Crucial COVID-19 Cleaning Tips:

How To Keep Your Home Virus-Free During the Pandemic

From Realtor.com By Larissa Runkle | Mar 31, 2020

 

Probably one of the most disturbing details to recently emerge about COVID-19 is just how long the virus can live on surfaces. Another scary thought? The fact that an estimated 42% of us aren’t even cleaning those surfaces properly. Regardless of what kinds of temperatures and surfaces you have in your home, there are things you can do to keep these dangerous pathogens at bay.

Ditch germs at the door - Kick off dirty shoes at the door, wipe down any bags, and add a trash bin near your entryway for paper or plastic packaging that may have been exposed.

Remove dirty clothes immediately - Ditching dirty packaging isn’t the only thing you should shed at the door. After all, you wouldn’t want to forget about the germs you might be wearing.

Start a clean-hands routine in the entryway - “I created a station by my front door with a little table and a Lazy Susan that has homemade hand sanitizer and lotion, alcohol wipes for phones, and a small garbage can,” says Katy Winter of Katy's Organized Home. 

Trap particles before they spread - Another way to keep germs from getting in? Use doormats in high-traffic areas—and vacuum them frequently.

Focus on cleaning high-touch surfaces - High-touch surfaces include all the things you touch the most—like doorknobs, light switches, cabinet pulls and handles, railings, faucets, remote controls, and even tabletops.

Use effective cleaning products - Some of the more frequently used active ingredients are sodium hypochlorite, ethanol, pine oil, hydrogen peroxide, citric acid, and quaternary ammonium compounds.

Disinfect things the right way - Be sure to read labels before you start cleaning.

Set up a cleaning schedule - Once you’re armed with the right cleaning products, you’ll want to set up a cleaning schedule that makes sense for your family.

 

If you have kids at home, with all the extra cleaning needed to keep your home safe is a great opportunity to keep your kids busy and to teach them financial responsibility. 

There are many apps out there to help you with this. 

Forbes Staff Advisor Asia Martin’s article (Updated: Mar 25, 2020)  “9 Family Apps To Manage Allowance And Chores” is a great resource.

 

Real Estate Update COVID-19

How is Real Estate being effected?

All real estate offices must close for the required period. However, Realtors® may continue to conduct business remotely within the guidelines of public health and safety officials. Please note that COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines are

updated daily on the ACCD website. Until we have further information stating otherwise, we believe the Executive Order effects real estate as follows:

Þ All public-facing, physical real estate offices must close for the duration of the Order

Þ Real estate agents and office staff may still work remotely and continue to conduct non-face-to-face business.

Þ Real estate agents may still have remote, non-face-to-face interactions with clients, customers, and members of the public (including by phone, email, video-conferencing, etc.)

Þ Until further information states otherwise, all in-person public contact shall cease for the duration of this order to include showings, open houses, and other meetings with clients, customers and members of the public.

Þ Office staff and/or agents should limit going to physical office locations except for absolute necessity.

This information is being taken from the Vermont Association of Realtors; https://www.vermontrealtors.com/var-asks-scott-administration-to-include-real-estate-services-as-essential/

We are still available to you by phone, email and video conferencing to help you with preparation and real estate information during this difficult time. 

802-846-8460

TheTeam@themarcelinoteam.com

 

National Doctors' Day is a day celebrated to recognize

the contributions of physicians to individual

lives and communities.

 

This year more than ever, we want to thank all our Doctors and their families for their dedication, hard work and sacrifice. We’d also like to extend this to nurses, EMT’s, Firemen and any other first responders that are on the front line.

 

Dear friends,

Many of us have been thrown into a work from home situation without much warning.  For me, it’s both my husband and I needing work space.  Others are not only dealing with this scenario but also have kids learning from home. How to find the space?  How do you stay focused? How to separate work and home time?  So many questions and very little time to prepare. So I did a little searching on the internet for tips and ideas to help find a way to be respectful of housemates and create a comfortable and productive home work space. I hope sharing what I found will be helpful to others as well, as we figure out our temporary digs.

Sincerely,

Dawna Brisson

Client Care Manager

 

From www.lifewire.com

The 10 Best Working From Home Tips in 2020

1. Ask for what you need.

2. Create an appropriate workspace

3. Equip your workspace

4. Make sure your internet & wi-fi meets your needs

5. Setting expectations for yourself & others

6. Create a schedule and manage your time well

7. Video conferencing etiquette

8. Avoid WFH bad habits

9. Stay connected to your coworkers

10. Above all else: Be flexible

 

From www.themuse.com

7 Tried-and-True Secrets for a Productive Home Office

1. Think Like a Mouse

2. Declutter Your Desk

3. And the Rest of the House

4. Bring in Some Green

5. Try a Calming Scent

6. Use a Smaller To-Do List

7. Take Meaningful Breaks

 

From ISPO.com

Home Office: 5 Tips for Healthy Working at Home

1. Make Your Workplace an Office at Home

2. A Healthy Sitting Position Relieves the Back

3. A Good Screen Is Your Eyes' Best Friend

4. Don't Forget Your Breaks

5. Stay Active With Workouts and Exercises

 

With the current situation our world is going through it is important we all work together as a team to end this virus. The Real Estate industry is having to work together to make sure we are working in the best interest and safety of our customers and clients. We want you to know the buying and selling homes is still happening, the process may take a little longer and we may have to be extra creative and careful but people are still moving. Rest assured the Vermont Association of Realtors is working diligently to create safe scenarios and guidelines for us to follow and we, all parties involved in real estate, are working together to implement them.   

