Alert, Fairfield, Westport, and surrounding towns! ❄️
With sustained below-freezing temps coming this weekend, frozen and burst pipes are a real risk.
Three tips from William Raveis Insurance to protect your home:
Keep the Heat On => Set your thermostat to the same temp day and night — even if you’re away.
Stop the Flow => Shut off and drain all outdoor spigots. => Know where your main water shut-off is — and label it. Going away? Turn off the washing machine water supply.
Let the Warm In, Keep the Cold Out => Open kitchen and bath cabinets so warm air reaches the pipes. And if you have an attached garage, keep that door closed.
Plus, here are four ways to prevent ice dams and potential roof leaks:
✅ Add insulation to your attic. – This keeps the heat in the house where it belongs and the attic cool so it doesn’t cause rooftop snow to melt.
✅ Improve ventilation under your roof. – Keep your roof cool by enabling cold air to circulate underneath. A ridge vent with continuous soffit vents should do the trick while flushing out warmer attic air.
✅ Install an ice shield. – Create a barrier to redirect water away from places where ice dams and leaks are most likely to occur. Have a contractor add this shielding material clothe the edges of the roof and under shingles.
✅ Pull snow off your roof. – Use a rake to remove any snow from your roof that you can reach from the ground.
A few steps now can save thousands later. Stay warm, stay dry, and enjoy the snow!
This has been your Winter Weather Advisory from your local Fairfield Realtor, Linda Raymond with William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance.
Bonus: When you buy a home with Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage and Insurance, you qualify for a $500 cash bonus at closing!
@jorgeriveramortgage @robertsreade
Call or message me to learn more, 203-912-4440
Thinking of selling in the next 12 months? Call for your complimentary consultation.
If only I had a nearby home office that could double as a guest space… I want my parents to downsize and live near us, but there just aren’t many options…. We need a smart retirement plan that reduces net living expenses and allows us to travel! I wish we had an income-producing opportunity on our existing property…
What is an ADU?
An ADU is a permanent living space that sits on the property of an existing home and includes its own entrance, sleeping quarters, a bathroom, and a parking space. It can be attached, detached, or even within the existing home. The ADU shares utility connections from the main house and is a fixed structure that is subject to all local zoning and permitting regulations. It can be as small as under 300 square feet or as large as around 1,000 square feet or more, depending on the town regulations. ADUs are permanent residences, unlike mobile homes or tiny homes, that are temporary in nature.
Cool Features
State of the art ADU construction emphasizes sustainability, accessibility, clever design, and excellent use of space. Some even have basements as a relatively inexpensive way to add utility within the footprint.
Accessibility features may include an elevator, barrier-free shower access (walk or roll right in!), shower grab bars, and easy handles in the kitchen.
Solar panels and insulated panel construction are examples of sustainability features
To maximize space, hanging toilets are often used, where much of the unit sits behind the wall. A spiral stair case or mini elevator can be great space-savers, and rooms with Murphy beds enable multi-purpose use. A design that allows for ample natural light is key in maximizing the feeling of spaciousness.
What Are the Benefits of an ADU?
Referred to as “the perfect housing solution” by expert and author of several books on the subject, Sheri Khoones, ADUs can serve many purposes. They can be a great solution, for blended families, adult children, live-in care-givers, vacation space, guests, office space, aging in place near family, earning rental income, and adding value to your property.
How Long Does it Take to Add an ADU?
You are essentially building a home, though small, so all of the same steps apply. These include a survey, feasibility determination, site work, permitting and approval process, design, material orders, utility connections, and inspections. It can take three to six months for the materials to arrive after town approvals. Therefore, the timing can range from six to 12 months.
How Much Does it Cost?
The cost can range from $250,000 to $450,000 for a detached ADU in Fairfield County. The key variables are size, whether it’s attached or detached, the site work, utility requirements, building methods, such as pre-fabricated or not, customization, and finishes. Other areas in Connecticut may cost less. A converted garage would also cost less.
=> Inspiration – For more information and inspiration about ADUs in Connecticut and across the country, local author, Sheri Koones has written a number of books.
=> Town Regulations
Zoning regulations vary by town, and ADUs fall under the Affordable Housing department. CoThese are some of the key regulations for ADUs in Fairfield:
Ownership: The principal owner must occupy either the main house or the ADU.
