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Sunday, December 21, 2014

If you are thinking of moving to Scotch Plains?


New York Times Feature Article Living in Scotch Plains


History

The area known as Scotch Plains was first settled by Europeans, including many Scottish Quakers as early as 1684.[18] It later served as a stop on the stage coach line between New York and Philadelphia. The Ash Swamp in Scotch Plains was the scene of a key action in the Battle of Short Hills, on June 26, 1777, which included skirmishes as Washington's forces moved along Rahway Road in Scotch Plains toward the Watchung Mountains. An ancient house in Scotch Plains recalls those skirmishes and, with the acreage adjoining the house, presents a vista of that decade, the 1770s. This is the home of Aunt Betty Frazee, whose retort to Lord Cornwallis led the British to find their bread from friendlier bakers in the same battle. The farmstead of Betty and Gershom Frazee is being restored by local organizations.

What is now Scotch Plains was originally incorporated as Fanwood Township on March 6, 1878, by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature from portions of Plainfield Township and Westfield Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Fanwood Borough on October 2, 1895. Fanwood Township was renamed as Scotch Plains on March 29, 1917, based on the results of a referendum held that same day.

Scotch Plains was home to the Shady Rest Country Club, the nation's first African-American country club, and its pro, John Shippen, the first American golf professional, who led the 1892 U.S. Open in the final round before finishing fifth. The Shady Rest clubhouse hosted Cab Calloway and other greats as a local center for African-American culture in the 1920s and 1930s. It is preserved today as the Scotch Hills Municipal course.

A much more complete history of the township can be found in the October 28, 1999, "Our Towns: Scotch Plains-Fanwood (2nd Annual)" issue of the The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood, produced by the town's newspaper of record at the time as well as on the township's website.

Scotch Plains Town Website


Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Scotch Plains/Fanwood/Summit/New Providence/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Summit/New Providence New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Union and Essex Counties— Scotch Plains/Fanwood,Summit, New Providence , Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Scotch Plains/Fanwood, Summit/New Providence /Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Mark Slade

Moving to Maplewood: Special Needs Soccer Clinic is back for the Winter!

Special Needs Soccer Clinic is back for the Winter!

The Maplewood Recreation Department welcomes all
aspiring youngsters and teenagers with cognitive disabilities
for an hour of athletic fun learning to play soccer this Fall!

Led by Coach Sharif, our professionally certified coaches, along with soccer
playing volunteers, will teach athletic skills and play energetic
soccer games with our students. We look forward to you joining us for five weeks of soccer fun!

WHEN: every Saturday morning for 6 weeks: February 7th- March 14th

WHERE: a Maplewood School Gymnasium TBD

COST: $60 per participant

REGISTRATION: To register, go to https://register.communitypass.net/maplewood or call the Recreation Department at (973) 763-4202.


Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Saturday, December 13, 2014

2015 Definitive Color of the Year!


Each year leading color experts and major paint companies pick a “color of the year.” Each year the “experts” never agree on a singular color, choosing color forecasts all across the color spectrum. ProTect Painters is taking a much more democratic approach to selecting the one definitive color for 2015. 5 Winners will each win a $100 Gift Card, so hurry and take the survey today!

• 2015 Definitive Color of the Year Survey - Open now through Dec 19th
• 5 Winners will each win $100 Gift Card
• Definitive Color to be Announced First Week in January

I would consider it a privilege to answer any questions regarding the survey and we encourage you to share on your own personal social networks:

Message for Social Sharing: Win 1 of 5 $100 Gift Cards in the ProTect Painters “Definitive Color of the Year Survey” This is your chance to be a color expert and have a voice in the ONE power color that will set the stage for all color palettes in 2015. ProTect Painters Survery
Have some fun with this!
Best regards,
Mark

--
Mark D. Mandel
Owner/President
908-358-4782
mark.mandel@protectpainters.com

ProTect Painters
55 Union Place, Suite 133
Summit, NJ 07901

http://www.protectpainters.com/local-house-painting/nj/summit-madison-and-millburn

https://www.facebook.com/pages/ProTect-Painters-of-Summit-Madison-and-Millburn/354915714618574?ref=hl



Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Selling your Home: Pulling out all the stops to MARK-et this incredible home.


