Get Ready For Fall Foliage in Ludlow VT!

Summer is coming to an end and, in Vermont, that means the beautiful autumn foliage season is upon us.

Visit this web site to see photos of the incredible vibrant colors of fall, get and share tips of where to spot the most stunning foliage, and get started planning a trip to take in the wonders of this perfect season in Vermont. You can also see maps and timetables that show the changing of the leaves through the season so that you won’t miss seeing Okemo Mountain in all of its autumnal glory!

An Okemo Mountain area vacation home is the perfect investment if you find yourself drawn to the splendor of Vermont every year. Please visit my website or email me today to learn how to make your dream a reality!

Tips for Homeowners in Ludlow VT

The recent coverage of Hurricane Dean and other weather-related disasters across the country should be giving homeowners everywhere cause to take a minute and review their homeowners insurance policies. It is a good idea to look over your policy periodically to be sure you are familiar with all of its details and feel comfortable that you will be protected before a natural disaster strikes or you have to file a claim. Below are 5 tips for understanding your homeowners insurance:

1. Look for exclusions to coverage. For example, most policies do not cover flood or earthquake damage as a standard item – these coverages must be purchased separately.

2. Look for dollar limitations on claims. Even if you are covered for a risk, there may be a limit on how much the insurer will pay. For example, many policies limit the amount paid for stolen jewelry unless items are insured separately.

3. Understand replacement cost. If your home is destroyed you’ll receive money to replace it only to the maximum of your coverage, so be sure your insurance is sufficient. This means that if your home is insured for $150,000 and it costs $180,000 to replace it, you’ll only receive $150,000.

4. Understand actual cash value. If you choose not to replace your home when it’s destroyed, you’ll receive replacement cost, less depreciation.

5. Understand liability. Generally your homeowners insurance covers you for accidents that happen to other people on your property, including medical care, court costs, and awards by the court. However, there is usually an upper limit to the amount of coverage provided. Be sure that it’s sufficient if you have significant assets.

To learn more about homeownership and Okemo Mountain real estate, please visit my website or call me at 802-226-8022.

How Walk-able is Your Ludlow VT Neighborhood?

This week I came across a website that is just so neat, I had to share it. www.WalkScore.com allows you to type in any address, and it will rate the “walk-ability” of that property by calculating its distance to things like the nearest grocery store, movie theater, library, school, park, and pharmacy.

We all know that walking is important for our health and, with all of the hype over “going green” lately, we know that walking instead of driving when possible is one way that we can all help to save the environment. In fact, it is recommended that adults tread 10,000 steps per day to reap the many benefits of walking. Why not consider the walk-ability of a neighborhood if you are in the market for a new home or a vacation home in Ludlow? Or, if you have recently purchased a vacation home in Vermont, check out the walk-ability to various destinations in your new “neighborhood away from home.”

To learn more about Okemo Mountain real estate and neighborhoods, please visit my website or call me today at 802-353-1983. I would love to help you find a new neighborhood to explore on foot!

Sharing The Cost Of Your Dream Vacation Home in Ludlow VT

Have you dreamed about purchasing a vacation home near Okemo Mountain Resort? Pictured yourself and your family enjoying the mild summers spent exploring the beautiful outdoors, or the winters spent around the fireplace after a long day on the slopes? Perhaps you’ve pushed these visions back because you assumed you would never be able to fulfill this dream – the burden of a second mortgage for a vacation home may just seem like too much to take on.

But what if you could share the cost of your dream home with friends? You’d still get to enjoy the resort at peak times and, if you decided to put the home in the rental market, you’d still benefit from those proceeds. But the investment and monthly cost of purchasing the home could be cut in half! It seems like everyone would win in this situation.

This article, published recently in the Wall Street Journal Online, lays out the many advantages of sharing home ownership. It also provides good questions to ask yourself before moving into such an investment situation – there are pitfalls to be aware of including the willingness of both parties to delegate control of the property, the future financial stability of both parties, and the comfort level of both parties when it comes to discussing and working out financial and other differences.

I would love to help you make Okemo Mountain Resort your home away from home. Please call me at 802-353-1983 or visit www.ISellVermontRealEstate.com to get started with your search for Okemo real estate!

Back To School in Ludlow, VT

The summer is flying by – as it always seems to do – and it is almost time to start thinking about sending kids back to school again!

Whether you are new to the Ludlow area or already have kids in school here, now is the time to take a good look at how the schools are measuring up.

Below is a link to reports and data on Vermont schools – does YOUR child’s school make the grade?

