Your new home search begins here

Just found out we have a new place and can move in tomorrow. It’s three bedrooms, three and a half baths,1,791 sq.ft. with a small balcony. You helped make our dream possible and we can’t thank you enough for all of your help and guidance. Please tell Randy and Mary Ellen we said hi and make sure you give me a call when you visit California.

Fran and Randy did a great job selling our home.  Preparation and timing were perfect and the house sold after just 8 days on the market for close to the listing price. Job well done.  

Barry Kronman, West Orange

We bought and sold twice with the Lichtman- Rabney team. Their knowledge of the area and their ability to match the needs of my family with the most suitable home and neighborhood was spot on. You will not be disappointed.

Meredith Greenberg, Montclair

The qualities I value most in the Lichtman-Rabney Team are their kindness and helpfulness, their capacity to truly hear and respond to what the client needs/wants, and their level-headedness throughout a process that’s often extremely pressured, tense, and reactive. Fran and Randy display the knowledge, expertise, and negotiation skills expected in a top-notch broker. But/and they go beyond those assets in their genuine approach to supporting a client in finding and purchasing a home. Clearly their priority is client satisfaction, and that takes precedence over making a sale. 

Judy B, Maplewood

Fran and Randy are terrific to work with in every way. They nurtured and guided us through the entire process of selling our home where we had lived for 23 years. They found us great venders– from stagers to window washers. They advised an asking price that made us happy and brought in a lot of potential buyers. They were always available. They were ‘chill’ and savvy. Couldn’t be happier– Highly recommended!

John J

My husband and I were so lucky to find the Lichtman-Rabney Group. They are great listeners, great communicators, great advisors, and great negotiators. We were in such capable and professional hands at every step along the way.

Mary A.

Fran was the Realtor on the ‘other side’ of our transaction. She was knowledgeable, helpful and prompt. I see why the sellers chose her to sell their house. Our Realtor, Dennis Orloff, was great and we’ve known him many years, but I’d quickly pick Fran as my close second choice.

Al W.

We knew what we wanted but how do we get there? Start by getting a team that can see your vision. More important to be our partner during the journey. Randy and Fran are passionate about being the best at what they do and they delivered exactly what we needed. Their attention to service, the communication and guidance through our transition was top notch. I am a firm believer that relationships should be based on respect, trust and effective communication as these are the cornerstones of success. Randy and Fran delivered just that and nothing less. A heartfelt thank you for getting us into our dream home, for all the guidance and advice.  We are enjoying our new home and we thank you for getting us to where we are today. Thank you for delivering exceptional service.

Fran was an absolute pleasure to work with. She and her team are incredible and know exactly what they are doing when it comes to selling a home. We highly recommend them for anyone looking to sell their home and/or move into their next home.

We couldn’t have dreamed up a better team than Randy and Fran! It wasn’t an easy decision to make the leap from NYC to the NJ suburbs, but this duo made it feel effortless. They had once made the same move themselves, and we took great comfort in knowing we were in the hands of true experts with similar lived experiences. Because of their decades of knowledge, we quickly found a home we love. Thanks to their deft handling and guidance, we went under contract within days. Beyond their keen know-how on real estate matters, though, they also care deeply about their clients and the communities they serve. We have met many other couples and families through Randy and Fran, making our move feel like the absolute best one. When it’s our turn to sell, there’s only one team we’ll call — the Lichtman-Rabney Group!

They know what they are doing, that’s for sure.  At first I was reluctant to restage the house because I thought it looked fine as is.  I was wrong.  The restaging was amazing.  It definitely helped sell the house quickly.  Everything went really smoothly.  Listen to them and you will be in good hands.

Fran was very resourceful and listened to our ideas. She always responds in a timely manner and would help us schedule multiple seeings in one day to accommodate our schedules. She was able to help us secure our dream house among 15 other competing offers. Definitely would recommend!

Excellent realtors. I was in a bad real estate situation and they helped me to solve it very quickly. They were extremely helpful and attentive to my needs. I could not recommend them more.

