In the wake of the historic flooding that resulted in Vermont being declared a Federal Disaster Area many homeowners and buyers have been asking, “Is my house at risk of flooding?” There is no definitive answer to this question, however we have some resources available to help assess risk levels. Remember, though, water takes its own “path” and what may “not” be in a flood zone or high risk area right now could turn into one very quickly depending on the circumstances.
Houses may or may not require flood insurance. If you are financing your property with a mortgage lender then they have resources for you. Some lenders will require a flood insurance binder as a requirement of the loan. If you are purchasing with cash then flood insurance is not required as a condition of the sale, however, you should assess your risk and talk to your insurance agent.
The State of Vermont provides information on designated flood hazards and river corridors — http://dec.vermont.gov and https://floodready.vermont.gov/assessment/vt_floodready_atlas.
FEMA also provides resources: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home to do more research on your area.
Bottom line, if you are looking at a house and the street name is River Rd., Winooski St. (named after the Winooski River), Canal St., Streamside Dr., etc. then you should check out the resources above. Or, reach out directly and we will share our local knowledge regarding the historical data regarding natural disaster risk in your area.
If you want any further information or a detailed evaluation on any property in Vermont contact us to get started!
It’s turning into a cruel summer for many buyers and sellers. Sellers and buyers are increasingly afraid that their house sale or purchase may be their next mistake.
To be perfectly honest, we do not see many houses with wallpaper. In the 1970s wallpaper donned many kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms. In the 1990s wallpaper borders were popular in living rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. Today, however, with the influence of HGTV and other media, neutral pallets dominate the general decorating “vibe.”
Maybe you “shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover,” but, in the real estate arena Buyers do judge houses from their exteriors. Serious buyers will spend several minutes looking at the outside of your house before they even step inside. Many of us focus on the interior of the house when getting prepared to sell. This makes sense, of course, since buyers focus on interior photos when deciding whether to consider or eliminate a property. Once they make the trip to the house, however, it’s the outside that makes the first impression. Here are our top tips for elevating your exterior to impress buyers:
Before we delve into this month’s blog, “What is the Best Home Estimate Tool?” we want to give a disclaimer – on the Weaver Team we are real estate geeks. We spend hours studying the real estate market. Just ask us a simple question and we’ll go on and on about absorption rate, days on market, list to sale price ratios, and more. So, if you ask us, “What is the Best Home Estimate Tool?” we do have a short answer, “The Weaver Team!”
We do sell houses year-round in Northwest Vermont. Who are these buyers and sellers? Why can’t they wait until the “spring market” when the grass is green and the ice has melted from driveways?
We all hear the news – inflation, fuel, food prices, and mortgage interest rates are rising or higher than before. All of these factors weigh on some buyers who are thinking about purchasing a property.
Are you afraid that you missed out on selling your house for the “highest price ever?” Well, fear not. We have been helping sellers get top dollar long before the meteoric rise in sale prices over the last few years. Our “Prep for Success” program provides a roadmap to maximizing your house’s value.
What do you love about your home? Our marketing program goes above and beyond your average real estate listing. We take the time to research your location, amenities and unique features to attract qualified buyers. We love what you love!
The Weaver Team 