This home has so much to offer in addition to its Location, Location, Location; incredible gourmet kitchen with 6-burner Viking and a Sub Zero, compliment the Poggenpohl cabinetry and granite counter tops. As if that wouldn't be enough to make buyers leap at the opportunity, this same kitchen opens to a great room with a view of a deck that, in turn, looks out a a huge backyard--sitting on over 1/3 of an acre--and the Golf Course.

Not to be MISSED.




Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

What is Title Insurance




Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Millburn's Papermill Playhouse Presents: ELF, yes that Elf!





Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Liberty Science Center's Latest Exhibit: Guitar--The Instrument That Rocked The World




GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World is a Touring Exhibition of The National GUITAR Museum.
Closing January 4, 2015

The guitar has had a profound effect on American culture, but how much do you know about this versatile instrument? Guitar: The Instrument that Rocked The World traces its evolution from 3,000 BCE to the present. Explore a gallery of rare instruments and then experiment with the science of sound in a second gallery of fun playables and interactives. Kids can even take to the stage and play real keyboards, drums, and guitars.

In the hands-on gallery, you can:

Strum the world’s largest playable guitar, a 2,255-pound, 43-foot long Gibson
Test your musical memory by playing challenge riffs on a virtual fretboard
Bang out a beat on a variety of wood types. Which sounds the best?
“Freeze” a vibrating string using a strobe light
Design your own dream guitar

The rare instrument exhibit includes over 60 remarkable instruments such as:

Early Fender, Gibson, Ovation, and Martin guitars (from circa 1835 to present)
A Ztar Z7S synthesizer guitar with a button for every fret and string – 204 in all
The Rock Ock, the only playable guitar with 8 necks
A stunning PRS Dragon guitar inlayed with 238 pieces of gold, red and green abalone; mother of pearl; and woolly mammoth ivory
Guitars with outrageous paint jobs and shapes designed for rockers like ​Steve Vai

And don’t miss our Live Music Series, presented by Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked the World at LSC!

GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World is a Touring Exhibition of The National GUITAR Museum.
Liberty Science Center
222 Jersey City Blvd
Liberty State Park
Jersey City, NJ
201-200-1000
http://LSC.org


Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Friday, December 5, 2014

West Orange's Own Thomas Edison: Explore The Museum and His Home and More this Holiday Season

Events Upcoming for December
Showing 17 results
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Holidays at Glenmont
Friday, December 5, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee


Every Sunday Weekly & Every Friday Weekly & Every Saturday Weekly from 11/28/2014 to 01/04/2015
Location: Glenmont | Map Time: 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM Fee Information: Normal Entry Fee

The sights and sounds of the season will greet visitors when they come to Thomas Edison's home in Llewellyn Park during "Holidays at Glenmont."

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. Staircases will be ringed with boughs and red ribbon bows and wreaths will hang in every window. In the Den, the majestic 10 foot tree will be set and the presents underneath will be waiting as if the Edison children Madeleine, Theodore and Charles, will soon come running down the stairs from their rooms - after they've checked their stockings in the upstairs Living Room!

The Edison home, Glenmont, is located on a fifteen-acre estate in Llewellyn Park, the country's first private residential community. Built in 1880, the twenty-nine room mansion contains the original furnishings and family items used by the Edisons. The estate grounds include gardens, a greenhouse, barn, and the poured concrete garage containing the family's automobiles. Thomas and Mina Edison are buried on the grounds of the estate.

Car passes and tour tickets must be purchased at the Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street. Admission is $7.00, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children 15 and under are free.


