Live United!

Every Fall, Hickok and Boardman’s three divisions in real estate, insurance and financial planning – join forces to raise money for the United Way of Chittenden County. This year the theme is All for One, One for All. In the past, the H&B divisions competed to see who could raise the money for United Way. This year we decided to focus on all of our contributions as a whole and as of yesterday afternoon, we had raised over $35,000! Some of the events this week included a food drive, silent auction, 50/50 raffle and a soup competition. The campaign finale takes place this afternoon at Spare Time in Colchester, which means we’re having a bowling tournament!! (Okay we had to have some competition this year!) The Reilly Team is up against at least four other real estate teams as well as other teams in the other two divisions and we are more than ready to bowl! And with Geri’s love of the upcoming holiday season, our team will of course be sporting Santa hats on the alley!  As soon as the tournament is over and the silent auction closes, we’ll have a better figure as to how much we raised total. Our goal this year was to raise close to $70,000 and we are well on the way! Live united!

Winter is Coming…is Your Home Ready?

Winter comes early here in Vermont and usually stays longer than most of us would like, but that’s nature and we all make the best of it! Then there are some of us that love winter and can’t wait for the snow to fall – well these Vermonters are in luck because snow showers are in the weather forecast for today and tomorrow! We’ve already had some snow in the higher elevations – Mt. Mansfield, Camel’s Hump, etc. And apparently the ski guns are already starting to shoot out their  frozen water at some ski areas.  Bottom line is  Old Man Winter is  coming – are you ready?? More importantly…is your HOME ready?  Here are some helpful tips to keep your home green when it’s white outside:

Change your furnace filter once a month to keep your furnace running more efficiently and keep the air in your home cleaner.  This can cut your heating costs by as much as 5 % !! You can buy a new filter at any local hardware store or at Lowe’s where they have an entire webpage on their website to help you decide which filter is best for your furnace, home and budget. A new filter can reduce the dust in your home as well!

Don’t block heat vents or radiators. Air will circulate better when unobstructed.

You can also make sure to keep your heating bills low by winterizing your windows, doors, attics and basements. Use weather-stripping around any older drafty windows and doors. Or if you’ve got some extra money and want to invest in your home, may decide to upgrade your windows. Most new Energy Star windows qualify for a federal tax credit for energy efficiency in which you can get up to $1500 of the cost credited to your tax return. For specifics on this visit Energy Star’s website or ask a tax consultant. If you are seeing ice dams on your roof, you may have heat escaping from your attic causing snow to melt and freeze. This can affect your energy bills as well as risk serious damage to your roof. Insulate your attic! It’s an easy do-it-yourself project! Remember the pink panther? Well he’s the mascot for the Owens Corning brand and they have a lot of great advice on this simple home project. And insulating your attic (or basement) qualifies for a tax credit too!

Turn your water heater down to at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Trust me, the water will still be plenty warm enough for showering and dishwashing. Also, put some sort of  wrap or blanket around your water heater to keep heat from escaping. Here are some great tips for insulating your water heater from the U.S. Department of Energy. You can cut your water-heating costs by 6-10%  if you follow some of this advice!

Finally, when shoveling or plowing snow in your yard or driveway, be sure to keep your furnace exhaust system outlet free from snow or any other objects. This vent blows out carbon monoxide from your heating system. If it gets blocked CO2 can build up in your home and the only way you would know is if you have CO2 detectors because this deadly gas is completely odorless. In addition, make sure the batteries in your CO2 and fire detectors are charged and working properly.

Happy Winter!

New Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

Before

Before

After

After

Just listed a great property in Colchester – a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2225 square foot Townhouse built in 2001 for $269,900. It had been listed by another Realtor prior and hadn’t sold yet, so now it’s our turn to try to sell it. A few things we noticed that might make the home more sellable were if we upgraded the kitchen and bathroom cabinet knobs as well as paint a few rooms to more neutral colors. The cabinets in both the kitchen and full baths are a light wood color – most likely maple and they featured white ceramic knobs. We decided to upgrade the cabinet hardware to a more modern style – satin nickel! You can buy a set of 10 knobs at Lowe’s Home Improvement for about $19 – that’s less than $2 per knob! All that was required to switch out the hardware was a screwdriver and it only took about 20 minutes. A cheap and easy way to give any kitchen or bath a fresh new look!

