Getting your Vermont Home or Condo Ready For Sale in Today’s Real Estate Market

When preparing your actual home for the real estate sales market there are things you will want to do to make your home or condo presentable for prospective home buyers. Vermont real estate home sellers know that putting your best foot forward is a must when it comes time to sell your home.

Here is a list of Vermont home buyer and home seller tips to make sure you sell your Vermont home or condominium for top dollar in any real estate market.

1. When a buyer comes to look at your house, the first thing they will see is your home’s front door! Vermont winters are tough on the exterior trim and home features. Make it look fresh and clean. Be sure your lawn and landscaping is well manicured and trim looking. Be sure the yard is free of refuse and leaves. If it has snowed, be certain the ice and snow is removed from walks and steps.
2. Faded walls and worn woodwork will reduce the appeal of your home. A quicker sale at a higher price will result by investing in fresh paint or wallpaper.
3. Open those drapes and curtains all the way. Let the buyer see how bright and cheerful your condominium home is.
4. Dripping water discolors sinks and suggests to the buyer that the plumbing may be faulty or worn out. Repair or replace faucets and plumbing fixtures. Older Vermont homes may need a little more attention in this area.
5. Take a few minutes to check to be sure that your doors don’t stick or have loose knobs on them. Don’t forget your windows and cabinet drawers.
6. Be certain stairways are clear and clean since this will avoid injuries around your home, as well as avoid distraction to the potential buyers.
7. Display your attic, basement, utility space and garage by removing all unnecessary articles. A coat of paint can do wonders if your homes basement appears dark and dreary.
8. Make closets look bigger by having them neat and well organized. Old Vermont homes tend to have small closets. Make sure to be neat and tidy in these areas to show your home has ample closet space.
9. Make sure your bathroom sparkles. Check and repair any damaged or discolored caulking in the bathtubs and showers, and be sure that the towels and area rugs are bright.
10. Keep all rooms throughout your home bright and cheerful. Remove any excess furniture. The lighter the room the better.
11. Your home’s illumination can be a “welcome sign” to that prospective buyer! Turn on all your outside and inside lights when showing your home at night and they’ll feel glowing warmth as a result of your lighting.

Vermont real estate can be challenged by a number of factors from age of a property to weather conditions varying from rain to snow. The above tips can provide a guideline for condo and home buyers and sellers in the Vermont real estate market.

posted by Bill Desautels P: (802) 655-9100 (800) 639-4520 x217 F: (802) 655-0400 E: condoguy@condoguy.com The Condo Guy – Vermont condo real estate The Condo Guy has been providing advice to buyers and sellers of Vermont condos real estate for nearly 30 years.

Tonight Nate&Katherine Hayward invited me along with 100 guests to watch Food Channels “Throwdown with Bobby Flay vs Vt Brownie Co, they won.Yes

Saving Energy at Home – Tankless Hot Water Heaters

Just prior to the Christmas holiday I converted my home propane hot water heater to an on-demand propane hot water heater system. These hot water heaters are also knows as the tankless hot water heaters. I’m always hesitant to praise the newest technology but I need to share with everyone how pleased I am with this product.

The on demand tankless hot water system is manufactured by Rinnai. You may be familiar with Rinnai for their production of efficient wall unit heat systems. Many Rinnai heaters can be seen throughout homes and condos in Chittenden county Vermont and the greater Northeast as people have converted their conventional heating systems to these more efficient Rinnai heat systems.

Heating water was another issue and I was very skeptical of the Rinnai tankless hot water heater. After speaking with many buyers and sellers of Vermont real estate I learned that it was time to convert my old hot water heater system to the Rinnai tankless hot water heater. These systems have been around for a long time. In Europe they tend to be the common source for residential hot water. I’m just hearing more and more clients sing their praise.

After one month of use I have never run out of hot water. There are some adjustments to having to wait a little longer for the hot water to arrive at the kitchen sink but based on the decrease in my monthly propane bill it’s worth it.