The Edisons of Fort Myers
Friday, December 5, 2014

See this wonderful personal collection of images of Thomas and Mina Edison, their children and grandchildren along with family friends Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs.


Tom Smoot, Trustee, Charles Edison Fund

See this wonderful personal collection of images of Thomas and Mina Edison, their children and grandchildren along with family friends Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs.

Tom Smoot is a lifelong resident of Ft. Myers Florida. For eighteen years he was the chairman of the Edison Winter Home Board and one of the founders of the Edison Ford Winter Estates Foundation. He is also the Florida trustee of the Charles Edison Fund of Newark, New Jersey. He is the author of The Edisons of Fort Myers, Discoveries of the Heart, 2004.


Time:
2:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Laboratory Complex
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Holidays at Glenmont
Saturday, December 6, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Holidays at Glenmont
Sunday, December 7, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Holidays at Glenmont
Friday, December 12, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Holidays at Glenmont
Saturday, December 13, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Mrs. Edison’s Scrapbooks
Saturday, December 13, 2014

Join a ranger for a special walk through the laboratory while learning about the family. See if you can name all six children. Have fun making a scrapbook page of your visit to the park.


Mina Miller Edison had three children, three step children and a very famous husband.How do we know about the family? One way is through her scrapbooks. Join a ranger for a special walk through the laboratory while learning about the family. See if you can name all six children. Have fun making a scrapbook page of your visit to the park.

Reservations are required for this program. Please call 973-736-0550 extension 89.


Time:
10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Location:
Laboratory Complex
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Harry's Magical Invention Bag
Sunday, December 14, 2014

Learn about invention and the important role Edison played in taking invention from a cottage/hobby activity to a full commercial activity- practiced by all major corporations.


Learn about invention and the important role Edison played in taking invention from a cottage/hobby activity to a full commercial activity- practiced by all major corporations. Hear Harry Roman as he discusses the major role NJ plays in the national invention scene-and all the great inventions NJ inventors have brought into our world.

Harry, a nationally known inventor, was a critical player in establishing the NJ Inventors Hall of Fame in 1989, and later went on to chair the organization from 1996-2004. The Hall of Fame honored him with an Inventor of the Year award in 2005 for his pioneering work in robotics, and honored him again in 2012 with a special achievement award for his dedication to the organization.


Time:
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM,3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Location:
Laboratory Complex
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Holidays at Glenmont
Sunday, December 14, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Mina Edison's Cooking Culture at Glenmont
Thursday, December 18, 2014

Join us as we explore Mina Edison's cooking culture while she juggled a household "to do" list that included everything from intimate family dinners to formal parties on the lawn. Historic recipes will be available as a take away for you to try at home. More

Time:
2:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Holidays at Glenmont
Friday, December 19, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Holidays at Glenmont
Saturday, December 20, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Holidays at Glenmont
Sunday, December 21, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Holidays at Glenmont
Friday, December 26, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Holidays at Glenmont
Saturday, December 27, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Harry's Magical Invention Bag
Sunday, December 28, 2014

Learn about invention and the important role Edison played in taking invention from a cottage/hobby activity to a full commercial activity- practiced by all major corporations. More

Time:
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM,3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Location:
Laboratory Complex
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee

Holidays at Glenmont
Sunday, December 28, 2014

Glenmont will be decorated much as it was while the Edison family lived there. Greenery and red poinsettias will deck the mantles above the fireplaces. More

Time:
11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Location:
Glenmont
Fees:
Normal Entry Fee


Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade



Thursday, December 4, 2014

Are you feeling Down about Downsizing? Nancy can be the perfect antidote


NANCY’S FANCY ANTIQUES AND VINTAGE


I’VE BEEN IN MANY ASPECTS OF THE ANTIQUE AND FASHION BUSINESS IN NYC AND NJ FOR MANY YEARS, FROM OWNING AN ANTIQUE STORE AND WHOLESALE SHOWROOM ON 62ND & LEXINGTON, TO SELLING ANTIQUES TO MAJOR DEPARTMENT AND SPECIALTY STORES THROUGHOUT THE US, TO APPEARING WITH JOAN RIVERS ON THE JOAN RIVERS “CAN WE SHOP” SHOW SELLING MY VINTAGE-DESIGNED COLLECTION OF JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES.

