Local Events • March 17, 2023

Westfield Memorial Pool 2023 Season

by Scott Gleason

The weather outside still feels a little frightful. So, it might feel premature to think about swimming. But the first day of spring falls on Monday, March 20th. So, it’s not too early to remind you about the upcoming Westfield Memorial Pool season.

Westfield Memorial Pool 2023 Season

The Westfield Memorial Pool and Aquatic Center features a 50-meter pool as well as an 8-lane competitive lap pool. Additionally, you will find a dive pool, two water slides, a kids’ training pool (only two feet deep), and a zero-entry kids pool with an attached splash pad. The snack bar allows guests to keep up their energy for pool play. The grounds also offer a nice picnic area, playground, and grassy area.

Swimming provides an excellent form of exercise. Not only does it tone and strengthen your muscles, but it builds up your endurance, lowers your blood pressure, and helps relieve stress. The Westfield Recreation Department offers several swim classes from beginner to pro throughout the season. Plus, you may even reserve time to host your own private pool party for birthdays, anniversaries, company gatherings, and more.

Pool Hours

The Westfield Memorial Pool officially opens up on Saturday, June 3rd, 2023. It remains operational through Monday, September 4th, 2023 (Labor Day). Between June 3rd and June 21st, the pool stays open from 4 pm to 8 pm during the week and 10 am to 7:30 pm on weekends and holidays. After June 21st, the pool hours change to 12 pm to 8 pm during the week and 10 am to 7:30 pm on weekends and holidays.

Returning Members

If you are a returning member, you can renew your membership at the Recreation Department yourself or you may renew online here. You must sign into your account first. Then click on “Westfield Memorial Pool” near the top of the page and select “Pool Memberships”. Follow the prompts to complete the process. You have until 4 pm on April 5th, 2023 to renew your membership or else you forfeit it and it goes to someone on the waitlist. This is only available to returning 2022 members. If you did not have a paid membership in 2022, you become a “new member”.

New Members

All membership spots filled up last year. So, if you wish to become a new member in 2023, you need to put your name on the waitlist. When a membership opens up, the Recreation Department will notify you.

Guests

Starting at 10 am on May 22nd, you may purchase guest passes online. Or you can wait until June 3rd and purchase them in person at the pool. Guest passes for members are just $12 per person. If you come without a paid member, you pay $45 per person.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Local Events • March 11, 2023

Scotch Plains Easter Egg Hunt 2023

by Scott Gleason

Easter Sunday falls on April 9th this year. But the Easter Bunny’s schedule gets pretty full around that time. Fortunately, he agreed with city officials to show up the weekend before to host the Scotch Plains Easter Egg Hunt.

What: Scotch Plains Easter Egg Hunt 2023
Where: Brookside Park (1225 Hetfield Ave)
When: Saturday, April 1st, 2023, 10:15 am
Admission: FREE
Contact: Scotch Plains Dept of Parks & Recreation (908) 322-6700 x223

Scotch Plains Easter Egg Hunt 2023

No. This is not a joke. The Scotch Plains Easter Egg Hunt falls on April Fool’s Day this year. This Easter egg hunt is made especially for the little ones to enjoy. In this case, “little ones” means kids ages eight and under. Dress up in your Easter finest and head out to Brookside Park. (Don’t forget to bring a basket.) Festivities begin promptly at 10:15 am.

After the hunt finishes up, the fun continues with a balloon artist, tons of Easter-themed activities, and a photo-op with the big bunny himself. If Mother Nature decides to rain that day, the egg hunt will move to the next day, Sunday, April 2nd. No pre-registration is necessary for this event, either. Just show up ready to have fun. And all of this family-friendly entertainment comes absolutely free of charge. So enjoy!

Cranford Peeps-Tacular

Don’t forget. Our neighbors to the east are hosting their own Easter celebration: the Cranford Peeps-Tacular. From April 1st to the 9th, visit the downtown area to look at the Peeps masterpieces submitted to the contest. Then, vote for your favorites. If you’re interested in entering your own artistic “peeps” vision, you must do so by March 24th. The entries with the top three votes receive a cash prize. Good luck!

