Are you preparing your home for sale and wondering what you can do to make it more appealing in a slow real estate market? Did you consider trying to make your home more green and eco friendly? Green homes are becoming increasingly popular. Not only do buyers want to do something good for the environment, but rising energy costs have all of us thinking more about energy efficiency.
Here are the top secrets for "green home" changes that will make your house more appealing to green consumers:
Upgrade your Appliances to Energy Star: Consider a few well-placed Energy Star rated appliances such as the dishwasher, washer and dryer, and range. They don't have to be the most expensive models, just more energy efficient. Offering a home with green appliances is an added bonus to prospective buyers who might be struggling to come up with a down payment and who otherwise might be unable to afford purchasing home appliances on their own.
Upgrade Older Windows: One of the first things a buyer will notice is the exterior of the home. Outdated and inefficient aluminum windows are a quick turn-off to prospective buyers. Offering a home that has a set of brand new windows is one sure way to convince prospective buyers that the house has been updated and taken care of. While this is one of the more expensive upgrades you might make, it could make the difference in a competitive market to make your house sell more quickly.
Replace Outdated Fixtures with Energy Efficient Models: This includes plumbing fixtures as well as light fixtures. Use low-flow shower fashion jackets heads, tankless water heaters, and energy efficient light fixtures with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Update Tired Carpet and Outdated Flooring: Just like the exterior and the walls, the floors will get a ton of attention from prospective home buyers. So be sure to replace any outdated or dingy flooring with modern sustainable materials such as cork, reclaimed wood, or bamboo.
Take Care of Easy Fixes: One of the best ways to make a home more energy efficient is to install an adjustable thermostat to control the temperature, plus this is an easy thing to take care of and install.
Paint the Walls - Use a green eco-friendly paint (such as no-VOC) in neutral tones! Every Realtor knows that a fresh coat of paint can make the difference between a house sitting around on the market forever, and a quick sale. And by using eco-friendly "green" paints instead of those with harmful vapors, you can advertise the safety and health of the home as well. Don't use glaring or bright colors--not everyone has the same sense of style that you do. Houses with white or neutral paint colors are shown to sell faster.
Green Advertising - Try to find an educated Eco Realtor to list your house for sale. They will understand the importance of marketing. Be sure to heavily advertise all of the green features in the sales copy, fliers, and all marketing materials published about the home.
These helpful tips should help you to make your house stand out to green consumers, and can make the difference in selling your home more quickly, especially in competitive or slow real estate markets.
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