We also have plans to paint the dining room and living room in this Condo. The dining room is currently a light orange color, which probably looked great with the previous décor and furniture, but it’s better to have a more neutral color. This way, prospective buyers can start with a clean slate, so to speak. In addition, the dining room is the first room you see when you walk in the door and the old saying couldn’t be any more true, “You never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression!” The living room is a deep red, which again is nice and gives the room some warmth and personality, but again most buyers prefer to see homes in more neutral state, so they can picture their own furniture and decorations in the room more easily. Also, new owners can always paint later to match their specific style, but it’s always easier to paint over a light color than a dark one.

These are just a couple tips to make your house more sellable, especially in the slow market we’re experiencing now! Click here for more tips on how to make your home sell faster!

How Much Down Payment Do You Need?

Some people, particularly first time home buyers, feel intimidated at the thought of making a large down payment on a house. Sometimes, too, they feel some confusion about how much will be required.

The size of your down payment will depend on the price of the home you want to buy. It will also depend on your ability to pay, and the type of mortgage you get.

As a general rule, lenders like to see a 20% down payment for a conventional mortgage.  A conventional mortgage is one that is underwritten by a bank, savings and loan , or some other mortgage company.  A 20% down payment on $100,000 home would be $20,000.

If you are selling your current home in order to buy another, you may get enough cash to cover the 20% down payment. If you are a first time home buyer, however, you may have trouble coming up with that much money.

Certain mortgage options allow you to make a smaller down payment. Some lenders, for example, will accept smaller down payments if you buy private mortage insurance (called PMI).

FHA loans require an even smaller down payment, as little as 3-5%. If you qualify for a VA loan, you don’t need a down payment at all. Many special loan programs  for first time home buyers also have a reduced down payments.

The principal behind these requirements is simple. lenders know from experience that homeowners who put a substantial amount of their own money into buying a home are less likely to default on the mortgage.

And if the mortgage is secured by an insurance policy (as in PMI) or by the government (as in FHA or VA loans), the lenders feel protected and they are willing to skip the requirement for the large down payment.

Any further questions, do not hesitate to contact me. I would be happy to counsel you or recommend a good mortgage broker who can provide the specifics on the various mortgage programs available to you.

Thinking of Buying Your First Home?

Are you a 1st time home buyer? If so, attend our FREE workshop on Wednesday June 10th from 6-8pm at the Marriott Courtyard on Cherry Street in Burlington. The Burlington Free Press along with Northfield Savings Bank and Geri Reilly, top Realtor at at Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty, will be sponsoring a free workshop on how to prepare for this life changing decision. We’ll cover all the basics and answer all your questions. We’ll also focus on how to get the Federal Stimulus to work for you and details on the 1st Time home buyer tax credit. Join us! For more info, dont hesitate to contact me at 802.862.6677 or geri@buyvtrealetsate.com . Hope to see you there!

Asbestos Real Estate Danger–Safe Removal and Healthy Options

Buying a home is a rewarding experience, often afforded as a result of years of hard work. With this form of luxury, though, come some additional responsibilities. Due to the widespread use of asbestos throughout the 20th century, it is essential for those involved in real estate to take the proper measures in inspecting and removing the mineral. Asbestos exposure has resulted in the development of severe lung cancers such as mesothelioma. Although medical technology continues to improve, mesothelioma claims thousands of victims every year in the United States alone. Mesothelioma can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years for mesothelioma to develop, making it extremely difficult for physicians to accurately diagnose this disease. The amount of asbestos-related incidents in the country has resulted in mesothelioma lawyer firms advocating and protecting victim’s individual rights. The United States government and asbestos manufactures have been heavily criticized for concealing and not acting enough to inform the public of the dangers associated with asbestos exposure. The removal of asbestos must be undertaken by a professional abatement contractor who is trained in handling dangerous materials. In addition, most people are unaware to the fact that eco-friendly products can cut energy costs. Cellulose, cotton Fiber and lcynene are all green options to be considered. Cotton fiber is made from recycled batted material and treated to be fireproof. The United Nations Environmental Program states that usage of recycled materials such as green insulation methods and lighting can reduce energy use by 25 to 25 percent! These new alternatives will allow for a healthy lifestyle, free and clear of any damaging substances.

 

Asbestos in the Home

Courtesy of the Mesothelioma Cancer Center – www.asbestos.com

South Burlington Youth Lacrosse

Have you seen the new South Burlington Youth Lacrosse trailer? Geri helped sponsor the team by putting her logo on the trailer. Stop by Dorset Park and take a peek at the trailer and catch the lacrosse team practicing or playing a game!

