Green Tips to Sell Your House
Green homes are big news now. If you’re getting ready to sell your house, keep in mind that adding eco-friendly touches will make it more attractive—especially for buyers who are attracted to mountain homes and the Colorado lifestyle. Depending on your situation, you may or may not be making major renovations before putting your home on the market. There are some major changes that will make your home very attractive to green home buyers, but even if you’re simply tidying up or replacing a few outdated appliances, there are steps you can take to make your home more sustainable. Here are a few tips for every level of home improvement:
Before You Start
Before you make any green home changes, and certainly before your first appraisal, get a home energy audit done. Your local utility company may offer to do energy audits for free, or you may choose to do your own. The Daily Green blog from Good Housekeeping will walk you through the steps of auditing your own home. You’ll learn how efficient our home already is (so you’ll be able to tell potential buyers), and you may discover problems that can be easily and inexpensively fixed.
Simple Changes
When you’re doing basic cleaning and tidying up before your first showing, make these small, green changes:
• Replace your home’s light bulbs with energy-saving CFL or LED bulbs.
• Seal any air leaks in your walls, windows, and doorjambs.
• Wherever you repaint or re-stain, choose low-VOC products. These emit fewer toxic fumes. Be sure to tell potential buyers that you’ve chosen low-VOC paints and stains. People with chemical sensitivities and parents of young children will especially appreciate this.
• Clean your home the green way. Our blog post on natural cleaning supplies will tell you how to make your own, which are usually less expensive than standard, chemical-laden cleaners.
Green Replacements
If these items in your home need to be replaced, you may as well do that in an eco-friendly way:
• For appliances, check the Energy Star rating of the replacements you’re considering, and choose the most energy efficient one.
• If your hot water heater needs to be replaced, consider installing a tankless heater, which heats water only when the shower or sink faucet is turned on, instead of storing hot water, as traditional systems do. Your buyers will enjoy the convenience of never having to wait for a water tank to fill, as well as lower energy bills.
• If your landscaping needs work, choose plants that are native to the area. They’ll be easier for your buyers to care for and will need less water—an especially attractive feature in Colorado’s dry climate.
Major Renovations
Keep in mind that, as real estate broker Lara Williams explains, not all renovations will fetch you a higher selling price. Consider carefully whether the big changes you’re considering will be worth the investment, but if you do decide to go for major eco home improvements, consider these:
• Solar panels: Installing photovoltaic panels to generate electricity from sunlight can add significant value to your home. If you opt for these, be sure to thoroughly explain to potential buyers how much they’ll save on utility bills over the years. You may reclaim the cost of the installation, but only if buyers completely understand the benefits.
• Water reclamation systems: The RealLiving Real Estate blog points out that a “grey water” reclamation system, which reuses water from household drains to irrigate the lawn and garden, can save a home thousands of gallons of water each year.
The Staff at San Juan Realty, Inc.
