New Jersey’s real estate market remains highly competitive, and in many areas, there simply aren’t enough homes available to meet buyer demand. This has helped push property values to record highs.

According to regional and national data, cities and townships such as Parsippany-Troy Hills have ranked among the hottest and most competitive real estate markets in the country. This creates an excellent opportunity to maximize your potential sale price.

This doesn’t, however, mean every renovation is worth the investment. The key is choosing upgrades that buyers actually care about and that can make a meaningful difference in your home’s value. If you’re preparing to sell, here are five improvements worth considering.

Dedicated Home Offices

According to the Pew Research Center, around a third of US workers with remote-friendly jobs are continuing to work from home. Because of this, the demand for homes with dedicated office spaces has increased and continues to rise steadily.

You don’t need to opt for a complete renovation though. Some easy ways to add dedicated office space include converting a closet or bonus room, or even building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to your backyard.

This is especially valuable in New Jersey, where commuting is common. Many locals work on a hybrid schedule by splitting their time between working from home and commuting for occasional in-office work.

The Value of a Finished Basement

If you have an unfinished basement in your home, you’re probably leaving money on the table. Completing this type of renovation can help turn what would normally be an overlooked part of the property into additional living space.

Real estate data showcases that homeowners can see a return-on-investment (ROI) of as much as 70% to 75% for a standard basement renovation. Industry estimates put the average cost of finishing a basement at roughly $18,400, while the added value can range from about $15,000 for a partial finish to as much as $50,000 for a fully finished space.

Even relatively simple improvements can change how buyers view your home’s basement, and the property in general. Investing in your basement’s lighting or flooring, or even applying a fresh coast of paint can boost the marketability of your property.

Adding an Extra Bedroom or Bathroom

Bedrooms or bathrooms are integral parts of your home. Many communities in New Jersey are also full of residents who have growing families, meaning an additional bedroom or bathroom can have a big impact.

For buyers, additional bedroom space can give them flexibility. Bedrooms, of course, can be used as living spaces, but also home offices and guest rooms. This directly increases the competitiveness of your listing.

Don’t overlook bathrooms, either. Busy households are accurately aware of how big of an impact having an additional open bathroom can have on day-to-day living.

Depending on the project, adding a bedroom may provide a return-on-investment of about 15% to 20% of construction costs. Data also shows that an extra bathroom may increase a home’s value by as much as 25%.

Going Green with Solar Panels

Between rising electricity costs and environmental concerns, energy efficiency is important to many potential homebuyers. This isn’t a trend that’s likely to reverse.

Solar panels can make a home more attractive by potentially reducing overall energy costs for homeowners. Research has found that homes with solar energy systems may sell for approximately 4.1% more than comparable homes without them.

Solar-equipped properties may also sell faster, with some studies suggesting they spend around 20% less time on the market. Homeowners can potentially save an average of about $1,500 per year on energy costs as well.

Upgrading to a Modern HVAC System

New heating or cooling systems aren’t as exciting as a renovated kitchen or a dedicated office, but many buyers pay attention to it.

If the furnace or AC is aging, a potential homebuyer may be calculating its overall lifespan in their head and wondering if they’ll need to replace it after moving in. Updating the HVAC system can take away some of those concerns and make the home feel like a safer investment.

More efficient systems can also help lower monthly electricity costs, making your property more attractive to buyers assessing their long-term options. Options like modern heat pumps may even offer a strong return on investment, especially when energy savings are factored in.

Positioning for a Successful Sale

Making the right upgrades is only part of the selling process. Buyers also need to understand what makes your property worth considering.

Rob Dekanski, founder of the Robert Dekanski Team, says sellers can leave money on the table when they fail to properly showcase their home’s strongest features. “When buyers see a property that’s professionally presented, they don’t scroll past it,” he said.

If you’re researching how to sell your house in New Jersey, focus on improvements that offer practical value to buyers rather than renovating simply for the sake of renovating.

