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So, you’ve decided to sell your home, now it’s time to prepare to list.  The process of selling a home can be quite stressful for all those who are involved, but there are ways to make the process move more smoothly. The list below outlines a few steps you can take that can save time later on.

1. Clean the House
   1. A clean and orderly house is much easier for realtors to show and for potential buyers to visualize themselves in.
   2. Also, a clean house is a well cared for house. You don’t want the house to seem neglected.
2. Finish Your To-Do List
   1. On a home inspection report items may cause a red flag that would typically be overlooked. A few of these items to lookout for are listed below:
      1. Change any burnt-out light bulbs
      2. Test your smoke detectors & make sure that they are the correct type (this information can be found in your town’s fire safety code)
      3. All air filters should be replaced
      4. Unclog drains & make sure toilets flush correctly
   2. Those projects that you have been meaning to do can make a huge difference in the appearance of your home.
      1. Try to finish your projects like the room you’ve been meaning to repaint or the carpet that needs to be replaced prior to listing your property.
3. Check Your Electrical Outlets
   1. A random selection of your outlets will be tested during a home inspection so make sure they are all in working order, make sure they all work ahead of time.
   2. Also, check to make sure they are all up to code. It’s good to consider hiring a licensed electrician as they will be able to make sure that everything is in good working order.
4. Clear Key Areas
   1. Inspectors will need access to basements & attics as well as the foundation, water heater, HVAC systems and more. These areas can be cleared ahead of time to make the process easier. It also allows potential buyers to get a better look at the house.
5. Consider a Pre-Listing Inspection
   1. An experienced and professional inspector will be able to go through the home and alert you to any problem areas so that you can fix them and get it out of the way ahead of time. This will make the selling & closing process much smoother in the long run.

Taking the time to prepare ahead of time can streamline the process and reduce stress for everyone involved. Selling a home is an exciting opportunity for change and when you take the steps to properly prepare it makes it all the better.

How Energy Efficient Is Your Home?

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It’s an unfortunate truth that fall is approaching rapidly and summer is coming to an end. While fall does bring changing leaves, fun holidays and the ever-popular pumpkin spice latte, it also brings along cooler temperatures. While breaking out sweaters and drinking warm drinks is nice, it signals that heating season is upon us.  This is especially true in Vermont with a coldest recorded temperature of -50°F (-46°C) in Bloomfield, VT in 1933. Brrr! The goal of every homeowner is to keep warm air in and cold air out and an energy audit will help you do just that.

What exactly is an energy audit? An energy audit is a process in which an energy auditor goes through the inside and outside of your home, as well as your energy bills, to determine how efficiently your home is using energy.  The auditor will likely do an exterior inspection first to determine information like wall area, number of windows etc. The auditor will also likely want to go over historical energy bills and discuss habits of the homeowner that can impact energy usage.  Then an in-depth room-by-room inspection will occur, including the attic and basement where applicable, to check windows, doors, the furnace and more. A variety of tests will be conducted including a thermographic scan (which can show where warm/cool air is leaving the home), a blower door test and others.

“What’s a blower door test?” You may ask. A blower door test is used to determine how airtight a home is. This is done by using a fan mounted in an exterior door to pull air out of the home thus lowering the air pressure inside. This causes air from the outside to rush into the home through any cracks or openings. A smoke pencil may be used to help detect air leaks (a smoke pencil lets out a non-toxic smoke or fog to help illustrate where air is entering the home). There is a helpful infographic found here from the U.S. Department of Energy that has an illustration of what the blower door test set-up will look like.

Now that you have a little more information see below for how to find an energy auditor, how to know they are the right one for you and a few things you can do to prepare:

• Your state or local government, as well as your utility company, can likely recommend someone to use for your energy audit
• Collect references so you have a better idea of who you are working with
• Make sure the auditor uses a calibrated blower door for more accurate results
• To prepare:
  • Note any issues, including:
    • Any condensation you may see collecting in your home
    • Any drafts you may have noticed
    • If a particular room/area is harder to maintain a comfortable temperature in etc.
  • Have summaries of yearly energy bills (your utility companies can prepare this for you)
  • Also, think about how to answer questions like:
    • Is there anyone home during the workday?
    • What is the average indoor temperature in the summer & winter?
    • How many people live in the home?
    • Are all of the rooms used? Etc.

Making the changes suggested by the energy audit will mean saving energy, money, and living more comfortably. Who doesn’t want that?

So, You’ve Done Your Spring Cleaning, What’s Next?

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Summer is in full swing and it’s time to get out and enjoy the sunshine! You’ve been tackling clutter and investing in smaller projects around the house to spruce things up, whether you are looking to sell or just update a little, but what’s next on the list? It’s time to talk about curb appeal, and more specifically, landscaping.  Curb appeal has to do with how your home looks to passers-by and often times it’s thought of as a large, expensive investment but it can be done in a budget and environmentally friendly way.

Something that can make one of the biggest differences in your homes appearance is trimming shrubs and trees and keeping the lawn mowed. Trim away dead branches as well as ones that may hang in the way of walkways and obstruct the view of the home. When mowing your lawn, it’s actually a common misconception that you should mow it shorter so you won’t have to mow as often.  If a lawn is kept short it will dry out more easily resulting in brown patches and gives opportunity for weeds to take over. Ideally the grass should be about 3” tall.

Another simple option is to add colorful flowers in pots to front porches, by entry ways or next to stairs.  This will make the house feel bright and inviting without breaking the bank.

Now on to the toughest, and most fun, part of landscaping: picking your plants! One of your best options is to go with native plants. This means plants that will naturally thrive in the environment and will often need little care (meaning you won’t have to be outside watering them every day). You have to also be careful not to select any invasive plant species.  These are species that are not native but are well adapted to the environment and will thus multiply rapidly.  This will often come at the expense of helpful native plants.  A good example is purple loosestrife which is choking out local cattails which serve as an important food source. It may be beautiful but it does more harm that good. Seven Days has a short informative article on the aptly named “Botanical Bad Guys” which can be found here.  Another common no-no is a burning bush, they look lovely but they will quickly take over the areas where they are planted.

The items listed below will provide a quick checklist to determine which plants are the best for you!

• Know your zone!
  • This refers to the temperature zone that you live in.  This will allow you to know what plants can grow and thrive in your environment.
  • Vermont covers zones 3-5 so if you aren’t sure your exact zone within the state picking plants that can survive in zone 3 is your best bet.
  • The zone for a plant can be found online as well as on the seed packet or the label that comes in the pot of the plant.
• Know what your looking for in a plant
  • For example, if you want to stop mowing the lawn all the time pick plants like creeping thyme to serve as ground cover.  They have beautiful flowers, don’t grow very high and they are boot friendly! You can walk on them!
  • Want to attract butterflies? Swamp Milkweed is a great option. Contrary to its name it doesn’t need to grow in a swamp and it’s a favorite of Monarch butterflies.
• Decide where you’re planting, if the area is very shaded plant a shade loving plant like Maidenhair Fern so it won’t need much tending. The same goes for the inverse, a sun loving plant won’t need constant watering to survive.

There are tons of easy to find resources online and in local libraries to discover what sorts of plants will work best for you.  Also, check when local nurseries (also a great source for information) are having sales or events you may be able to get the plants you want for a lower cost.  Large stores are also an option to purchase plants from just make sure to check the plants over so you know they are in good condition.

Happy Planting!