How To Live In Small Spaces

Finding ways to deal with small spaces in your new South Central Vermont home can be tricky. Everyone likes the place they call home to be somewhere they can kick back and relax. However, it is hard to relax in areas that are cluttered and uncomfortable. Strategic interior design can make a big difference when dealing with small living spaces. Colors, lighting, organization, and décor can make spaces appear smaller or larger. Here are some solutions to make your South Central Vermont home look and feel cozier. 

Organization is the first thing to be conquered when transforming a small living space. Getting rid of clutter and maximizing the use of storage space are the keys to success. Clutter will make any space appear smaller than it really is. Eliminating excessive knick-knacks is one way to reduce clutter. Multiple pieces of small, scattered furniture can also make a room look jumbled. Using a couple pieces of slightly larger furniture leads to a less cluttered look. Every inch of storage space should be taken advantage of in small living areas. Planning out storage space will allow for more walking room, functional closets, and more productive space. Use multipurpose furniture like ottomans, which can be used for storage and seating. Try installing an organizational system in the closets. These systems usually provide a perfect spot for everything. 

Safety Tips For Your Rutland Home’s Pool

Everyone enjoys spending time relaxing poolside or splashing around in the refreshing cold water. For many kids it is a favorite summer pastime that seems harmless. Drowning is actually the second leading cause of death for children who are 14 years old or younger. Approximately 3,000 children in this age group make trips to the emergency room in need of treatment for near drowning incidents. People ages 60 and older are also at a higher risk for experiencing danger in the water. Death and other water related accidents can be completely prevented and avoided if the proper precautions are observed and enforced. Whether hanging out around your Rutland home’s backyard pool or enjoying the day at the community pool these tips will keep family and friends safe and smiling.

• Supervise all children at all times, especially children ages 14 or younger.

Energy Saving Tips For Rutland and South Central VT Home Owners

I found a great website, Energy Savers, with energy saving tips for Rutland and South Central VT  home owners. This site provides homeowners with tips for saving energy and money at home and on the road. 

By following just a few of the simple tips found on this Energy Savers Web site, you can make your home more comfortable and easier to heat and cool—while you save money. The site also helps you beat the high cost of fuel, with driving and car maintenance tips to save you money on the road.

Some easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy include: 

• Install a programmable thermostat to keep your house comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR® label.
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.

Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

The information on this Web site is also available in PDF format (PDF 2.7 MB). 

If you are a Rutland VT  home owner, I encourage you to check out Energy Savers. Following a few of their suggestions will not only put more money in your pocket, but make our planet healthier and greener. 

If you are thinking about buying a  Rutland or South Central VT  home, visit ISellVermontRealEstate.com. It’s a great place to learn about Rutland and South Central VT  real estate and view Rutland and South Central VT homes for sale.

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

Everyone Loves a Sale

Thinking of remodeling or staging your home for selling or furnishing a new home??? “Baby Boomer News” offers some suggestions for saving money on household items by waiting to buy during certain sale times. Here are the typical sale months for bargains on specific merchandise:

January – Linens, fabric, quilts,blankets, small appliances, TVs
February – Bedding, floor coverings, furniture, housewares
March – Washers and dryers, air conditioners, china, glassware
April – Kitchen ranges, wallpaper, paint
May – Radios, TVs, linens
June – Bedding, floor coverings, furniture, storm windows
August – Linens, rugs
September – China, glassware
October – Rugs, fabrics

Freedom 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.

Okemo Luck Of The Irish

Okemo Mountain is experiencing the ‘Luck Of the Irish’ this St. Patrick’s Day weekend with new snow falling. Visit their website for some amazing spring deals.

For amazing real estate deals in Okemo and Ludlow, visit ISellVermontRealEstate.com. You’ll be glad you did!

Vermont Ranks High In Education Survey

BurlingtonFreePress.com reports that Vermont public schools have ranked #3 in academic achievement behind # 2 New Jersey and #1 Massachusetts. this Ranking is a result of the Education Week Quality Counts survey.

Vermont ranked ninth among states on a chance-for-success index measuring demographic, economic and education attainment indicators. Virginia was No. 1 on the success meter and New Mexico was last.

The quality of education in Vermont makes it a great place to live. Are you thinking of buying a home in Ludlow, VT? Real estate here is affordable and offers an excellent quality of life. Visit my website to view all homes for sale in Ludlow and Okemo Mountain. Then, give me a call. I’m here to help!

Tags: burlington free press, education week quality count survey, ludlow vt real estate, ludlow vt home for sale, vermont public schools

Holidays Kick Off In Chester

Overture to Christmas in 21st Year

Just as an orchestra warms up an audience with a taste of the music to come, so does the town of Chester with its annual “Overture to Christmas.”Now in its 21st year, the event has grown to accommodate a number of holiday-themed events taking place locally. Details…

And if you are thinking you want to make Chester your new home, give me a call or visit my website. Here you can view all homes for sale, get current market values and more.

Tags: chester vt real estate, irene gaffigan

Hopes Are High For Snow!!

Mild weather is delaying opening of ski areas. The lack of snow coupled with rain and warmer-than-normal temperatures have forced even the largest ski areas in the state to delay their scheduled openings. There is a lot of cold air in Canada however it has not been able to push down here yet. Experts are watching the weather very closely in hopes of opening Thanksgiving weekend. Details

Thinking of buying or selling a vacation home in Vermont? Visit my website to view all real estate listings, get the current value of your home and more!