Somehow May always seems to fly, with a flurry of spring events filling each weekend. And we have weekday inspiration for you too! We hope this calendar helps you capture the moments as you enjoy the beauty of life in Fairfield County, CT.
Unhappy with your property assessment? Applications for appeal are due February 20th! Have questions, or need advice? Give us a call.
From the hilltop of the Old Hill neighborhood, the views of Westport Connecticut are stunning. It is from this vantage point that we take note of the character and charm of historic homes whose preservation helps keep the fabric of our area unique.
Even at significant expense, upgrading things beyond cosmetics can have enormous value in a market where buyers seek “new” with no work required. Energy saving, environmentally friendly solutions - many with tax rebates and credits thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, are available and should be considered when making any home improvements.
Most municipalities mail tax bills this month. They’re a reminder of the costs & obligations of home ownership, and of the many amenities we get for our dollars. One mill equals a dollar of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value. “Mill rate” is another way to say “property tax rate.” By state law, property is reevaluated every five years.
If you’ve just moved in, chances are good that the previous owners did some tidying up before selling their home. If not, take a look at your home from the curb — does your driveway need sealing, windows need washing or the front door need painting? Fall is the perfect time for these tasks and more. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Ah, spring. The time to deep clean and air out our homes — who doesn’t love to throw open the windows on those first warm days? Deep down, we all know the quality of inside air can have a big impact on our health. So let’s take some steps to keep this spring feeling year-round by improving the overall air quality in our homes.
Lyme disease takes its name from Lyme, Connecticut, where the illness was first reported in 1975. It is spread by the black-legged deer tick that has been firmly established in Connecticut for several decades. A bacterial infection, Lyme is treated with antibiotics successfully when caught early but late Lyme disease can have persistent and often serious complications.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that naturally occurs as the earth’s radioactive metals break down in rocks, soils and ground water. Occurring everywhere, it is estimated that 1 in 3 CT homes have elevated radon levels, whereas across the U.S. that number is only about 1 in 15 homes.
On October 1st, 2021 the National Flood Insurance Program enacted Flood Risk Rating 2.0. It comes with the promise of greater rate transparency for customers. The old rating methods, in effect since the 1970’s, ultimately resulted in smaller homes being rated at an increased rate over much larger homes.
After escaping the touted "Henri" and feeling the effects/brunt of "Ida" in the last few weeks, it is important to remember we are still in the midst of hurricane season! While sellers are obligated to disclose known flooding issues, recent storms have brought unusual, significant rainfalls surprising some buyers with water seeping into the basement and worse.
It's so easy - and seemingly cheaper - to decorate your home upon moving in and then do absolutely nothing forever afterward. As real estate professionals, we see this delusion daily and all know this type of complacency is indeed very.....expensive!
We’d like to thank Tom Ayres, Partner at Daigle & Travers Insurance, for so thoroughly explaining why homes are often insured for more that what the homeowners paid for them. Required reading for first-time homebuyers & an excellent refresher for all in these times of ever-rising replacement costs and frequent natural disasters.
You found your dream home near the water, but were snapped back to reality upon hearing the words - it is not FEMA compliant. Were you right to panic? Not necessarily, after all you were looking at homes by the water. You always can and should obtain flood insurance - it is just a matter of cost.
On average, we spend 65% of our time at home. Hopefully, we at KMS Partners have helped you to find a home in which you can be happy, feel comfortable and at peace. Now let’s make sure that it is a healthy environment too! Here’s some tips to get you started.
