All of us at VV&W want to help you save money on your real estate taxes and one way you can do that is by claiming Homestead Exemption. What is the Homestead Exemption? It is a tax incentive provided by the state of Alabama to homeowners who use their property as their primary residence. It helps reduce property taxes for homeowners, which is always great news for our clients! The...
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Do you find that your utility bills start to skyrocket in the warmer months? This Summer in Alabama has been hot, hot, hot, and our air conditioners are working overtime to keep us cool. Here’s some ways to conserve energy to keep costs down: Efficient use of your thermostat - When you are home, set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature that also provides humidity control....
What could possibly be more southern than a welcoming front porch? For generations, the front porch was a little like Facebook. From the 1930s to the 50s, Van Valkenburgh family matrons and friends would gather and sit along the front porch of matriarch Margaret Powell Van Valkenburgh's home at 108 Gates Avenue, just a block from VV&W's office. They'd call out greetings and gather information...
High ceilings are coveted among homebuyers, and several of our gorgeous listings have great examples. They suggest opulence, sophistication, and luxury. In some markets, many customers now insist on them, as this Forbes article explains. And it turns out that our brains may be wired to prefer high ceilings. One article states that "researchers found evidence that high ceilings seemed to put test...
Editor’s Note: Our VV&W founder and broker, Nancy Wilkinson Van Valkenburgh, has been a leader in the preservation of Huntsville's downtown area since the space boom, when the push for modernization often ran roughshod over historic preservation. Here, she continues her story (the first installment of which is here) about how a controversial road plan threatened what is now known as the...
Editor’s Note: Our VV&W founder and broker, Nancy Wilkinson Van Valkenburgh, has been a leader in the preservation of Huntsville's downtown area since the space boom, when the push for modernization often ran roughshod over historic preservation. Here, she recounts how a controversial road plan threatened what is now known as the Twickenham Historic Preservation District. Downtown...
Editor’s Note: Our featured VV&W agent for May is Julie Lockwood. Here, she discusses the best ROI for your home: regular maintenance and checkups. Imagine you own a home. Over your lifetime, it will be your second largest investment after your babies (or fur babies). With this in mind, it makes sense to take care of it. I am often asked “what is the best return on investment for...
The Van Valkenburgh and Wilkinson team would like to extend congratulations to all graduating high school seniors throughout the Huntsville area this week, and particularly to Juliana Kattos, who is wrapping up her year of internship with us. Congratulations on a job well done, and best wishes in your future endeavors! Congratulations to Juliana Kattos, our graduating intern. Good luck at Bama this...
Editor's Note: Our fantastic intern for this semester has been Juliana Kattos, who will graduate from Huntsville High School later this month before heading on to the University of Alabama this fall. This is a day-in-the-internship post she wrote about her work this spring. As a Senior at Huntsville High School, I have had the option to use some of my remaining elective credits to work outside of...
Editor’s Note: Here is a fun Q&A with our featured VV&W agent for December, Sarah Lauren Kattos. Also see her blog post from earlier this month, Ho, Ho, Home. 1. What should a buyer or seller expect when working with you? What makes you different from other agents? Though I am responsible to my client, I work very hard to treat the parties on...