Selling Eco-Friendly Homes in Massachusetts
With climate change on peoples’ minds and the United States looking to transition to clean energy with a goal of producing net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, people are looking for ways to go green. On top of that, utilities like energy and water can be expensive, especially in New England. This means more people are looking for ways to save the environment and money, which means some home buyers are looking for eco-friendly homes in Massachusetts.
Here are some environmentally friendly features of a house to highlight to potential buyers.
Eco-Friendly Materials
Many buyers who are looking for green homes will be interested in the materials used in any recent renovations. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Construction and Demolition (C&D) materials constitute a significant amount of waste in the U.S. This is why it’s important as a real estate agent to know both the history of the house you’re selling and what count and eco-friendly materials.
Thankfully, recycled and eco-friendly materials are becoming more commonplace to support environmental sustainability. Be sure to point out to potential buyers cork flooring, reclaimed wood walls, and asphalt that’s been recycled.
Well-Insulated
Energy costs are on the rise in Massachusetts, which includes heating and cooling. If a house is drafty and/or not well-insulated, homeowners waste electricity keeping their house temperature-controlled. This not only makes their bills higher, but requires more fossil fuels to be burned to produce electricity. This means that a well-insulated house is highly desirable.
Newly-installed windows and doors are a great sign that a house won’t be drafty. Heat rises and likes to escape through the roof, so check if the attic is well-insulated, too. An easy trick to tell this is to look at the roof after a snowfall. If there is still snow on the roof a day after it has snowed, heat hasn’t been rising through. This is a sign that the attic is well-insulated.
Solar Panels
It might be hard to believe, but Massachusetts is currently the 11th highest producer of solar power in the United States. 20.25% of the state’s electricity comes from solar, which is enough to power 739,908 homes. In fact, Massachusetts, in an effort to reduce carbon emissions, offers great tax benefits to those who buy and install solar panels for their homes. This, combined with the falling costs of solar panels, makes going solar very appealing to many homeowners.
Not everyone wants to pay to have them installed, though. Some people would rather buy a house where that step has already been taken for them. The important thing to know when selling a home with solar panels already installed is whether the panels were bought or if they are simply leased. Leased solar panels are no less beneficial to the environment. The problem is they could add extra steps to the selling process than if the panels are owned outright.
Selling eco-friendly homes in Massachusetts can be extremely lucrative to a real estate agent. Assess just how eco-friendly and energy efficient the house you’re selling is and be sure to highlight these features to potential buyers.
