FAQ
Area Related
There are plenty of snowmobile trails in Northern Vermont — check out this site.
Chck information on the VT Healthcare Marketplace here.
You can find snow conditions by resort here.
For information about the local Rail Trail, and other trails and paths, visit this site.
You can find info on the VT farmers markets here.
For Lakes and Ponds that can be used for boating, fishing, and swimming, check out this site.
For State Parks, visit the VT State Parks site.
For National Parks, visit their site.
Real Estate Related
The Vermont Health Department has information about Radon, which you can access here.
Yes! It doesn’t cost you anything to get pre-qualified but it DOES put you in a better position as a Buyer. Mortage lenders are required by Federal Law to provide you with a no-obligation, FREE pre-qualification letter upon receiving a few basic pieces of information from you.
Once you are Pre-Qualified, you will know what price range you can afford, to help guide your search. Talk to your REALTOR about how to fine tune this and other information into identifying a comfortable monthly payment.
The Pre-Qualification letter is required to be submitted with an offer, in most cases. With your letter in hand, and the information you have gathered, you can move quickly with an offer, when you find the right house for you. You will be the bidder who is prepared. Talk to your REALTOR about how to get Pre-Qualified and what to do with the information you gain from it.
The Vermont Health department has extensive information about Lead and Asbestos on their site.
This is exciting and also potentially overwhelming…to keep it real, it is important to look at the process first. Buying a home is not rocket science, but there are a TON of little details, and they all matter. We recommend you rely on an expert to help educate you to walk through the steps smoothly. We recommend us!
We will be your “tour guides” through this process, from start to finish. We will lay out a road map of the process, and help you take it step-by-step. At each step, we’ll to get you the information that you need, so that you can make educated, confident decisions from your options.
To understand Vermont property taxes, visit the VT tax department here.
In Vermont, Real Estate agents MUST be licensed. And, they cannot represent both a buyer and a seller in a transaction, as that is a conflict of interest. In order to have representation, the Agent and the CUSTOMER must first enter into a written agreement that outlines the scope of that representation, including: timeframe, what property(s) is/are covered and how the agent gets paid. Once you have a signed Representation agreement, you become a CLIENT.
For both a Listing agent representing a Seller, and a Buyer’s agent representing a Buyer, agents have a fiduciary responsibility (looking out for their best financial interests) to their CLIENT. Additionally, that CLIENT gets confidentiality in their discussions with their Agent (like you do with your attorney and doctor). They also can get advice and counsel, and help with a successful negotiation. Click HERE to review the VT Consumer Information Disclosure about representation. VT law requires your REALTOR to review this with you at the first point of significant contact. Make sure you are clear on what the agent’s role is and what their relationship is to you BEFORE you get into a discussion about a property and your interest.
The VT Health department guide on “Living Green” can be found here (PDF download)
In VT, nearly EVERYONE who acts in the role of representing sellers or buyers in a transaction MUST be licensed by the State of VT as a real estate agent. Licensed Real Estate agents with a REALTOR designation are members of a National organization; NAR, who commit to holding a high standard of Ethics in all things Real Estate. Visit NAR’s Ethical Standards here. [https://www.nar.realtor/about-nar/governing-documents/code-of-ethics/2018-code-of-ethics-standards-of-practice]
Talk to us first, so that we can help you identify the critical features of your VT property that likely would trigger Buyer concerns, questions, or discourage interest or even offers. In other words, we will help you answer that question yourself. We can then help you reach out to specific professionals who actually specialize in the areas that you need to address.
Good question. We live (and breathe) Real Estate. We hear from Buyers continually about what they are looking for in a home and what turns them off, or stops them from making an offer on a home that could be right for them. When we meet with you to discuss selling your home, we will go through your property with you and make recommendations to help ensure your house is in the best position to attract as many ready buyers as possible.
It starts with having your house clean, shiny, polished and very neat. And, sellers that choose to make updates/improvements and fix the little issues will see their homes sell faster and at a higher sales price. However, keep in mind, not everything you should do to prepare your home to sell will cost money. We’ll make recommendations on the things you SHOULD do and the things that would be GOOD to do in order to make sure your home is ready for its Buyer when they see it.
So, talk to your REALTOR on how to “Eliminate the Eliminators” that lead a Buyer to say “No, thanks” to your house.
In many parts of Vermont, there are no public municipal water and sewer services. Property owners rely on their own [or a shared] water supply (drilled well or spring), and an installed sewage system.
Wastewater:
Sewage or septic systems installed after 2007 have to be a State approved design. Systems that pre-date 2007 may or may not have a State approved design but are “grandfathered” in, as long as they are functioning. If they ‘fail’, the property owner must obtain a State permit for a replacement system, and install it. Talk to your REALTOR about how you find out the facts about your system, and what regular efforts help ensure good function.
Water Supply:
For properties where municipal water is not an option, property owners generally obtain their Water supply from a spring (groundwater supply close to the surface) or a drilled well (groundwater supply from a deeper aquifer).
Springs are common in Vermont and can work well as a water supply. They can be vulnerable to drying up in dry years, as well as being more vulnerable to bacterial contamination. Drilled wells are deeper (potentially several hundred feet) with the top section encased in a steel pipe, with a cap on top.
Drilled wells are (versus Springs), generally–but not always–more protected from low supply in drought conditions, and bacterial contamination. Drilled wells can exhibit more issues with odor (sulphur, like rotten eggs) and minerals (hardness/iron, etc) than springs.
All potential water supply issues around smell, minerals and bacterial contamination can be mitigated by several treatment methods and systems.
Click HERE to review information from the VT Department of Health on private water supplies. Ask your REALTOR about this information, when you look at a property for possible purchase.
You can find information about drinking water quality at the Vermont Health Department.
Information about septic systems can be found here. There may be additional requirements on a town by town basis.
Information about utilities, Electric, Natural gas, Propane, Telco, Cable, etc.) can be found here.
Expertise, in a nutshell. Why would you sell your largest lifetime investment without an expert, and risk leaving money on the table, or run into glitches that an expert would prevent? We live and breathe Real Estate. If your goal is to get the best price for your property, then let us help you prepare it to attract the most amount of ready buyers for that ideal market-savvy price. Let us be focused, responsive and support every showing personally with the intensity that leads to success. We guide interest, offers and contracts to avoid problems; the disclosure, inspection, appraisal, permitting, and glitches that novice house sellers won’t be familiar with. Glitches that can delay or kneecap a sale. Please strongly consider hiring an expert to help you get top dollar for your investment, efficiently.
Drop Us a Note
* Please note that your conversations with a real estate agent are NOT confidential unless they represent you, as the Buyer or Seller. For more information, ask us about representing you. And, read the VT Consumer Relationship Disclosure, here.
161 Rt 15 West, PO Box 394
Johnson, VT 05656