Michelle Rizzo-Re/Max Welcome Home

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Michelle Rizzo-Re/Max Welcome Home Experienced Real Estate Broker & Owner of RE/MAX Welcome Home. World-Class Service.

Through her commitment to providing the finest personal service and professional representation, Michelle Rizzo provides outstanding expertise to her valued clients. As a specialist in the Marketing and Acquisition of Residential, Luxury, and Investment Properties, you may trust Michelle’s knowledgeable and insightful assessment and careful analysis. In helping clients in the Greater Central New Jersey real estate market to find their dream home, sell their special residence or secure a strategic investment, Michelle takes every measure to ensure that all of her client’s goals are achieved. Michelle excels at providing market knowledge, trusted guidance, and marketing applications that produce results. She always looks for distinct ways personally or through her team to add value to every interaction. When working with sellers, she implements effective and resourceful marketing strategies that clearly accentuate each property’s specific features. Skillfully taking every measure to position the seller’s property to stand out in the marketplace, she designs a beautiful presentation that incorporates professional photography, refined staging services, and extensive visibility on multiple internet sites. Regardless of the time and effort it takes, when working with buyers, she works tirelessly to secure just the right property for each buyer. Recognized for her integrity, insightful perspective, and valued counsel, Michelle is dedicated to providing her clients with a truly impressive real estate experience. As the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Diamond Realtors, Michelle is committed to mentoring and elevating her brokers so that they may provide the highest level of real estate services in a professional, competent, and ethical manner. She takes every measure to ensure that her team of brokers provides everyone they serve with the expertise that meets their specific objectives and the best experience possible for every RE/MAX Diamond Realtors client.

10/12/2026

One thing buyers often refuse to believe until it is too late is that sometimes they have to stretch a little to get the house they want.

I see it especially when buyers are making offers.

I try to explain what homes are actually selling for and what they may need to do to make their offer competitive.

Sometimes it is a little more money.

Sometimes it is making a reasonable adjustment to the inspection terms.

Sometimes it is simply understanding what the seller is looking for and making the offer stronger.

And I know that is difficult.

Nobody wants to feel like they are paying too much.

But the reality is that if you are in a competitive market, you have to make decisions based on what is happening in the market, not what you wish were happening.

Sometimes buyers have to miss out on a house.

I am okay with that.

In fact, I think there are times when buyers need to lose one or two houses so they can understand what the market is telling them.

I am not an “I told you so” person.

If you are not ready to make that adjustment today, I will be there for the third house, or the fourth house, or the one after that.

My job is not to pressure you into buying something.

My job is to help you understand the market so that when the right house comes along, you are prepared to act.

And sometimes the lesson comes from missing the house you really wanted.

10/09/2026

When I started in real estate 41 years ago, our contract was one legal piece of paper.

Today, it is 14 pages long.

And that is just one example of how much more complicated buying and selling a house has become.

We have Megan’s Law, radon, asbestos, airport safety zones and so many other things that have to be considered.

There is also more information available to consumers than ever before.

That sounds like a good thing, and it can be.

But more information does not always mean better information.

Sometimes people find something online and think they understand it, but they are missing the context that comes with experience.

That is why I actually think people need good Realtors more than ever.

I have checklists now that cover dozens and dozens of things that need to be handled.

A lot of my job is proactive.

It is looking ahead and asking what could go wrong before it does.

If someone finds what they think is mold, for example, I do not want them spending thousands of dollars immediately because somebody told them they need an expensive machine.

First, let’s figure out where the moisture is coming from.

If there is a problem, there is usually a reason.

Maybe it is a leak. Maybe it is condensation. Maybe it is something else.

The answer is not always complicated.

But knowing which questions to ask can make a very big difference.

10/07/2026

Something that has become acceptable in this industry that I do not think should be acceptable is poor service.

I am constantly surprised by how often people put up with it.

I have dealt with agents who do not have their MLS key. Agents who do not have the proper materials. Agents who call and ask if I am having an open house because they want me to show the property to their client.

I have even had agents tell me they are on vacation and ask me to show the house for them.

I am sorry, but you are representing that buyer.

That is your job.

I think customer service in general has gotten worse. People have become accustomed to waiting, being transferred around, talking to automated systems and feeling like nobody really cares that they are a customer.

I refuse to operate that way.

I have three offices, and there is a live person answering our phones.

I want my clients to know that when they call, somebody is there.

And that does not end at closing.

If a past client calls me years later with a question, I am still going to try to help them.

I do not want people to remember me because I had the flashiest marketing or the biggest advertisement.

I want them to remember that I answered the phone.

I showed up.

I did what I said I was going to do.

To me, that is not exceptional service.

That should be the standard.

10/05/2026

There is one thing a seller can say to me that immediately makes me nervous.

It is when I hear hesitation about telling the truth.

“Do we really have to tell them about that?”

Yes.

If you were buying the house, would you want to know?

That is the question I ask myself.

Houses are not perfect. Older houses especially are going to have things that need attention. Basements can have water. Roofs get old. Systems need maintenance.

That does not automatically make a house a bad house.

But it does mean we need to be upfront about what we know.

I have seen situations where a seller says there has never been water in the basement, and later the buyer discovers evidence that there has been.

I have seen buyers get all the way through inspections and financing, only to have an insurance issue come up because the property had previous claims.

That is not where you want to discover the truth.

I would much rather deal with an issue honestly at the beginning than have it become a problem at the end of the transaction.

And there is another side to this.

Buyers need to understand that when they buy a home, they are not buying a maintenance-free product.

