Before you list your Vermont property there are several things to-do before. Taking the time to do these things will help you be better prepared when your home goes on the market. This can also make the sale process quicker and easier in the long run. Here are a few items to take care of before you put your home on the market. 

1. Consider a pre-sale home inspection.
An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.

2. Organize and clean.
Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and seasonal items. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.

3. Get replacement estimates.
Do you have big-ticket items that will need to be replaced soon? Find out how much it will cost to repair an older roof or replace worn carpeting, even if you don’t plan to do so. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and they’ll be handy when negotiations begin.

4. Locate warranties.
Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer/dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house. It may seem like this task can be left until closing, but you don’t want lost paperwork or last-minute scrambling to cause the deal to fall through.

5. Spruce up the curb appeal.
Walk out to the front of your home, close your eyes, and pretend you’re a prospective buyer seeing the property for the first time. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? What do you see framing the entrance, if anything? Is the walkway free of cracks and impediments?

 

Selling a home is a complicated process, but Coldwell Banker Islands Realty will guide you every step of the way. To get a better idea of the value of your home fill out a comparative market analysis form and one of our experienced Realtors will give you an evaluation. 

When selling a property, photos are the first impression a buyer will have so it is paramount to have great images that capture the character, main features, and layout of your home. With the majority of buyers shopping for homes online, these high-resolution listing photos and video home tours are a must. Here are some tips on how to make your Vermont home shine on camera.

• Understand the camera’s perspective.

The camera’s eye is different from the human eye. It magnifies clutter and poor furniture arrangement so that even a home that feels comfortable in person can look jumbled online.

• Make it spotless.

Cameras also tend to magnify grime. Don’t forget floor coverings and walls; a spot on a rug might be overlooked during a regular home showing, but it could become a focal point online.

• Know what to leave.

You want to avoid clutter, but try to have three items of varying heights on each surface. On an end table you can place a tall lamp (high), a small plant (medium), and a book (low).

• Snap practice pictures with your own camera.

This will give you an idea of what the home will look like on camera before the photographer shows up. Examine the photos and make changes to improve each room’s appearance, such as opening blinds to let in natural light, removing magnets from the refrigerator, or taking down distracting art.

• Pare down.

Removing one or two pieces of furniture from each room, even if just for the shoot, can make your space appear larger on screen.

• Rearrange.

Spotlight the flow of your space by creating a focal point on the furthest wall from the doorway and arranging the other pieces of furniture to make a triangle shape. The focal point may be a bed in a bedroom or a china cabinet in a dining room.

• Accessorize.

Include a healthy plant in every room; the camera loves greenery. Energize bland decor by placing a bright vase on a mantle or draping an afghan over a couch.

• Keep the home in shape.

Buyers who liked what they saw online expect to encounter the same home in person.

 

At Coldwell Banker Islands Realty, we use High Dynamic Range photography to captivate buyers. This technique involves shooting multiple images of the same scene at different exposure values and then merging them together to create a seamless scene. This, coupled with light editing, makes homes stand out online while maintaining its true depiction. HDR Photography is just one of the many marketing strategies we use to get you home noticed and sold. Learn more about our marketing services or reach out to a Realtor for a personal consultation. 

You are going to want to check out this updated Island Post and Beam Farmhouse located in the Champlain Islands. February's hidden Vermont home was recently renovated in 2021. It's filled with cool places to hang out both indoors and out. The house is set back from the road on an acre and a 1/2 lot and is framed by perennial flower beds and mature trees with a huge wrap-around deck and covered porch to enjoy the Island breezes. The interior of the home is warm and rustic with exposed beams in the living room which includes a fieldstone chimney with a Jotul gas stove to keep you warm throughout the year. The eat-in kitchen has been updated with new stainless steel appliances, quartz counter tops, and hickory cabinets and is filled with beams of natural light through transom windows. Subscribe to our newsletter Island Insights for more Hidden Homes!

December's Hidden Vermont Home is a covert home tucked back on 10 pastoral acres completely surrounded by mature trees and landscaping. The property abuts a 138 acres of farm land in land trust, so you don't have to worry about any neighbors if you're looking for privacy! It is located in the heart of the Lake Champlain Islands on Grand Isle's West Shore, just a 35 minute ride to Burlington, Vermont. Subscribe to our newsletter Island Insights for more Hidden Homes!

November's Hidden Vermont home is a beautifully updated 4 bedroom Lakefront Cottage secluded on gradual west facing frontage on Savage Point. Located right across from the cut to the Broad lake and opposite North Hero Marina this Island retreat is sited directly on Lake Champlain. The interior has been recently updated and features vaulted ceilings, oak floors, lots of bead board, pine, and shiplap, giving it that Lakefront charm and feel without sacrificing modern conveniences. Enjoy the well appointed kitchen with quartz countertops, farmhouse apron style sink, Kraftmaid cabinets, stainless french door fridge, and a Fischer and Paykel Commercial range. Get Island Insights in your inbox! Subscribe today.