You would expect that a successful real estate agent serves many clients, and offers a wide variety of listings to interest a wide variety of buyers. However, when you list your home, you also expect that yours is the most important of all those listings. After all, in your eyes, your home is the hottest property on the market!

Let your agent know just how often you expect to hear reports about showings, but beyond that, consider some of the other hot topics of conversation to discuss while your home is on the market.

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If you’re relocating to the Bennington VT area, or maybe moving from an in-town location to something a little more rural, you may not be familiar with the care required of your septic system.

It’s important to know how your system works and even more important you need to know how to maintain your system.

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This week was one of those times that it was clearly demonstrated to me that I’m finally living in the ‘right’ place.

I was at the locksmith a couple doors up from the office, having a couple of keys made and they had batteries for the car door remotes. Thinking that mine was getting a little weak, I picked up two of them, and then saw that there were tiny screwdrivers there so you could change your battery on the spot, so I did.

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Water touches your life on so many ways, for cooking, bathing, drinking – it’s important that you know how good your water is. If you have a well, you should check the quality of your water annually. If you have municipal or town water, you’ll be able to get a water quality report from the town. The water quality report for Bennington VT is online.

Water from your well can become contaminated, and regular testing can ensure the water you use for cooking, bathing and drinking is safe for your family.

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One of the things I recommend every parent get done as often as possible is a checkup on your car seats.  Protecting children while in your car is so important.

The staff from the Birth Place in Women’s and Children’s Services of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center are offering to fit your car seat on December 18 at the Bennington Rescue Squad station.  The Rescue Squad station is located at 120 McKinley Street in Bennington, for those of you new to the area.

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It was reported today that Americans as a whole are only 0.3 percent healthier than they were at this time last year, according to the 17th annual edition of America’s Health Rankings: A Call to Action for People & Their Communities™, released today. This increase is significantly lower than the nation’s average annual improvement of 1.5 percent documented between 1990 and 2000, and only keeps pace with the 0.3 percent average annual national improvement since 2000. The report also observes that the United States continues to trail other nations in important statistics such as healthy life expectancy and infant mortality.

This year, the report ranks Minnesota as the healthiest state in the nation for the fourth year in a row. Vermont comes in second, followed by New Hampshire, Hawaii and Connecticut. Louisiana is ranked as the least-healthy state, while Mississippi (49), South Carolina (48), Tennessee (47) and Arkansas (46) complete the bottom five.

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Last week I had the opportunity to go to dinner at Peppermill’s Restaurant located at 716 Main Street in Bennington, VT.

We ate in the bar area, since there was a short wait for the dining room. The atmosphere was very nice with some high top tables and booths. There was a nice mix of couples, small groups, and some families throughout the restaurant.

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If you’ve got kids and are planning to move, you’ve got your hands full! Before you start looking at homes and packing up boxes of toys, you want to be sure that your new home offers the amenities you are seeking for your school-aged children. Sounds simple enough, but there’s really a lot to consider.

You might start your research on the Internet, but you’ll also want to speak directly with a real estate agent, school systems, and maybe even the local law enforcement agencies. Like the purchase of your home, your child’s education and recreation are investments for the future, and should be based on careful investigation of the facts.

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Homes meeting the Energy Star standard are built to be 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the standard residential code.Introduced in 1992 by the Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Star is a partnership between the federal government and the private sector — suppliers, manufacturers, and installers — that focuses on reducing energy consumption.

Here’s how it’s done:

• Heating and Cooling. Energy-efficient systems use less energy and are more durable, quieter, and deliver more comfort. Savings can reach $400 annually.
  
• Sealed Air Ducts. Eliminating gaps in ductwork leads to cleaner air and can reduce average annual utility bills by as much as $150.
  
• Appliances. Energy Star units, which can include refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, and washing machines, use less energy.
  
• Insulation. Properly installed insulation — typically blown-in or foam — nearly eliminates air gaps and completely fills the cavities in ceilings and exterior walls.
  
• Windows. High-performance windows with protective coatings on glass and improved frames help keep heat indoors during winter and outside during summer.
  
• Tight Construction. Sealing holes and cracks in a home’s exterior framing sheathing and siding helps reduce air infiltration.

Categories: Bennington VT, Environmental