Randy and her entire team helped us find and close on our house quickly and easily! They did the research to help us get to know our neighborhood and our house, helped us get the best deal, and made the entire process painless. I would recommend them to anyone looking to find a home in the area, you will not be disappointed!

Randy took the time to get to know my family and because of that she was able to find us a home that is absolutely perfect! The commitment and dedication shown to us by her and her staff throughout and after our buying experience was immeasurable and I will recommend them to anyone.

Fran and Randy did 90% of the work of our selling our property. I only had to follow their instructions and execute them. We went through the basics. Did the house meet code specs including whether or not there was an UST (there was!). What were the major home improvements? What additional interior and exterior cosmetic changes should be undertaken. 

The team found a lawyer to represent me on the Seller’s side. They advised me on any disputes we had with the buyers. The open houses were conducted very professionally.  When we left the State, they contacted realtors that would assist in the search for a new residence. This would have clearly been a much more difficult experience had it not been for this team.

We worked with Fran Lichtman to buy our first house and it was an amazing experience thanks to her ability to help us through what is a stressful experience especially for rookies like us. Fran was extremely responsive and walked us through all the steps and we could not be any happier with our decision to work with her and the Lichtman-Rabney Group we would highly recommend them!

Randy, Fran and Mary Ellen are all tremendous people—willing to go above and beyond to help you find the right house for you with no pressure applied.

Randy was our point person for finding our house—after renting here and in California the last 6 years–in the most difficult buyers market in ages.

She did a great job of listening, counselling on offer strategy, showing us numerous houses in 4 different towns , and exhibiting a ton of knowledge about the area—all with a great deal of patience and empathy. We highly recommend them to anyone either buying or selling a home in Essex County.

I’m not sure I’ll be able to adequately express our gratitude to Randy and Fran for their guidance and unwavering support over the past six months or so. From our initial meeting, it was clear that they had our best interest in mind, and wanted to help us avoid some of the common pitfalls of this process. We were shown some great options in our price range and were able to quickly find a home we love–not a guarantee in this current climate, but Randy and Fran worked hard to ensure that everything went smoothly. From answering what I’m sure were silly questions to keeping us updated about required steps, they were patient and supportive from day one and continuing through (and past!) our closing. I would highly recommend the Lichtman-Rabney group to anyone looking for honesty and professionalism in the home buying process.

Fran and team helped me out so much. I reached out to her while I was out of town and she met with me upon my return. She worked with me to get my house on the market by my deadline. She recommended a super staging company. Their sales technique was top of the line. My house was off the market in 4 days and we had people begging to see it while I was under contract. Would totally recommend them.  Also they have the knowledge of the area from Bloomfield to Montclair and beyond!

I am extremely pleased with the service that I received from the Lichtman Rabney Group. I originally worked with Realtor-Broker Ms. Fran Lichtman to buy a home in 2019. Then in 2020, when I wanted to sell a rental property, she was the ONLY person I called because my previous experience with her was GREAT. Fran is honest, forthright, and honest. The system that they have going on at The Hearth Group is TOP NOTCH. They go the extra mile – do the little things – give references to other vendors, do a lot of legwork to help sellers, etc. Fran and team were able to guide me in providing repairs that buyers would be looking for in a new home. In fact, after one week of listing my rental property on the MLS, I had a !!!!!whopping 25 offers!!!!!!, with the majority of them over asking price, and many a good amount over asking price. Overall, the Lichtman-Rabney Group is very professional, experienced and helpful. I highly recommend using them for your real estate needs. They are my GO TO folks – and I have recommended them to plenty of people. They are JUST THAT GOOD!

We were first time homebuyers and couldn’t be more grateful to have found Randy and Fran to guide us through what could’ve been a very overwhelming time of our lives! They were absolutely exceptional in every way possible. They were always easy to reach, honest, reliable, answered all of our questions— even the sillier ones— with kindness and deep insight, and were so supportive along the way while we were making one of the biggest decisions one can make! Not only did they help us find and purchase our perfect home at a lower-than-expected price point, they have also become friends whom we hope to have for years to come as we grow our roots in our new community. Truly cannot recommend this team highly enough!