ONE ASPECT OF MY CURRENT BUSINESS IS WORKING WITH CLIENTS IN THE DOWNSIZING PROCESS WHEN PREPARING THEIR HOME FOR MARKET, ESPECIALLY IN THIS BABY-BOOMER CENTRIC WORLD. I HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH IT PERSONALLY, SO I HAVE A GENUINE APPRECIATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF STRESS A HOME OWNER GOES THROUGH, AND WILL HELP SIMPLIFY THEIR LIVES AT THIS TIME, IN ORDER TO MOVE ON WITH ALL OF THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF LIFESTYLE CHANGES.

I ALSO CREATE AND PRODUCE EXCITING ‘ANTIQUE ROADSHOW’ APPRAISAL EVENTS WITH TOPNOTCH NYC APPRAISERS THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY—HAVING DONE INCREDIBLE FUNDRAISER EVENTS WITH THE MAPLEWOOD ROTARY CLUB, WESTFIELD COLDWELL BANKER, AND OTHERS AROUND NJ.

I CURRENTLY HAVE TWO ANTIQUE & VINTAGE SHOPS ON LINE- RUBYLANE.COM AND NANCYSFANCYANTIQUES.COM, AND SELL ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE ON THE FABULOUS LIFESTYLE WEBSITE ONEKINGSLANE.COM.

CONTACT: nancysfancyantiques@gmail.com
Office: (973 378-3664)
Cell: (917) 533-6984
Rubylane.com/shop/nancysfancy
Nancysfancyantiques.com



Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Springfield Avenue Celebrates The Holidays in Maplewood


Grab your family, friends and neighbors and head over to the second annual Springfield Avenue Holiday Celebration this Sunday!

Enjoy live music with Maplewood’s own Bruno Lee and Friends and the Seth Boyden Chorus.

We'll have cookies and hot chocolate, photos with Santa, a Tree lighting, along with a Menorah & Kinara, and multi-cultural holiday stories and crafts hosted by the Hilton Branch Library at 1688 Springfield Avenue.

WHERE: At the Gazebo Grounds, 1688 Springfield Avenue in Maplewood
WHEN: Sunday, December 7th from 3:30pm - 5:00pm
COST: All activities and refreshments are FREE

And, if you would like a permanent perch to view the Gazebo from, there are two choices across the street: Springfield Ave Condos



Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Maplewood's Dicken's Village Returns with a concert



Afternoon of Holiday Music with MCM-Maplewood Community Music
Date: December 13th, 2014
Time: 1:00pm
Information: Join Maplewood Community Music for an afternoon of FREE holiday performances in conjunction with Maplewood's Dickens Village at The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts. Concert will include performances by Maplewood Concert Band (1pm), The Silvertones, Sax Quartet, and SwingVille (2-4pm), and our very own big band Swing Town (4pm). Admission is free, great for the whole family. We are also a Toys for Tots drop off location, bring an unopened, unwrapped toy to drop off!
Address: 10 Durand Rd
Town: Maplewood
Phone: (908) 789-1930
Contact: Kerrie Hurford pr@maplewoodcommunitymusic.org
Website: http://www.maplewoodcommunitymusic.org



Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Monday, December 1, 2014

If You are Thinking of Living in Maplewood: The Cost of Living Comparison of Maplewood, NJ v. the NYC Area




Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Selling a home: Par-Drone Me, A.K.A. what you get when you cross a home on the golf course with a drone shoot

Selling a home has many components to it that will either lead to success or failure. This includes Preparing (staging) the home correctly, Pricing (where the market is at that moment in time) and Marketing-how a good agent gets the word out to as many potential buyers as possible.

