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The New GREEN STAGING CHECKLIST - Please add on!

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Industry Observer with not listed

January 25, 2007 06:50 PM

CALL FOR IDEAS TO CREATE THE GREEN STAGING CHECKLIST.

I would like to use this incredibly powerful forum to begin amassing a checklist for GREEN Staging. What are all the ways that the staging process can stay or become GREEN? The goal is to both protect the environment AND protect the indoor air quality of the home, helping the planet and ensuring the health of future occupants. I would love to hear from you.

Here is a STARTER GREEN STAGING CHECKLIST, in no particular order:

Use Non-Toxic Paint. Please see my earlier blog Environmentally Friendly Staging for more information.

Recycle clutter and trash.

Use high efficiency lightbulbs.

Give every homeowner a gift copy of the book My House Is Killing Me by Jeffrey May BEFORE they start work on their home. Please see details in my earlier blog Responsible Staging - Safe Indoor Air Quality.

Completely seal all heating and AC vents BEFORE ANY work is done in the home that could stir up particulates or fumes -- lead dust, sanding of floors, sealing of floors, even painting. I was shocked to learn FROM EXPERTS that, no matter who you hire, you can never entirely clean out the HVAC system once particulates and other matter has been sucked in and circulated.

Avoid all air fresheners and plug in scents. Not only are they questionable for indoor air quality, many people are allergic to them. Thanks to Judith Clausen for that reminder!

Use non-toxic lawn chemicals.

Before dealing with ANY MOLD PROBLEMS, consult an expert. Many times, people make the problem FAR WORSE, by tearing into moldy dry wall and releasing harmful mold spores into the air (and again, circulating them through the house via the force hot air heating and cooling system.)

Urge anyone replacing heating systems to AVOID FORCED HOT AIR. It is the enemy of any individual suffering from allergies and asthma, and it is my firm belief that its popularity explosion since the energy crisis in the 70's is a primary contributor to the dramatic rise in asthma rates among children.

Ok, that's it for starters. Please add on!

Lisa

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Dena Stevens

Rocky Mountain Realty - Canon City, CO

Putting The Real Into Realtor Since 2004

Great list I've got a couple of extras.

1) Use VOC free paint, there's a difference

2) If possible don't use carpet of any kind. The American Heart Association / American Lung Association also recommend no carpet. If you do put in new 'healthy' carpet check to see they are using VOC adhesives.

3) Use vinagar or other Earth friendly products (Simple Green) to clean the house.

4) Have a place for recyclables.

5) Research your house plants, some are air cleaners some polute the air.

Jan 29, 2007 02:16 PM

Joan Whitebook

BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH

Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Another part of "green" staging is being aware of pet odors -- There is nothing worse than walking into a home and the clients stating they have to get out because of pet odors -- This is especially true with punget cat odors -- This also is a problem with the litter box that has not been cleaned -- or a multi-cat family. It is difficult to believe the homeowners are not aware of the odor, but the buyers notice these things right away and they are real turnoffs.Also, some homes with pet have carpets that carry the odors -- and the homeowner's are not even aware of how that may affect others. It is good to get a good carpet cleaning prior to putting the home on the market.

The other odor that bothers people a lot is the "musty" smelling basement -- where there has been an air freshner sprayed to mask the smell - it usually doesn't fool anyone. It is best to get to the source of the problem and correct it.

Joan

Jan 30, 2007 01:57 PM

Dawn Selman-Schwieger

Home Squad, LLC- Minnesota's Premier Home Staging Co. - Shakopee, MN

ASP, IAHSP, AARC, ids

Good List. Glad you care enough to blog about it.

Jan 31, 2007 07:07 AM

Kimberly Uksik

Independent - Pickering, ON

Home Stager - Durham, Toronto, On.

This is a great list!! This is something that I hadn't though too much about. I try to do my best to recycle items again and again. Thanks to these great tips I will be more alert about it.

Jan 31, 2007 11:14 AM

Renee Kokoszka

Citizens First Financial - Park City, UT

When recycling, be sure not to recycle refridgerators, don't give them away for someone else to use. In Utah, our electricity provider will pick them up, pay you $40 for them and recycle them 100%. Just a note here....

Feb 06, 2007 08:48 AM

Tricia Jumonville

Bradfield Properties - Georgetown, TX

Texas REALTOR , Agent With Horse Sense

You can also get staging items via Freecycle and Craigslist, thus giving them a life extension so they don't end up in the landfill.

Feb 06, 2007 09:19 AM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

PLANTS.. Look for indoor air quality with plants. be SURE they are NOT toxic to your pets, though. I wrote an article about that. Will try to find it and send it over to you.

Mar 01, 2007 12:33 PM

Stefan Scholl

Buyer's Broker of Northern Michigan, LLC - Petoskey, MI

Northern Michigan Real Estate

I have also read that the plug-in scents are major fire hazards! Another good reason to avoid them.

