Sell your Home Faster with Green Remodeling
Regardless of where you live, these days it can be difficult to sell
your home. Prices and sales have declined so much that many experts have
stated that the current real estate market is the most difficult since
the Great Depression. In spite of lagging sales and falling prices, some
homeowners simply do not have the luxury of waiting for the market to
pick back up before they put their home on the market. In such
situations, it is important to know what to do when you absolutely must
sell your home fast.
The reasons for a quick sale could vary significantly and may include
moving for a job or the need to move into a bigger home because your
family is expanding. Whatever the reason may be you should know that you
can gain an advantage over the competition if you know how to make some
savvy 'green' renovations. There are numerous benefits to using green
techniques when it comes to remodeling your home, including the ability
to cut back on monthly utility bills, enjoy cleaner indoor air quality
and help out the environment. What you may not have considered is that
green remodeling may also help you to sell your home faster and possibly
for even more money.
Today buyers have a number of options to choose from in terms of
inventory. There are simply so many homes for sale on the market right
now that buyers can easily afford to be choosey and wait until they find
the home that strikes the right chord with them. Many of the buyers
looking to purchase today are interested in homes that are eco-friendly.
Unfortunately, the number of homes that meet those guidelines are few
and far between. Therefore, it only stands to reason that if you want to
make your home stand out in this market, the smartest thing you can do
is engage in some green remodeling.
In fact, some real estate agents have reported that sales have been far
better for homes that are energy efficient. The topic has become so
popular that a multiple listing service has emerged which lists green
properties for sale around the world. In order to be listed on the site,
the home must meet exacting standards.
If you are interested in remodeling your home to make it more energy
efficient, there are simple techniques you can use.
First, focus on energy efficiency. Given the fact that utility bills
around the country have escalated over the past few years as a result of
higher gas and oil prices as well as water shortages, buyers are keenly
interested in homes that are energy efficient. The goal is to make sure
that any improvements made to the property will boost energy efficiency.
Those improvements should result in lower monthly utility bills over
time. Also, make sure you keep records of how those improvements have
resulted in savings and then provide comparisons regarding savings in
your home compared to the typical bills for similarly sized homes within
your neighborhood.
There are many small things that you can do to make such changes,
including replacing the standard light bulbs in your home with CFLs or
compact fluorescents. CFLS actually use one-fourth of the electricity as
standard bulbs.
In addition, you might also consider upgrading any appliances that are
outdated or use too much energy with Energy Star certified appliances.
Appliances that are certified as Energy Star will save you between 10%
and 50% in terms of energy.
You should also make sure that all cracks are caulked and that you have
sealed any leaks. This may sound like a simple step but it can save you
$100 on your heating bill, according to the Department of Energy.
While energy efficiency is important, many buyers today are also looking
for homes that are as healthy as possible. This is particularly
important to buyers who suffer from asthma, allergies, etc. Get rid of
old carpets and expose hardwood floors if they are present or replace
the carpet with new hardwood flooring or eco-friendly carpeting. Along
the same lines, you should also call someone in to asses the possibility
of asbestos and or lead paint in your home if it is older.
Finally, seriously consider hiring a consultant to perform an energy
audit on your home. This can be a tremendous selling point when it comes
time to put your home on the market, especially with eco-conscious
buyers. Also, don't overlook the possibility of qualifying for possible
federal, state or local tax credits to offset the cost of going green.
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