Buyers See Green

Every home buyer is looking for a great house for a great value and every seller is looking to sell their house quickly . In this economy, good deals are fairly easy to come by. For those selling to buyers who are not the renovating, fix-it up type, what can distinguish your house from the multitude that are sitting on the market? Low operating costs. Buyers are looking for energy efficient, cost efficient living. Rising energy prices and overall increases in cost of living are impacting the features buyers are looking for in a home. Realtors across the country are listing “green” features as marketing tool for sellers. Fortunately, there are several options for upgrading to green without emptying your wallet (and tax credits are available to help toward lowering the costs of upgrades, also).

Furnace/AC - If the systems are nearing the end of their life spans consider replacing them with new high-efficiency models. This is a costly option for sellers. Other options for making your furnace/AC more energy efficient include:
* Consider an electrostatic furnace filter. Because it is permanent and easy to maintain (wash it off) it eliminates unnecessary waste of disposable fiberglass filters. It also removes a higher percentage of pollutants from the air. Which ever filter you have, be sure to clean or change it each month during winter months.
* Seal ducts. It is estimated that 25% (or more) of the air traveling through the ducts ends up some other place than its intended location. Leaky ducts are a huge waste of energy.
* Install duct wrappers. Insulation is placed on ducts that pass through attics or unheated crawl spaces to keep from wasting energy.

* Install programmable thermostats to help regulate temperatures and conserve energy when you are away from home.

Windows and Doors- Replace windows and doors with Energy Star products. Other green options include:
* Caulk and seal windows to keep cold air from seeping in during winter months and hot air during summer months.
* Storm windows/Solar screens - Less expensive than replacement, these options can drastically improve your home’s energy efficiency.
* Weather strip doors - There are many options available for upgrading weather stripping.
* Storm Door - Less expensive than replacing exterior doors, but adds many energy efficient benefits including insulation, and the ability to stop drafts.

Water Heater - Replace existing water heaters with tankless water heaters. They can be 24% more energy efficient than conventional water heaters with storage tanks.
Other water conservation additions and upgrades include installation of:
* Low flow toilets, faucets, and reduced-flow showerheads
* Faucet Aerators - reduce flow rate of water on older sink faucets (these can be added on to existing faucets).

Attic Insulation - This is a cost-effective upgrade and one of the best ways to boost the energy efficiency of your house. There are many types of insulation including fiberglass, cellulose, and polystyrene board.
* Radiant heat barriers are another green upgrade that will reduce energy bills.

These green repairs and upgrades will make your house energy efficient, support lowering the negative impact on the environment by conserving resources and lowering energy usage, and make your home more appealing to buyers. If these repairs and upgrades are outside of your budget and you are interested in selling your house quickly contact 1-800-BUYER-44 or visit www.homevestorsfranchise.com