Homeownership means maintaining a house.

So my rule is simple.

Be honest.

Disclose what needs to be disclosed.

And do not start a business relationship with a lie.

🏡🔥 A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME FOR $299,900?! YES!! 🔥🏡Come see it for yourself at my OPEN HOUSE this Sunday from 11 AM–1 PM!📍 1...
10/02/2026

🏡🔥 A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME FOR $299,900?! YES!! 🔥🏡

Come see it for yourself at my OPEN HOUSE this Sunday from 11 AM–1 PM!

đź“Ť 17 Douglas Street, Fords, NJ
đź’° Offered at $299,900

✨ 2 Bedrooms
✨ 1 Full Bath
✨ Full Basement
✨ Great Location

This is an incredible opportunity to own a single-family home at this price! Located just off New Brunswick Avenue and convenient to shopping, dining, highways, and so much more.

🏠 Stop by Sunday — at $299,900, you’ll definitely want to check this one out!

📅 Sunday | 11 AM–1 PM
đź“Ť 17 Douglas Street, Fords

10/02/2026

If I could make one rule that every Realtor had to follow, it would be simple.

Treat people the way you want to be treated.

That sounds basic, but I think it has gotten lost in our industry.

One thing that bothers me in particular is when an agent receives a commission and then offers another agent less than half of that commission for representing the buyer.

I understand that the industry has changed. I understand there have been lawsuits and changes in how compensation is handled.

But my philosophy has not changed.

For more than 40 years, I have believed in treating the other agent fairly.

I have always shared half of my commission with the buyer’s agent, and I do not add an MLS fee because there is no MLS fee.

Why?

Because sometimes I am the listing agent and sometimes I am on the other side.

You show that buyer 25 houses. You write four offers. You spend hours working with them.

That work has value.

I do not believe in looking at every transaction as an opportunity to squeeze a little more money out of the other person.

I believe real estate works best when the people involved respect one another and understand that there are two clients in the transaction who both deserve good representation.

For me, it really comes back to one question.

How would I want to be treated if I were on the other side?

That is the standard I try to follow.

09/30/2026

When a buyer starts making unrealistic demands during negotiations, I do not believe the seller should simply sit there and take it.

One of the most important things I want to have is leverage.

That is why I like backup offers.

Let’s say you had five offers on your house and accepted one. Then the buyer starts using the inspection process to negotiate over every little thing.

Meanwhile, the other buyers may have already moved on.

So I want to move quickly.

I want the inspections done. I want to understand what is happening. And if I see that a buyer is becoming unreasonable, I may start calling the other interested buyers.

Are your people still interested?

That changes the conversation.

I have had situations where a buyer suddenly asks for a very large credit, and I know it is not reasonable. I am not interested in wasting two or three more days going back and forth just because someone thinks the seller is stuck.

My seller owns a house.

The buyer needs a house.

Both sides have something at stake.

Time kills deals. I have said that for years.

My job is to keep things moving while protecting my seller.

I do not want to lose a good buyer over something reasonable.

But I also will not let my seller get pushed around simply because the buyer thinks there are no other options.

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09/28/2026

Check out my newest listing in Holiday City, Toms River! An over 55 community, spacious Shoreview Model in Holiday City Heights! Welcome home to this two-bedroom, two-bath home featuring updated bathrooms, a comfortable living room, a separate dining room, and a three-season room for relaxing or entertaining. Step out onto the deck and enjoy the private backyard. A one car garage adds convenient parking and storage. Listed at $299,900. Call me today for more info! Come see all this home and its affordable community have to offer!

09/28/2026

One of the biggest mistakes I see is homeowners thinking their house is ready to go on the market when it really is not.

And I understand it.

You live there. You know the house. You have gotten used to the little things that may need attention.

That is exactly why I like to come in early.

Sometimes a seller will tell me, “Let me get everything ready first, and then I will have you over.”

I always say, “No. Have me over now.”

Why spend your time fixing things that are not going to make a meaningful difference?

Why spend money in the wrong places?

I would rather help you decide what matters before you start doing the work.

Sometimes it is something very simple, like a storm door that is falling off the hinges. That is one of the first things a buyer sees when they walk up to your house.

Sometimes it is a small leak under the sink, a loose toilet, or a missing roof shingle.

I have even had sellers do a pre-inspection so they can identify issues before a buyer does.

My philosophy has always been to be proactive instead of reactive.

You do not need a perfect house.

You need a house that has been prepared thoughtfully and honestly.

That preparation can save you time, money and a lot of stress once you are under contract.

09/25/2026

One of the best ways I believe you can build a real estate business is by building good relationships and doing good work for people without immediately asking, “What do I get in return?”

For example, if I refer a painter to one of my clients, I do not expect that painter to send me something back.

I want my client to get a good price.

I want the painter to show up.

I want the work done properly.

And if my client calls me afterward and says, “Thank you for sending that person. They did a wonderful job,” that is enough for me.

But here is what happens when you consistently do the right thing.

That painter may get five or six jobs from people you referred.

Eventually, that painter is going to be standing in someone’s house giving them an estimate, and that homeowner may say, “We are thinking about selling.”

Who do you think that painter is likely to recommend?

That is how relationships build a business.

Not by keeping score on every individual transaction.

Not by expecting something every time you help someone.

You do a good job. You connect good people with good people. You become someone others trust.

And over time, those relationships come back around.

I have always believed that if you do the right thing consistently, you will have more than enough business.

Address

1199 Amboy Avenue
Edison, NJ
08837

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 7pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+19085012651

Website

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