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Home Buyers • March 3, 2023

What to Consider Before You Buy a Condo

by Scott Gleason

Tired of renting? Want to own a piece of property instead? Does a single-family home seem like too much of an investment? Looking to downsize? You might want to buy a condo. But before you make a final decision, consider these important factors.

What to Consider Before You Buy a Condo

That’s Not Your Land

Owning a condo is like owning an apartment. Yes, decorate however you want inside. But you do not control what happens outside of your door. That space belongs to the condo association. Sometimes, your condo may not even include any personal outdoor space at all. However, if you’re looking to simplify your lifestyle, you may prefer this to mowing the yard and pulling weeds every weekend.

Easier Maintenance

Speaking of landscaping, maintaining your condo is cheaper than maintaining a single-family home. The cost of big-ticket items like a new roof, exterior paint, or resurfacing the parking lot gets shared by other condo owners in your building. Sometimes, the cost of interior plumbing, electrical, and sewage issues get shared by condo owners as well. Single-family homeowners shoulder that expense all by themselves. Plus, you never have to shovel a walkway or mow a lawn again.

HOA Fees Run High

While the actual physical labor involved in maintaining a property is off your shoulders, your HOA fees cover these costs when you buy a condo. And those HOA fees tend to run much higher than someone living in a single-family home. If your property includes tennis courts, a pool, a gym, or other amenities, your HOA fees cover the cost of their regular maintenance. Plus, you may be asked to provide an additional fee when it comes to tackling those big-ticket projects.

Neighbors are ThisClose

Again, like living in an apartment, you share walls with your neighbors. That can be a blessing and a curse. You may have to deal with a noisy or messy neighbor. But, with condos, you may also have someone living next to you that has a vested interest in their own property. This could help you develop a nice, long, lasting relationship with your neighbor. Apartment living may mean a revolving door of tenants. You never know what you’re going to get. On that note…

Know Who’s Occupying the Building

Ask your REALTOR® to help you research how many condos are occupied by the owners and how many are rental units. The more owner-occupied units, the higher the likelihood that they’ll take care of their property. Pride of ownership helps increase the chances of living harmoniously together.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Market Reports • February 28, 2023

Real Estate Market Update

by Scott Gleason

Curious about your home’s value?

Please click below for the market update of interest to you:

Westfield by Grade School:

Scott Gleason scott@luxuryhomesnj.com

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Local Events • February 28, 2023

Downtown Cranford Peeps-Tacular 2023

by Scott Gleason

Easter falls on Sunday, April 9th, this year. What is your favorite Easter candy? Jelly beans? Cadbury cream eggs? Reeses peanut butter eggs? (The Reeses peanut butter egg came in as America’s favorite Easter candy, by the way.) How about marshmallow Peeps? Well, Peeps seem to polarize the Easter candy people. Some love them. Others hate them with a passion. But at the Downtown Cranford Peeps-Tacular 2023, it doesn’t matter because whether you like them or not. Why? Because you don’t actually have to eat them. Instead, they get turned into fun works of art in the celebration of the Easter holiday.

What: Downtown Cranford Peeps-Tacular 2023
Where: Downtown Cranford
When: April 1st to April 9th
Contact: DMC via email or phone at (908) 709-7208

Downtown Cranford Peeps-Tacular 2023

If you are interested in creating a Peeps masterpiece, you need to register by March 24th, 2023. Only one entry is allowed per person. But this is definitely something you can get the whole family involved in. Each entry gets displayed downtown for the general public to see. They also act as your judges. Entries with the most votes win a nice cash prize. Third place receives $50. Second place receives $75. And the first-place winner receives $100. Not bad for gluing a bunch of marshmallow Peeps together, right?

Rules and Registration Information

To enter, the Downtown Cranford Peeps-Tacular, send an email to the DMC by end of business on March 24th. Each participant will be given a specific location where their entry will be displayed. All registered entries must be dropped off at that specific location no later than March 31st. No on-site assembly allowed. Whatever it looks like when you drop it off is how it will be displayed.