Mar 03, 2007 02:15 AM

Stefan Scholl

Buyer's Broker of Northern Michigan, LLC - Petoskey, MI

Northern Michigan Real Estate

I forgot to add that in addition to being a huge fan of compact fluorescent light bulbs, I have also discovered the joys of motion sensor switches, which turn lights on only when you enter the room, and turn them off automatically when you leave. I installed one in our laundry room (my wife always left the lights on). My wife was skeptical initially, but now loves it because she doesn't even have to switch on the lights when she enters the room. About a minute after she leaves and voila, out they go!

Mar 03, 2007 02:19 AM

Cheryl Reynen

Set The Stage - Comox Valley, BC

Dont forget - when replacing flooring to use a sustainable flooring -- Bamboo !

Mar 03, 2007 02:32 AM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Lisa...Looking forward to your entry into the GREEN is Red Hot Contest. Look for contest winners beginning March 15th! G O O D L U C K!

Tag your article GREEN AWARENSS , OK?

Mar 09, 2007 10:33 AM

Rhonda Hay Rawlins

Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT

Great information. thanks for raising awareness. As someone who suffers chronic sinus infections I do try to apply the basic strategies, but there is so much to learn and so much more we can do to improve our home environment. Thanks, Rhonda

Jun 27, 2007 05:12 AM

Suzanne Bennett

Sold By Design - Saint Petersburg, FL

Sold By Design- St. Petersburg

Fantastic post, Lisa!

Pamela: great idea with the local domestic violence shelters. Before starting my Home Staging business I was a children's counselor at a local DV shelter and did outreach in our community. The majority of families coming through the shelter are in GREAT need of clothing, furnishings, personal items, etc. Obviously the shelters are in a confidential location, but the agency will offer an alternative drop off location for donations. In addition, some DV agencies have a thrift store where they will take donations. Families in the shelter get free vouchers for shopping for needed items AND the store is open to the public, thus bringing in much needed funds for DV services.

VOC paints: love them! I previously wrote a blog about Benjamin Moore's AURA paint. It's not readily available in all states, but I've also found Safecoat paints & primers.

A great book to look into is Better Basics For The Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living. You can find simple remedies for household cleaners etc.. I also like the idea for giving a book like this as a gift to a client.

I would suggest looking at local retailers. We have a local store called Healthy Home where you can buy Green products: paints, flooring, bedding, cleaning supplies etc. Support these retailers and encourage others to shop there as well.

Another idea is to use Green products as staging props. I use natural spa products in bathrooms; you can also use towels made from Bamboo....etc.

Jun 27, 2007 05:45 AM

Evan Little

Surterre Properties - Santa Ana, CA

Eco, Live/Work, Sales and Management

Capturing this nitch market with green staging is a great idea. Using materials, accessories & furniture in and outside of the home to promote a greener style of living is something that everyone can learn from.

Jun 27, 2007 05:58 AM

Lisa Robbins

Au Courant Home; City Living Baby - Aventura, FL

Excellent post! Very timely.

Jun 27, 2007 03:55 PM

Lynne Pope

eXp realty, MFA,Hermosa Beach,Redondo Beach,South Bay - Los Angeles, CA

"Out of the Blue" solutions for perfect homes

Fantastic start to a huge need- Awareness the list is great from simple green to bamboo The old gravity heat of my 1st home built in 1918 was the best one ever.

We moved to a home built in 1963 in November. We had sniffles too long and I hired an air quality specialist. Scott Trimmingham in Torrance. Environmental Aire. The solution was simple..for us

instead of all windows closed...open them up a crack even in the winter and get some fresh air in

To recirculate the old air just gets...old.

Lynne Pope

Realtor, Redondo Beach

Jul 05, 2007 01:28 AM

Ginger S

Wilkinson & Associates, Wilmington NC - Wilmington, NC

Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation~

Lisa, Congratualtions on your post being picked for the best of 2007 Excellent list esp re: Air fresheners... So many agents or stagers advise homeowners to use these... NO please do not. In addition to making many sick, the chemicals will stick and permeate everything including sheetrock and the smell will never go away! Same thing for many of the scented candles. It is indoor pollution that will stick around forever!

Dec 28, 2007 04:39 AM

Lynne Pope

eXp realty, MFA,Hermosa Beach,Redondo Beach,South Bay - Los Angeles, CA

"Out of the Blue" solutions for perfect homes

Amway has been around with non sudsing soaps....environmentally clean

And my old gravity furnace was my all time favorite. Now I know why

My main tip for all to really listen to is this.......crack open a window to get real air in...

the old stagnant air needs to have new air put in just like a river needs fresh water in to keep it flowing

Do that crack of fresh air every day...it makes a world of difference...to wellness in winter

Lynne Pope

Manager Remax Palos Verdes Execs... Manhattan Hermosa and Redondo Beaches....

Dec 28, 2007 05:13 AM

Kym Hough

www.Staged-to-Sell - Danville, CA

Staged to Sell East Bay - Danville, CA

Great post lisa - we are incoporating Green Staging into our business methods, practices and products. This is so helpful. Are you creating one grand list? If so, will you repost it when you have it? Thank you.

Kym

Jan 04, 2008 02:42 PM

Deborah Merriam

ecoDomestica reDesign - Edmonton, AB

Just a followup that I now have an ActiveRain proflie set up... Deborah

Sep 12, 2008 06:27 PM