b'Getting Ready toL I N G H OMake New Memories L MES EWorking with Debbie Rybka-HowardBY ELLEN DONKERontheirfrontwas that she came through and very strategically identified the must-dos from porchandthe can-dos. This meant the roof needed to be replaced and the driveway fixed, they loved thebut the bathrooms, which the couple was prepared to gut, could stay, albeit with sightofchil- some upgrades. And while other realtors were insisting that the kitchen cabinets drenwalkingbe painted white, Rybka-Howard put that item in the can-do category, which was downClintonfine with Patton. She figured the next owner might take out the cabinets anyway.Avenue on theirAt Rybka-Howards advice, Patton and Cahn made sure they were ready to sell waytoschool.by late winter. Patton says, [Debbie] really maximized our selling, I think, by be-Atacertainpoint,ing so strategic with her timing. This meant attending to the many tasks needing R Cahnwereverywereitthough,theyknewthatto be completed before the open house. Rybka-Howard was at the ready with a wouldbetimetomoveandwealth of referrals and cost-effective ways to manage each detail, from the retired obin Patton and Al- planning on doing it once theirfireman who installed smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, to the painters who iceyounger child was out of college. freshened up some walls and the whole of the exterior. Patton says Rybka-How-attachedtotheirBut when the market started to heatard also recommended a fantastic attorney as well as an amazing stager.house, and to livingup, the couple decided it made senseThe house went up for sale in late February and in less than a week, Rybka-in Maplewood. Res- to move up their plans by a few years.Howard had eight strong offers in hand. She helped the couple frame the selec-identssince1999,Theonlyproblemwastheywerenttion process, saying, Although the highest price is important to the seller, you they shared a beauti- sure where to go next. They consideredhave to look at the whole package, including the terms and conditions of the ful Victorian on Ridgewood Road withmany locales, but it wasnt until theycontract. Patton says, We felt we could turn that house over to anyone and their two children, Rosie and Charlie.took a trip to Maine in November 2020thought, Youre going to take good care of what had been our legacy. Patton spent her career as a special edu- that they found the right place: a coastalCrediting Rybka-Howard with a stress-free process, Patton says, Shed pretty cation teacher (10 of those years at Co- town in an area that Patton says is di- much smoothed the road ahead for us so that we avoided some of those potential lumbia High School) and Cahn con- verse, with good restaurants and lots ofbumps that people run into. Since they wanted extra time to pack up the house sults for childrens TV programming. places for fun walking. To give them- and let the kids have some last moments there, they closed in May. In the mean-What mattered most to them wasselves time for a proper house search,time, they found a home in Maine. Of course, it took some effort to downsize from thecommunity.Thefamilywouldthey rented an apartment at the Edisona six-bedroom house with three floors to a three-bedroom ranch but Cahns sister, host back-to-school parties every yearLofts in West Orange in the interim. Betsy, provided much-needed help. An owner of Curated Spaces, her company spe-Now armed with a gamecializes in helping people clear out, pack plan,thecouplefocusedup, thin out or keep whats important.on finding a realtor. WhilePattonandCahnrecentlyclosed theyinterviewedseveralontheirhouseinMaine.Reflecting agents, they also took theironthemove,Pattonsays,Wehad neighborsrecommenda- so many great memorieswe always tiontoheartbecausesheatedinnertogetherfamilyholidays hadresearchedthesellingwereatourhousegenerally,picking process extensively and wasout Christmas trees, you know, just so very happy with her choice.many things. So the memories are still Patton and Cahn came tothere, its just not going to happen in the same conclusion: Hirethat house. And thats fine with them, Debbie Rybka-Howard. because they feel confident theyve ar-Pattonsayswhattheyrived at the right place for their nextDebbie Rybka-Howard guided Robin Alice Cahn (L) and Robin Patton (R) with childrenliked about Rybka-Howardadventure.Patton and Alice Cahn through the pro-Charlie and Rosie cess of selling their house.selling home /39'