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HOME SELLER'S GUIDETHE LUXELIFE GROUP of eXp REALTYTop New Jersey Real Estate Advisors
LuxeLife Group of eXp RealtySimon Westfall-Kwong, Team LeaderAssociate Broker | Real Estate Advisorm: 973-489-8885 Simon@LuxeLifeRealEstateGroup.comLuxeLifeRealEstateGroup.comSUMMIT520 Morris AvenueSummit, NJ 07901m: 973-489-8885o: 866-201-6210 x2913MONTCLAIR28 Valley Road, Ste. 1Montclair, NJ 07042m: 973-489-8885o: 866-201-6210 x2913@LuxeLifeRealEstateGroup@LuxeLifeGroupSimon Westfall-Kwong, LuxeLife Groupof eXp Realty
Simon started as a real estate agent in 2006 and today leads LuxeLife Real Estate Group ofeXp Realty, one of the top 1% of real estate teams in New Jersey as ranked by RealTrends.Our team has significant market share in Millburn-Short Hills and has grown substantiallywith transactions in over 50 towns in the past two years alone. Simon and the teamconsistently average $100 Million in annual volume with 55% to 65% of that volumecomprised of million dollar-plus luxury home sales. We are the #1 eXp team in the localMLS and rank in the Top 10 of all realtors in the Garden State Multiple Listing Service withover $900 million in combined team volume. The LuxeLife Group currently serves clients inEssex, Union, Morris, Bergen, Sussex, Somerset, Middlesex, Monmouth, Hudson, andOcean counties in New Jersey.Simon spent the first 20 years of his career running fashion businesses. His keen eye fordesign and friendly, service-oriented personality made for a natural transition into realestate. He has a great eye for staging, cost efficient home upgrades prior to marketinglistings and expert negotiating skills.When you work with Simon or one of our team members to buy, sell or invest in a home,you will get top-notch concierge service. Our business model is structured to provide youwith superior expertise and ongoing support. Integrity is critical to each team member –conversations will be honest, confidential, and dedicated to meeting your real estate goals. Simon Westfall-Kwong, The LuxeLife Group
Jessica Rothman973.985.0952Brenda Kong201.917.0877Fabio Nieto973.713.6492Kara Tomko551.208.9583Scott Kessel973.985.9350Christian Seijas973.489.8885John Karuitha908.812.5615Diana Bausch917.622.7414Nathalie Lissinna908.656.1747Kelly Leung917.214.3899John Westfall-Kwong917.774.9249Megan Hardie973.382.4500Simon Westfall-Kwong973.489.8885Steven Gruber973.985.9191Kwame Asamoah Mono908.977.5893Concierge Service to Meet Your Real Estate GoalsSimon Westfall-KwongCEOJohn Westfall-KwongPresidentKara TomkoDirector of MarketingChristian SeijasDirector of Lead GenerationNathalie LissinnaDirector of Agent AdvancementThe Real Estate TeamThe Leadership TeamDiana BauschOperations Manager
The LuxeLife Group has been built around one guiding principle: ConciergeService.Our entire business model is focused on your complete satisfaction:Your needs Your dreams Your questions Your concerns Your finances Your time Your lifeIn fact, we work to get the job done so well, you will want to tell your friendsand associates about us. Maybe that's why over 50% of our business comesfrom repeat customers and referrals. Good service speaks for itself. We lookforward to the opportunity to earn your business too.
