you have pets, be sure to vacuum away all pet hair and dander, remove kitty litter boxes, bowls of food and water, and spray your home. There should be no telltale signs of pets in your home.

Make your home appealing. Keep it neat and clean and light scented candles when potential buyers are coming over to see your home. The seller should not be present. Only the brokers and potential buyers should be there.

Remember … a clean and uncluttered home that is attractive and inviting, is a home ready to be sold!

Add value to your home so it sells!

With the rest of the country in a real estate slump, that’s hardly the case for Manhattan.

A great deal of money is being spent on very expensive apartments in Manhattan. The average price of a Manhattan apartment rose over the past year to a record $1,690,995, fueled by an increasing share in luxury sales. Sales of apartments priced over $10 million jumped 318% from the first quarter of 2007. Closings at 15 Central Park West and The Plaza played the most significant role, and removing them from the average price would bring it down to $1,417,496. The median price, which is not as affected by increased high-end sales, was up just 13% over the past year.

The rapid weakening of the U.S. dollar against the British pound sterling and the euro noticeably lowers the cost of New York real estate for Europeans. And with the U.S. dollar weakening 2 percent against the Japanese yen, international buyers have become a core of Manhattan homebuyers – especially for two and three bedroom apartments or larger.

Foreigners are abundant on the streets of New York, buying everything from apartments to clothing. A huge arrival of Manhattan buyers from Europe, Japan, Korea and Russia have joined the ranks of Manhattan homeowners.

Manhattan boasts some of the most prominent addresses such as The Plaza and Central Park West which are averaging $3,500-4,000 a square foot. In London these same properties would sell at over $6000 a square foot.

The growing influx of foreigners buying homes in New York City for work and play and as investments is rapidly growing. According to the National Association of Realtors, “One in 5 Realtors in the U.S. has sold a home to a foreign investor in the last year.”

Global investors are looking for places to invest their cash. And Manhattan is just the place for these investments … with another record in apartment sales in 2008 thus far.

Now is definitely the time to buy real estate in Manhattan.