Vermont School Reports

To learn more about moving your family and Ludlow VT real estate, please call me at 802-353-1983 or visit www.ISellVermontRealEstate.com.

10 Ways to Make Your House in Ludlow VT More Saleable

1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4. Get rid of smells! Even if you think you house does not have smells, spring for a good carpet and drape cleaning to eliminate any possible cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Keep the windows open when possible (if road noise is not an issue).

5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Clean your gutters. Remove any debris such as pine straw that has accumulated on the roof.

10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers. Remember, the door is the first part of the home potential buyers see!

For more information about real estate and selling your home in Ludlow, VT please call me at 802-353-1983 or visit my Web site http://www.isellvermontrealestate.com/. I would love to help make your home more saleable!

Summer Fun in Ludlow, VT - Part 2

In continuing with the theme of curing kids’ summertime boredom, I’ve compiled a list of ways to get your children outdoors and exploring the beautiful natural surroundings of Ludlow, VT:

1. Go on a Bug Hunt Equip your child with a baby food jar or bug jar and encourage them to look for natural life around them. Look under leaves & stumps (be sure to turn them back over), on tree trunks & leaves and in flowers. Handle the bugs gently and let them go when you are done. Name your favorite bug according to its colors, the way it moves or something different about it.

2. Listen to the World Around You Have your child sit and listen to the sounds of nature by closing their eyes, and counting on their fingers the different sounds they hear. Compare natural vs. unnatural sounds. Try this in several different habitats such as in a field, near a pond and in a forest and compare the kinds and numbers of sounds heard.

3. Look at Nature Before a visit to a park, have your child decorate two toilet paper rolls. Staple them together to make mini-binoculars. Take them outside for a game of "I Spy" looking for items from nature. Look for things near by, in middle range and far away.

4. Get a New Perspective Have your child lie face upward under a large tree. Have them look into the branches. Can they see the top branch? What patterns can they see? What other things are present? They can pretend to be the roots of the tree in the soil. What do they feel like? What animals can they see moving around in the tree?

5. Use Imagination Choose an area with natural ground coverings such as leaves, cones, wild grass etc. and sit down. Give your child 6 short pieces of straw or toothpicks. Have them pretend to shrink down to the size of an ant with you. Their job is to lead a nature walk for creatures the size of an ant by choosing 6 interesting things along a one meter stretch of ground. Encourage them to use their imagination!

6. Wet Noses Wet the underside of your child's nose with a small wet sponge. This improves their sense of smell just as it does for deer and rabbits. Find familiar smells such as flowers to try, then go on to other things like rubbing a leaf between your fingers and smelling or scratching a pine needle. Also try moss, bark, pitch or grabbing an handful of leafy soil etc.

7. Discover Color in Nature Get 10 old paint swatches of various natural colors from a paint store. Cut them into individual squares and take these and your child to a natural area. One at a time, have your child look for each color in nature. You will be amazed at what colors you can find if you really look!

8. Touching Nature Blindfold your child and lead them to a tree to get to know it by feeling the bark texture, finding branches and any other way to recognize a specific tree without looking at it. Still blind-folded, lead your child back to where you started. Now take off the blindfold and have them try to find their tree using their sense of touch to confirm it. What other senses helped them to locate their tree? (sounds, sense of balance, smells, warmth etc.)

9. A Night time Experience Go with your child to a safe natural place at night. Cover your flashlight with red plastic so you won't startle the animals. Try out some of the ideas above to learn about plants & animals of the night. It takes about 20 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust from bright light to darkness.

10. A Rainy Day Experience Dress to stay dry but with your hands free (no umbrellas) and go out on a rainy day with your child. Peek into puddles. Llisten for bird & frog calls. How many kinds of raindrops can you see? Can you find plants with a drip tip? Try to find out where animals go when it is raining.

For more information about living and real estate in Ludlow, VT please call me at 802-353-1983 or visit my Web site http://www.isellvermontrealestate.com/.

Summer Fun In Ludlow, VT – Part 1

Summer is in full swing and as the novelty of being out of school begins to wear off, most parents are bracing themselves for the inevitable “I’m booooored” that is just bound to come out of their children’s mouths soon. Luckily, beautiful Ludlow, VT has more to offer than just wintertime fun!

Below are links to several fun things to do with your children this summer to get them outside and enjoying this perfect time of year in Ludlow:

• State parks in southern Vermont
• Places to hike in south/south central Vermont
• Places to fish in south/south central Vermont
• Museums to visit in Vermont
• Factory tours in Vermont
• Go on a llama hike in Vermont!

