Well, we have certainly had our share of the white stuff recently!  Often, activity on listings slow when we have snow on the ground.  It’s messy, inconvenient and cold!  Sellers should remember to make sure their walkways and driveways are clean and dry with no ice or slippery areas.  Often the sun melts the ice and snow during the day and then it freezes up again at night. If your home is vacant, please leave the heat on and have someone check on it (your realtor should offer to do this!) at the very least, weekly.  There is an insurance policy you can purchase in the interim if your home is vacant that will protect it from any damage caused by water, electricity, etc.  But it is expensive.  The cheapest policy I have found is through Weichert Insurance (they farm it out to a third party) for around $1,600 per year.  The good news is that when your home sells and you cancel the policy, you get a rebate for the difference.

Don’t take any chances.  You can have the water turned off at the street, or turn it off yourself.  The biggest problem I have seen here over the years is that your seals will dry out on plumbing fixtures.  Then when you turn the water back on, they leak.  Especially faucets!  And, remember your hot water heater if your property is vacant. It leaks from the inside out and if it is over 7 years old it can go at any time. You can purchase a sort of alarm that you put near it that goes off when it detects moisture.  Oops!  Only works if someone hears it!

Any for buyers, please be courteous and remove shoes and boots when you are touring a home.  You have just walked through wetness, slush, snow and or worse – that ice melt stuff and salt.  This can damage floors and carpeting in someones home.  I always put out a basket of “booties” and ask that people cover or remove shoes.  It’s the golden rule.

Usually in townhome and condominium complexes, snow removal is included in the monthly fee.  This only works however if your driveway is clear for them to plow.  It never ceases to amaze me that people leave $40,000 + cars out in their  driveway so they can store toys and bikes in the garage. Some condominium and or townhome complexes are fee simple.  This means the homeowner is responsible for snow removal. If the home is vacant, your realtor should arrange to have any snow removed from walkways and driveways (I’ve been known to shovel it myself if need be!).  It is good to make these arrangements in advance to avoid sudden problems or issues going forward.

Stay warm and safe and click here to see all information about all Townhome and condominium communities.  Once you are at my web site you can also search single family homes as well!

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