There’s a type of buyer that’s willing to spend more money to purchase the perfect home… and that home might be yours.
If you’re looking to sell a house fast in today’s market, you need to understand eco-conscious buyers. This is a group of individuals that care about the environment when it comes to purchasing a new home, and they are willing to spend big bucks to make the purchase.
Before you move any further, here’s a big reason why you should care:
According to the most recent data from the National Association of REALTORS®, 45% of real estate clients have sustainability as a buying or selling preference. In addition to that, there’s an interesting statistic. High-performance homes command a 1% to 5% premium over similar homes in the market.
That’s real money, that we are talking about.
Places that say “We Buy Houses in Franklin” sees this trend happen more than most… sustainable homes move faster than their non-green counterparts every single time.
What you’ll learn:
- Who Are These Eco-Conscious Buyers?
- The Green Features That Actually Matter
- How to Market Your Sustainable Home
- Maximizing Your Home’s Green Value
Who Are These Eco-Conscious Buyers?
You are not only talking about millennials. These types of homebuyers cover all age groups, and each one of them wants the same thing. Eco-conscious buyers.
Here’s one thing to tell you about these homebuyers… Yes, most of them are millennials, but their preferences are not limited to them anymore.
The current market, with the current rise of real estate prices and different factors that make up the real estate market, have seen that every age group now desires to purchase a home that is as energy-efficient as it gets.
They do that for different reasons. But here is a comprehensive list of things they are looking at when buying an energy-efficient home.
- Lower utility bills (who doesn’t?)
- Healthier indoor air quality
- Reduced environmental impact
- Long-term cost savings
- Future-proof technology
The smart folks out there know that it’s not just good for the planet, but it’s also good for their budget, too.
But that’s not all…
These people also have bigger budgets. Not only are they willing to pay more for a house with the sustainable features they are looking at but also because they know they can save money in the long run by already having said sustainable features.
The Green Features That Actually Matter
If you put in solar panels but have windows from the 80s, that doesn’t really help you, does it?
Smart eco-conscious buyers know which features matter and which ones are a waste of time and money.
- Energy Efficiency Basics
- Renewable Energy Systems
- Water Conservation & Air Quality
Energy Efficiency Basics
As we said, your home energy efficiency is the first aspect that counts, before anything else. If your windows are old and single-paned, if you have old HVAC units, these aspects are going to be deal-breakers for eco-conscious buyers.
Some of the most in-demand green features when it comes to home energy efficiency:
- Insulation upgrades, especially attics and basements
- Energy-efficient windows (double or triple-pane)
- Smart thermostats, programmable and Wi-Fi enabled
- LED lighting throughout the house
- Energy Star appliances
Renewable Energy Systems
Solar panels are one of the most important sustainable features buyers are looking at when shopping for a new home. Battery storage systems are quickly becoming the big thing in this niche, too.
Battery storage systems are the cherry on top. They give you energy independence and a power source for your home when the electricity goes out.
Geothermal systems are not new, but they are becoming more and more important, and buyers are into them, too. They are more expensive to install, but long-term savings are through the roof.
Water Conservation & Air Quality
Water efficiency is getting more and more attention each year. Smart irrigation systems, low-flow fixtures, tankless water heaters… these are things today’s eco-conscious buyers are looking for.
Indoor air quality improvements also matter, like HEPA filtration and low-VOC materials.
How to Market Your Sustainable Home
We have covered the importance of having the right sustainable features in your home. But what about marketing said features?
Here’s the problem: In listing descriptions, 9 out of 10 times you’ll see something like this: “energy-efficient appliances and call it a day.
It’s not enough.
You need to tell the entire sustainability story to your home buyers. It’s not about telling them, but it’s more about showing them how your home’s green features translate to real benefits they actually care about.
- Lead With the Numbers
- Highlight Cost Savings
- Professional Photography & Certifications
Lead With the Numbers
Numbers, graphs and data is what today’s eco-conscious buyer wants. They need proof that said sustainable features work.
Monthly utility bills, annual energy usage, solar production numbers, and energy efficiency ratings need to be shared with these buyers.
Highlight Cost Savings
We all know that buyers are more motivated by saving money on the house they are about to buy. Making financial benefits stand out in a crystal-clear fashion will make a difference.
Solar panels that save you $150 a month? Let them know that that’s $1,800 per year, over a 30-year mortgage it adds up to $54,000 in savings. They get it. Numbers always make a difference.
Professional Photography & Certifications
Sustainable features need to look good on photos. When it comes to those, you want to capture the home’s best angles, that show your solar panels, smart thermostats, and efficient appliances.
Getting green certifications can be helpful in this area. ENERGY STAR and LEED certifications are great, but the process behind them might take a few hundred bucks. It can add more than a thousand dollars to the final sale price.
Maximizing Your Home’s Green Value
There are upgrades that might not be that noticeable but make a difference in how buyers value your home and how sustainable it is.
You don’t have to put in a $30,000 solar system to have eco-conscious buyers knocking on your door. Strategic improvements can help your home shine in the market without taking a big chunk out of your budget.
- Quick Wins for Sustainability
- Work With Green Contractors
- Document Everything
Quick Wins for Sustainability
As we mentioned in the previous section, sometimes it’s not necessary to put a big budget into those eco-conscious upgrades. Green improvements with lower investments can work really well, when it comes to making your home shine.
Here’s a good list of green improvements you could do with a lower budget:
- Smart thermostat and LED lighting ($500 or less)
- Energy-efficient fans and programmable timers ($2,000 or less)
- Window treatments and native landscaping ($5,000 or less)
Work With Green Contractors
Make sure to get in touch with contractors that understand sustainable building.
Look for green building certifications or contractors that have done ENERGY STAR.
Document Everything
Don’t forget to keep detailed records of your home’s sustainable features. Maintenance records, warranties, and performance data are what eco-conscious buyers are going to ask for.
Create a folder with green materials. Energy bills, appliance manuals, certifications, and invoices from contractors go in there.
Getting Your Timing Right
It is not a new thing, but showing sustainable features in spring and summer is the best thing you can do.
Solar panels and such get to perform better, during the longer days. Buyers can see how natural lighting works.
But again, if you don’t have that much time to wait, know that the demand for sustainable homes is strong year-round.
Quick Sale Solutions
We know that it is not always the case that sellers have time for sustainable upgrades before they put their homes on the market. Not all of us have that luxury of time.
If you are in a rush to sell your home, we understand. We have options for buyers that want to do the green work on their own.
Sustainable buyers prefer to make the green improvements on their own. They want to have the freedom of choosing the green systems and contractors that work for them and are at the same price point.
It doesn’t hurt to sell your home with good bones and sustainability potential.
Wrapping Things Up
Eco-conscious buyers are a growing, and lucrative segment of the real estate market. They are willing to pay more for homes with sustainable features that have long-term cost savings benefits.
Understand what these buyers are actually looking for, rather than what sounds good on paper. Energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and indoor air quality improvements all are at the top of their list.
Highlight the financial benefits with data and smart marketing to make your sustainable home stand out. Even small green improvements can change buyer perception and raise the final sale price.
Whether upgrading or selling as-is, the market for sustainable homes is full of opportunities for sellers who understand what eco-conscious buyers truly value.