 

Why The Marcelino Team?

T.E.A.M. = Together Everyone Achieves More

 We make up a sensational and dynamic real estate team dedicated to providing a high level of professionalism and results-oriented service.

 Everyone on our team is dedicated to performing their specialized duties allowing us to run efficiently and to the best of our abilities.

As a result, you receive very personalized service with the benefits of a team of professionals always working in your best interests.  

Plus we provide years of local knowledge as we’re a locally owned family business that has worked and lived in this area our entire lives.

Give us a call and let us share what we can do to assure your home sale or home purchase will take place and steps to take to help make it a safe process during this time. 

 

We shared this declutter article back in January, but wanted to reshare, as Spring Cleaning is a possible project you may want to consider while stuck at home and one of the Top 10 Spring Cleaning Tips for 2020 is to De-clutter.

https://www.budgetdumpster.com/resources/how-to-declutter-your-home.php

Intro: Why You Should Declutter Your Life

Part 1: How to Declutter Your Home
Part 2: Room-by-Room Decluttering & Organizing Tips

Part 3: How to Declutter Your Home for Good

Sylvane’s Top 10 Spring Cleaning Tips for 2020

https://www.sylvane.com/blog/spring-cleaning-tips-and-checklist/

1. Make a Schedule

2. De-clutter

3. Always Work from Top to Bottom

4. Use a HEPA Vacuum

5. Think Green When You Spring Clean

6. Walls and Windows Need Love too

7. Don’t Be Scared of the Kitchen and Bathroom

8. Don’t Forget About Your Air

9. Have Severe Allergies? Protect Yourself.

10. Let Spring Cleaning Set a New Tone

 

NOTE: They also provide a free Printable Room-by-Room Spring Cleaning Checklist

 

 

 

 

 

We are aware several students will be doing online or paper education from home with their school. These are some other options we found that the whole family could enjoy together as well. 

We wish you all the best during this difficult time. 

Found on mynbc5.com this article by Alicia Lee, CNN Updated: 3:30 PM EDT Mar 15, 2020

Scholastic is offering free online courses so your kids can keep learning while schools are closed.

https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html

 

Found on fromabcstoacts.com

45+ Free Educational Websites for Kids

 

Found on docs.google.com - Have fun learning at home! - Mrs. Fahrney

Over 30 Virtual Field Trips with Links

 

Found on adventuresinfamilyhood.com

20 VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS TO TAKE WITH YOUR KIDS

 

Found on homeschoolhideout.com

150+ EDUCATIONAL SHOWS ON NETFLIX

 

Found on www.playbill.com

15 Broadway Plays and Musicals You Can Watch On Stage From Home

 

Vermont Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Credit Claim 2020 Form HS-122

DUE DATE: April 15, 2020 Penalties apply if filed after April 15

This form must be filed each year by every Vermont resident whose property meets the definition of a homestead. 

A Vermont homestead is the principal dwelling and parcel of land surrounding the dwelling, owned and occupied by a resident individual as the individual’s domicile on April 1. If your homestead is leased to a tenant on April 1, you may still claim it as a homestead if it is not leased for more than 182 days in the 2020 calendar year.

Documents You Will Need:

*Copy of 2019/2020 property tax bill

*Income information for you, your spouse/civil union partner, and all other members of the household
 such as W-2, 1099, SSA-1099, SSA-1042S, RRB-1099, RRB-1045, business income information

*The property owner’s Social Security Number

*The property’s School Property Account Number (SPAN) printed on the property tax bill

How to file:                                                                              (NOTE: Form may be included in your tax return.)

Send the HS-122 form to the Vermont Department of Taxes         

OR File your claim online at www.myVTax.vermont.gov.

 

 

 

Mortgage Rates Hit All-Time Low,  as the Fed cuts

rates to protect the economy from the coronavirus.

 

Now is a Good Time to Sell a Home due to low inventory. 

With the lowering of mortgage rates, Now is a Good Time to Buy or Invest in Real Estate also. 

Lower rates allow more Buyers/Investors to enter the market and existing Buyers/Investors to expand their price range, which is good news for both Buyers and Sellers.    

Give Us a Call!

Let us help you determine if NOW IS THE TIME for you to benefit from the Real Estate Market.

 

Should I Sell My House This Year?

KeepCurrentMatters.com

As you can see, many believe that, despite everything going on in the world, it is still a good time to sell a home.  According to NAR, the unsold inventory available today “sits at a 3.0-month supply at the current sales pace,”  which is down from a 3.7-month supply in November. The current inventory is half of what we need for a normal or neutral housing market, which should have a 6.0-month supply of unsold inventory.

This is good news for sellers, as Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, says:

“Home sellers are positioned well, but prospective

buyers aren’t as fortunate. Low inventory remains a problem, with first-time buyers affected the most.”

Bottom Line

If you’re ready to list your home, you can feel good about the current sentiment in the market. Contact a local real estate professional today to determine the best next step when it comes to selling your house this year.