So, I just listed this home that sits on the edge of the Maplewood Country Club's golf course, so the owner of this house has a millionaire-like view from their kitchen, master bedroom and 3rd floor. Traditional photography can only do so much, so I engaged the services of a company to shoot some aerial photography that not only shows the golf course but how close this home sits in terms of its adjacency to the center of Maplewood village.

Here's hoping that our birdie's eye views will help us shoot a hole-in-one with this extra marketing effort.




Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The Road Travelled Well: The Home Buying Process

A roadmap for homeownership

The Road to Homeownership – A Guide to the Home-Buying Process


Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

6 Essential Home Buying TIps


Click here to read a list of more homebuyer tips


Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Selling Your Home: How you get it ready for the next owners


When selling a home, you are obligated to deliver the property to the new owners in what is deemed a "broom swept" condition.

If you have valuable items that you would rather sell, then may we recommend John Nye at (973) 984-6900. You will want to get the valuables out of the way so that no harm to them will occur during the moving process.

The first order of business should be to have the auction house come and take out any and all valuable paintings and antiques that he plans on selling. I believe he is working with Nye and Company (). If these valuable items are removed it will be easier to sort the rest without a risk that something important goes missing or gets lost or mistreated. Perhaps Nye can also help recommend someone to specially pack and ship any artwork or valuables that he is taking to the W. Coast.

Here are some other professionals who can help:

Personal Organizer: to help your dad sort through his items and decide what is staying and going. Pam Carlson of Ready, Set, Organize 972-818-4728

House Sale Companies for items he might want to sell in this way:

Bargain Hunter Mama Estate Sales 646-823-5231
Mary Wood Estate and House Sales 973-783-2942

One of the most challenging items to deal with are your old books. They weigh a lot to move and you probably haven't opened one in ages. So, if you are thinking of getting rid of them, consider the following: Book/CD Donations: can be taken by Books B Gone 908-912-6652

Disposal Company: that can remove and dispose of items he isn't taking: Bulk Be Gone 973-746-6666, they are out of Montclair; there are also College Hunks.

Moving Companies:
First Class Movers 973-727-9824
Harrington Moving and Storage 973-313-2246

Cleaning Companies: Who can give the house a "once over" before the walk through on closing day.

Clean World Sandra 973-704-1753
Scrub Systems 800-540-4418
Cat'z Cleaning Services Cathy Ann Waithe 973-309-3356


Mark Slade
Keller Williams
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade



Saturday, November 1, 2014

Guide to Buying Your New Home

Congratulations, you have decided to buy a home!
No matter how well you can picture your dream house in your head or after sifting through thousands of pictures online, drive by’s and magazines, as then communicating your ideal home to a real-estate agent, the house you finally fall in love with and ultimately buy may have little resemblance to your original ideas.
Step 1: What you Need, What you Want!

You have to start somewhere, so here is a detailed list to review when putting together your Must Have’s, your Hope For’s and your Not Necessaries. We recommend you separate your list into MUST’s and HOPE’s from the menu below and put an “M” or an “H” in front of the corresponding item on your list:

• Choosing a town:
o Is it a bedroom community to New York City?
o Or, do you prefer a more rural suburban location?
o Does it provide a comfortable for you that works with the amount of time of commute, flexibility, frequency and style?
o Are the schools what you would expect (even if you don’t have or plan to have kids, schools do affect home values)?
o What are the various types of residents that live in this particular town and do you identify with them and this is truly about friendships and lifestyles?
o Does the town offer the environmental, social, economic and recreational amenities you want in a town?
• Once you have chosen a town(s):
o Safe, quiet neighborhood
o Near close friends or family members
o Close to downtown and public transportation
o Neighborhood matches family personality, i.g. culturally, politically, socio-economically
o Proximities to commercial districts, industrial sites
o Preference for quiet cul de sac or side streets
o Or, are you ok with wider and busier roads that get preferential treatment for snow removal and commutation purposes
o Proximity to an airport: ½ hr; 45 minutes; 1 hour; not important
• Home Specific Must Have’s, Hope for’s and Not Necessaries
o Style of Home: Colonial, Townhouse, Contemporary, Victorian, Split Level, Ranch, etc.
o # of rooms, # of bedrooms, # of baths
o Generously sized rooms; average size rooms
o A space to entertain larger parties?
o Room types: formal dining, eat-in kitchen, breakfast room, great/family room, sun room
o Finished Basement; or can you stand up in the basement which would allow you to eventually finish it off for an office, guest space, play room for kids or recreation/media room (play room for adults).
o Finished Attic; or can you stand up in the attic and could you eventually finish it off for an office or guest space or even a new bedroom suite?
o Size of Yard, Level, Fenced, Garden
o Garage attached/detached; one or two car garage; parking for more than 2 cars
o Ability to add on to the home; whether upward or possibly outward
o Handy man special (you or a good friend can replace sinks, tile and then kitchen counters and cabinets)
o As close to “move-in” as possible, you work and don’t have the time or ability to manage a renovation p
o No major repairs needed: age of heating system, water heater, plumbing, electric
o Lots of natural sun light, meaning lots of windows, large windows, sky lights, etc.
o Visitor Parking in driveway or in front of home
o Good investment with excellent resale potential
o Affordable property taxes
o Large Closets or Walk-in closet in master bedroom
o Master Bath in addition to Full bath on bedroom floor
o Powder on main floor for visiting guests
o Size of Closets, # of closets, additional Storage space
o Oil or Gas Heating
o Gas or Electric stove
o Back deck or patio
o Close to schools, houses of worship
o Finished basement or attic for office, guest room, playroom or rec room
o Hardwood floors
o French drain in basement/Sump Pump(s)

The likelihood is that there will have to be trade-offs, not just in how many of the above attributes fit your preferences but in how the homes are priced as a result and you may eventually change up some of your M’s with H’s or NN’s after you see what you can buy in the location of your choice.

2. How much should I spend on a home?

Every market is different, but the first step to answering this question is finding out what your budget will allow you to pay on a monthly basis after you've made your down payment — 3.5%, 10%, 20% or more of the price of the house.

Meet with a loan officer of a lender or mortgage broker. The best way to learn what you can afford is to get pre-approval mortgage/loan. You may have also heard the term “pre-qualified,” but you need to know that this is generally the term applied to quick review of your finances and is not as thorough as a pre-approval where tax returns and pay stubs are also required to provide you with the most accurate picture of what you can afford. Your real-estate agent may recommend someone, or you can ask a friend who has recently had a successful transaction for a referral; please don’t take this lightly as a good loan officer makes for a smooth transaction and a less experienced or successful loan officer could very easily make your experience more challenging than necessary when you are trying to close on a home, especially with the recent scrutiny in the mortgage industry and housing industry malaise. Pre-approval won't cost you anything, except a probable sales pitch, since the lender would like your business when you're ready to apply for a loan. You'll walk away with a good idea of how your income, assets and liabilities translate into what you can afford, and it can also help your chances of beating out the competition if you happen to be involved in a multiple bid scenario. And, you are not obligated to use the loan officer that conducts your pre approval, so choose wisely when you are actually engaged in a transaction. I often recommend you check with a broker as well as a bank loan officer to get a better understanding of what products they can offer you. Furthermore, as mortgage interest and property taxes can often be used as write-offs for income tax purposes, you might want to corroborate your pre-qualification findings with an accountant so that you can confirm how your budget will work when you are a home owner.

Additional costs to close: When you are about to buy a home your focus is on the price and the amount of money down. However, you need to review the cash for closing costs (including points, fees, mortgage interest pre-pay and tax pre-pay), inspection and future expenses. All in all, these closing costs run between 2.5% to 5% of the selling price.