Pairing smart upgrades with strong marketing can put your property in a much better position to attract serious buyers and achieve a strong final sale price.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County dedicated its new Public Safety Complex Expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that also honored Labor Day, as the Board of County Commissioners joined members of the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council to celebrate the workers who built the 65,540-square-foot facility.

The ceremony took place outside the new building on West Hanover Avenue in Parsippany and included Morris County Department of Law and Public Safety staff, along with more than a dozen trades workers and union leaders. The project began last year and was designed to strengthen public safety and health response capabilities in the county.

County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw said Labor Day continues to remind residents that the strength of communities rests on the skill and craftsmanship of workers, adding that the message carries new weight as artificial intelligence reshapes industries nationwide.

Shaw said skilled trades remain essential to construction, noting that artificial intelligence cannot pour concrete, set steel, run electrical systems, or install heating and cooling equipment.

Shaw presented a framed Resolution of Honor to David Critchley, president of the Morris, Sussex and Vicinity Building and Construction Trades Council and secretary-treasurer of the State Building and Construction Trades Council. The resolution recognized trades workers for their contributions to the Public Safety Complex Expansion and other Morris County projects, including facilities at the County College of Morris and the ongoing county criminal court expansion.

Representatives from the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102, and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada Local 24 also attended.

Critchley accepted the resolution on behalf of the building trades and thanked county officials for highlighting the trades and giving younger workers a chance to learn about training and career paths.

Critchley said that for every five workers retiring from the trades, only two are entering to replace them, and he encouraged young people to consider the field, citing well-paying jobs and skills gained through apprenticeship programs.

The expansion gives the Morris County Division of Public Health a new location directly next to the county’s emergency operations functions, and includes storage for personal protective equipment and garage space for emergency response vehicles and equipment.

The project developed out of lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Board of County Commissioners formed a Strategic Planning Advisory Committee to evaluate the county’s emergency preparedness and response. The committee met 64 times to examine the county’s capabilities and identify needed improvements.

While the county’s Office of Emergency Management response was cited as a model for the state, the committee concluded that the Division of Public Health needed to be located closer to the emergency operations team.

The expansion also creates additional space for the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division in Public Health’s former location on West Hanover Avenue. Shaw said the project addresses two needs at once, moving Public Health into the new facility while freeing up space better suited for the Sheriff’s Patrol Division.

The project was designed by The Musial Group Architects, with Dobco Group serving as general contractor and Legacy Construction Management Inc. as construction manager. It was recognized earlier this year by the New Jersey Alliance for Action as one of the state’s leading capital construction projects for excellence in planning, design, and construction.

The Public Safety Complex Expansion is one of several major projects planned or underway in Morris County. Renderings displayed at the ceremony showed upcoming projects, including a new criminal courthouse and a replacement K-9 facility. The three projects have been supported by $99.7 million in total funding approved by the County Commissioners, with 82.2 percent from the county and 17.8 percent from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Morris County’s partnership with the building trades also extends to educational facilities on the County College of Morris campus. Projects include the Center for Health Professions, scheduled to open next year; the Center for Culinary Science and Entrepreneurship, which opened earlier this year; and the Morris County Vocational School District’s career training center, which opened on the college campus to hundreds of high school students last year.

Following the ribbon cutting, guests toured the new facility and viewed renderings of upcoming county projects.

ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — A Hopatcong woman died and two other people were injured following a head-on crash on Route 206 in Andover Township Saturday, September 5, according to the Andover Township Police Department.

The crash happened at approximately 2:15 p.m. near the Andover Borough line by D&E Service Center, police said.

A 2015 Ford Fusion driven by Katherine Tevis, 60, of Lake Hiawatha, was traveling north on Route 206 when it veered into the southbound lane and struck a 2018 Nissan Murano head-on, police said. The Murano was driven by Patricia Consentino, 58, of Andover Township, who was traveling south at the time.

Consentino was airlifted to Morristown Medical Center. Tevis was taken to Morristown Medical Center by Atlantic EMS.