Will we need to make improvements and stage our home? When you work with us, we will evaluate your home's condition and develop asuccessful plan to get it sold. This may include bringing in one of our expertpartners for a consultation. Small remodeling jobs and staging can increaseyour home's marketability and value.How can we ensure the maximum sale price? We will determine the price for your home based on homes that have soldrecently in your neighborhood, the condition of your home, and the currentmarket. We will go over the data with you and provide you with referencematerials. How will you advertise our property?We don't just list homes; we market them. Our customized marketing plan willreach the types of buyers most likely to purchase your home. We extensivelyleverage digital marketing and traditional methods including brochures, yardsigns and direct mail.Will you be present at all showings?At open houses your realtor, or a member of our team will be there. Forshowings, potential buyers will bring their own agents to see your home. Mostbuyers prefer only their own agents be present when evaluating a prospectivenew home.Do we have any responsibilities during the marketing of our home?Your primary job during the sale of your home is to keep it neat and clean forshowings and open houses. A large part of a home's appeal involves staging,which is everything from furniture placement to home fragrance. Once yourhome is staged, it should remain that way until it is sold. What happens once we get an offer?We will help you consider each offer and negotiate the best deal for you. Onceyou've accepted an offer, we will guide you through the entire closing processand ensure everything proceeds smoothly.Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes Your Home SellOur pricing strategy How it showsHow it’s marketedCommunicationPartnershipsInternational marketingActive buyer databaseNegotiations01 02030507040608We have created and mastered themost accurate and most used pricingstrategy in real estate.This data-drivenstrategy helps your property sell forthe right price.Our staging consultation, repairrecommendations, virtual tours, high-quality photography, and professionalmarketing encourage buyers to call usor their agent for a showing.Our team has created the mostaggressive and effective marketingplan that is continually updated andbased on actual research and statisticsof property buyers nationwide.In this market, constantcommunication with potential buyersand agents who even express a littleinterest will help speed up the saleand maximize the price you receive foryour property.We partner with the best vendors andservice providers in the industry tobring you exclusive savings and offers.This includes mortgage companies,title, escrow, concierge, contractorsand more.Local and online advertising isn’tenough in this market when $153Billion a year is invested in U.S.residential properties by foreignindividuals and corporations.No agent, team, or brokerage has alarger active buyer database thanPLACE. This means we might alreadyknow all the buyers searching for aproperty like yours to ensureimmediate attraction.There are multiple points ofnegotiation throughout the sellingprocess. We understand negotiationsat the highest level and we fight hardfor your equity, every step of the way.
Your specific return on investment will depend on the value of your home,value of similar homes in your neighborhood, and the availability and pricing ofnew homes. One of the benefits we offer our clients is advice on which homeimprovement projects bring the greatest added value at resale. Our goal is tonet you the most money possible. We will help you decide which specificprojects will maximize your home's sale price. Preparing to Sell
Today’s property buyers are armed with more information than ever. They telltheir agents which properties they want to see—and they’ve already rejectedlistings with too few or poor quality photos. It is absolutely vital that your onlinelisting has high-impact photos, videos and tours to make a lasting firstimpression that will motivate buyers to come see your property for themselves.We’ll make recommendations on what’s right for your property. This could include: We Make Your Listing ShinePhotographyPhoto Editing Live BroadcastStaging & Repair VideographyVirtual Showings & Open Houses
We want your home to be shown in the best possible light to prospectivebuyers to get you top dollar in the shortest amount of time.You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.A review of over 2,800 properties in 8 cities found that staged homes, onaverage, sold faster and had more return on investment then non-stagedhomes did.Most buyers make decisions about the property within the first 15 secondsof entering the home.We will create a warm and inviting environment focusing on the bestarchitectural features and selling points of your home.StagingBEFOREBEFOREBEFOREAFTERAFTERAFTER
The LuxeLife Group excels at getting homes sold quickly, and the proper pricingstrategy is critically important. We take into consideration all factors whenpricing your home – comps, condition, inventory, and whether it’s a seller’smarket or a buyer’s market. A property attracts the most activity from the realestate community and potential buyers when it is first listed. Starting too highand dropping the price later misses the excitement and fails to generate strongactivity. Many homes that start high end up selling below market value. Yourhome will have the best chance to sell when it is new to the market. You neverwant to chase after the market, you want the market to chase after you!PricingPRICING FACTORSThe activity level reduces the longer ahome stays on the market.ORIGINAL LISTING PRICECURRENT PRICESELLING PRICEDAYS ON MARKETBEDS, BATHS, SQ FT.LOT SIZEYEAR BUILTUNIQUE PROPERTY QUALITIES
It's important to make sure you are "in the market" as it relates to your priceand timing. We will evaluate the condition of your home in relation to othersthat have recently sold. It's a Seller's Market if there is low home inventory inyour area, and we will be able to set the price on the higher side of the rangeof comps. If it's a Buyer's Market and there is a lot of home inventory, we willneed to set the price on the lower end of the range so that your home remainscompetitive and in the market.
