Whether you're selling your home or not, here are a few ideas to create better ambiance and brighten up your home. If it is on the market, you definitely want to make sure your home is well lit inside and out when showing it to prospective buyers. Check that all bulbs are working and replaced with the appropriate wattage for the room. For smaller rooms, place lamps in the corners of the rooms to help open up the space and make it appear larger. Lights pointed towards the ceiling are known as "up-lights" and help illuminate architectural features like crown molding or arched windows and doors. Also, don't forget to clean chandeliers and light fixtures - taking care to remove all bugs, dirt and fingerprints - yuck! It's best to use halogen lighting in kitchen and dining areas. The natural white light makes food look more appealing and appetizing. Consider florescent bulbs for hard to reach fixtures. they are more energy efficient and last much longer than incandescent bulbs. Installing dimmer switches for your overhead lighting will give you enormous flexibility to alter the mood and appearance of a room. And don't forget the driveway and outdoor lights either. Illuminating outdoor paths and porches is not only great for safety, but makes these areas very attractive. Use solar powered lights to save energy and eliminate the need for complicated wiring.

In addition, CFC light bulbs are a great choice because they are known to significantly reduce energy costs. So if you're in the market for them and live in Vermont's Chittenden County, you can purchase them at our local co-op grocery store, City Market. For more energy saving tips, you can visit Burlington Electric's website.

For more buying and selling tips, click here! Feel free to contact Geri Reilly with any questions! 802.862.6677

As we all know, the real estate market has been relatively slow for the past year or so - especially when comparing to the housing bubble of the early to mid-2000's. The homes that are selling fast these days are A) priced right and B) in immaculate condition. Here are some tips to getting your house in tip top shape to hopefully get your home sold in under 90 days:

1) The Basics - As the saying goes, "You never have a second chance to make a first impression!" This could not be more true! The first few things a buyer sees when they pull up to your house is the front yard and entrance. Make sure your yard is spotless - rake, weed, add some new flowers (whether in the garden or in hanging baskets), etc. Also, give the front door a fresh coat of paint if needed and replace the house numbers, mailbox and outside light (if necessary). If not, at least make sure they are all clean.

2) Clean the Windows - Consider having them professionally cleaned or save money and do it yourself. Use Windex, then wipe the windows off with newspaper to avoid streaks - it works wonderfully! Also, remove dated window treatments, unless they are wooden blinds or Plantation shutters. But make sure these blinds are open if you've got a view - a stunning view is a huge selling point!

3) Clean & Declutter - If you want your home to sell fast, clean everything! This means you might have to get up on a chair or ladder to clean hard to reach spots like chandeliers, ceiling fans, and shelves. Be sure to wipe down any grimy light switch plates and to keep your bathroom mirrors spotless. Have your carpets professionally cleaned as well and if that's not enough, have them replaced. Don't forget to clean out your closets, guest room, and garage too! These spots are notorious for collecting random junk. Have a yard sale or donate unwanted and unneeded household items. Minimizing your belongings will also make your future move much easier! Make sure your kitchen is spotless and that the counters are bare by removing unnecessary appliances such as toasters and coffeemakers.

4) Depersonalize - If you remove most of your personal items from various rooms, prospective buyers can better visualize their personal belongings and decorations in the home. Remove knick-knacks, personal photos, collections, paperwork, etc.

5) Paint - Use neutral colors that will appeal to more people. Again, it's all about making it easier for buyers to imagine your home as their new home.

6) Staging - Home stagers have become part of an entourage to  help real estate agents and sellers get homes ready to be someone else's. That frequently means depersonalizing the home and making it "model home" neutral. This will appeal to more buyers.

7) Check Out the Competition - Go online and check out some real estate websites - there are a ton of them! Realtor.com, Zillow.com, and Trulia.com are just a few popular sites. Look at photos of other homes for sale to get some ideas. These sites will also offer suggestions and questions to ask your agent.

Ultimately, your goal is to give your home that WOW factor that will make it stand out and be memorable for prospective buyers. This, along with a good price, will give your home value, which is what today's buyers are looking for. For more information, advice from a seasoned real estate expert, or to set up a free home consultancy/market analysis of your home, give Geri Reilly a call! 802.862.6677

There are varying thoughts on the importance of holding an open house - some say that they are a waste of time because they never lead to sales and then there are those who think an open house is an essential step in marketing the property.

Here are some truths about open houses so that you can make up your own mind about their value:

There are 2 basic types of open houses - Broker opens and public open houses. Broker open houses are hosted by the listing agent for real estate brokers and agents in town, typically on the day of the week when brokers usually tour the neighborhood. They are usually scheduled soon after your home goes on the market, before any public open house. Broker opens provide an excellent opportunity to showcase your home to a large number of brokers who are searching for their clients - with over 80% of qualified buyers working with an agent, it's very beneficial to hold a Broker open.

Public open houses are the traditional Sunday afternoon events where buyers, neighbors and nosy Nellies alike can tour your home. With everyone so busy in their lives today, public open houses offer the convenience of viewing multiple houses in an afternoon rather than making individual appointments to see several properties in a day.

Homes are rarely sold at the open house, but there are instances where the buyer is someone who found the property through an open house. Does that mean they're not worth the effort? It all leads back to the whole 'what if' factor - it only takes one buyer to fall in love with your home and what if that just-right buyer was perusing the open house scene? You could miss out on the opportunity to find your home's ultimate buyer.

Scheduling an open house sets a deadline for getting your home ready to show, which will force you to de-clutter, clean from top to bottom, remove any odors and put everything in its right place! Once you've completed the initial home prep, you've only got to worry about upkeep thereon after.

The decision to hold an open house is ultimately up to you and your agent, but most signs point to it being time well-spent.

Click here to view our latest open houses.