Rising energy costs are causing buyers to think twice about the type of house they want.  Here in New London County, we are behind the rest of the state in Green Building, but we are catching up quickly!

If a buyer was looking for this particular type of house 6-12 months ago, with or without the help of a REALTOR, their options would have been limited.   They would most likely search the internet and most of the sites they would find are national internet listing sites.  There are limited resources for local buyers looking for Eco-Friendly homes.

Although there may not be a lot of demand right now, what we do have are buyers who are interested in keeping their families healthy, who are interested in saving money on energy costs, and who will say that their ‘next house' will be more eco-friendly.  Maybe not to save the world, but to save on their energy costs.  This is where the REALTOR who is knowledgeable about Green building comes in.

Just like when you purchase a new refrigerator and you expect it to be more efficient than your old one, your buyers will purchase a new construction home and assume it will be more efficient than the drafty one they are moving from.  And even though this is usually a fact, that doesn't mean that it's as efficient and energy saving as it could be with the right products.

Unless you have a buyer who has taken the time to educate themselves, this will be where you will come in.  You'll need to educate them on the features and benefits of the products that go into a home to make it more energy efficient.

What I have found by meeting with several prospective buyers for Greenbrier, a new community in Oakdale, CT is that they don't always understand what they can't see.  Someone can see granite countertops and appreciate it and see the value.  But soy based foam insulation vs. fiberglass?  Passive Solar?  Low-E argon windows?   These things and many more will need to be explained for them to see the benefits and the savings for them down the line.

Also something to think about is that Green building is not an all or nothing approach.  Buyer's think it's too expensive to build green.  Your buyers can customize what they need or what is more important to them, and even keep in mind products they may add on later.  For example if your buyer's purchasing power doesn't allow for a Photo Voltaic System now, knowing that they will be installing one down the line will help them make some key decisions while building.

Like so many other REALTORS, I'm still learning.   What I have found is that the average buyer wants to save money on energy costs, but needs to be educated on what will get them there.   And if building an energy efficient house that saves them money on their energy bill is also good for the environment, it's a great thing.

Visit the website of the above mentioned subdivision at www.arkgreenbrier.com

Till next time!

Krystal