Transforming a home into a Green Home can add value to a property, making it more desirable for environmentally-conscious buyers and reducing overall energy bills. By making a few updates and quick fixes, such as adding energy saving light bulbs, appliances, and high-efficiency water heaters, sellers can add both enticing new features and legitimate value to a home. Here’s a place to get started, and why they’re important selling points worth mentioning to potential buyers.
Simple Green Updates to Homes
Add a Green Home Energy Tracker – Keep track of energy output of individual appliances and electronics for between $20 and $50 or have a home-monitoring device installed for around $250, which will track overall electrical usage and provide real-time feedback on energy consumption and waste. A large variety of in-home energy trackers and monitors are currently available on the market, and new technology is syncing them with devices like smartphones and tablets. Continue reading »
If you’re planning on attending the REALTORS
® Conference & Expo in Anaheim this November, you’re definitely going to benefit from the opportunity to network with colleagues and sharpen your marketing skills. You may not be aware that there are a number of pre-conference training courses that will give you a leg up on the competition.
There are roughly two days of courses you can register for that take place before the conference. We think the following are some courses of particular value: Continue reading »
The green movement, like social media, hybrid cars, and Justin Bieber, is no longer a trend, it’s here to stay. As demand grows for sustainably built homes and buildings, the consumer grows savvier and the competition gets craftier.
“Greenwashing,” the practice of falsely claiming to be green, unfortunately runs rampant in the real estate industry. It takes an educated approach to tell which structures are truly green and which are simply taking advantage of the hot market. For this reason, consumers are turning to industry experts to guide them through the process of purchasing a green building. Make sure you are one of those experts by earning The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Green Designation.
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Green Designation was established in the spring of 2008 in response to growing demand. The program launched that fall and as of March 2010, over 4,000 individuals have been awarded the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Green Designation and membership to the Green REsource Council, a unique community that connects like-minded REALTORS® green agents, brokers and property managers, working to green their businesses and their lives.
Recent studies suggest that green homes sell faster and for more money than their non-energy saving counterparts. According to a report by GreenWorks Realty in Seattle, new homes certified green sold for 22 percent more per square foot and spent 12 percent less time on the market than their traditional counterparts. As a NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Green Designee, you’ll receive the training and resources to take advantage of these opportunities. Ongoing education about green materials, energy efficient technology, and green incentives will enable you to become a leader in the marketplace.
The demand for green will only continue to grow. Put yourself at the forefront of the green movement, and let the customers come to you. It’s not only the right thing for the environment and for the next generation, it’s the right thing for your business.