3. Starting the house hunt:
You have already begun the process of looking for a home online and are using our websites to help you navigate the weekly Open Houses in the town of your choice. As soon as you have been pre-approved, you can begin to drill down to a more finite range of homes and we recommend that you then choose your real-estate agent to help you achieve your goal. A great agent can educate you about what to look for and avoid, provide reliable references for other experts you'll need along the line — such as lenders, lawyers and inspectors — guide you through and shadow the inspection process, the appraisal process as well as represent you in negotiations, help to project-manage the time table for closing, including following up with your lender to make sure your commitment comes in on time as per the contract. Additionally, should you consider choosing us, we are practitioners of Advanced Comparable Market Analysis which allows us to provide you with much more accurate financial guidance when looking to buy (or sell) a home as we use NJ State-Wide published factors when making adjustments in values for comparable sales (location, size of property, condition of the home, the number of rooms and most of the factors we listed earlier on when asking you to consider what you need and Must Have and Hope for in a home).
Now you're ready for the fun stuff: pounding the pavement. Go to as many open houses as you can stand, even at times your broker isn't available, and then go to another. Don’t be afraid to see homes that are not in your price range as you will be able to use this knowledge to better understand what you can buy for your money in each respective town (Just be sure to sign in under your broker's name), see how the same size home can be listed for more or less based upon location and help to determine what best suites your overall needs. Sometimes the difference of $10,000 can make a huge difference in what you can buy with your money.

4. The Next Step, you’ve found your dream home and it’s time to make an offer:
If you are ready to make an offer, make sure you have selected a local real estate attorney—a local attorney can be quite helpful with localized issues that you may not be aware of if you are coming from a different region and a real estate attorney is best suited for the task of helping you buy a home as they should be most aware of how the laws and contracts are best written for the purposes of buying a home and protecting you during the course of this journey.

5. You have an accepted offer--A* (attorney review in progress)--now what do I do:
The second you have come to a meeting of the minds, a.k.a an agreement—meaning you have an accepted offer on your dream home--your attorney needs to take the offer and begin the process of converting it into a contract. At the same time, you and/or your real estate professional needs to make the arrangements to quickly have the home inspected, as soon as possible, by a licensed Home Inspector. You should make sure that at least one of you attends the home inspection so that you are made aware any potential concerns and, equally important, get your first lesson in home ownership, maintenance and operation. At the end of the inspection, you will receive a report that you should review with your agent and then with your attorney. You will then have to decide if you now have new found issues that concern you enough to cancel your contract, or to continue onward, with or without any corrective actions or financial offsets for corrective actions. Through this stage of the process, you can back out of the home purchase without any loss other than the home inspection fee and possibly some part of the attorney fee. However, when you have finished the Home Inspection process and any related negotiations, you will move out of the A*--attorney review in progress to an Under Contract designation: either “US” or “UC,” (if there is a contingency on the part of either party, the status could be “US” which means Under Contract but able to be shown), whereas “UC” means the home can no longer be shown to any other potential buyers and is also known as “sale pending” on some websites.


Another key requirement of the home purchase is to make sure you and your attorney have engaged the services of a Title Insurance company (click here to ask any questions about Title Insurance) to make sure a clear (no other liens pending) title can be transferred to register your ownership. If you have done any reading lately, you are probably aware that the Aug/Sept 2010 foreclosure crises was first made known after Title Insurance companies found fault with some of the paperwork on pending foreclosure sales. As your attorney can tell you, Title Insurance is all too critical to the process. If you want to learn a little more about this all too important subject, you can Google (the verb) NY Times October 9, 2010 “After Foreclosure, a Focus on Title Insurance.”

