You may be doubting the possible success rate of house staging in the current economic conditions — but experts are now giving the green light. Even if the average number of sales in the market is going down, CNBC reports that homes are still selling quickly and at higher prices.
However, the report also notes that the market is shifting to benefit homebuyers. They now have more freedom to conduct price negotiations — but they’re also more cautious and increasingly likely to cancel contracts if these negotiations don’t go in their favor. If you want to sell a house, the properties you’re offering must have some solid selling points.
For this, sustainability is key. Below we discuss why sustainability sells — and how you can start integrating sustainable features into your own properties.
Why do sustainable houses sell?
Forbes finds that eco-friendly home features can help close sales up to 10 days faster. The reason behind this phenomenon is simple: the demand for sustainability is surging across the board. According to Businesswire, more than a third of the world’s consumers want — and are willing to pay more for — eco-friendly alternatives. That’s why buyers are immediately drawn to homes that are built with sustainable materials, offer eco-friendly features, and are even built to withstand natural disasters.
A huge driving force for this demand is also cost-efficiency. For example, a house powered by renewable energy can mean cheaper electricity bills for the homeowner. This may also explain why buyers are willing to pay more for sustainable houses — it’s an investment that will save them money in the long run.
What sustainable features do homebuyers look for?
Solar energy
Out of all the renewable energy options available today, solar stands out as the best for home use. Hoymiles explains that solar helps homeowners easily become self-sufficient when it comes to energy demands. The best home systems can easily generate, convert, and even store solar energy for use in case of a blackout. The International Energy Agency adds that solar is now the cheapest energy in history, making it an appealing and cost-effective home feature.
Reclaimed, repurposed, and sustainable materials
The construction industry isn’t a particularly sustainable one, which is why homeowners may be attracted to houses that are built with eco-friendly alternatives. This includes things like recycled steel and compostable biocomposites that are stronger than conventional concrete. Reclaimed or repurposed materials like wood can also entice buyers by imparting their unique history and feel to various spaces in the home.
Resilience to natural disasters
Such resiliency means homeowners may pay less in damages when a natural disaster occurs. In our article “6 Renovation Projects for Boosting a Home’s Value Before You Sell,” we point out that over 12% of American properties are at risk of flooding — so resilience to flooding is one thing a house should address. Rain gardens are an especially attractive fix you can feature. Storm shutters and tornado shelters can also add to a home’s value.
How do I stage sustainable features?
Much like in traditional house staging, there’s one rule of thumb you need to follow: point things out. Whether it’s a small thing like recycled wallpaper or something bigger like a home solar energy system, the sustainable feature — and its benefits — may not be immediately obvious to the homebuyer.
Explain that the walls and floors were built from low-carbon alternatives like rammed earth instead of concrete. Note how the solar panels installed on the roof are extremely hardy and can last for decades. Highlight how the garden outdoors isn’t any ordinary garden, but a rain garden that makes the house safe from flooding. This will further hammer in the sustainability of the home and make a sale more likely.
In today’s market, you may find the task of selling a house to be more challenging. Fortunately, sustainability offers you a way to add value to a house while also going easy on the environment. And of course, staged homes sell faster and for more money, so do not leave staging your home out of your plan for selling your home. Red House Staging can help showcase your beautiful, sustainable home in the best possible light. Call us today for a quote!
Exclusively written for https://redhousestaging.com/ by Lea Trance