Thanksgiving provides us with an opportunity to give pause and collectively express gratitude for the things that matter in our lives. I'd like to take this opportunity to list a few things that I'm thankful for this [...]
Back to School, Time to Sell Your Home!
It’s that time of year again! The new school supplies, the fresh haircuts, the sweet back to school sales, the early chaotic mornings, the packed lunches, the yellow buses, the thousands of Instagram back-to-school photos and of course the very excited parents practically jumping for joy… Hello [...]
Come Visit Us at Our New 40 Main Street Location!
I'm incredibly excited to announce that The Condo Guy Team has relocated to a new Office Space in Downtown Burlington! We made the move in order to be able to best serve our clients, customers and their interests. From our new office at 40 Main Street, located in the vibrant heart of [...]
New Burlington Area Rentals Coming on The Market
You've probably seen the construction sites and cranes while driving around Greater Burlington. A great deal of residential construction has been has occurred recently and a great deal more is near completion or planned for the future. Some notable examples are [...]
Low Supply of Chittenden County Condos = Seller's Market:
Although the weather has remained wintry cold in Vermont in this early spring 2018, the Vermont Condo Market is beginning to heat up! Demand remains strong as mortgage interest rates remain low if slightly higher than recent years. Continued low inventory of Chittenden County condos [...]
What is Radon Gas?
When a buyer has found the perfect Vermont Condo for their lifestyle and we sit down to write an offer, a question that almost always comes up when we're discussing about Property Inspections is radon gas. My clients and customers often ask, "what is [...]
Safety First!
No one wants to endure the devastation that a fire can bring. In an effort to make our homes safer, the Vermont Department of Public Safety Division of Fire Safety (say that 10 times fast) enforces code requirements to insure that a minimum level of protection is present in Vermont condos.
VT Fire Safety Inspections:
For the purposes of Fire Safety, condos are generally considered multi-family dwellings. As such, when ownership of a condo is being transferred, the Division of Fire and Safety requires that a Fire Safety inspection is done prior to closing. The Fire Marshal will note any violations in a report completed at the time of inspection or shortly thereafter. Any major violations need to be corrected prior to closing in order for the Division of Fire Safety to provide a Certificate of Compliance. Most real estate attorneys will require that the Certificate of Compliance is in place before recommending their buyer clients close on the property. In short, a Certificate of Compliance is needed to close. Many attorneys now see this as a title issue.
Smoke Detectors:
As codes have been updated over the years to improve safety, one of the most common violations that comes up during the sale of VT Condos is inadequate Smoke Alarms. All smoke alarms within a condo must be Photoelectric type and must be "In the immediate vicinity of sleeping rooms, inside each sleeping room, and on all floor levels including the basement". Some requirements vary depending on how many Condo units are in each structure and the age of the construction: These include whether the units have to be interconnected, hardwired with battery backup, have 10 year lithium batteries, or whether sprinklers are required. For a more complete list of regulations, check out this convenient sheet provided by the Division of Fire Safety.
More Information:
Please utilize the Division of Fire Safety website for more information. We'll have fiollow-up blog posts regarding Carbon Monoxide detectors, Fire Extinguishers, hand railings and more. The Condo Guy Team is also happy to meet with you in person for a free seller consultation to discuss this and other issues that may arise during the sale or purchase of your VT Condo. We recommend always adhering to Division of Fire Safety Codes and Requirements and using licensed electricians whenever necessary. Contact us at anytime with thoughts or questions you may have.
Have a fantastic and safe condo day!