Nancy Tevis, 83, of Hopatcong, a passenger in the Ford Fusion, was transported to Newton Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead, police said.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Andover Township Police Department and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office. No charges have been announced.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on a press release from the Andover Township Police Department. The investigating officer and towing company were not named in the release. No charges have been filed at this time.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month during its public meeting this week, welcoming health care professionals from Atlantic Health for a presentation on the disease and the importance of public awareness, research and continued advances in detection and treatment.

Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw presented the proclamation to representatives of Atlantic Health following a presentation led by Dr. Daniel Tobias, director of Gynecologic Oncology and the Women’s Cancer Center at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center. Lydia Nadeau, executive director of Cancer Care at Atlantic Health, and Matthew Marinello, manager of Government and Public Affairs for Atlantic Health, also took part in the presentation.

“Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month provides an important opportunity to learn more about this disease and the importance of awareness and education,” said Director Shaw. “We appreciate Dr. Tobias and Ms. Nadeau for joining us and sharing information that can help residents better understand ovarian cancer and the importance of speaking with their health care providers when something does not seem right.”

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer in the United States and causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 21,010 women nationwide will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, and 12,450 will die from the disease, including an estimated 650 new cases and 340 deaths in New Jersey.

One of the greatest challenges is that there is no reliable routine screening test for ovarian cancer, and many women are diagnosed after the disease has reached a more advanced stage. Early-stage ovarian cancer has a significantly higher survival rate, making awareness and recognition of potential warning signs particularly important.

“Recognizing the warning signs is the key, and that’s part of the purpose of this month, to just raise awareness, so people are aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and finding it in its early stages,” said Dr. Tobias.

The presentation identified symptoms that may warrant medical attention when they are new, persistent or frequent, including abdominal bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary urgency or frequency. Because these symptoms can also be associated with other conditions, residents were encouraged to discuss persistent changes with their health care providers.

Dr. Tobias also discussed advances in treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapies and clinical trials that continue to provide patients with access to new and innovative treatments.

“Chemotherapy is generally very effective,” Dr. Tobias said. “We’re able to extend their life significantly. When we say significantly, we’re talking about five-year, 10-year survival even after they’ve been diagnosed.”

Atlantic Health currently has approximately 170 clinical trials open across its system, including ovarian cancer research and a screening study examining whether blood testing and complementary biomarkers can help identify the disease at an earlier stage.

The long-running screening trial, conducted in collaboration with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, is enrolling eligible women ages 50 to 74 and is intended to help researchers determine whether a combination of testing methods can improve early detection. Atlantic Health continues to enroll participants in the study.

Nadeau also highlighted the depth of cancer care and research available through Atlantic Health, including the role of multidisciplinary teams and clinical trials in providing patients with access to emerging treatments.

“Our goal is to provide access to new and novel treatments. One of the ways we accomplish this is through our clinical trials program,” Nadeau said.

For Dr. Tobias, the value of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month extends beyond education and recognition.

“September’s really about raising awareness, which then leads to people being more active, and helping to raise more funding to support research in finding a reliable screening test,” Dr. Tobias said. “Ovarian cancer doesn’t always get as much press as breast cancer and some of the other cancers.”

The county proclamation encourages residents to promote awareness efforts by wearing teal, the official color of ovarian cancer awareness, to learn about the disease and its symptoms, and to support families affected by ovarian cancer.

The county’s recognition also provided an opportunity to remember former Morris County Freeholder Patricia J. Maynard, who died in 2017 following a nine-year battle with ovarian cancer. Maynard, who served two terms on the board from 1978 through 1984, continued her public service afterward, serving for 12 years as Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Legislative Liaison until 1996. She was also involved with many other organizations, including the Morris County September 11 Memorial Committee and Morris County Library Foundation, and served as a trustee of the Morris Museum, Ralston Cider Mill, County College of Morris Foundation and New Jersey United States Olympic Committee.