Entries cannot be larger than 18″ in height, width, or depth. Keep in mind that your entry may get moved around a bit in the setup. So make sure that you fortify it well enough so it doesn’t break down. (Quick tip: glue, toothpicks, and little wooden dowels offer great support for your sculpture.) At the end of the judgment period, each display location disposes of the entries themselves. If you wish to keep your Peep, let the event organizers know when you register for the contest. Good luck!

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Selling Your Home • February 17, 2023

Selling Your Home: The Best of Times – The Worst of Times

by Scott Gleason

You probably have heard that real estate is all about location, location, location. But, honestly, sometimes it really depends on your timing, timing, timing. So, when selling your home, what is the best time to list it on the market and when should you think about waiting?

Selling Your Home

Best Time to Sell Your Home

While home sales declined throughout the state last month, the Westfield area (including Plainfield, Scotch Plains, and Cranford) still favors the seller. We live in a highly desirable area. Buyer demand remains relatively high compared to other areas of the state. However, many cities and towns in the Westfield area are seeing a shift to a more balanced market. That means a healthy buyer demand as well as good inventory levels.

Also, springtime tends to be a busy time for real estate. Nicer weather brings out the buyers. Plus, many families start looking in the spring so that they can move during their children’s summer break. So, if you want to sell your Westfield area home, now is still a great time to do so. Just make sure to work on your curb appeal and price it correctly for the current market conditions.

Is There a “Worst Time” to Sell Your Home?

For us East Coast folks, winters tend to be pretty brutal. And this winter has been no exception. However, with that being said, there really is no “worst” time to sell your home. Why? Even in the rough winter months, people still look for homes. In fact, the ones out there looking tend to be the most determined to make a deal when they find one. Therefore, as long as you truly feel ready to sell your home and move on, any time can be the right time to sell a home. Just be patient. Even in a seller’s market, homes are not selling at the breakneck speed we saw 12 to 16 months ago.

If you want to take advantage of the busier spring season, start working on getting your Westfield area home ready to list now. Then, when you are ready to put your home on the market, contact me.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Home Buyers • February 10, 2023

Priority Tasks for Your Move-In

by Scott Gleason

Moving into a new Westfield area home is an exciting time. You’re probably daydreaming about decor, paint schemes, and new furniture. But before you get into the fun stuff, there are some basic priority tasks for your move-in that you should cover first.

Priority Tasks for Your Move-In

Change the Locks

Even if you’re promised that new locks have been installed in your Westfield area home, you can never be too careful. It’s worth the money to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that no one else has the keys to your property. Changing the locks can be a DIY project or, for a little extra money, you can call in a locksmith to do the job for you.

Steam Clean the Carpets

It’s good to get a fresh start with your floors before you start decorating. The previous owners may have had pets, young children, or just some plain old clumsiness. Take the time to steam clean the carpets so that your floors are free of stains and allergens. It’s pretty easy and affordable to rent a steam cleaner—your local grocery or home improvement store may have them available.

Call an Exterminator

Prior to move-in, you probably haven’t spent enough time in the house to get a view of any pests that may be lurking. Call an exterminator to take care of any mice, insects, and other critters that may be hiding in your home. Trust me. You can thank me later.

Clean Out the Kitchen

If the previous occupants wanted to skip out on some of their cleaning duties when they moved out, the kitchen is where they probably cut corners. Wipe down the inside of the cabinets. Clean out the refrigerator. Clean the oven. And, finally, clean all of the nooks and crannies underneath the appliances.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Local Events • February 4, 2023

Cranford Gnome-Hunt Contest 2023

by Scott Gleason

We are very proud of our lovely downtown area here in Cranford. To encourage citizens and visitors to support our local businesses, officials enjoy putting on fun events. In October, there was the Scarecrow Stroll. Next week, they host a Galentine’s Chocolate Walk. As Valentine’s nod to the cute woodland creatures, they are currently hosting their Cranford Gnome-Hunt Contest 2023.