Size: The ADU cannot exceed 40% of the floor area of the existing house or 1,500 square feet, whichever is less.
Attached: An ADU must be attached to the primary residence in R-2, A, B, and C zones, unless a variance is approved.
Detached: An ADU can be detached in AAA, AA, and R-3 zones.
Occupancy: Maximum of 2 people for standard ADUs, or 3 people if designated as affordable housing.
Parking: At least one off-street parking space is required.
Rental Period: Units cannot be rented for less than 60 consecutive days.
Design & Location: Detached or attached ADUs are allowed, including garage conversions.
Approval Process: The Town Plan and Zoning and Health Departments must approve all projects, which often includes submitting an A-2 survey.
Conforming: Lots must be conforming, or a variance would be needed.
Affordable Housing: ADUs can qualify for affordable housing subject to town and Connecticut 8-30g regulations.
The links below provide more information on zoning regulations in nearby towns and how to proceed if you want to add an accessory apartment to your home.
By Linda Raymond, CT Realtor® | William Raveis Southport | NAR Green Designee
Did you know that most U.S. homes are not built for energy efficiency? In fact, over half of all homes were built before 1980, according to National Home Builders Association, citing the ACS 2021 Survey. New construction has been declining, and the median home age has climbed to 40 years. That means we’re moving away from energy efficiency at a time when conservation matters most.
But here’s the good news: you don’t need a brand-new home to live sustainably! 🌿 With the right upgrades, retrofitting an existing home can cut energy use by up to 70%, per NAR. That’s a huge opportunity to save money, increase comfort, and boost home value.
🌟 What Makes a Home “High-Performance”?
A high-performance home isn’t just energy-efficient—it’s healthier, more comfortable, and cost-effective to maintain. Key features include: ✅ Better Insulation & Windows – Keeps temperatures stable year-round ✅ Efficient Heating & Cooling – Reduces energy waste and lowers bills ✅ Smart Water Use – Saves money and conserves resources ✅ Improved Indoor Air Quality – Filters out pollutants for a healthier home
🔥 Why This Matters Now
Energy costs are rising, and climate concerns are growing. The homes we already live in hold the key to a more sustainable future. Small improvements—like upgrading appliances, sealing air leaks, or adding solar—can make a big impact. And if you’re thinking of selling? Buyers are increasingly prioritizing energy-efficient features when choosing a home.
NAR: “The survey revealed that an overwhelming 63% of respondents recognized the value of promoting energy efficiency in property listings. As the awareness of environmental issues grows, buyers increasingly prioritize energy-efficient features that reduce their carbon footprint and lead to cost savings in the long run.”
Want to explore eco-friendly upgrades or find a home that’s already optimized for efficiency? Let’s connect!
📩 Stay in the Know! Sign up for my e-newsletter for more expert insights on homes, market trends, and smart real estate moves.
Committing to highly ambitious New Year’s resolutions may be as American as apple pie, but then so too is the tendency to call it quits before they’ve been realized, with nearly one in four of us jumping ship within the first week alone. So we’ve put together a list of resolutions that come with such a high return on your investment (ROI), even if you only hit one, you’ll be in pretty good shape.
Better yet, nearly all of these New Year’s resolutions come with rebates or tax credits via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, so you really won’t have an excuse to not get started.
Here’s to a happy, healthy 2025!
1. Lower Cost, Good ROI: Smart Thermostats
If you’re anything like the average U.S. household, nearly half of your annual home energy expenditures go toward heating and cooling, which nets out to more than $900 each year. What if you could pay less in the year ahead?
One simple solution may help you do so: installing a smart thermostat.
But what do these smart thermostats even do, exactly? Like most of today’s latest-and-greatest smart home tech, smart thermostats bridge the physical and digital, enabling you to do more than just, say, adjust the temperature in your house. Instead, these thermostats use your input and preferences as a starting point, then automate and optimize your home’s energy settings from there, with the goal of striking an ideal balance between sustainability, on the one hand, and comfort, on the other.
