The listing: Three-bedroom stone cottage with greenhouse and separate studio

Location: Mahwah

Listed by: Kathleen Falco of Re/Max in Franklin Lakes

On the market: Eight months

Asking price: $599,000, reduced to $525,000

The game plan: Falco had represented the owner when she bought the house 25 years ago. When it was time to sell, the homeowner called Falco again.

The home was in good shape, with a landscaped property and updated kitchen. The owner removed some items to make the rooms seem larger. Falco listed the home on the multiple listing service, held open houses and advertised it on the Internet, creating a website just for the property. She sent brochures to arts organizations and other groups whose members might be interested in studio space.

An agent brought in a buyer who was originally leaning toward a town house, but changed his mind when he saw this home. That buyer’s agent, by coincidence, had listed the house 25 years earlier when Falco’s client bought it — so the listing and buyer’s agents traded places from one sale to the next.

The result: The property sold for $475,000.

— Kathleen Lynn

Sellers and real estate agents: Have a recently closed transaction you’d like to tell us about? Please e-mail Kathleen Lynn at lynn@northjersey.com