DENVILLE — A Yonkers, New York man was arrested and charged after Denville police said they found more than 25 pounds of marijuana, a large quantity of cash and drug paraphernalia during a motor vehicle stop Thursday evening.

According to the Denville Police Department, an officer stopped a vehicle traveling on Route 46 East at approximately 7:11 p.m. on September 10 after observing it being driven carelessly. During the stop, officers located the marijuana, currency and paraphernalia. The driver, identified as Ebraheem Al-Zanam, 24, was placed under arrest and transported to Denville Police Headquarters for processing.

Al-Zanam was charged with:

• Distribution of over 25 pounds of marijuana, a first-degree crime
• Money laundering, a third-degree crime
• Possession of over 6 ounces of marijuana, a fourth-degree crime
• Careless driving
• Failure to use a proper signal
• Tinted windows
• Operation of a motor vehicle in possession of a controlled dangerous substance
• Following too closely

Following processing, Al-Zanam was committed to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a future court appearance.

Editor’s Note: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

MORRIS COUNTY — Communities across Morris County continue to remember dozens of residents who lost their lives in the September 11 terrorist attacks, honoring their memory each year as the anniversary approaches.

The county’s losses touched nearly every municipality within it, from Madison to Dover, Parsippany to Mountain Lakes, leaving families, friends, and neighbors to carry forward the memories of those who never came home.

In Chatham Borough, the community lost Donald Leroy Adams, Dennis Buckley, Anthony P. Infante Jr., Christian Hartwell Maltby, and Peter C. Moutos.

Chatham Township mourned Philip W. Mastrandrea Jr., Paul Stuart Gilbey, Gary Robert Haag, Robin Blair Larkey, Thomas S. Strada, and Kenneth J. Swenson.

Boonton Township lost Cecile M. Caguicla and Angela R. Kyte.

In Denville, the community remembers Lucille King and William J. Martin Jr.

East Hanover lost Antonio Augusto Tome Rocha.

Florham Park mourned Captain Robert Edward Dolan and Simon Maddison.

Hanover lost Michael O’Brien.

Harding Township remembers John Paul Bocchi, Matthew Carmen Sellitto, and William R. Tieste.

Kinnelon lost Seth Allan Morris and Matthew David Yarnell.

Lincoln Park mourned Peter Guyder Wallace.

Long Hill Township remembers Karen Lynn Seymour-Dietrich.

In Madison, the community lost James Leslie Crawford Jr., Timothy Robert Hughes, and Patrick J. McGuire.

Mendham Township mourned Jason Kyle Jacobs.

Montville lost Gayle R. Greene, Thomas V. Linehan Jr., James Romito, and Dennis Gerard Taormina.

Morris Plains remembers Eileen Marsha Greenstein.

Morris Township mourned Sean Patrick Lynch, Alfred Russell Maler, William A. Mathesen, Alexander Napier Jr., Barbara A. Shaw, and Edward W. Straub.

Morristown lost Martin Paul Michelstein and Richard C. Rescorla.

Mount Olive remembers Hilda Marcin.

Mountain Lakes mourned Alayne F. Gentul and David Alan James Rathkey.

Parsippany lost Martin Boryczewski, Antoinette Duger, Michael John Pescherine, Thomas H. Polhemus, Maria Theresa Santillan, and Michael C. Sorresse.

Pequannock remembers Mark Zangrilli.

Randolph mourned David G. Carlone, Steven Harris Russin, and Francis Joseph Skidmore Jr.

Riverdale lost Joon Koo Kang.

Rockaway Township remembers Margaret L. Benson, Liam Callahan, and Robert D. Mattson.

Roxbury mourned Joseph DeLuca and Kenneth Albert Zelman.

Washington Township lost Debra Lynn Fischer Gibbon.

Each name represents a life woven into the fabric of Morris County, a parent, spouse, child, sibling, or friend whose absence is still felt in the communities they called home. Local governments, houses of worship, and civic organizations throughout the county continue to hold remembrance ceremonies each year to ensure their memory endures.