About John Bassette

People John Bassette In the Winterlooking to move to Vermont are not just looking to buy a home. They are looking to create or find a lifestyle. They’re looking to experience a part of this little bit of paradise and charm that Vermont has to offer.

For two generations, real estate has been the Bassette Family Business

I’ve been lucky enough to live much of my childhood and adult life in Vermont. Helping people find and create their ideal real estate lifestyle has been a big part of my Vermont experience. As a teenager, in the 1970s, I brought vacation-home renters who were clients of my father (also John Bassette Realtor) to their properties in and around the Quechee area.

The decision to follow in my father’s footsteps should come as no surprise. I officially joined his real estate firm, one of the largest in the Upper Valley, in the early 1980s. As a broker, I helped prospective homeowners from Greenwich or Boston find that perfect escape from the busyness of their hectic lives. People who were seeking the same thing that I experienced every day in the hills of Hartland and surrounding Woodstock VT. 

Adapting to the changing business of real estateJohn Bassette with Elizabeth and Kathryn

In 40+ years in the business, I have become well acquainted with the needs and requirements of people relocating to Vermont, seeking second- and vacation-home ownership, or looking to purchase investment properties. As a result, I am a skilled advisor in real estate transactions and am always looking for ways to add more value to my relationships with my clients. That is why I am an early adopter of technologies and was an early advocate and designee of Buyer Brokerage and the Accredited Buyer Broker (ABR) philosophy so I could offer more to my Buyer clients as they searched for their perfect Vermont home, their perfect Vermont experience. 

Being attuned to your needs is my greatest asset

But most important to you and the buying process, I am a great listener, problem solver, and advocate for my clients. I have experience and skill in finding you your perfect real estate, whether you are looking for a vacation home, a condo in Woodstock village, a secluded home with majestic views of the White or Green Mountains, or a multi-million-dollar family compound with vast acreage and seclusion. I attended Middlebury College and the University of Vermont and graduated with a psychology degree with a heavy emphasis in religion, counseling, and philosophy. Frankly, a perfect blend to help solve the “human problem” of housing and lifestyle living.

What Vermont means to me - Family

Vermont has been an ideal place to grow up and raise my family. I have been married to my lovely wife, Donna-Lee, for over 40 years, and we have 9 children (6 boys and 3 girls) from 36 down to 20. Five of our sons have attended West Point and are officers in the United States Army. My oldest daughter graduated from Cedarville University in Ohio and is a Registered Nurse living in the Denver area. The next daughter graduated from Hillsdale College in Michigan and that bundle of energy was a scholarship pole vaulter in a Div. 2 program now living in Louisiana. The last two children (boy - currently at Cedarville in the ROTC program; girl - finished homeschooling and also attending Cedarville) were competitive nationally ranked Nordic ski racers.

Apart from beingRunning with Kathryn at the Vermont 50 a fully involved Dad, I take advantage of the myriad outdoor activities Vermont has to offer, especially winter sports. I was a member of the United States Ski Team in the late 1970s, was the United States Ski Jumping Champion in 1978/79, helped/participated in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics as a test jumper (bad day at the Olympic trials), and was inducted into the US Ski Hall of Fame. My adventures in the Lake Placid Olympics included being the lead test jumper to make sure the hills were safe (read DANGEROUS). I was the only one who could handle 50 miles per hour crosswinds in a windblown 120-meter ski jump that NO ONE should have been jumping on! If I crashed then the hill wasn't safe...think Guinea pig. Yikes!

When I am not participating in local volunteer activities, my family and I enjoy running, hiking, hunting, biking, and cross-country skiing. I ran and finished the Vermont 50-mile Ultra-Marathon with my Hillsdale daughter, while we took turns complaining, and I am training for the Vermont 100. Our family has produced some high-achieving athletes who hold various state records and numerous State Championships in a variety of sports. As a way of giving back to my community for all that Vermont has given me, I've served on the Woodstock Ski Runners board and coached track at the Woodstock Union High School.

I live the daily lifestyle many people come to Vermont to enjoy. I mix work and pleasure every day (really they are the same thing for me). I would love the opportunity to help you create a lifestyle you enjoy, starting with your perfect Upper Valley home. Give me a call on my cell at 802-280-5977 if you need help finding your Vermont or New Hampshire dream. Better yet, give a call or email to one of our exceptional agents and they can help you too!