Selling a House in Harrisburg PA - Green Tips for Your Home

Selling a House in Harrisburg PA - Green Tips for Your Home    When it comes to selling a house in an environmentally friendly way, Kermit the Frog had it wrong. It is easy being green.

 

 

            With so many homebuyers seeking green features in the homes they consider, selling a house while creating an eco-friendly atmosphere for the buyer doesn't always mean costly fixes.

            It's always nice for a homebuyer who's been touring houses all day to find water or a snack waiting for them in your kitchen. Instead of leaving the customary bottled water, go the eco-friendly route and have a pitcher of filtered tap water at the ready. Add some organic fruits and vegetables and keep trash minimized. Also, use glassware and plates instead of plastic cups and paper plates. This practice is not only green, it shows class.

            Talk with your agent about using recycled paper for all your brochures and advertisements around the neighborhood. Someone who is environmentally conscious will appreciate the effort.

            Another way to acting "green" while selling a house, is during your de-cluttering stage. Remove furniture and other items from your home prior to the home's listing. Instead of simply throwing out all those things you no longer want prior to selling a house, you can recycle, resell at a garage sale, donate to a charity, or give away the items at the popular website Freecycle.com.

            Big fixes around the home can go a long way to selling a house. In this age of global warming and high-energy costs, more buyers are looking for houses that embrace energy conservation. The simplest upgrade is to replace all the light bulbs in the home with CFLs (compact fluorescents), which use a quarter of the electricity as regular bulbs.

            To help with heating while selling a house, make sure cracks are tightly caulked and leaks are sealed. Doing so can reduce your annual heating bill by $100, according to Department of Energy figures.

            Justin Barnes, a policy analyst for the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, said some of the easiest green fixes deal with appliance replacement. Most of today's appliances are highly efficient and will reduce your energy bills. They're also more attractive than their worn-out predecessors, which will definitely aid in selling a house!

            Barnes also suggests replacing doors and windows if the budget allows, and looking for better ways to insulate the home. 

            Also consider tankless water heaters, even if not selling a house! These are energy efficient and ultimately use less water during the heating process.

           Don't be afraid to boast about your green home and any recent enhancements while selling a house. Working with your agent to highlight your eco-friendly features may just be what makes the difference in completing the sale. Call me for more guidance. You have access to nearly 40 years of real estate experience between the two of us! At your service for selling a house!  Contact us at 717 514-1793 or Ken@KensHomesales.com