Fran, Randy & Team were extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the area. Our house sold over asking price within 4 days of putting it on the market. They are very personable, easy to connect with and very on top of everything! Would highly recommend!

We worked primarily with Fran to buy our home in Maplewood. She was very helpful. It’s a competitive market and we’re first time homebuyers, but we found a home in less than two months. She was thoughtful about the homes we saw and only showed us houses that were in our budget and closely met our requests. I would definitely recommend Fran and Randy to other homebuyers.

Fran and Randy helped up sell our home right after interest rates went up and the market took a small downturn. They were knowledgeable about the changing market and advised us on the best pricing strategy without insisting that we list at a specific price. They guided us through a large amount of inspection items that had been found to ensure that the buyers stayed with the deal without us paying for everything. They have a terrific list of honest, dependable and affordable contractors that can fix items to prepare your house for sale or that are found during inspection. They and their assistant went above and beyond to ensure that our closing stayed on schedule. In particular, their assistant went to Home Depot and was back within the hour when we found out that we were missing a fire extinguisher needed to pass the Certificate of Occupancy inspection. They are a top-notch, experienced team!

We contacted Fran and Randy about a year before we knew we were going to move. They introduced us to the process of selling our home after living in Maplewood for over 27 years. Together they guided us through each step we had to take in order to put our best “house” forward. They gave us recommendations and suggestions as to whom to use when something needed to be repaired or tweaked up to and including their recommendation to stage the house. When it was time to sell, they priced  the house perfectly. Within 3 days of putting the house on the market, it was sold.  

We had the most incredible experience working with Fran her amazing team. Being from out of state, we knew very little about the area, and as first time buyers, even less about purchasing a home. Fran was knowledgeable about the area and about the process and was extremely patient with our questions. We knew we were going to be in a multiple offers situation, and Fran guided me carefully through the offer process so that we were able to secure the home we wanted. Fran’s team supported me with useful information about moving from the city to South Orange and getting my children registered for school. They even brought us pizza on move-in day which was an incredible life saver! I hope to not move for years to come, but I can guarantee that when I do, I will only use this team to help me sell (and purchase) my home.

We found Randy and Fran when we first decided to move to Maplewood. After a few initial phone calls, they suggested a top notch mortgage broker to let us know what a good range for us would be and to give us preapproval. A couple months later, (they were super respectful of our timeline and never rushed us) we met with Fran and saw four houses in Maplewood. I am typing this review from the fourth house we saw that day! One of the huge benefits of working with Fran is her experience. She knows the ins and outs of the process so well. She is able to really listen and also give honest advice, and in our experience, she was always right. She knows so much about Maplewood and the market there, and truly was able to find us the perfect home! We were so impressed with the Lichtman-Rabney Group from start to finish! Also, Fran has the best recommendations: our mortgage team was fabulous, our lawyer was excellent, our floor refinisher did a beautiful job. She only recommends the best of the best! I’m a teacher, so classroom analogies are my favorite: In the world of real estate, Fran is like the teacher you hope your kid one day gets. She has figured everything out already–she’s the smartest, most helpful, somehow simultaneously the most calming and exciting person in the room. She works hard and she works smart, and there’s nothing that could happen that she hasn’t already seen! We will always be so grateful for Fran and Randy!!

Fran and her team are great to work with. This is not my first time working with her, and I am always happy with her service. Fran and her team go above and beyond to get the deal done and ensure everything goes according to plan. Thanks again for a headache free sale.

We have successfully worked with Fran and Randy over many years and would highly recommend them to anyone in need of a real estate professional. Their communication, guidance and care is excellent.

The qualities I value most in the Lichtman-Rabney Team are their kindness and helpfulness, their capacity to truly hear and respond to what the client needs/wants, and their level-headedness throughout a process that’s often extremely pressured, tense, and reactive. Fran and Randy display the knowledge, expertise, and negotiation skills expected in a top-notch broker. But/and they go beyond those assets in their genuine approach to supporting a client in finding and purchasing a home. Clearly their priority is client satisfaction, and that takes precedence over making a sale.

