These eco-friendly tips make your home more marketable — and cheaper to live in
Using compact fluorescent light bulbs and other energy-saving lights are a good way to make a home more marketable, says Realtor Jenni Stolarski. (Arnold Wayne Jones/Dallas Voice)
JEF TINGLEY | Contributing Writer
With images of melting ice caps and dying polar bears populating headlines and newsfeeds, now more than ever is the time for individuals to think about the effect of their carbon footprint on the world. And while improving car emissions and switching to reusable water bottles are good places to start in the journey to being more environmentally aware, there are also many ways around the house to conserve energy and resources, too. Better yet, these simple steps may help your home become more desirable when buying or selling.
“It’s smart to be aware of everything about a house that makes it more green, because those things will save homeowners money,” says Steve Atkinson, a realtor with Keller Williams Urban. “This includes items like high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, extra insulation, radiant barriers on roofs, and the right kind of windows. A home doesn’t have to be built to green standards or have a green [LEED] designation in order to have many environmentally friendly components that save natural resources and money on utility bills.”
In the construction industry the term LEED — meaning Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design — is a coveted certification to achieve for any project as it designates that the highest levels of efficiency was taken to ensure that the property is as green as possible. LEED certification can be challenging for non-new construction given dated materials, such as paints and woods, but buyers and sellers can still strive toward a more eco-savvy residence with small, yet measurable, changes.
For home sellers, Realtor Jenni Stolarski with Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty recommends “greening up their home to put it on the market, without spending money that won’t pay them back.” She suggests cleaning HVAC system and filters, as it not only improves functionality, but can save the seller money. When it comes to lighting options, Stolarski points out that switching to CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs can also be a money and energy saver as they use one-fifth to one-third the electric power, and last eight to 15 times longer than incandescent lamps.
For homebuyers, Stolarski says start with an insulation check. “If the home doesn’t have the proper amount of insulation, it’s fairly cost efficient to add.” She also recommends switching the most-used water fixtures to low-flow options, starting with commodes and sink faucets.
Jeff Duffey, a Realtor with Jeff Duffey & Associates, agrees on increasing water usage efficiency.
“[Homeowners] should prioritize investing in tankless, on-demand water heaters,” he says. “Not only are they green and energy efficient, but their compact size also allows many homeowners to gain extra closet space where the old 50-gallon tube used to sit.”
And whether buying or selling, real estate experts agree homeowners should think about the outside of the home as well as what’s inside. Well-planned landscaping will not only increase curb appeal, it can also impact a home’s green bottom line.
“Property owners are wise to consider and use plants in their landscaping that require little water,” says Atkinson. “Water is one of our most precious resources, and we are in danger of North Texas facing a severe water shortage in the future.”
Consider adding trees to the landscape as well; they can add both to the property’s resale value but also provide shade, which can help cut electricity costs during those scorching Texas summers. (To help find the right tree and planting location, Stolarski recommends consulting TexasTrees.org.)
Despite Kermit the Frog’s admonition in a classic song, maybe it really is kind of easy being green: Change a bulb, clean a filter, plant some trees, and you’ll do your part to maximize your home’s efficiency … and, who knows, maybe save a polar bear or two along the way.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 7, 2014.