“Also, Central Vermont, in particular, has a lot of what we call ‘churn.’ Older Vermonters moving south or into assisted living; people leaving because they can no longer handle ice, snow, or mud; or people leaving because Vermont’s politics are not to their taste. All of these create opportunities for buyers.”

 

WHAT CAN I DO TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF MY PROPERTY WITHOUT SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY?

“You’ve heard the phrase when buying a house, that it’s all about ‘location, location, location.’ When you’re selling your house, there is a similar phrase: ‘declutter, declutter, declutter!’ This is probably the most effective and inexpensive thing you can do to prepare your house for sale,” Sue says.

“As a rule of thumb, try to have 80-90 percent of every horizontal surface in your home clean and clear, including all tabletops, countertops, side tables, end tables, the tops of small bookshelves, even sink edges and shower stalls. Nothing screams ‘This house isn’t ready!’ louder than Mom’s inherited collection of troll figurines scattered all over the place, no matter how ‘charming and full of character’ they may be.”

Adds fellow Realtor Janel Johnson ([email protected]), “I find that a coat of paint for the room with a smokey wood stove, a 6x8-foot area rug for high-traffic areas or stained carpeting, and a dozen bags of fresh mulch covering the front yard flowerbeds do wonders for a property’s curb and showing appeal.

“Ideally, a seller should think of their home as being on public display to a supportive audience and try to give them as good a showing experience as possible,” Janel says. “To that end, quit smoking and replace anything ruined or stained by pets at least a year before putting your house on the market!”

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE MOVE TO CENTRAL VERMONT?

“The best reason to move to Central Vermont is because the things that bring us joy are so accessible,” Sue says. “Vermont’s great outdoors is less than a mile from the center of any town in Central Vermont. Fantastic restaurants are less than a half hour away. Cultural activities, from fairs and festivals to world-class chamber music and theater, are all over Central Vermont (some of the best are produced by our local high schools!).

“And let’s not forget the people who make up our small communities,” she adds. “They are the neighbor who brings soup when we’re sick, jump-start our car when our battery dies, produce an extra shear pin when our snowblower hits a rock, or look after our dog for a few days while we visit a sick relative out of state. Small-town America is alive and well and everywhere you look in Central Vermont.”