My wife and I have been through the selling and buying process multiple times throughout over the past 12 years. Our experience with Fran has been the best one by far. She is an experienced negotiator and highly knowledgeable Realtor. Her expertise goes beyond just real estate, as demonstrated in her ability to handle tough discussions, contracts and needy clients (like us). In just under 1 month, Fran was able to find us a home in the very aggressive Maplewood market. Under her guidance, we made offers and negotiated like professionals. We had full trust in Fran throughout the process. I would highly recommend Fran for any real estate transaction. We are certainly going to use her expertise again in the near future.

When my partner and I decided to make the move from Brooklyn to Maplewood, we met with several brokers to assist us with our purchase. Fran and Randy immediately stood out from the others, not only with their sincere warmth and knowledge of the town, but also because Randy also had extensive experience as an attorney. They understood our affordability limits and and home “wish list” items, and were always honest about how the different houses and neighborhoods we saw fit or didn’t fit within those parameters. Fran and Randy embrace the great diversity we have here in Maplewood, and never tried to steer us toward or away from a place based on neighborhood demographics (except for advising us which areas had a lot of kids for ours to play with!). I would recommend Fran and Randy to anyone and everyone!

I first worked with Fran when she helped me find a rental property and was very impressed with how communicative, knowledgeable and professional she was. Years later, I had the pleasure of working with her to find and purchase my own home. While we worked primarily with Fran, I believe that she and Randy are the best team to work with in the South Orange/ Maplewood area. They have tremendous local knowledge and a passion for pairing people with homes that are well suited for them and match their desires. Fran and Randy were always prompt and clear in their communications and were there when we needed them. They guided us through the process of buying our home so that we felt comfortable and confidant throughout. They will be the team that we call when we look to sell our house. I don’t think there’s a higher compliment than that.

I want to say “thank you”. If it wasn’t for your patience, commitment and involvement, this purchase would never have happened. The negotiation process was frustrating and emotionally challenging. In the end, you were committed to making us happy and it showed.

Fran Lichtman helped my wife and I buy our first house… And thank goodness we found Fran because we couldn’t have done it without her. We had a lot of questions and were super nervous about making the right choices for our family. From the beginning Fran was warm, knowledgeable and made us feel at ease. As we started looking at houses, it became apparent that she really wanted to help us find the right home for us. When we found a great house, she walked us through each step of the buying process and was extremely patient and supportive. We faced a few challenges along the way and at each turn she gave us great advice. She has been an invaluable resource to us. With Fran’s help we were able to navigate the home buying process and we are now in a home that we love. We would recommend Fran to anyone who is looking to buy or sell their home… She’s the best.

When we first contacted Fran and Randy, we received an immediate email response. They seemed very knowledgeable and were very friendly. We had previously worked with another Realtor and were highly disappointed in their lack of knowledge and near-impossibility to contact. Fran and Randy picked right up and spent many hours with us on the phone and on foot checking out houses. We loved Maplewood and since Fran and Randy both live and work there, they were able to show us and tell us everything about the area. If you are thinking of moving to this area, you should definitely call Fran and Randy.

Fran and Randy were a true delight to work with. Fran had been recommended by a friend of ours who had recently bought a home in the area. She had actually represented the seller in that transaction, but our friend (the buyer) was so impressed by Fran that she said we should seek her out. Very glad we did! Fran and Randy patiently took us through many homes over the course of several months until the perfect house came on the market! They identified it and brought it to our attention immediately. Once our offer was accepted, they walked us through the home buying process and it went absolutely smoothly from start to finish. My wife and I highly recommend this team!

When we decided to sell our home in Maplewood, we met Fran and Randy. After spending some time with them, we felt very confident that we had chosen the right agents. They outlined their approach, helped us through the entire process and always stayed on top of things-keeping us posted every step of the way. Their positive, pro-active style and knowledge of the local market was a real plus in helping us to sell our home. If we had it to do all over again, we would not hesitate to call Fran and Randy.

My husband & I worked with Fran at recommendation of a friend. She had answers to all of our questions and was definitely an authority on the SOMA community. We’ve never bought before so having someone we could ask even the most basic of questions was valuable. Fran kept us on track with all aspects of the process: looking, offer, buying, and closing. Since buying our place we have met others in the community that also used her and loved her. I’ve recommended her to others several times. 