For more information about living and real estate in Ludlow, VT please call me at 802-353-1983 or visit my Web site www.ISellVermontRealEstate.com. Happy trails, and here’s to an exciting second half of the summer!

Irene Earns Quality Service Certified Recognition!

I am pleased to announce that I have recently completed the requirements to earn Quality Service Certified professional recognition. What does this mean for you? Well, in a nutshell it guarantees that the service you receive from me will be consistent, reliable, responsive and exceptionally satisfying. It also means:

• I participate in a service process that results in the best real estate experience possible for you. To earn the Quality Service Certified designation I have met training and performance standards, and I maintain those standards on an on-going basis.


• My services are spelled out in the Quality Service Guarantee that shows you exactly what to expect—from an initial counseling session to after-sale service follow-up.


• I will remain accountable to you throughout the home finding or selling experience to do everything I promise. That includes giving you the opportunity to evaluate my service through a Quality Service Assurance Survey © conducted by an independent research firm.


• If you are contemplating buying or selling a home, you have a lot to think about, and the last thing you want is confusion and uncertainty. You can have greater confidence and peace of mind knowing that I will be with you every step of the way.

To experience the Quality Service Guarantee for yourself, or to find out more about Ludlow VT real estate, please visit ISellVermontRealEstate.com or give me a call at 800-659-1819, ext. 103. I’d love to show you what true quality service is all about!

Vermont Homeowners Insurance & The Fire Station

So what does the location of my Vermont home have to do with the fire station?

Most insurance companies will ask the proximity of your home to the nearest fire station or fire hydrant. The closer together they are the cheaper the insurance.

The theory behind this is, if there were to be a fire, the closer the house is to the fire station, the faster the response time and the less damage done to the house.

Often, your insurance agent will ask you how far the house is from the fire station and if you are like most new home buyers, you don't have any idea. This link shows the name and address of all Vermont fire departments. After locating the fire department for your town, you can map the distance from your house to the fire station.

For more information about homeowners insurance or Ludlow VT real estate visit ISellVermontRealEstate.com or give me a call at 800-659-1819. I'm glad to help!

Ludlow July 4 Fireworks

If part of your annual Independence Day celebration includes watching fireworks, you can enjoy them at West Hill Park in Ludlow. The fireworks display begins at dusk with children's games during the day.

Location: West Hill Park.
Time: Dusk.
Information: 802-228-5830.

See you there!

For Ludlow real estate information, visit ISellVermontRealEstate.com.

Homes That Save Buyers Money

This article by Linda Legner was posted on the Vermont Association of Realtor website and I thought you would find it informative:

More buyers are taking the environment into account when searching for a home—they’re looking for earth-friendly features that translate into lower energy bills and less pollution.
This growing trend gives you the opportunity to make your listing stand out from the rest by calling attention to all of its energy-efficient amenities, from properly-sealed windows to Energy Star appliances.

Whether your listing is a brand new condo or an old Victorian, just a bit of investigating can uncover many “green” features that will grab buyers’ attention. Use this list to identify areas of the home where energy efficiencies may be lurking:

• Appliances and lighting. From the laundry machine to the dining room chandelier, energy-efficient products are proven to save money and consume less energy. To confirm that various products outperform average standards, look for the blue-and-white Energy Star label. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issues this designation only to products that are among the most efficient on the market. The Energy Star Web site provides a comprehensive list of all Energy Star Qualified Products.
  
• Insulation. Air leaking through exterior surfaces—such as walls, windows, the roof, and the floor—can waste 25 percent to 40 percent of the energy used to heat or cool a home, according to Energy Star. Local building codes and the U.S. Department of Energy specify acceptable insulation, measured in R-values. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. If your listing has insulation that surpasses local standards, that’s an advantage you can tout to potential buyers. Be sure to mention insulation installed in attics and crawlspaces. Also, don’t forget to point out wraps, sealants, foams, and tape installed to reduce air moving through the gaps around framing, piping, electrical wiring, and outlets.
  
• Windows. Depending on the climate and total glass area, windows account for 25 percent to 50 percent of a home’s heating and cooling needs. But technological advances in window materials mean much better energy efficiency. U-Factors rate insulating ability for windows; the lower the U-Factor, the better the insulation of the window. Typical U-Factor values range from 0.25 to 1.25. If your listing has insulated window frames or frames made of low-conductance materials (wood, vinyl, or fiberglass), you should call out these features to potential buyers.
  