 

SB Youth LAX Trailer

How to Sell Your Home Faster!

As we all know the real estate market has been relatively slow for the past year or so especially when comparing to the housing bubble of the early to mid-2000’s. The homes that are selling fast these days are  A.) priced right, and B.) in immaculate condition. Here are some tips to getting your house in tip top shape to hopefully get your home sold in under 90 days:

1.) The Basics – As the saying goes, “You never have a second chance to make a first impression!” This could not be any truer! The first few things a buyer sees when they pull up to your house is the front yard and entrance. Make sure your yard is spotless – rake, weed, add some new flowers, whether in the garden or in hanging baskets on the front porch, etc. Also, give the front door and fresh coat if paint if needed and replace the house numbers, mailbox and outside light if needed. If not, at least make sure they are all clean.

2.)   Clean the Windows – Consider having them professionally cleaned or to save money you could do them yourself with Windex and wipe off with newspapers to avoid streaks – they work great! Also, remove dated window treatments unless they are wooden blinds or Plantation shutters. But make sure those blinds are open if you’ve got a view – a stunning view is a huge selling point!

3.) Clean & Declutter – If you want your home to sell fast, clean everything! This means you might have to get up on a chair or ladder to clean hard to reach spots like chandeliers, ceiling fan and shelves. Also wipe down any grimy light switch plates and keep your bathroom mirrors spotless. Have your carpets professionally cleaned as well and if that’s not enough, just have them replaced. Don’t forget to clean out your closets, guest room, and garage too! This spots are notorious for collecting random junk. Have a yard sale or donate unwanted or unneeded household items – minimize your belongings – it will make your future move a lot easier too! Also make sure your kitchen is spotless and the counters are bare – remove unnecessary  appliances and gadgets, including toasters and coffeemakers.

4.) Depersonalize – If you remove most of your personal items from various rooms, prospective buyers can better visualize their personal belongings and decorations in the home. Remove knick-knacks, personal photos, collections, paperwork, etc.

5.) Paint - Use neutral colors that will appeal to more people. Again, it’s all about making it easier for buyers to imagine your home as their new home.

6.) Staging – Home stagers have become part of an entourage to help real estate agents and seller get homes ready to be someone else’s. That frequently means depersonalizing  the home and making it “model home” neutral. This will appeal to more buyers.

7.) Check Out the Competition – Go online and check out some real estate websites – there are a ton of them! Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Trulia.com, etc. Look at photos of other homes for sale to get some ideas. These sites will also offer suggestions and questions to ask your agent .

Ultimately your goal is to give your home that WOW factor which will make your home stand out to prospective buyers and make them remember it. This along with a good price will give your home value, which is what today’s buyers are looking for.  For more information, advice from a seasoned real estate expert, or to set up a free home consultancy/market analysis of your home, give Geri Reilly a call! 802.862.6677

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!

As much as the Reilly Team loves to work, we also love to play and celebrate our favorite holidays! We’ll be celebrating in style this year by taking a limo down to Rira’s Irish Pub this afternoon for a traditional Irish lunch of corned beef and cabbage and perhaps some bangers and mash as well. And I’m sure a few of us might be washing that all down with a Guinness or two! Don’t worry though…we will all be back in the office bright and early tomorrow morning to resume business which, by the way, is booming thanks to our motivated sellers, the promise of a significant 1st time home buyer tax credit, and the beautiful (and early) Spring weather! (It’s supposed to be over 50 degrees here today in Burlington, VT!) Or maybe the real reason business is booming for us is because the Reilly Team has the luck o’ the Irish! Happy St. Patty’s Day everyone!!

Lund Family Center Fundraiser

Last night Geri Reilly hosted a “girls’ night” wine tasting/fundraiser to benefit the Lund Family Center, an organization that focuses on reducing child abuse and neglect by helping pregnant or parenting teens and young adults. They also help create new families through adoption being Vermont’s oldest and largest private non-profit adoption agency. The Lund Center is also a leader in woman-focused substance abuse recovery services having the state’s only residential treatment program for pregnant and parenting young women and their children. The fundraiser was held at Shelburne Vineyard, a unique winery with a state of the art tasting room offering award-winning wines. Their space is beautiful and a great place for people to mingle and enjoy some Vermont wine. The event was a huge success with over 70 women attending.