Check out what Smart Money is saying!

A couple of months ago, our very own Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty was selected by Smart Money Magazine (a publication of The Wall Street Journal) to participate in a story that they were writing about getting started in the Real Estate business. Enter Alyssa Abkowitz, a journalist from Smart Money who flew to Burlington from Manhattan and trailed myself, and several other fellow H&B agents, as we went about "business as usual" over the course of several days. On one such day, Alyssa came with me to host an Open House where we met (who would soon become) some of my recent buyers: soon-to-be newlyweds and recent transplants from Hawaii, Scott and Jessica! Alyssa and myself were both excited about Scott and Jessica's enthusiasm for finding their first home together, and Alyssa (a newly licensed agent herself) decided Scott and Jess were the perfect first-time homebuyers to work with for the (ever-evolving) story she was looking to write.

Scott and Jess were extremely gracious in allowing their house hunt to be followed, documented, and scrutinized. In the end, after several showings, a couple offers, and lots of time spent together in the car- Scott and Jess ended up finding what would be their new home together! Alyssa was able to aid in the offer-writing process, and as we submitted the offer all four of us kept our fingers crossed! Fortunately, the offer was (eventually) accepted, and so began the remainder of the homebuying process (all the fun stuff that buyers tend to forget about when they are caught up in house hunting: loan applications, financing contingencies, inspections, etc.).

At any rate, after several weeks of being under contract, Scott and Jess officially became homeowners a coupe of weeks ago! I LOVE working with first-time homebuyers, and Scott and Jess were no exception. It is so gratifying sitting at a closing table with buyers that are SO excited and eager to take on the joys of homeownership!

So, without further ado, I thought I would pass along the article from Smart Money: "Diary of an Undercover Broker: How We Sold A House". Thanks SO much to Scott and Jess for all of their cooperation...and I am so glad they wandered into my (and Alyssa's) Open House that afternoon!

If you are thinking of purchasing a home, feel free to call or e-mail me today and we can get your home search started (though, I can't promise you a mention in Smart Money)!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com
(802)846-9530

Before you go to bed on Saturday night...

...don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour! That's right- daylight savings begins this Sunday, March 14th. Before you start to get too excited about the forthcoming longer days, extra hours of sunlight, and warmer weather, don't forget that with daylight savings comes...SPRING CLEANING! Although no one (sane) particularly enjoys spring cleaning, it does serve as a good reminder to not only de-clutter your home but also to address some home maintenance items such as testing the smoke detectors in your house, cleaning out your rain gutters, having your furnace cleaned and of that other FUN stuff! I found this great checklist of home maintenance items to check at BobVila.com, and thought I would pass it along.

Of course, if you want some tips on how to CLEAN certain items in your home, who better to check with that Martha Stewart? I found this checklist on her website.

If you want to do your spring cleaning in a new home, make sure to check out Chittenden County's newest listings at BurlingtonVermontHomes.com. First time homebuyers remember, as of today, there are only 50 days left to get under contract in order to be eligible for the first time homebuyer tax credit. You could HIRE someone to do all of your spring cleaning for you with that $8,000!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

Photo credit: MarthaStewart.com