The Gonnella Team

Working with Arlene Gonnella was one of the best professional experiences I have ever had. She is an exceptional broker and a wonderful person. Arlene is extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful, and highly discerning, with a sharp eye for details and solutions that genuinely matter. Her ability to understand complex situations and navigate them with clarity and confidence sets her apart as a leader in her field. What makes Arlene even more special is her genuine care for people. She is a strong advocate for her clients and an excellent negotiator, consistently representing their best interests with skill, determination, and grace. She showed us a broad range of homes while remaining focused on identifying the right long-term fit, always prioritizing alignment over speed. She also helped us negotiate effectively and remain disciplined on pricing, offering clear, level-headed guidance throughout the process. She is incredibly understanding, patient, and completely nonjudgmental, creating an environment of trust and ease from the very beginning. She listens deeply, asks the right questions, and goes above and beyond to secure the best possible outcome. Her persistence is guided by integrity and a sincere desire to help—not merely to close a deal, but to create meaningful value for those she represents. Arlene’s support does not end when the transaction closes. She remains engaged and supportive even afterward, continuing to help her clients navigate next steps, address questions, and feel confident and cared for long after the deal itself. Overall, Arlene is passionate about her work and continually strives to perform at the highest level. It’s clear that she takes great pride in her expertise and brings insight, professionalism, and heart into everything she does. Beyond her impressive skills, Arlene is a wonderful human being—kind, thoughtful, and deeply invested in others. I rarely meet people who combine such high-level competence with authentic warmth and empathy. If you are looking for a broker who is not only highly skilled but also deeply caring, solution-oriented, and unwaveringly committed to excellence, Arlene Gonnella stands out in every sense. She adds exceptional value, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. I would be more than happy to speak with anyone directly and provide a personal reference as well.

Arlene is an incredible realtor who truly goes above and beyond for her clients. She will knock on every door for her clients and I assure you that no stone will go unturned. She not only helped us find a unique property, but truly helped us get set up and integrated into the community by introducing us to potential friends and connecting us with folks to help with anything you can think of. She is one in a million! Cant recommend her enough.

Arlene is a highly knowledgeable and skilled realtor. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who knows the Short Hills market better. We hired Arlene in Summer 2025 to sell our home in Short Hills, which was priced on the higher end of the market. Arlene ensured our home was well presented: she brought in a professional home stager who rearranged some of our existing furniture, added staged furniture, added décor and outdoor plantings, and made numerous easy changes which materially enhanced the appearance of our home (i.e. changing some paint colors and light fixtures). Arlene had excellent professional photos taken of our home, and produced an informative and visually enticing color brochure of our home. Arlene is excellent at cultivating and maintaining relationships, and she maintains a large network of potential buyers and channels through which to generate potential buyers. Arlene was able to make our home show exceptionally, maximizing its positive features (dramatic primary suite, large kitchen, high ceilings, large lot) and minimizing its drawbacks. Arlene talked us through the way she pitched our home during showings and it was perfect. Arlene personally managed all showings and open houses; she did not pass us off to someone else on her team. Arlene is a very hard worker, and was always available to discuss developments and guide us through the home selling process. Arlene’s efforts generated two strong offers for our home. We would recommend Arlene to anyone selling a home in Short Hills.

This is our second time working with Arlene, and she continues to deliver at a high professional standard. Her work ethic is consistent, her communication is immediate, and her knowledge of the local market is precise.

Arlene made our out-of-state home purchase in Montclair, NJ, smooth, confident, and efficient from start to finish. She was incredibly knowledgeable about Montclair and the other nearby NJ towns (Millburn/Short Hills) we considered.

Working with Arlene was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. She was tireless in helping us find our dream home in Short Hills -- showing us countless options, always with patience, transparency and complete integrity.

Arlene helped us buying a house 12 years ago in Short Hills and then helped us sell the house this year. Arlene's professionalism, resourcefulness and dedication gave us a peace of mind that we are in good hands.

We recently sold our home with Arlene and couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. We chose Arlene for her deep knowledge of the local market, extensive experience, and strategic insight. She knew exactly how to position our home, advising us to list early, anticipating increased spring inventory. Arlene’s marketing approach was outstanding. She brought in a fantastic stager, enhancing our home’s appeal while preserving its original charm. Her use of high-quality photography, videos, and creative touches—like posters showcasing features not immediately visible—really made our home stand out. What truly set Arlene apart was her hands-on service. She personally handled every showing to ensure our home’s best features were highlighted. We were impressed with how she was always available, day or night. We felt like a top priority throughout the entire process. Arlene brought in multiple strong offers and handled negotiations with professionalism and skill. She represented both us and the buyer and closed the deal at full asking price. In short, Arlene went above and beyond. She knows Short Hills inside and out, works tirelessly for her clients, and delivers exceptional results. We highly recommend her to anyone looking to sell in the area—she’s a true 5-star realtor.

We have bought and sold many homes and Arlene is the best realtor we have ever had. She is personable, professional, direct and knowledgeable. She worked incredibly hard to get us the best possible price on the sale of our home and closed the deal quickly. We would give her 10 stars if we could.