I purchased the Rinnai tankless hot water heater from Benoure Plumbing of South Burlington, Vermont. The guys at Benoure did the installation in one day and when I returned home that evening you couldn’t tell any difference. The greatest benefit is the decrease in propane usage for my home. I would suggest having a professional plumbing contractor like Benoure assess your family’s water usage and help you determine the correct size/capacity for the tankless hot water for your home or condo.

posted by Bill Desautels P: (802) 655-9100 (800) 639-4520 x217 F: (802) 655-0400 E: condoguy@condoguy.com The Condo Guy – Vermont condo real estate The Condo Guy has been providing advice to buyers and sellers of Vermont condos real estate for nearly 30 years.

The Homebuyer Tax Credit $6,500 or $8,000 Which one is for you

I posted this Tax Credit blog in November, 2009. I am posting it once again so that Vermont Home Buyers and Sellers can have a review of the Homebuyer Tax Credit.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE
• First-time homebuyers, who have not owned a principal residence in
the last three years may be eligible for up to an $8,000 tax credit.
• Existing homeowners who have resided in their principal residence for
five consecutive years out of the last eight and are purchasing a home to
be their principal residence (“repeat buyer”), may be eligible for up to a
$6,500 tax credit.
• All U.S. citizens who file taxes are eligible to participate in the program.
INCOME LIMITS
Homebuyers who file as single or head-of-household taxpayers can claim
the full credit ($8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers)
if their modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $125,000.
• For married couples filing a joint return, the combined income limit
is $225,000.
• Single or head-of-household taxpayers who earn between $125,000
and $145,000, and married couples who earn between $225,000 and
$245,000 are eligible to receive a partial credit.
• The credit is not available for single taxpayers whose MAGI is greater
than $145,000 and married couples with a MAGI that exceeds $245,000.
EFFECTIVE DATES
Homes must be purchased after Nov. 6, 2009, and before May 1, 2010.
However, home purchases subject to a binding sales contract signed by
April 30, 2010, will qualify for the tax credit provided closing occurs prior
to July 1, 2010.
TYPES OF HOMES THAT QUALIFY
• All homes with a purchase price of less than $800,000 qualify, including newly-constructed or resale, and single-family detached, townhomes or condominiums, provided that the home will be used as their principal residence. Vacation
home and rental property purchases do NOT qualify.
TAX CREDIT IS REFUNDABLE
• A refundable credit means that if the amount of income taxes you owe is less than the credit amount you qualify for, the government will send you a check for the difference.
FOR EXAMPLE:
• A first-time buyer who qualifies for the full $8,000 credit who owes $5,000 in federal income taxes would pay nothing to the IRS and receive a $3,000 payment from the government. If you are due to receive a $1,000 refund, you would receive $9,000 ($1,000 plus the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit).
• A repeat buyer who owes $5,000 would pay nothing to the IRS and receive
$1,500 back from the government. If you are due to get a $1,000 refund, you would get $7,500 ($1,000 plus the $6,500 repeat buyer tax credit).
• All qualified homebuyers can take the tax credit on their 2009 or 2010
income tax return.
PAYBACK PROVISIONS
The tax credit is a true credit. It does not have to be repaid unless the home owner sells or stops using the home as their principal residence within three years after the purchase.

posted by Bill Desautels P: (802) 655-9100 (800) 639-4520 x217 F: (802) 655-0400 E: condoguy@condoguy.com The Condo Guy – Vermont condo real estate The Condo Guy has been providing advice to buyers and sellers of Vermont condos real estate for nearly 30 years.

Last night I went to the Flynn, the performance was world class, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co., we are lucky to have the Flynn here in Burl

About to join some of my friends to enjoy gourmet Potluck, we get together for our “Terrace Talks”, we share our dreams and hopes for life.

Once again Burlington VT ranks high in a national survey, Advocate Magazine named Burlington the 2nd gayest city in the US, just behind Atlanta

Tip # 9 Close on your home. Your real estate agent, loan officer or attorney will coordinate the arrangements for the big day. Welcome home

Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, yesterdays Supreme Court ruling means we must sustain the barrage of corporate political ads, yuk.

Tip # 8 Get Homeowner’s Insurance. Banks will require proof of home insurance. Generally combining auto & home poilcies will save you money