I love our little state and for some of you that haven't lived here all your life, or are contemplating a move to the Green Mountain State, I thought it would be fun to share a few interesting tidbits. We're more than just fall foliage and maple syrup you know! (Although we do produce more maple syrup than any other state.) 1. Vermont was [...]

I keep hearing this term "edible landscaping" or "foodscaping" and thought it was interesting so I did a little digging (ha!) According to Wikipedia, edible landscaping isa specialized form of gardening where ornamental plants are replaced by plants that have some food use. The range of plants is varied and can include fruiting shrubs, trees, ground cover as well as edible flowers, and may include an apiary. However, even Wikipedia noted that their entry needed more attention and definition - so this concept is still growing. This picture is an example offoodscaping in Geneva, Switzerlandaccording to a Facebook sight titled "SEED - An Untold Story".Each yard is a vegetable garden and neighbors consult and plan what each will grow so they can trade. I thought this wasamazing! But living here in Vermont, I wanted to find out if anyone was specializing in this type of landscaping locally. Bingo! I had a conversation with Meghan Giroux, owner of Vermont Edible Landscape LLC just this morning. Meghan said that Vermont Edible Landscape works with clients to design, install and establish ecologically regenerative landscapes and that she was currently working on a project with Habitat for Humanity. She said they approach land management through an agrarian lens utilizing a variety of diverse biological disciplines. Her services include: Site Evaluation, Planning and Development. In addition to the land planningMeghan operates a small edible specific nursery in Richmond, Vermont.

Seaberry - a common plant used in Vermont edible landscaping

If you think foodscaping or edible landscaping could be something you like to try, or just learn more about, give Meghan a shout. She canbe reached at 802-578-0829 or meghan@vermontediblelandscapes.com

At property inspections I come across failed window seals quite often.For many first time home buyers this can be a completely new topic that they don't know much about, so I thought I would gather some information together here as a resource. [...]

You might not need a pen the next time you sign a contract!

New for 2014formany Vermont Realtors is the software Dotloop, where real estate agents will have access to Vermont Real Estate forms that can be electronically signed by parties involved in a transaction. So how does this impact you, the buyer or seller in a transaction?

Well, according to the ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES IN GLOBAL AND NATIONAL COMMERCE ACT that was signed into law in June of 2000, signing a document electronically is legal and binding. However, in many real estate transactions, there are a lot of papers to review and signing these documents electronically may be quite overwhelming. Especially if you are a first time home buyer or seller, you may need things explained in detail, or just wish for some face-to-face time with your Realtor for such an important decision. This is completelycompletely understandable.

However, if you are an investor who is very familiar with the process, or someone that travels a great deal and really wants to be able to conduct business and keep the transaction moving along, e-signatures can be a true blessing! I personally usually use a hybrid, where I meet with clients first and explain all the documents and have them sign in person if applicable, and then use Dotloop for any additional subsequent addendums or forms that come along that require less explanation. This was very helpful over the holidays where a majority of my clients were traveling and greatly appreciated not having to get to a printer/scanner/fax in between visits with family. Everything could be handled via their devices. Let us know how you feel about electronic signatures! Is this a convenience or something that makes you uncomfortable? Do you have any other experiences with electronic signatures? Feel free to comment on this blog or onour facebook page https://www.facebook.com/VermontGreentreeRealEstate.

Being that we are in the midst of the gift giving season, it got me thinking about House Warming Gifts. The ones my husband and I received when we built our home in 2002 really stand out in my memory. Becoming a homeowner is such a huge accomplishment, and I remember settling in with a new frame here and a beautiful plant there..it really [...]

Have you heard the term, "Rehab loan" referenced to a property and not fully understand what it means? Well here's a little information. Some of the homes out there need a little more than TLC. These homes may be foreclosures, short sales, or just homes that have had continuousdeferred maintenance over the years . These properties are [...]

Many sellers think that once the snow starts to fly, they should take their home off the market for a few months so it will appear new and refreshed for the spring. Any Realtor will tell you, "If you want to sell your house, you need keep it active". You can't sell a home that isn't available for buyers to see. If you are still a doubter, [...]

We work with clients often who are contemplating a change and where to purchase a home can be a big one! In many cases, buyers are looking to move from an urban area of our state and buy something with a little land in the country. In other instances, we have clients who want the convenience and efficiency of [...]

If you're a buyer currently looking for a newhome,I'm sure you've come across apellet stove...they are becoming more and more popular, especially here in Vermont. Many home owners are considering these alternatives to wood stoves to provide a secondary heat source for their home. Here's a few important facts about pellet [...]

You de-clutter, sign your listing agreement, have wonderful pictures taken and put your house on the market. You ask your agent foran Open House right away and bake the brownies. Two hours lateryou are toldthe property was not sold and the brownies weren't eaten because no one showed! WHY?

The real estate market is ever changing. People are busy and free time is a coveted treasure. Having an un-scheduled Sunday afternoon to drive around and look at open houses is a luxury many of today's buyers do not have. More and more buyers are looking to the internet to preview and prioritize their time in viewing properties. With virtual tours, digitaltown records,and 360 degree images, buyers can get a tremendous amount of information on line.

Open housescanwork and should not be completely taken off the table, but sellers need to be realistic about what to expect.

1. First, make sure the home is priced well. If you're over priced, thenthe open house is just missing the target completely.
2. Consider having the open house targeted toa group of people. For instance maybe inviting all the neighbors so they can spread the word, or a book group you belong to. Many agents will choose to host a Broker Open House where agents from that geographic areaonly are invited to come preview your home usually duringa weekday whilethe seller is at work.These Broker Open Houses are a great way to get realistic feedback on your home from other professionals!
3. Nationally, less than 7% of homes are sold through open houses,as stated in arecent article from the American Homeowners Association.
4. Lastly, wait at least 2 weeks before hosting your open house. If your home is priced well, you'll have some activity as soon as it goes on the market. If it doesn't sell right off, then you should be able to glean some good information on why buyers aren't acting and can incorporate that information into your open house. Maybeproviding money back at closing for new carpet, or changing the layout of a living room to make it feel more open could impact a buyer's experience at your open house.

So keep baking the brownies but keep in mind these helpful notes when asking your agent for an open house! We're all here to work together to get your home sold!