Simultaneously, you will need to make sure you begin the process of securing your mortgage commitment. This will require you to use one mortgage broker or banker—direct lender--(it could be someone other than the one who prepared your pre-approval if you didn’t feel that comfortable with them or if you found someone else you feel more comfortable with) and begin to fill out the copious amounts of paperwork required for the underwriters to review you financial position and make sure you can still buy the home you selected. Please understand that a pre-qualification is performed as a cursory overview of your finances and credit this doesn’t always mean that the same loan officer will be able to secure the mortgage commitment for you; so, it’s best to make sure you are going with a professional, accomplished and hard working loan officer.

Once you have set the wheels in motion for the mortgage, an appraisal will have to be performed on the property. This sometimes leads to another round of negotiations when the appraised value comes in for less than the mortgage amount needed to buy the property. Once again, this is another reason for having a real estate attorney who can help you navigate through this very infrequent scenario.
At about “this” time, you should quickly determine which moving company you want to use for your move. You may also want to begin the process of applying for any local parking permits, train parking passes, jitney passes, etc. so that the first day you plan to return to work after moving into your new home you are ready for a painless commute. If you have children, you would want to contact the school district to make sure that you have all the required paperwork you need to enroll them in their new school system. If you require daycare/childcare or pre-K schooling, you should similarly meet with them, chose one and begin the enrollment process.

Due to recent market conditions, you will sense a lot of pressure on the part of the Seller’s Agent to make sure that your mortgage commitment will come in and on time. Therefore, as your agent, we will make sure we are in daily contact with your mortgage broker/banker so that everyone’s expectations are met.

Depending on the township, there are certain “permits” required by the buyer of a home. Usually, this means securing a Certificate of (continuing) Use and Occupancy, which means contacting the local town government and securing the necessary forms and payment, often times accompanied with an inspection of the property; the same conditions may apply to a Fire Inspection, depending on the town. As your agent, we will meet with the officials, schedule the appointments and inspections, be a witness to these same inspections and report back to you and your attorney so that you are in full compliance of your contract and will be able to close once you have your mortgage commitment.

When all of the above is done, your attorney needs to make sure that your mortgage funding is on schedule and a closing can then be executed. When this is concluded and all the paperwork is signed, you will be handed your new keys and you officially become the rightful and legal owners of your new home!


MARK SLADE
917.797.5059
Good Homes



Selling a Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills area home involves many steps and having an experienced Maplewood New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor®, specializing in the Bedroom Communities of New York City in Essex/Union County— Millburn, Short Hills, Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Springfield, Summit, Madison, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Westfield--by your side will make the transaction run a lot smoother. I would love to be your Maplewood/South Orange New Jersey Area Real Estate Professional! I assist both buyers and sellers in the Bedroom Communities of New York City, mostly served by NJ Transit’s Mid-Town Direct Train Lines, offering commutes of 45minute or less to NY Penn Station, with either the purchase and or sale of residential real estate.



As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent (ABR), I have received special training to guide and educate you through the entire home buying process. From start to finish, I listen to your needs and desires in what you would like and take the information you give me to find you home. My GO-TO team can provide you the best in Real Estate advice with regard to attorney choices, Home Inspectors and Mortgage Loan Officers



As your Maplewood/South Orange/Millburn/Short Hills/Essex/Union County New Jersey listing agent I am well versed on as your local expert in all things in the Maplewood and South Orange area Real Estate Market. You can expect personalized service that includes a detailed consultation on how to best position your Mid-Town Direct home to be competitive in today’s market with training to provide my clients with an in-depth Advanced Comparative Market analysis, and advice on staging. As my office’s technology officer as well as both a Zillow Platinum Premier and Trulia Premier agent, I use the latest and most up-to-date marketing methods to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible. Being your New Jersey Real Estate Agent and Realtor ® not only involves just finding the home or selling the home, but being your guide, negotiator, advisor and advocate and making sure that your needs and goals are met. Being your New Jersey Essex/Union County area Realtor® (with a little bit of Morris County thrown in for good measure) is one of my truest passions, and “Helping You Find Your Dream Home” is my number one priority.

Mark Slade