Just be sure to pick up a model that has earned the ENERGY STAR® label: These smart thermostats are powered by algorithms based on 12 months or more of real-world energy-usage data in similar homes, for starters. Rigorously and independently certified and tested, these models must be able to demonstrate efficacy regardless of climate, too. Finally, studies show that these smart thermostats — and these smart thermostats alone — reduce household energy bills by around 8% on average. Adopted at scale, what’s more, smart thermostats might curb U.S. carbon emissions by as much as 18 billion pounds annually.
So getting a new, smart thermostat for your home in the new year is a smart move for many reasons. It’s also easy to do, and local utilities may even offer rebates when you buy (check Green Door for those). Note that in some cases, depending on how your heating and cooling systems are wired, you may need to have a qualified electrician on hand.
2. Medium Cost, Great ROI: Attic Insulation and Air Sealing
Best-in-class insulation for attics is a key ingredient of most high-performing homes, for reasons that are fairly straightforward to explain.
As you probably remember from high school science class, heat moves from warmer to cooler areas, which can result in warm air escaping through un- or under-insulated areas in your home. During the warmer months, the opposite is true, with equally undesirable results: Hot air streams in through gaps in your insulation, thereby pushing cold air out of your home, decreasing the efficacy of air conditioners and increasing home energy costs in turn.
Both scenarios can result in needlessly high energy bills, which is why, according to the EPA, you stand to save 15% on heating and cooling costs — or around 11% on overall energy costs — by adding insulation and air sealing your home. This is also one of the reasons why, within our scoring system at Pearl, attic insulation earns a relatively high number of points toward a Silver, Gold, or Platinum Pearl Certification — it’s an investment you ideally make once that has a huge impact for years to come. Plus, you can save on installation costs with rebates and tax credits under the IRA and other programs.
3. Higher Cost, Excellent ROI: Energy-Efficient Windows
After making initial headway with the addition of smart thermostats and attic insulation, the next logical step is window replacements. After all, these investments further insulate your building shell and provide a level of protection from extreme weather events. They can also pay for themselves rather quickly.
While you’re at it, just be sure to dial in to the specific needs of your home. And be sure to look for rebates and tax credits in Green Door — there’s opportunity to save significantly, particularly if you’re ordering at volume.
Finally, use the Green Door app to identify a local solar Pearl Network Contractor to help you calculate potential cost savings and arrive at the right budget. Only Pearl Network Contractors can use the Pearl Solar Equity Calculator® to calculate a 20-year discounted cash flow using certified contractor data, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) software, and Freddie Mac’s 30-year mortgage rate. With the report you’ll better understand the cost, savings, and value of your solar investment.
5. Higher Cost, Excellent ROI Resolution: Electric Vehicles
The future of U.S. transportation is, in many respects, already here in the form of electric vehicles (EVs), with huge implications for not only the future of greenhouse gas emissions but the health and well-being of your pocketbook in the present day.
For starters, consider the near-term gains: Going anywhere in an EV costs as little as $0.84 per gallon-equivalent, which is fully 66% less than the $2.50-per-gallon average you would expect to pay in a carbon-emitting alternative. So everyjourney should confer some measure of cost savings in your new vehicle — and by putting the “EV” in “every,” you’ll be helping to offset the cost of that investment right off the bat.
Of course, not everyone will be realistically in the market for a vehicle upgrade in 2025, which is why we saved this sustainability investment for last. Still, you shouldn’t overlook the potential upside of doing so down the road. It’s the one performance upgrade that has the power to literally take you to new places each and every day — and to transform your experience of transport in the year ahead, too.
Improving your home’s energy efficiency, shrinking your overall carbon footprint, and realizing significant cost savings over the near and long term are attainable resolutions for every homeowner in 2025 — especially as states roll out their IRA rebates programs. Just be sure to take it one step at a time and to prioritize projects based on your financial goals. That’ll better position you for success, shorten your timeline to impact, and ensure you see the expected ROI.
Thank you to @nearandfaraid for a lovely luncheon at La Plage in Westport to thank the fundraising volunteers! Near and Far Aid is here to help change lives and give everyone in Fairfield County a fair shot by supporting programs that support Fairfield County families.
The newest fundraising event kicked off the summer at Fairfield beach’s Penfield Pavilion: Soirée of Summer with music, dancing, food and drinks!
If you would love life at Fairfield Beach or nearby, reach out, and let’s have a conversation.
Fairfield and Westport CT Real Estate Guide 