Professional PhotographyAfter your home is staged, we will have itprofessionally photographed. With 95% ofbuyers using the internet to search forhomes, professional photography isessential to any comprehensive marketingplan. More people will view your homeonline than will ever visit it personally.Getting, and holding, their attention onlinewith professional photography is anotherway to increase the probability of an in-person showing.Virtual Tour & VideoWe will create a virtual tour of your home to give prospective buyers a feel for whatliving in the house could be like – long before they make a personal visit. Thephotos and tour will be added to a custom website that is promoted on all of ourmarketing materials.
Extended Market ReachOur technology partners provide us with access to over 500 of the world’sleading real estate websites via our IDX partnership for unmatched digitalexposure. Additionally, all open houses are promoted on market specific websites, furtherincreasing visibility of your home. We Market Your Property to Top Agents29% of buyers first found their home because a real estate agent sent, showedor notified them. Although we promote your property to all the local agents, we focus ourmarketing efforts on the 20% of agents locally, statewide, nationally andinternationally that sell 80% of all homes. 5 ways we share your home with buyer's agents: Electronic FlyersCommunicationVirtual ToursBroker OutreachPrint MediaDispatched to agents allaround the region, as well asnationally and in manycases, across the globe. We guarantee a follow-up calleach time an agent shows yourhome. We gather valuablefeedback on what their buyerliked, whether they’ll be making anoffer and if not, why not? Uploaded to the MLSdatabase, so all agents cansee your property.We’ll personally pitch yourlisting and tell agents whythey should see your home. Delivered to top-producing agentsin the area. The 20% of the agentswho sell 80% of the properties inan area will have your listing.
Digital MediaYour home will be marketed on Zillow, Facebook, Instagram, Google andLinkedIn. Weekly emails go out to our extensive network of contacts andagents with your listing and open house information. Digital ads reach localresidents and those moving to the area.
Our marketing plan is designed to get your home the maximum amount ofexposure in the shortest period of time. Strategic positioning in pricing – we use a scientific analysis similar to theone appraisers use as well as knowledge of current and local conditionsand trendsMassive exposure - we market heavily to area agents. 94% of allresidential sales involve cooperating REALTORS®Home staging – to ensure the “wow factor” we help stage your home orcan provide recommendations to a professional stagerProfessional color photography, aerial and dusk shots – only the bestphotos of your property will be used to market your home online or in printProfessional floor plan of your homeProfessional video and 3D Matterport scan of your property.List on 2 multiple listing services – Garden State MLS and NJMLSShowcase your property on Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Homes.com,Realtor.com, and over 360 additional syndicated home marketing sitesProfessional color brochure, including list of special features, school andcommunity informationDirect marketing color postcard to your neighborhood and our databaseof prospective buyers and influencersProperty website with custom address URLMarket on our websites Broker open house or virtual showing as neededPublic open house, by appointment or virtual showing as neededEach inquiry is handled by us or a team member who is very familiar withyour home and vested in its sale and your complete satisfactionManage and coordinate attorney review, inspections, appraisal.Weekly Updates - Updates detailing our marketing efforts, online showings andincluding feedback from prospective buyers and agents from in-personshowings.Marketing
Offers & NegotiationWe will help you evaluate the offers you receive for your home. Negotiations onoffers are usually handled between the seller's and the buyer's agents on behalf oftheir clients. We will keep you updated on all discussions and advise you every stepof the way. In the case of multiple offers, we will help you select the best overalloffer and back-up offers.Negotiations go well beyond price and include many elements that can be veryimportant later in the deal. They include close date, exclusions, home inspectionprocedures, rent-back, deposit, mortgage and appraisal issues.
