How Preparation and Marketing Made a Difference for This Oakland, NJ Home
We’re pleased to announce the successful sale of 403 W. Oakland Avenue, a spacious ranch in Oakland’s desirable Dogwood School section.
Every home sale has its own set of circumstances, and this one required some extra coordination from the beginning. The owner was no longer living in the home, and an out-of-state family member was helping manage the sale from a distance. Local family members also played an important role, taking care of much of the hands-on work needed to prepare the property for the market.
Preparing the Home for Sale
Rather than simply putting the home on the market as-is, the family took the time to make improvements that would help the property show at its best.
The finished lower level and family room were updated, the interior was painted, and repairs were made throughout the home. The goal wasn’t to completely renovate the property, but to take care of the items that would improve its presentation while allowing the next owners to make their own updates over time.
Because the home was vacant, we also used virtual staging in our photography to help buyers visualize how the rooms could be furnished and used. This was particularly helpful in showcasing the home’s spacious living areas and the versatility of the finished lower level.
A Marketing Plan Designed to Reach Oakland Buyers
Once the home was ready, we listed 403 W. Oakland Avenue at $629,000 and launched a marketing campaign designed to put the property in front of as many potential buyers—and people who might know a potential buyer—as possible.
In addition to dedicated property pages on our website and professional online presentation and exposure through the MLS and major real estate websites, we promoted the property through social media posts and targeted email blasts to generate additional awareness and drive traffic to the listing.
We also took the marketing directly into the Oakland community with a postcard campaign delivered to every home and business in town. Neighbors and local business owners can be an important source of buyers because they often know friends, relatives, customers, or coworkers who are looking to move into the community.
The idea was simple: don’t just wait for buyers to find the listing. Make sure people throughout Oakland knew the home was available.
Strong Interest and Multiple Offers
The combination of preparing the home, positioning it properly, and creating broad exposure produced a strong response. We quickly received several competitive offers.
Having multiple interested buyers gave the sellers the opportunity to consider more than just the highest number. Price, terms, financing, contingencies, and the overall strength of each offer all played a role.
After reviewing the offers and negotiating with the interested parties, we reached an agreement at $702,000—$73,000 above the $629,000 asking price.
Why Buyers Responded So Strongly
Desirable Dogwood School section with access to the F.L.O.W. regional high school system
Spacious ranch layout offering convenient one-floor living
- Broad marketing exposure through social media, email blasts, online marketing, and postcards delivered to every home and business in Oakland
Strong open house traffic generated by the marketing campaign, putting a large number of prospective buyers through the home
Well-prepared, move-in-ready presentation while still giving buyers the opportunity to update the home to their own taste
Attractive $629,000 list price that helped generate attention and competition
A New Beginning for the Home
One of the nicest parts of the transaction was seeing who would be taking over the home.
The buyers are a young couple who were excited about the property and could already see how they wanted to update it to meet their own needs and style. They saw the possibilities in the home and were looking forward to making it their own.
It’s always nice to see young homeowners excited about becoming part of the Oakland community and putting down roots here. The sellers and their family were able to successfully close one chapter, while the new owners are beginning another.
Preparation + Exposure + Negotiation
The sale of 403 W. Oakland Avenue is a good example of how several pieces of a real estate transaction work together.
Not every home needs an expensive renovation before it goes on the market. The key is identifying the work that makes sense, presenting the property effectively, pricing it appropriately, and then making sure buyers know it’s available.
For this home, that meant coordinating with family members both locally and from out of state, making targeted improvements and repairs, using virtual staging to help showcase a vacant property, and promoting the listing through MLS and internet exposure, social media, email marketing, and postcards delivered throughout Oakland.
Once the offers came in, careful evaluation and negotiation helped turn that interest into the final result:
- Listed at $629,000
- Multiple strong offers
- Sold for $702,000
$73,000 over asking
Congratulations to the sellers and their family on a successful closing, and congratulations to the new homeowners. We wish them many happy years in their new Oakland home.
Thinking About Selling a Home in Northern NJ?
A successful sale starts well before a property appears online. Preparation, pricing, presentation, marketing, exposure, and negotiation can all play a role in the final result.
If you’re thinking about selling your home in Oakland, NJ, or elsewhere in Northern New Jersey, the North Jersey Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Prosperity can help you determine what to do before listing, develop a marketing plan designed specifically for your property, and manage the process from preparation through closing.
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