Expert: David Beckett - 8/23/2006

Question
Hi David,
My husband and I are looking at purchasing a business near Burlington. We have both spent a lot of time there. I lived there as a child and have always wanted to move back.

We have a freshman daughter that we will have to pull out of her current school here in Kansas City (her class size is about 1,000 kids). I am looking at Mt. Mansfield Union and Colchester as school possibilities. She has an incredible singing voice and is in advanced choir so choir and theatre are important. She also loves volleyball but I don't see it offered at either school. Any advice on either school? We are planning to come up next week and I want to visit them in person.

We will also be looking to possibly rent to own or rent. We don't plan on putting our current homne on the market until March. I see you recommend Preston frequently - is this who you would recommend for this situation?  

Answer
Kim -

Unfortunately I can't speak directly to your questions about the two high schools you mention. My teens go to Burlington, so I know how to get to a soccer match at MMU and CHS, but I'm afraid that's the extent of my knowledge...

The site I recommend most frequently for detailed school information is

http://crs.uvm.edu/schlrpt/
http://crs.uvm.edu

For rentals sadly there's simply no comprehensive listing so prospective renters are stuck contacting multiple sources. This is frustrating for everybody - particularly when I compare it to my experience with homes for SALE. As a Realtor and member of the MLS here, I can of course simply see that folks get emailed the days new listings which fit thier exact criteria. That's a blessing.
Here for instance is every single-family home offered for sale for between 200k and 300k - regardless of what company has the sign in the lawn - in the Colchester HS and MMU areas. http://www.vreinmls.com/ver/maildoc/b003q24619.html
This can be followed by the new listings if people want to see the MLS listings the day they come on the market - 3 weeks ahead of the day the magazines come off the truck into the corner stores. It's magic.

But for rentals there's simply no common database like that. I wish they'd simply add rentals to this MLS database, but the powers that be won't take my advice.

So your best be is

Preston Property Management
The Burlington Free Press
Seven Days

and so on.

I hope this helps!

Please give me a holler if I can help some more.

David Beckett
1 802 578 6361
david@askdavidbeckett.com