During the attorney review process, the attorneys for the buyers and sellerswill put the negotiated terms and contingencies into a contract. You will needto hire a real estate attorney for this phase of the process. If you do not haveone, we can provide references for attorney's that our clients have successfullyworked with before. Once the contract is signed by both parties the home is"under contract" and typically, a non-refundable, good faith deposit is paid tothe seller. We will monitor the attorney review process and help answer anyquestions you have. Legal Process & Contingencies
The home inspection will give the buyer a more complete sense of thecondition of your home. The buyer is responsible for hiring an inspector andyou will need to provide access to the home during the inspection. The buyerand their realtor usually attend the inspection. In New Jersey, an oil tank and sewer line scan are recommended for allproperties. Once the inspector's report and scans are returned, the buyer mayask you to fix certain items or may seek a credit so they can do the workthemselves. In some cases, a hot seller's market for example, the buyer maygive an inspection credit or limited home inspection because they would like aquick and easy sale. If the buyer asks for work or a credit, with your direction,we will manage the negotiations with the buyer's realtor.Home Inspection & Contingencies
On closing day, the final home walk through is done by the buyer and theirrealtor. They make sure all of the negotiated items have been taken care ofand the home is clean and ready for the sale. The buyer will sign thepaperwork with their attorney and once the funds are transferred, you willhave officially sold your home! Walk-Through and Closing
Simon has been serving New Jersey for over 19 years:• #1 eXp agent and team on Garden State Multiple Listing Service• Combined Team Sales Volume over $900M!* • Top 1% in New Jersey and in the Local Region*• Top 10 Team in local area out of 20,000 agents in the GSMLS*• Top 10 Out of Over 20,000 Agents in the GSMLS• NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence Sales Award® 2011-2023• Over $250M sold in Millburn-Short Hills since 2020*per GSMLS and Real Trends as of 2/1/24Over $900,000,000 in Overall Team Sales VolumeOver 860 Overall Team Transactions2023 Average Days on Market is 11.8The 12-month Local Average for Days on Market is 36.* The Luxelife Group Average Days on Market for the last 12 months is 11.8, 3 times faster then the average! *NCJAR 12/23. All data from Garden State MLS and New Jersey MLS. Days on Market for all properties from January 1st, 2023 throughDecember 31st 2023.Statistics
I can't say enough about working with Simon Westfall-Kwong and his team. Simon workedhard for us as we searched for our 2nd home in a competitive market. He spent the extratime to show up all the comp houses and when we were ready to make offers, and wasopen, honest, and smart in the process. When it finally became time for us to sell our homehe helped us stage it and get it market ready. He was great with marketing, and getting usthe right buyer and price. So on the buy and sell side, his team is amazing. Wendy Simon and his team made what could have been a stressful time, moving our parents out oftheir home for the past 45 years, a smooth process. The goal was to minimize the time frameand inconvenience without sacrificing on the value of the home. We had some specificguidelines on when the house could be shown, lead times required etc. that the team wasable to work with and advocate on our behalf. We had multiple offers within weeks of ourfirst meeting with him. They were a pleasure to work with. SeanSimon is so caring and dedicated to his clients, you will feel like he is family. He cares to findyou the best possible home, really listens, really cares, and is available in an impossible way,considering that he has a busy client base due to his incredible word-of-mouth popularity.Look no further; he is as dedicated and knowledgeable as it gets, full of integrity andgenuineness - one of the nicest people and brilliant real estate professionals you will evermeet. VictoriyaSimon is so totally committed to his clients that, even in the most challenging of markets, hekeeps the process sane. His communication skills are outstanding; he keeps you up to theminute on what's going on with your home and the market. I'm a techie professional andreally appreciated his use of all available technologies to market my home, keep meinformed and to close the deal. His knowledge of the local market and trends is superior toany real estate professional I have known. He's an astute observer of your needs yet knowshow to guide you in decisions that will accomplish your goals. He is a totally committed,dedicated real estate professional. Marquitta One word to describe Simon is AMAZING! I was looking to sell my home and buy another oneand really did not know where to turn. I interviewed several real estate agents to assist mewith this process. After interviewing Simon, I immediately knew who I would be hiring to getthis difficult task done. Simon gave us great suggestions to get the house ready. He evenhelped stage the house. We got an offer after four days of putting the house on the market.However, that was just half the battle. Looking for a house that was suitable for our needswas the other half of the battle. Simon listened to our needs and was able to find a housethat we fell in love with. He got the job done and we were really appreciative of all his hardwork. We will ALWAYS be using Simon as our real estate agent. He is professional, hardworking, and always does his best to give you what you need. Chi & EricTestimonials
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