Margaret Shea's Q&A

Hi Aaron,   If you are considering selling your home, ccontact a Realtor and ask for a free market analysis  While it is not an appraisal,  with a CMA your Realtor can provide you with comparables in Fair Haven of homes currently listed, under contract and those that have sold withing the last 3-6 months that are similar. This  way you'll have a good idea of the value of your home in the current market as well as approximately how long it will take to sell.All the best! 

http://www.ezpassritba.com/

If you're the owner, you can go in and edit the information about your home yourself.  All the best!

I would say yes, particularly from the perspective of future resale value. Since today's buyers often start their real estate search on the internet and specify certain search parameters, a home with 2 baths will be more visible than one that has 1.5 or 1 bath.  More traffic means a greater likelihood that one will get more potential buyers. Of course be sure that any add-ons are done with the proper  permits. More and more, appraisers are checking to be sure that permits were taken out in order to add the new bath/addition to the value of the home.All the best!

Hi,   Your dad has given you great advice about the capital gains exclusion for sale of a principle residence.  If you haven't already done so, you need an A-2 survey. It's important whenever working with a civil engineer or surveyor, or any professiional for that matter to have a firm idea of what's included in their quote. When they're finished will you have a mylar suitable for filing at the town hall (with regard to the cut.) Are they doing a topo map or just the A-2? Remember, if you are only making one cut and the property predates subdiv. regs, it's not a subdivision.(The only downside to not cutting off the land is that an appraiser cannot recognnize parcel B until  the map is filed. Otherwise it's just excess land.)  Depending on your tolerance for stress, if you enjoy dealing with Planninng & Zoning you could engage an engineer to formulate  a record subdivision plan. (complete with topo maps, drainage calculations, This is going to entail months of meetings of various town boards (Inland Wetlands first, P&Z,notificatioh of neighboring properties, etc.- there's ALWAYS more.  ) Don't underestimate the work that developers do to get raw land from raw to approved. Of course money that you spend in this regard can be used to increase the basis of the property.I've done this myself with a family property with road frontage all around.How tough can it be? You'd be surprised- but it's defiinitely fun- with OPM :)

You can go in and claim your home as the owner and correct the information.

As the owner, you can claim your home and edit the information and change the status. (You can usually find out who posted the listing -it may say something llike"listing partner." )

Sounds like you already claimed your home as owner. Rather than worrying about how Zillow has your home listed, the more immediate question is, "How are my property taxes being computed, and is it correct?"  Likely you had a contractor who took out a permit for the work.  Be sure to check with the Woodstock Town Assessor that whatever removations were done, that it is listed as below grade living area and you are not taxed at the same rate as above grade space.  If there is a discrepancy, make sure you file a assessment appeals form  during the appeals period. Check at your town hall. Otherwise, you could be surprised with a significantly larger property tax bill that is considering the finished space as above grade... 

As the owner, you can claim your home and change the status, indicating that the home is no longer on the market.All the best!

As the owner, you can claim your home and then you can go in and change the status to "no longer for sale."