Research Housing Market

The first step in getting your house ready to sell is to figure out whether it is a good time to sell or not. Market conditions fluctuate regularly and houses tend to move faster during certain times of the year. Realtor.com is a great place to analyze market trends and decide the ideal time to list your house for sale. Sellers can also utilize Realtor.com to find some local, comparable homes that have recently sold to use as a benchmark of the market conditions, as well as come up with an estimate of the value of your home. It can cost anywhere from 9%-10% of the sale price to sell a home, so the proceeds from the sale need to cover those expenses if the seller hopes to turn a profit.  A well-respected realtor should be able to assist with everything from finding local comparables to determining a reasonable listing price.

Home Inspection

Inspections aren’t a required step when selling your home, but it can be a great investment when getting a house ready to sell, and avoid wasting time and money on unnecessary repairs. A pre-sale home inspection also can give potential buyers information and intimate knowledge of the property. Even if the house looks to be in great condition online and in person, buyers will want to know what is working as it should as well as anything that will need to be fixed. Getting the inspection first and completing all of the repairs at the same time will drastically reduce the amount of time and money sellers typically will spend on renovations and repairs. Going over the inspection report with a realtor will help sellers make the distinction between which items are worth fixing and which are not. Getting a home inspection helps potential buyers feel more confident when submitting an offer and, in turn decreases the chances of them backing out.

Curb Appeal

The curb appeal of a property is the first impression a seller has on a potential buyer. When a buyer gets out of their car, they will have an immediate positive or negative reaction. Great curb appeal is one of the best things homeowners can do to increase their home’s marketability, it can also be incredibly affordable. Keeping the lawn mowed, hedges trimmed and gutters cleaned is a great start to creating an inviting and orderly front lawn. Another cost affective way sellers can spruce up their exterior is to install flower beds and mulch to create a more “finished look”. As the exterior of the house becomes more curated, sellers often feel compelled to power wash their driveway, walkway and outside of their house, to get rid of any pollen, mold or dirt that has built up over time. Repainting the front door is also a popular method sellers use to upgrade their curb appeal, repainting a drab front door can decidedly alter the impression the outside of the house will make on prospective buyers.

Declutter

Decluttering and organizing a space will go a long way in appealing to potential buyers. When a home is clutter-free, buyers are able to focus on the actual home instead of on the superfluous junk, knick-knacks and overflowing closets.  Bu byers love seeing space and storage, the more, the better. Concentrating on one room/area at a time can help to get through an entire home systematically. Removing half of the stuff out of closets then neatly organizing what is left will give the impression of more storage space. After each room is completed, overflow should be boxed up and labeled, if the house has a garage, its perfectly okay to stack the boxes in there until the property is sold, however storing boxes in a basement can obstruct the buyers view of a potential selling feature. If sellers run out of room, renting a storage unit can be instrumental in creating enough space and removing unwanted or cumbersome items from the house, and creating a clean, spacious, uncluttered home.

Deep Clean

An inarguable step when preparing a property for sale is carrying out a deep clean of the entire house. Ideally being completed just before staging, the goal should be to eliminate any doubt from a prospective buyers mind. Every surface, toilet, and floor will need to be scrubbed and wiped down. Rugs and curtains need to be cleaned, and every nook, cranny, and corner needs to be entirely devoid of dust bunnies. Hiring a professional cleaner can save time and stress, as well as improve the chances that nothing goes unnoticed. Buyers will be walking through with a fresh set of eyes, and will notice things that are often overlooked by the seller. Many sellers elect to repaint the interior of their house, painting over orange and green walls with neutral colors like whites, light greys, and light beiges. This will make the home appear brighter, bigger, and more welcoming, conveying a blank slate to buyers. Repainting almost always makes a great impression, and first impressions are everything when preparing a home for sale.

Staging

Staging a home can really help to sell faster and for more money. The kitchen should always come first. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and sellers will more than likely get 85% of their money back. The most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. When staging it is important to strike a balance between a staged home and a lived in home; over styling can make the house look inauthentic and overly formal. Arranging furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize space is crucial when setting up a property for showings. A great way to cut down on clutter is by putting away personal photos and picture frames scattered throughout the home. Making the staging manageable and low maintenance is also key when beginning to show a house, the house needs to be ready to show at all times.

Local Craft Breweries

Vermont’s craft breweries create economic vitality in the local community through beer tourism and by providing rewarding careers within a vibrant company culture. Throughout the state, craft beer connoisseurs will find different styles, different tastes and a community created through generations of passionate innovators who have fostered the state into one of the world’s most respected beer destinations.   Zero Gravity – Burlington – 716 Pine St - Situated in heart of the budding arts district of Burlington. Zero Gravity has rapidly become an institution for craft beer aficionados. The taproom is a beautifully constructed space that is a great hangout year-round. The outdoor deck is one of best patios on sunny summer days in Burlington. Since reopening the taproom this spring, their outdoor space for plenty of seating;
                A selection of Zero Gravity’s tap list have become premier examples of local craft beers. The brewery also offers a rotating collection of specialty brews that are sporadically available throughout the year. Always evolving and experimenting, the rotating taps creates a need to try as many different beers as possible, because some may disappear forever. Zero Gravity is located directly next to The Great Northern, which offer an inviting collection of New American fare, along with craft cocktails and coffee.