• Heating and cooling systems. Efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment consumes less fuel, emits less pollution, and generally requires less maintenance. A furnace’s heating efficiency is measured by the annual fuel utilization efficiency rating, or AFUE. The U.S. Department of Energy requires all furnaces sold in the United States to have a minimum AFUE rating of 78 percent, which means that the furnace converts 78 percent of the fuel to heat. Only ratings of higher than 90 percent earn the Energy Star label. Similarly, air conditioners should have at least a 10 seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER. Energy Star requires a SEER rating of 12 or higher.
  

If the home has zoned systems that allow different areas to be heated and cooled separately, let potential buyers know that these features deliver additional operating savings. Point out programmable thermostats with timers and variable-air controls, as well as ceiling fans. Let buyers know if a fireplace has glass doors and a heat-air exchange mechanism, which returns warmed air to the room instead of letting it escape. And don’t forget to promote radiant flooring, which heats from the ground up and eliminates the draft and dust problems associated with forced air heating systems.

• Landscaping. Well-done landscaping can greatly reduce heating and cooling costs, protect the home from winter wind and summer sun, and help control noise and air pollution. Also, some species of trees, bushes, and grasses require less water than others, or are naturally more resistant to pests so they require fewer pesticides. Learn what kind of plants and trees are growing around the house and promote all of their benefits to buyers. For more details on what to look for, visit Landscaping for Energy Efficiency, an online guide from the U.S. Department of Energy.
  
• The entire house. Some new homes are rated for overall efficiency by the Energy Star program. A new home certified through the Energy Star program performs at least 30 percent more efficiently than houses built to the 1993 Model Energy Code (or 15 percent more efficient than your state energy code if that is more stringent). The Energy Star designation is verified by an accredited home energy rater and displayed on the inside of the circuit breaker.
  

Even if your listing isn’t a home that buyers would traditionally think of as being green, it is sure to have at least some eco-friendly features that will give it a marketing edge. Let potential buyers know how the home will help their energy bills and the environment, and you may be surprised at how fast you can clinch the sale.

Learn More

• Energy Star ProgramThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency introduced Energy Star in 1992 to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The label is now on appliances, lighting, home electronics, and other products. It also covers new homes and commercial and industrial buildings.
  
• Glossary of Energy-Related TermsThe acronyms alone can be confusing! If you can’t recall what AFUE measures or what SEER stands for, come to this glossary for clarification. You’ll also find definitions for hundreds of energy-related words.
  
• Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at HomeThis site, from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, offers energy-saving tips for all areas of the home, plus a variety of booklets you can download and print in English or Spanish.
  
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyThis portal site by the U.S. Department of Energy provides links to other Web sites and online information on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Besure to visit my website for all your Ludlow VT real estate needs.

Happy Fathers Day

Father's Day is this Sunday. In honor of all the fathers and father figures, I’d like to share a short three minute movie titled: To A Child Love Is Spelled T-I-M-E. It’s one of my all time favorites, and it takes my breath away every time I watch it!

So sit back, turn up your speakers and click on the link below. And please share it with friends, family members and co-workers. They’ll love you for doing it!

Click here to watch the movie

Five Tips to Buyng A Second Home

Many new home buyers in Vermont are second home buyers, buying a vacation home. Vermont seasons have something for everyone...terrific skiing in the winter, perfect maple syrup making weather in the spring, warm days and cooler mountain evenings in the summer, and gorgeous foliage in the fall.

Purchasing a Vermont vacation home is an exciting venture, but there are some things to think about that are different than when you purchased your primary residence.

1. What is the travel time between your primary home and the second home location? Is it a doable drive or travel distance, or will it become a deterrent to actually enjoying your vacation home?

2. What type of activities does the vacation home location offer and are these activities of interest to you? It is a good idea to visit the vacation home location at various times of the year to get a better idea of what the area is really like.

3. If you are financing your vacation home, interest rates are generally higher and down payments larger. I am glad to put you in touch with a local lender for you to talk loans with.

4. The interest paid on the mortgage for your vacation home is tax deductible, if you don't rent it out for more than two weeks a year. But unlike your primary residence, the profit you make from the sale of the property is subject to capital gains. One way around capital gains is to sell your primary residence, move into your vacation home and live there for two years before you sell it.

5. Insurance is another consideration. Homeowners insurance in a vacation home is usually higher than on your primary residence because it is vacant for much of the time.

One of the best recommendations I have for you is to get the assistance of a well qualified Realtor who knows the area who has lived in the area for awhile. If you are thinking of buying southern Vermont vacation home, I'm your Realtor!! Give me a call at 800-659-1819 # 103 or visit my website. I am a long time resident of Vermont and a long time Realtor. I'd love to help you buy your dream Vermont vacation home!

