Real estate agent and New Jersey-certified Interior Designer, Cristina Colacci, is known as the “Property Gal” and offers free Interior Design services to her clients. Her goal is to provide a seamless process for homeowners needing to update their homes before putting them on the market.

Bergen county has a multitude of homes built in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.  While they have old-world charm, they may lack the conveniences of newer homes that appeal to today’s buyers.

“Buyers want open concepts, technology centers, walk-in closets and updated kitchens,” says Colacci, who has been practicing Interior Design for 18 years and worked as a Construction Manager for a number of years.  “And they don’t necessarily want to do it on their own.  Move-in ready is the ticket.  So I walk through the renovation process with them.”

Owners of outdated homes may know their house needs updating but sometimes they are overwhelmed with the process of hiring an architect, a designer and a contractor. But their biggest question is: Will this update result in more money when I sell?

Combining her Interior Design and Construction expertise and knowledge of today’s real estate market, Cristina can usually answer that question early in the process.  “Walking through a home, especially one that hasn’t been remodeled in many years, and comparing it to the inventory on the market in their area, I can help the seller decide how to best spend their remodel budget, and even ways to find the money to make those needed updates.”

While Cristina discusses a variety of options with her clients, a large remodel budget isn’t always necessary.  “Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to alter the house and it’s better to just stage the house differently so it looks fresh.  And “fresh” usually assists in marketability.”

As a real estate agent, Cristina provides residential real estate services to all home buyers and sellers in Bergen, Passaic and Essex counties.  Interior Design services are included for all her clients, whether it's a first-time homebuyer, seller who needs to make their home more marketable or to investors, flippers and contractors.