RISMEDIA, April 29, 2010—HomeGain, a leading website that connects real estate agents with home buyers and sellers recently announced the results of its Green home improvement survey.
Receiving responses from nearly 1,000 real estate agents and brokers nationwide, HomeGain configured a list of the top nine do-it-yourself (DIY) Green home improvements that cost under $300 and that benefit sellers most when they sell their homes.
The top nine Green home improvements that real estate professionals recommend to home sellers based on cost and return on investment to the sellers include:
1. Plant trees and shrubs
2. Replace air filters
3. Green home staging
4. Weather strip and caulk doors and windows
5. Install programmable thermostats
6. Install low flow shower heads
7. Use auto turn-off power strips
8. Install CFL or LED lights
9. Paint with low VOC paint
Planting native trees and plants in the perimeter of a home for sale ranks as the top suggested green home improvement, recommended by 65% of agents and brokers, costing under $150 and returning a value of nearly $400 to a home’s selling price, which is a 284% return (ROI).
“Our survey shows that going green is not only good for the environment, but makes dollars and cents for home sellers,” stated Louis Cammarosano, General Manager at HomeGain. “Buyers want energy efficient homes and appreciate the aesthetics of natural vegetation and are willing to pay for these features.”
Real estate professional are taking note of the growing interest in green real estate practices. Eco-broker certified Realtor and HomeGain member Jeffrey Bastress of Startpoint Realty in Massachusetts commented: “We have been advocates of green real estate and green issues for many years now. We use virtual office websites to communicate with customers and a transaction platform to post all documents. For closing gifts, we give trees to our buyers and donate trees in the name of our sellers. Our website is a green resource for buyers and sellers, and I advise my agents on how to green their websites and better consult with their clients.”
For more information, visit www.homegain.com.