What: Cranford Gnome-Hunt Contest 2023
Where: Throughout Downtown Cranford
When: Now through February 14th
Contact: Downtown Cranford (908) 709-7208 or via email

Cranford Gnome-Hunt Contest 2023

Downtown Cranford partnered up with the Green Thumb Garden Club to create this fun Valentine’s Day event. But you don’t have to wait until Valentine’s Day to participate. This gnome-hunt can happen any time you visit the downtown area between now and the 14th.

First, download and print out an official Gnome-Hunt entry form here. Then, take it with you when you go downtown. When you spot one of the five official gnome displays, write its location next to the appropriate gnome “gname”. Once you locate all five gnomes, email your completed form to the Downtown Cranford office. A winner will be picked at random from all entries received by the end of the day on February 14th, 2023.

Upcoming Property Tax Appeal Seminar

Have you signed up yet for my free Property Tax Appeal Seminar? If not, you need to do so right away. It takes place at 7:30 pm next Thursday, February 9th at the Coldwell Banker Realty offices on Central Ave. Learn how to appeal your high property taxes from an expert in the field, Jennifer Jacobus, Esq. with Jacobus & Associates LLC. She has helped hundreds of homeowners (including myself and several of my clients) save thousands of dollars on their property taxes. Space is limited. In order to make sure we accommodate as many people as possible, we need to get a head count ahead of time. So, if you are interested, please sign up today.

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Market Reports • January 27, 2023

January 2023 Market Update

by Scott Gleason

Curious about your home’s value?

Please click below for the market update of interest to you:

Westfield by Grade School:

Scott Gleason scott@luxuryhomesnj.com

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Local Events • January 20, 2023

Cranford Galentine’s Chocolate Walk 2023

by Scott Gleason

November brings single friends together for a Friendsgiving feast. Why not grab your single gal pals for an alternative to the lovey-dovey Valentine’s Day festivities? That’s what the Cranford Galentine’s Chocolate Walk 2023 is for.

What: Cranford Galentine’s Chocolate Walk 2023
Where: Downtown Cranford
When: Thursday, February 9th, 4 pm to 7 pm
Cost: $20 per person

Cranford Galentine’s Chocolate Walk 2023

Chocolate. Shopping. Bargains. What more could you ask for? For the first time, Downtown Cranford offers up a special Galentine’s Chocolate Walk. Several downtown area boutiques offer discounts specifically for guests of the walk. Your $20 fee includes a shopping tote, a candy box, and a passport filled with discounts galore for participating local shops.

First, talk to your girlfriends about this fun event. Then, reserve your tote online here. Pick up your tote at Anthem Style + Gift between 10 am and 7 pm from February 6th to the 9th. Finally, head out to Downtown Cranford on February 9th for fun, shopping, chocolates, and more! This event takes place come rain or shine. No rainchecks!

2023 Property Tax Appeal Seminar

If you haven’t done so already, make sure you reserve a seat at my 2023 Property Tax Appeal Seminar. It will be held at the Coldwell Banker Realty offices on Central on Thursday, February 9th. It starts at 7:30 pm. So, you have plenty of time to enjoy the Galentine’s Chocolate Walk. Then, mosey over to my seminar for valuable information about appealing your high property taxes from the expert, Jennifer Jacobus, Esq, with Jacobus & Associates. She’s helped me and several of my clients save thousands of dollars over the years. And it’s absolutely free to attend. The information she provides, on the other hand, is positively priceless. See you there!

Scott Gleason, CRS at Coldwell Banker Realty – East, NJ Luxury Homes

Westfield Memorial Pool 2023 Season

Scotch Plains Easter Egg Hunt 2023

What to Consider Before You Buy a Condo

Real Estate Market Update

Downtown Cranford Peeps-Tacular 2023

Selling Your Home: The Best of Times – The Worst of Times

Priority Tasks for Your Move-In

Cranford Gnome-Hunt Contest 2023

January 2023 Market Update

Cranford Galentine’s Chocolate Walk 2023

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