In the Press
DIANE COOKSON REAL ESTATE: THE ART OF SELLING LUXURY HOMES
Selling luxury homes requires a unique blend of business acumen and artistic finesse. For more than a decade, Diane Cookson has been a top Bergen County Realtor®, representing the finest homes throughout North Jersey and we are delighted to welcome her to Vol. 4 of TSGBC. Recently we sat down with Diane to discuss the qualities that make her such a successful agent. It is clear that beyond understanding the unique features and allure of each property to expertly price and negotiate, Diane possesses the emotional intelligence to cultivate trusting relationships with her high-net-worth clientele and the ability to craft compelling narratives around the prestigious lifestyle her listings offer.
Old Tappan townhouse sold for $72k over asking price
Is paying more with it? 8 North Jersey homes that sold over asking price in 2023
The three-bedroom, four-bathroom townhome at 5 Lakeview Drive in Old Tappan sold for $871,000 in December − $72,000 more than the original $799,000 asking price.
Located in the Lakeview Estates, the townhome offers hardwood floors, a two-story great room with a fireplace, a first-floor master suite, an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a deck with views of Lake Tappan.
The property's listing agent, Diane Cookson — a broker associate and realtor with Compass in Ridgewood — said about 45 people attended the property's two-day open house, and they ended up receiving several offers over the original asking price.
"When the house came on the market, from start to finish — from the date it went on the market to the day it closed — was a total of only 45 days, which, in our business, is really quick," she said. "The house went on the market and we had a contract within two days."
Here’s How Real Estate Brokers Are Doing Business During The Coronavirus Crisis
In New Jersey, Diane Cookson, broker associate and No. 1 agent at Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, Saddle River, recently inked a contract for a first-time buyer on a $700,000 property in Upper Saddle River. The buyer has not even set foot in the home. “Someone called me directly. I had them look at the virtual tour. Then I sent them all the photo inventory I had. They are even buying the furniture because you really can’t get furniture right now,” Cookson said.
THE 2020 UPDATE ON THE LUXURY RESIDENTIAL MARKET
Diane Cookson, the #1 Agent at Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty Saddle River, New Jersey office and a top Bergen County Realtor knows the luxury market there well. “I see buyers looking for homes that are new construction or totally redone. Those are the properties that will most likely receive multiple offers and some over asking price in 2020.” Upper Saddle River’s luxury market is in the $1.2 to $4.5 million range while Saddle River where most properties are on at least two acres run from around $1.5 to $11 million according to Cookson. “I’m positive about the luxury market for 2020 especially where we see new construction that puts the seller in the driver’s seat.”
DIY Projects To Boost Your Home’s Appeal And Resale Value
Diane Cookson, broker associate at Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty in Saddle River, New Jersey, suggests, “It’s always great to freshen up bathrooms. Cleaning the grout in your bathroom and re-caulking your tub is a project that is definitely worth your attention. Remember that buyers will see defects—no matter how small—in your home and will start to mentally chip away at the price.”
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ: QUIET & NEAT AS A PIN
Diane Cookson, a broker associate with Sotheby’s, said popular housing styles in the area include “Hamptons” cottages with gables and cedar shingles, Colonials and modern farmhouses.
A longtime resident of Upper Saddle River, Ms. Cookson said she sees some restraint in the size of new houses — fewer 10,000-square-foot leviathans and more homes that are 5,000 to 7,500 square feet. “People like to travel more, or have a summer home. Sometimes they can’t maintain a 10,000-square-foot home,” she said.
Social media tips from some of the Tri-State area's top homesellers
For broker Diane Cookson, social mediA has led to several sales. Her strongest platform is her personal Facebook page. A live Facebook video of a modern farmhouse in Upper Saddle River led to several interested buyers contacting her, she said: “The list price was $1,549,000, and it sold way over that.”
She is a frequent poster because she believes prospective clients want to connect on a personal level before meeting. “I show snippets of my life, including my boys and design features I’m using to freshen my own home,” she explained.
ONLY THE TECH SAVVY SURVIVE
(Illustration by Maria Corte)
Selling to savvy shoppers
With interest rates inching up, taking on a big mortgage is also a concern for many buyers. “They want to make sure they’re not overspending,” Cookson said.
With that in mind, she said, young buyers are saving their pennies by leaning toward houses smaller than what they can afford because they want to invest in a vacation property elsewhere.“They’re saying, ‘I’d like to buy a house on the Shore or Nantucket,’” said Cookson. “It’s more important for them to have life experiences than a home that’s 5,000 square feet.”