Our experience working with Fran and Randy was terrific! They handled both the sale of our home and the purchase of our new home. They were both very professional and always there for us. They always seemed to know what was going on in the local market. It was a great balance-they knew when to offer suggestions and when to stay back and let us put forward the ideas. In addition, they went out of their way to help us with the little things, like meeting contractors at the house-allowing them entrance and watching their work. Overall, they delivered great service-we are very happy with how everything turned out. We would definitely recommend Fran and Randy and use them again!

We used Fran and Randy when we sold our house in Maplewood in 2008 and again when we moved back to Maplewood in 2013. The whole process can be very stressful and emotional, but Fran and Randy really minimize that. They are a calm presence that you can feel confident in. In selling our house, they made excellent recommendations on things we should do to prep our house to minimize time on the market and maximize price – we were very pleased with the result. When returning to Maplewood, we were on a short time line. They were great at helping us get up to speed on market dynamics and getting us in to seeing houses that met our needs. We were able to wrap things up and move into our new house in 6 weeks.

Fran and Randy are the best Realtors that we have ever worked with. They worked tirelessly to find us our beautiful home in West Orange. They were extremely professional and we always knew that we could rely on their advice. They were not only a great resource for neighborhood information (which was a huge help since we were new to the area), but they also was able to make the process enjoyable. We look forward to working with Fran and Randy in the future.

Fran and Randy are an extraordinary real estate agents. When I bought my house, the first people to have a spare key were Fran and Randy. The first I called when I needed any referrals was Fran and Randy and the first I will invite over when I finish renovating is Fran and Randy. They care about their clients, they know the business and they won’t let you down.

I would like to thank you for your professional services in marketing my home. I was truly impressed with the complete package that you offered and moreover delivered to sell my house. The deal was planned, the house price agreed and then the marketing strategy executed without flaw delivering results in less than 3 weeks. I was delighted with the web presence, virtual tour, brochures used to market the house. Even more so, the communications you maintained to keep me up to date with news on viewings that took place on line and the foot traffic that visited the house. The subsequent execution and guidance that you offered throughout the following days before closing was invaluable. Furthermore given that the sale had unexpected challenges from the buyer’s lender, you pro-actively worked to ensure that the deal could proceed. In conclusion, I would thank you for your highly professional service and would recommend you to any person looking to market and sell their house or looking to purchase a house

We worked with Fran and Randy when we sold our home and again when we bought the house that we live in today. They guided us through the process and communicated with us. We got a great price for our house…even more, inspiring was their ability to find us the home we live in now. When our house went into contract, there was nothing on the market that we wanted to buy. They went the extra mile and worked diligently until they found us an amazing house, before it went on the market and without having to be in a bidding war. We felt like we hit the house lottery. We give Fran and Randy our highest recommendation.

Having Fran and Randy in your corner is like having your best friend, mother and world title heavyweight going to bat. You’ll know who has your back, you’ll have a good laugh along the way and most definitely come out a winner! 

There is no one better than the Lichtman-Rabney Team for real estate in Essex County! Fran and Randy are superb and I only want to work with them for my future real estate needs. No one is more knowledgeable about Maplewood, South Orange or Montclair and no one commits themselves more than Fran and Randy to working effectively with you to successfully list and sell your property quickly.

Words cannot describe how happy you have made me. Being a homeowner has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl who didn’t grow up with much at all. If it weren’t for you, I would have never been able to get up the courage I needed to even start to look. You held my hand through the whole thing and made sure that I was alright. I cannot thank you enough for placing me in the perfect home. You really knew what I wanted and even found it within my price range. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! With sincere appreciation and warmest thanks.

Thank you so much for your hard work these past 5 months. Your positive attitude, patience and knowledge made this process easy and bearable. We are so happy with the outcome and look forward to many happy years in our new home. If we ever have a friend in need of real estate we will tell them that there is no other option than Fran Lichtman and Randy Rabney. Thanks for being a friend and an advisor.