Vermont Interest Rate Update

It's time to check out interest rates, as I haven't reported on them recently. Historically, interest rates go up in the spring, but we haven't seen much movement this spring which is good news for Vermont home buyers.

Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Market Mortgage Survey reports a slight increase in rates this past week due to economic growth outside of the housing market, with a healthy consumer sector and improving business spending.

Interest rates this past week on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.42 percent compared to the previous week's rate of 6.37 percent. This time last year, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.67 percent.

Are you shopping for a mortgage for your Vermont home? This can be a daunting process, but I am glad to refer you to a reputable, knowledgeable and competitive mortgage lender who will take the time to explain your loan options to you. This will allow you to make an educated decision about which home loan is best for you. Just give me a call at 800-659-1819 #103. I'm here to help.

Be sure to visit my website to learn more about mortgages and the home buying process.

Freedeom Isn't Free

No, Freedom Isn't Free
By CDR Kelly Strong, USCG (Ret).

I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,

And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform

So young, so tall, so proud,

With hair cut square and eyes alert

He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him

Had fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil?

How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?

How many died at sea?

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,

When everything was still

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That taps had meant "Amen,

"When a flag had draped a coffin

Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, freedom isn't free.

60 Minutes Attack On Realtors

I have always enjoyed 60 Minutes and thought they provided fair and unbiased reporting. But that changed Sunday night with Leslie Stahl's segment, Chipping Away At Realtors Six Percent.

The report focused on an Internet based company, Redfin, whose business model is based on rebating commissions to buyers. The company uses the very commissions Redfin criticizes Realtors for collecting to its advantage. From what I could tell, without these commissions Redfin has nothing to offer the consumer.

Much of the information presented in the segment was incorrect and the National Association of Realtors was not interviewed to give another viewpoint, even though they offered more than once.

NAR's response to 60 Minutes can be read here.

Energy Efficient Homes

As we become more aware of how fragile our environment is, we are becoming more concerned with improving the efficiency of our homes. One way to do this is to conduct a Home Energy Audit to determine how and where we can save.

If you are considering building a new Vermont home, you might want to consider working with a builder who uses Energy Star products. They use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment.

Give me a call at 800-659-1819 #103, if you want more information concerning building a Vermont home. I am glad to put my experience and expertise to work for you.

Irene Gaffigan Earns Quality Service Certification (QSC)

For the first time a standard of service and accountability is being offered to consumers in the area of the quality of real estate service delivery. Irene Gaffigan of United Country Farm Town Realty, Proctorsville office, has just completed the requirements to earn Quality Service Certified® professional recognition. Holding the Quality Service Certification® requires a sales agent to follow a well-defined and prescribed process of service, to present that process in writing to every customer and client, and to guarantee its delivery.

According to Larry D. Romito, President, CEO of Quality Service Certification, Inc., “ Irene Gaffigan has joined a growing number of real estate professionals nationwide who are committing to the delivery of a defined service process and a higher standard of accountability in service delivery and customer satisfaction. This is an industry breakthrough in the establishment of a measurable standard of care and service.” An integral part of the sales agent’s ability to maintain Quality Service Certified® status, rests with service evaluation feedback from every buyer and seller served. Following the closing of each home purchase or home sale, an independent research company sends the consumer a Quality Service Assurance Survey? asking tough questions about the details and overall satisfaction of service provided by the sales agent and broker.

“Sales associates and brokers are highly motivated to protect their Quality Service Certified® status by delivering better service satisfaction, more service value and higher accountability. The Quality Service Certified® total service system offers a predictable, accountable, reliable, and consistent service outcome.” Romito added, “The era of real estate service ‘improv’ is coming to a close. The purchase or sale of what for most of us is our most valuable asset deserves the serious attention and accountability of a defined, written and communicated service process with measurable standards and that’s exactly what a Quality Service Certified® professional must deliver.”

Quality Service Certification, Inc. of San Juan Capistrano, California is the leading firm in service process delivery and measurable quality control in the real estate industry. Company spokesperson can be contacted at (949) 481-4438 or http://www.qualitycertified.org/.

How To Sell Your Vermont Home Fast!

The number of Vermont homes for sale has increased dramatically in the last year, causing homes to stay on the market for longer periods of time. If you are selling a home and want it to sell FAST, you'll be interested in my FREE e-Book, '450 Ideas To Sell Your Home Faster'. Here you will learn tips and tricks to make your home sell faster and for more money.

Get your copy today and give me, Irene Gaffigan, a call at 800-659-1819 #103 with any questions you might have or to get a current market valuation on your Vermont home.