Happy 4th of July! We hope everyone had a wonderful day and beat the heat by enjoying some time on the lake. The Islands have been busy the last two days with boating, campers, and beach goers. On Tuesday, July 3rd, Knight Point State Park hosted the Fireworks Extravaganza with live music, food and swimming. There was a huge turn out and it was the best fireworks show yet! Boaters anchored near the drawbridge and got an amazing view of the fireworks. On Wednesday, July 4th, South Hero and Alburgh held their annual parades. It was beautiful day for a parade. It is wonderful to see the community come together and put on such great events.

If you live around Lake Champlain, you live for summer. We endure the cold Vermont winters waiting for the warmer months. After Memorial Day the Islands become a hub of activity with people returning to their summer homes, enjoying the lake either by boat or on the beach, snack bars and restaurants opening back up and summer music happening all over. Lake Champlain does not disappoint. There are many events happening all summer long such as the Champlain Islands Farmers Market, the Summer Concert Series at Snow Farm Vineyard, the Annual Duct Tape Regatta and more! At the end of a fun-filled summer day you are reminded of what makes this place so special to many. It is truly a unique corner of Vermont and we are grateful to call this place home!

Spring is just around the corner, so we’d like to give you a few home maintenance tips to consider this coming season.

Seals and Trim: Check the seals and trim around your doors and windows to see if they need to be resealed, repaired, or replaced before the rainy season arrives. If moisture gets in, it could cause damage to the wood trim.

Paint: Exposed wood can rot, so if you notice any cracked or peeling paint, scrape it off and apply a fresh coat to protect the wood from the spring elements. 

Roofing: The weather can take a toll on your shingles. Take a look to see if there are any missing or damaged shingles that need to be replaced. Also, check the flashing on your chimney and skylight to see if it’s damaged. A roof in need of repair can mean water damage inside your home, so if you’re not sure what to look for, hire a professional to do an inspection.

Gutters: Clean out leaves and any debris from your gutters so they drain properly and work efficiently. Also, make sure the downspouts are angled away from the foundation.  

Driveways and Walkways: Look for cracks in your driveway and walkways and get them repaired. Smaller cracks are usually easier and less costly to repair, so take care of these once they are visible.

Soil: If you have any low areas next to your foundation or in your yard, add some soil to level out these areas. This will help prevent foundation damage, minimize insects, and reduce flooding caused by spring rains. 

AC Unit: Ask a professional to clean and service your outside air conditioning system. This will help with performance during the warm months. It could also help reduce your electric bill since the unit will be operating more efficiently.

Contact Coldwell Banker Islands Realty today for help with selling or buying a home on the Lake Champlain Islands!

Here are a few ways to prepare your home for an open house and keep it show ready throughout the home selling process. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make it count and portray your home in the best condition possible. These tips will help buyers see your home in a positive light and help sell your home for the best price in the shortest amount of time.

Declutter

Declutter every room in your home, including the closets. Put away small appliances, toys, pet bowls, and excess knick-knacks. You want the buyer to focus on your home, not your belongings. Stay on top of the laundry and the trash. On the outside, move cars out of the driveway and away from your house. Clear off the walkways and remove shoes, bicycles, and garden hoses.

Depersonalize

Remove family photos from the wall and take your kids drawings off the refrigerator to make it as easy as possible for buyers to envision themselves living in your home. Go ahead and pack up these items (this will give you less to do later).

Clean up

Show buyers that your home is move-in-ready. Clean your home inside and out so it’s in pristine condition. If needed, hire a professional cleaning service to do a thorough cleaning from top to bottom and then stay on top of it. If you don’t like doing yard work, hire someone to trim the hedges and mow the grass.

Brighten up

Make your home as bright and cheerful as possible. Open the blinds and turn on all the lights, even if it’s a sunny day! Dirty screens and windows can block a lot of light, so keep them clean.

Get out of the house

Take your family out to eat, go to the park, or run some errands. Make buyers feel as comfortable as possible when they look at your home and let them have an open discussion without you being present. If you have pets, remove them if possible, or keep them contained.

Listen to your realtor

Your realtor will have some great ideas for staging your home. Moving (or removing) a piece of furniture or adding a decorative accent piece can make a huge difference.

Contact Coldwell Banker Islands Realty with any questions or to get more information about selling your home.

This blog will be a resource for real estate related topics and a look into life in Northwestern Vermont. We will be sharing useful content about the buying and selling process, home improvement tips and advice for all your real estate questions. While we believe in sharing our knowledge of real estate, we also want to share the love we have for the Lake Champlain area. Enjoy local insights that showcase "Island Lifestyle". We look forward to making this the best resource for information about real estate, our local area, and current topics that impact you. Please feel free to comment on our posts if you have questions or reactions to share. If there is anything you'd like to see us write about, we'd love to hear your ideas!

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