lime-light [lahym-lahyt] -noun
the center of public attention, interest, observation, or notoriety
The tune around town…most any town today…is that it has become a struggle to sell a home. The housing market in 2009 is certainly not a shadow of any from recent years gone by. We have read all of the headlines…listened with our cups of coffee to the early morning news anchors…and yes…it is true. It has become true. It is NOT a SELLERS market anymore. Woah! That snuck right up on us didn’t it?
Accepting that fact, we are now on a different channel…a reality tv show in which we have found it necessary to be creative and proactive when selling our homes. We need to separate our house from the competitions’…generate an unparalleled interest in our property, which will force a prospective buyer to find no other choice but to submit an offer on our exclusive exhibit. While there are many characters that need to be in place in order to have the right combination to sell a home…staging and price being two of those leading ingredients…there is one additional area that has been drawing a lot of attention lately, and can help to truly make a home stand out above the crowd. If you haven’t guessed it already…like Fenway Park has known for years…it is what I like to call the “Green” Monster.
“Green” homes are what many buyers are interested in today. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), as much as 90 percent of home buyers think that energy efficiency is a very important factor when shopping for a home. The National Association of Home Builders Remodelers (NAHBR) says 72 percent of consumers report energy-efficient features in a home would influence their purchase decision. As a seller, by investing in some green remodeling up front, and tailoring the marketing of their home appropriately, one can drastically increase the visibility of their home in the marketplace…and thus multiplying their chances of taking the center stage in prospective buyers’ eyes.
Once the decision has been made to market your home as a “green” home, the task now is to implement those green changes. This does not need to be an Everest of projects. There are simple things that can be done, which will help to increase efficiency in the home and reduce utility costs. A few striking adjustments that can be made:
- Install appropriate insulation in area to be remodeled
- Install high-efficiency windows
- Purchase Energy Star-rated appliances
- Install low-flow water fixtures
- Upgrade to Energy Star-rated water heater, or a tankless water heater
- Purchase the highest efficiency HVAC system you can afford
- Install energy-efficient lighting such as compact fluorescents
Once these changes have been made, be sure to track your utility bills and showcase the differences to prospective buyers as they view your home. Any savings to potential buyers will draw attention to your home, especially when compared to energy-hogs down the street. Also, be sure to highlight the areas in which the buyers can’t see, such as any insulation that has been installed. These are all key features that will help to draw that buyer in, and secure the interest.
As we continue on with this unusual yet dramatic and entertaining market, we will continue to find alternative ways to set ourselves…and our homes…apart. The vital thing to remember, is we need to go with it…we need to keep moving, and keep growing with the changes. At the same time…if we can…why not do it in a way that will help the environment too. Stand out in the “green”-light…be not afraid.
Lauren DuPaul is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Metropolitan in Bedford, NH. To contact Lauren, call 603.305.7006 or email her at Lauren@NHHomePro.com. Feel free to visit her website at www.NHHomePro.com .
