Filed under: Ecobroker, Uncategorized | Tags: Ecobroker, Green Building, green real estate, earthcraft, energystar, LEED, metro Atlanta
I’m a big fan of thrift and antique stores. I try to look for something
used before I buy anything new. Not only is it less expensive, but whatever
I buy will be unique, use less natural resources (better for the planet),
and have a story. My two favorite recent finds are my 1890’s AFC dining
room table that came in while I was volunteering at the JLA Nearly New
thrift store (Howell Mill Rd at I-85) and my vintage Trafari glass pearl
necklace found while looking for beer glasses for a party.
So what do thrift stores have to do with a house? Well, the real estate market has turned into a thrift store of sorts. Existing homes are available at a fraction of the prices they were selling for just a few years ago. Most of the real finds need work and are perfect for a green renovation. For example, say a conventionally built home apprised for $375K in this current market and the owner is willing to take $300K. A savvy buyer could do a greenovation (or green renovation), roll everything into a green mortgage and still be under the appraised value! Here are a few tips to keep in mind –
1) Don’t be distracted by the décor or lack of décor – staging is great but you are not buying the drapes and low voc paint is cheap.
2) Buy a house that is solid. Have a qualified home inspector or green renovator on your team. They can help determine if the house has good bones and can separate cosmetic problems from serious ones.
3) Remember junk is junk – if it doesn’t have good bones and you are not willing or able to tear in down, keep moving no matter how low the price.
This is a unique time to buy a home. The opportunities available today probably will not come around again in your lifetime. The first step is to assemble your Green team – your EcoBroker®, green lender, and green renovation specialist or home inspector. Prices are good and, contrary to popular thought, money is available. The home you buy and renovate will be unique, use less natural resources (existing materials, lower utility bills), and have a story. Which makes it the greenest home of all!
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Appliances
The lifespan of a typical home appliance is 10 years. If it is time to replace your appliances, look for the energy star label. Appliances the have earned the energy star label use 15-40% less energy than other models and save you up to 30% on your energy bills.
Replacing your old washing machine with a He (high efficiency) model will reduce water consumption from 40 gallon to 16 gallon per load and is gentler on your clothes.
Heating and Cooling
Prolong the life of your air conditioner by changing your air filters once a month. An easy way to remember when it is time to change your filter is to stick a white mailing label inside your utility closet and write the date down every time you change the filter.
Save $100 - $200 a year by installing a programmable thermostat.
- Set it for 78 degrees in the summer when you are usually at home and 71 degrees when you are usually away or asleep.
- Set it for 70 degree in the winter when you are usually at home and 62 degrees when you are usually away or asleep.
Have your HVAC and furnace serviced once a year. If your system is over 10 years old, consider replacing it.
When it is time to replace your HVAC or furnace, get the highest efficiency unit you can. You will be glad you did every month when the utility bills arrive! Try to get an air conditioner with a SEER rating of 14 or better and a furnace with an AFUE of 90 or better.
Free (or almost free) tips that make a big difference
Potted plants are effective natural air filters. English ivy, peace lily, bamboo palm, and Gerber daisies are among the best.
Outlet insulators (available at all home improvement stores for less than $2 for 6) take seconds to install and will stop draft coming from outside walls.
Caulk around windows and use insulating window film (available at all home improvement stores for less than $10 a box).
If you have windows that face south, keep the blinds closed in the heat of the summer and open in winter.
As your light bulbs need to be replaced, replace them with compact florescent bulbs. Compact florescent bulbs can be recycled at IKEA or Home Depot.
SAVE THE DATE
Green Home Buyer workshop
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Free - For more info go to www.Spiveysellsgreen.com
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Last week, I along with over 300 fellow EcoBrokers from the US, Canada, and Europe attended the 2008 Green Real Estate conference held by EcoBroker International and the Association of Energy and Environmental Professionals in Denver, Colorado. Sara Snow of the Discovery Network’s Get Fresh with Sara Snow shared several practical tips for greening our real estate practices and our daily lives. According to Ms. Snow, the average shower is ten minutes long and uses fifty gallons of water. By using a timer and reducing your shower time to five minutes, you can reduce your consumption of water by twenty five gallons per family member per day!
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I am continually amazed by my students. The Ecobroker program attracts some top notch professionals and I am honored to teach them and work beside them in the every changing field of real estate. I had five students this week - four from three different Keller Williams offices in the Atlanta area and one student from Pennsylvania. Jan, my farthest traveling student so far, came to Atlanta to take the Ecobroker class. She owns the firm her father started 80 years ago. She has been practicing real estate for over fifty years! Jan knows the value of lifelong learning and her knowledge of global warming was impressive.
One of my other students told me about Active Rain, a very useful on-line real estate community site. I have added a link to the page if you’d like to check it out. Another student arranged for us to tour Weatherford Place, a zero-net energy community in Roswell. It was great for the students to see green building in action and I hope to add the tour to future classes held at PURE.
I have the best job in the world - not only do I get to teach and practice real estate but I get to meet some amazing people along the way. Life is good.
The next Ecobroker certification series at PURE is July 9, 10, 11. Register at www.georgiarealestatecareers.com.
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Congratulations to Karen Grant on becoming the first Power Realty Partner to successfully complete Ecobroker training through PURE and earn the Ecobroker designation!
Among the many things that Karen learned during her training was how to deal with indoor air quality issues. She now has the tools to help her clients with indoor air quality concerns such as asthma and allergies, very important knowledge to many in the Atlanta area.
The next Ecobroker series is May 6, 7, and 8. The cost is $395 and includes 3 days of instruction (18 CE’s) & 3 reference manuals / text books. Upon successful completion of the series, students earn the Ecobroker designation and one year in ecobroker international (a bio & listings posted on ecobroker.com, marketing materials, educational materials for you and your clients, and much more).
To register online go to www.georgiarealestatecareers.com.
