finding home / 21 Finding Home Working with Mark Slade by ellen donker L isa Buber’s family is enjoying having their cousins close by and they have re- altor Mark Slade to thank. Starting with the Bubers, he has successfully relocated three related families to the Newstead area of South Orange. The migration was set in motion just after Lisa and Felix Buber had their third child. Suddenly it became clear to them that their home on DeHart Street in Maplewood could no longer accommodate three kids and two home offices (Felix is an IT con- sultant and Lisa owns a hand lettering apparel and décor company). Lisa contacted realtor Mark Slade at the sugges- tion of her aunt, and he didn’t disappoint. A realtor who has grown his team over the years to reflect the diverse communities his clients live in, he takes pride in homing in on a client’s needs. Buber says, “He just got what we were looking for and was real honest and transparent.” Her checklist included four b e d r o o m s , room for the two business- es, a large flat back yard and, if possible, a short walk from M a p l e w o o d Village. When the perfect house didn’t pres- Mark Slade helped the Bubers find a home in Newstead to better ac- commodate their growing family. ent itself, Slade suggested she expand her search to Newstead. Initially, she worried about feeling iso- lated, but soon realized Newstead offered the kind of home and price level they desired. They toured a few homes until Slade showed her a house on Hill Street. Although it was quite unlike her colonial in Maplewood – Slade calls it a contemporary Frank Lloyd Wright-ish home – it was love at first sight. Buber could tell that the house had structural is- sues, but wasn’t fazed. She put in an offer because “my husband and I realized that we’re the type of people who like to redo everything just so we can have the house the way we want it.” Unfortunately, the Bubers were outbid. But a few weeks later, Slade called her and asked, “Are you over the hill yet?” She soon understood his humor – the previous offer had fallen through. Immedi- ately they submitted a bid and landed the house. The Bubers engaged in a ten-month long gut renova- tion, but it was worth it in the end. Slade comments, “I love when I can find a home that a client can renovate and make it substantially more valuable in the eyes of today’s buyers.” Staying in their Maplewood home during the Newstead con- struction, Slade helped them get it ready for sale. Buber says, “Mark made the process so easy for us. He went through with me what areas needed to be heav- ily purged. Since I didn’t want a stager he told me what art to take off the walls. And he was really knowledgeable about how to price the house.” It went on the market on a Thursday and by Monday they were accepting best and final offers significantly over asking price. When it was time to move, Buber had just one regret: leaving behind a beautiful three-wall mural that her sister had painted of the drive from New York City to Maplewood. But Slade solved that problem by photographing the murals and printing them on three canvases. This cherished housewarm- ing gift now hangs on her family room wall. Since moving in, Buber has em- braced living in Newstead, encour- aging her family members to join them. The first one to do so was her sister, who relocated from Brooklyn. Since Buber had already done the work of finding a knowledgeable realtor and a great neigh- borhood, they figured they’d follow suit. Next came her brother-in-law’s sister. Between the three families, there are six chil- dren and a bond that’s clos- er than ever. Should another one of their family members decide to make Newstead their home, Buber has just the realtor to recommend.