We are still an independently owned office with all of the advantages that Coldwell Banker has to offer. It is the leading nation real estate franchise and is recognized as “the name” in real estate. There are many advantages for our clients and customers. In this day of technology it is difficult for the small agency to compete. It is important for us to offer to our clients the latest in technology and to get national and international exposure for our listings. The referral system is a global network which is available through Coldwellbanker.com.

One of the main features that is important to us is the Previews program. Previews offers marketing for the luxury properties and reaches a global audience. Coldwell Banker participated in over 50% of all luxury sales in the United States. As a certified Preview agent I am able to have access to the top luxury buyers and am able to get more exposure for my clients.

Other programs that are offered through Coldwell Banker are the Home Protection plan. This is an insurance policy that a Seller can take out on their home to cover appliances, and systems that may break in the period of the year that the house on the market. This policy can be passed on to the Buyer. Another feature of this plan is that the payment for it is not due until the closing on the house. This protection costs approximately $500.

Coldwell Banker offers a Sale Ready Home Program. We have a checklist that will make a Seller’s home ready for sale. This includes a home inspection, title search, staging the home, checking that permits are in order and current. Once the home complies with the Home Ready Program we can advertise it as a “Home Ready” property. This is an advantage to a Seller as it will make a very smooth closing process and will give the Seller an edge with buyers.

Another feature is “Lead Router”. Simply, this is a system of contacting an agent within 3 minutes after a lead comes into our web. You will be secure in knowing that if an inquiry comes in on your property there will be an agent responding to that inquiry within 3 minutes. Ninety-five percent of all potential customers have their first contact with the Internet. Lead Router is one of the best ways to make sure that these leads are not lost.

There are many advertising campaigns that Coldwell Banker runs nationally and we are able to take advantage of these through special mailings, epostcard, enewsletters and radio/tv advertising. This could never be possible as a small independent agency.

We feel that our clients and customers deserve the most up to date and best service that we can provide. After many months of research we found that of all of all the franchise companies available, Coldwell Banker offered the most comprehensive services and has the largest consumer brand recognition. What does this mean to you if you list with us? Since it is the most recognized brand. more traffic will be brought to our office and this gives you much more exposure, giving you the ability to sell your house sooner. In today’s market this is a huge asset to you.

Please stop by my office, respond to my blog, or email me at peggysmighsq@aol.com . You can also check out my website at: Peggysmithvt.com and you might be a lucky winner of one of our new Coldwell Banker products. This could even be a vacation at one of the RCI resorts offered to us through Coldwell Banker or a gift certificate at Tiffany’s. You never know what might be in my basket of goodies.

To Search the MLS check out my website: Peggysmithvt.com

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It has been many years since I have had a moose sighting. The other times I was walking in the woods. This is a bit scary because you don’t know if they might have a calf with them, they are sick, or aggressive. The size of a moose is very impressive. This moose being so close to my car, gave me a first hand comparison. The moose which was a young male was almost taller than my BMW station wagon.

After he ran in front of my car, he stopped and tried to decide which way to turn. I kept hoping that it would not be in my direction. After looking like he would go back where he came from he moved to the side of the road and looked at me for a few minutes as if to say,”You can pass now,” and then he moved on into the woods.

I was a bit pissed that I was out on a property with a client getting soaked, and I was driving along anxious to get out of my wet clothes when the moose showed up. After sitting there watching him I drove away still wet but happy. It was a warm summer afternoon and I thought if I were a child being in those woods in the pouring rain would bring laughter to me; so I found that child and enjoyed the pleasure of what had transpired this afternoon.

P.S. Another friend just told me she saw a huge snapping turtle crossing the road yesterday. With all this rain the forest and wetland creatures must be on the move to dryer areas.

To learn more about Stowe VT check out my website: Peggysmithvt.com

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For those of you that do not know anything about this parade there are certain rules. The floats are not allowed to be put together until the morning of the parade. Most times there are political statements to be made, such as global warming. This year, Al and Tipper Gore (not the real ones) were riding behind a group of teenagers bearing signs of what Stowe would be like in 2020.There would be tennis in December, scuba diving in November, soccer in January and other summer events would take during our normal snowy months. Of
course, it would not be a parade without Paris Hilton in attendance. Some Stowe politics involved our beloved Bob Barnes dressed up as a bride unable to hold her wedding at his Peterson Brook Farm. He was denied an events permit due to noise pollution. And every parade needs fire trucks. Stowe Volunteer Fire Department shined up their trucks and tankers and brought every piece of equipment they own out to show off to us. What a spectacular array.

So ends another year celebrating our freedom. But I wonder just exactly how much freedom we have left. Are we losing our right to chose, are we mixing church and state where specifically in our constitution it forbids this? Have we lost our voice by giving the President more power than he has the capacity to handle? Do we have a right to impose our values on those that are raised with other values? What has given us the right to allow prisoners to languish in prisons without a right to a fair trial? Is this the country of the free and the brave? I think we are a country of cowards and complacency not to stand up for our beliefs, to insist that our government represent the people.

I spent my youth in Gettysburg, PA. and I would like to include that famous speech given during the Independence Day celebration on the site of the cemetery dedicated to the unknown soldiers. As a child on Memorial Day I walked with all my classmates over these graves strewing flowers in silence. It was a very poignant moment, even as a child I understood that these men fought for our independence. In conclusion I ask you all to read this Gettysburg Address and ponder how far away from this we have come.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

We should remember that the government is “of the people, by the people, for the people.” It is time to take a stance for what we believe in and take back our government.

To learn more about Stowe VT real estate check out my website: Peggysmithvt.com

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This will put Stowe, Vermont on the map. It will be a huge spotlight and people will see what a extraordinary place Stowe is. Stowe real estate will benefit from this exposure and no place more than Topnotch who is making all of their condos available for rent. This is an opportunity to own a piece of Stowe before the world discovers its beauty. You could own a three bedroom condo at Topnotch for $795,000 and rent it year round for income or be right where the action is. Call me to find out the details or go to my website at Peggysmithvt.com. Don’t hesitate and if you want tickets to the show call me at 802 253- 7358 ext. 13 I have the number and the scoop on what will be happening. GO STOWE!

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The woods are showing signs of spring so cross country skiing is beautiful with pillowy puffs of snow on the pines and sap buckets among the maples.

If this doesn’t get you to Stowe I can’t imagine what else could entice you. Perhaps a new home? Don’t forget when it comes to real estate I am your expert on Stowe and the surrounding areas. Call me, we can go skiing and look at houses. What more can you ask for?

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