Switchback – Burlington – 160 Flynn Ave – The first 100% employee-owned brewery in New England. Opened in 2014 as Switchback continued is meteoric rise in the craft beer community, the taproom was created as an outlet to showcase experimental brews and limited release batches that can’t be found anywhere else. Created inside a renovated food processing space, the modern offers a gorgeous interior as well as a batch of outdoor tables and is the perfect space for entertaining large tour groups or the occasional beer enthusiast.

                Built on the ideals of maximizing complexity and flavor, the flagship Switchback Ale was the launchpad for a brand that prides itself on defying easy description and existing style guidelines. Switchback’s lineup has grown to over twenty-year round offerings, rotating specials and limited releases. Switchback began as a Vermont craft beer brewed for Vermonters, and unrelentingly authentic to  the vision individualistic brand that vows to forever be made locally by real brewers.

Fiddlehead – Shelburne – 6305 Shelburne Rd – Ascending into the Vermont craft beer scene at a breakneck pace. Fiddlehead opened the doors to their Shelburne brewery in 2011 with only a thirty-barrel capacity, and a completely manual brewing process. Less than a month after opening for business, their flagship Ale, Fiddlehead IPA, was on tap at over fifty bars and restaurants throughout Vermont.

Necessitating an expansion, and some massive upgrades, in 2017 a new 10,000 sq foot brewery opened for production behind the freshly renovated tasting room with indoor and outdoor seating. Offering pints, flights, and 32oz and 64oz growlers, the taproom offers all of their preeminent multidimensional beers along with a guest list of other local and imported brews, wines, and ciders. Folino’s Pizza in Shelburne opened in the same building as the taphouse, uniting great woodfire pizza with local craft beer in a delectable union.

The Alchemist – Stowe – 100 Cottage Club Rd – Foregoing the stale title of “taproom” The Alchemist in Stowe boasts a beer garden on the front lawn of the brewery while their tasting room undergoes renovations for a future reopening. The Beer Garden was opened on July 1^st and has operated all summer long between Thursday and Sunday, and The Alchemist plans on keeping this fun outdoor space operational through the fall season, when they will resume serving beer inside.

                Widely known for its hoppy Heady Topper New England style IPA, The Alchemist has been on the front line of Vermont craft beer craze that has become the foremost brewery achieving distinguished status outside of the state. The beer garden is a sophisticated solution to continue serving patrons during COVID and an extensive remodeling of The Alchemist’s taproom, which they plan to reopen in 2022. If you are in the Stowe area this summer, be sure to support some of the great local restaurants in the area, pack a picnic and kick back some fresh and unfiltered craft beers.

Lawson’s Finest Liquids – Waitsfield – 155 Carol Rd - Nestled in the picturesque Mad River Valley, Lawson’s Finest Liquids has become a valued leader in the craft beer culture. Equipped with a taproom and outdoor beer garden, Lawson’s brewery has become a beacon for craft beer enthusiasts traveling through the sleepy town of Waitsfield. Continually focused on producing widely appreciated styles of beer with outstanding freshness, Lawson’s has quenched the thirsts of beer lovers near and far.

The brewery has also become host to weekly concerts with local musicians and bands, as well as live music events throughout the state. In addition to weekly concerts, Lawson’s Finest Liquids also hosts a monthly disc golf tournament in Jeffersonville culminating in the State Championship event in October. While every brewery host events, and integrate live music into the culture of their company, Lawson’s events set them apart from their competitors, and has become a hallmark of their company and the sense of community that has been an integral piece of their brand.

Oakledge Park – ­Located in the South End of Burlington, along the shoreline of Lake Champlain, Oakledge boasts over 2400’ of waterfront including two natural sand swimming beaches and a rocky shore which are both perfect spots for watching spectacular sunsets. Oakledge is also home to a playground, three tennis courts, two softball fields, walking trails, picnic shelters, and lots of grassy areas. The park marks the southern end of the Burlington Bike Path, which winds through the entire park.

Waterfront Park - Waterfront Park is at the heart of Burlington’s lakefront, home to several large music and food festivals, the large regional park is now host to some of Burlington’s most popular eateries and captivating attractions. After a vibrant rehabilitation, the Burlington waterfront has become so much more than a great place to watch beautiful sunsets, it has become a focal point for culture and community in the Burlington area.

North Beach – Burlington’s largest beach has something for everyone. With a full campground, snack and beach bar, a playground, as well as kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals, North Beach is a premier natural sand beach with lifeguards on duty in the summer season. Beloved by locals and visitors alike, North Beach is an essential summer getaway for beachgoers of all ages. Right off of the Burlington Bike Path, North Beach is the perfect day trip for whatever kind of adventure you are looking for.

Leddy Park – Overlooked by a grassy picnic area, Leddy is a very quiet and secluded beach in the North End of Burlington. Tucked away in Appletree Bay, Leddy is a 1500’ sandy beach that is relatively shielded from the elements. The perfect spot for a midday picnic or twilight bonfire. Leddy Park has extensive athletic fields, tennis courts, basketball courts and an Ice Arena on it’s property.