If you are a home seller looking for a way to make your house stand apart from the rest, consider making your home more environmentally friendly. Home buyers of all income levels are looking for environmentally friendly properties and in this challenging housing market of today, sellers are looking for new ways to attract buyers. Making a home greener with cleaner air quality may just be the answer to getting more interest. Below are a few steps homeowners can use to make their home more environmentally friendly:
Buy Applicances that use less water and electricity.
Many companies sell appliances like washing machines and dishwashers which use 10-15% less energy and water than standard models. Not only are the appliances using less, but they save money when it comes to the electricity and water bills.
Use Environmentally Friendly Flooring
A wood floor produced without VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) keeps the air clean in the house. Cork flooring helps maintain a constant air temperature in the room thanks to it’s natural thermal insulation properties and is a renewable resource. This is because only the cork bark is trimmed from the tree and the cork oak trees continue living. In addition, cork has a waxy substance called suberin, which repels bugs, mold, mites and even termites, keeping allergens at bay.
Change Lights with Energy Efficient Models
According to the U.S. Department of Energy ENERGY STAR program, if every American home replaced it’s five most frequently used lights, such as kitchen, outdoor post lamps, living room table lamps etc. with fixtures that have earned the ENERGY STAR, almost $8 billion would be saved each year in energy costs and greenhouse gasses reduced at the rate of almost 10 million.
Remember, money and time isn’t the only things you are saving! You can feel good about these changes not just because it will give you the edge of selling your home, but because you are doing your part to save the Earth! If you interested in learning more about creating a “green’ home and it’s impact on potential buyers, contact us today and see how we can help you!
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It’s time to kick off the San Mateo holiday season! Make plans for Friday, November 18th to attend the Hillsdale Shopping Center’s annual tree lighting ceremony which will include bell ringers, crafts and other entertainment.
San Mateo County residents