5 Ways to Make Your Boston Home Green

Environmentally-Friendly Features Could Help Sell Your Boston Home!

Creating A Green Boston Home

“Green” features have become increasingly more important to Boston homebuyers. As an experienced Boston realtor, I can tell you that green upgrades will have a great return when it come to selling your home in today’s market. While there are many things you can do to make your Boston home more green, here are a 5 areas that are fairly easy to address during regular home upkeep:

Light bulbs: Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) have become an increasingly popular alternative to the standard incandescent light bulb. While these bulbs to cost a bit more upfront, they will save homeowners money in the log run. Swap your bulbs in both lamps and hardwired light fixtures. It will not only save you money while you’re living in the home, but also appeal to buyers if you choose to sell your home.

Plumbing Fixtures: Consider switching your faucets and shower heads to low-flow replacements. If your Boston home doesn’t already have them, you may want to look into upgrading your toilets to low-flow models as well. Low-flow toilets can save up to 3000 gallons of water per year compared to standard models. Another interesting water-saving feature that has recently become popular is touch-less faucets. Not only do they reduce the potential for the transfer of germs from hands to faucet handles back to hands, they also turn on and off on their own, reducing water consumption.

High-Quality, Programmable Thermostat: There are many programmable thermostat models on the market today; however, if you are planning to replace your current thermostat, opt for a slightly higher-end model with more features. In the age of “smart” everything, homebuyers want their home to be so as well. The more features that a thermostat has, the more potential energy savings it offers.

Appliances: If the time comes when you have to replace one of the appliances in your Boston home, purchase one with an ENERGY STAR rating. This rating indicates that the appliance uses 20-30% less energy than the federal limit, and that means reduced electric bills for you and potential future owners as well.

Home Improvement Supplies: With the rise of building “green”, there are now many sustainable and environmentally friendly options for home improvement. When it comes to flooring, there are now environmentally friendly options in both carpeting and hardwood. Even in tile now has both sustainable and recycled options. You can also opt for a more eco-friendly paint as well that emits less toxic fumes and pollution into the air. Choose those that are zero- or low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) as a healthier alternative. When it comes to selling your home, opting for more environmentally friendly replacement materials will be something that you can boast in your home’s listing to attract more buyers.

These are just a very small handful of the many “green” improvements that you can make to your Boston home. If you are considering selling your home in the near future, these improvements will be valuable in attracting potential buyers! If you’re looking to buy or sell in the Boston area, please contact me. I can help you determine what improvements, green or otherwise, will make your home more appealing to potential buyers. My #1 priority is to get my clients’ Boston real estate sold as quickly as possible!

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

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A Guide to Preparing Your Boston, MA Home to Sell

Making your Boston, MA real estate more appealing to buyers

Selling Your Boston, MA Home

So you’ve decided it’s time to sell your Boston, MA home? Congratulations! There are a few things to consider before putting the for sale sign in the front yard though. Before listing your home, you'll want to make sure that it will appeal to as many buyers as possible. The more potential buyers it attracts, the quicker you’ll get your home sold. Follow this guide to preparing your Boston, MA home to sell, and you’ll be setting yourself up for success.

Evaluate your curb appeal. The first thing that potential buyers will see is the exterior of your home. Start with your landscaping. While somewhat seasonally dependent, you'll want it to appear neat and tidy no matter the time of year. Ensure that your walkway, porch or landing, and front door are clean. A fresh coat of paint can be a quick and easy facelift for your front door.  If lighting fixtures and hardware are worn, consider replacing them. If buyers are intrigued by the outside, they will be excited to see what the inside has to offer.

Make your interior sparkle. Go beyond the regular surface cleaning that you do on a consistent basis, and dig into those cleaning tasks that take a bit more effort. Some things to consider: clean windows outside and in, re-caulk sinks and bathtubs, dust light fixtures and ceiling fan blades, clean your carpets and rugs, thoroughly clean appliances inside and out, etc.  If you don't have the time or means to complete these chores, consider hiring a professional to do them for you.

Remove the clutter. Clutter makes your home appear smaller and can also give it a messy appearance. Focus your energy on your countertops and storage areas.  Countertops should be clear of any unnecessary items, so store small kitchen appliances elsewhere for the time being. Consider packing up knickknacks and books on shelves to give a more open appearance. Potential buyers will want to open closets, cabinets, and drawers to get a feel for the home’s storage space. Be certain that all of these areas neat and orderly and do not appear overstuffed.  If you are having a difficult time finding space for your belongings, visit the idea of renting a storage space while selling your home.

Depersonalize. As potential buyers are touring your home, they are trying to envision themselves living in the home. Items that reflect your personal life and taste can make it difficult for them to do so. Pack up the family photos, and remove the children's artwork from the fridge. If you have any highly taste-specific décor, your may consider swapping it out for something more neutral. When those viewing your home are not distracted by your belongings, they can better gauge whether or not the home will suit their needs.

Attend to minor repairs. While you don’t want to invest a ton of money into your home before selling it, there are certain minor things that you should do. Repair leaky faucets, patch any holes in the walls, realign doors that don’t open and close properly, etc. Most of these repairs do not take long to complete and will help prevent unnecessary checks in the cons column of the checklists of buyers.

Enlist an objective set of eyes. No matter how much time and energy you put into preparing your house to sell, it’s still worth having someone who has no emotional investment in the house give you a second opinion. Your real estate agent can be the perfect individual to do so. He or she works to sell the homes of many each and every year, so utilize his or her expertise!

Once you’ve addressed all of these areas, you’re ready to get the sales process on the road! Taking the time to prepare your Boston, MA house before listing it will pay off in helping to reduce the amount of time that it will spend on the market. As a longtime Boston area realtor, I have assisted many in making the sale of their homes as streamlined and stress free as possible. If you’re considering selling your Boston real estate, please contact me. I’d love to help you sell your current home and even find you the perfect new home.

Patti Fine

Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com

Patti Fine Real Estate

Greater Boston Area Homes

Search Greater Boston Area Homes