Britt Morris Thinks...

Going "Green"

Going “Green”

There’s a lot of talk lately surrounding the idea of going green.  More new home buyers are adding green features to their lists of preferred amenities and more current home owners are asking for suggestions on how to make their homes more green.   Whether they are interested in reducing homeownership costs or have concern for our environment, going green definitely has its advantages. 

A green home uses less water, less energy, has lower utility bills, and can be a healthier environment for those living inside the home.  There’s less risk for mold & mildew, and most importantly, they can be affordable.  There are often rebates, tax breaks and other incentives offered for buying green or remodeling using certified green technologies.

Bank of America even offers The Green Mortgage Program for qualified buyers which provides a lower interest rate on mortgages for homes meeting Energy Star requirements.

Buyers should contact their bank or trusted mortgage professional for additional information.

The U.S. Green Building Council developed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) - a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222

The system encourages global adoption of green building/development practices

If you are interested in finding a green home, your Realtor can help you find certified LEED homes or a home builder in your area that participates in the LEED program. 

If you’re not in the market for a new home or a huge remodeling project, here are some things you can do in your home to lessen your impact on the environment:

• Choose Energy Star appliances
• Reduce Water Use – install low-flow showerheads and install aerators in your faucets.
• Use native plants for landscaping – less watering, fewer pesticides.
• Make sure weather stripping around doors and caulking around windows is properly blocking drafts.
• Install dimmer switches where it makes sense (dining rooms, hallways).
• Make the switch from regular light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) – they use 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer.

Green Resources:

Green Home Guide

http://www.greenhomeguide.org/

Guide for Green Renovation

http://www.greenhomeguide.org/documents/regreen_guidelines.pdf

Bank of

America

http://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=7697

National Geographic’s Green Guide

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/122/househunt

Energy Star Info

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls

By Sarah Bracken - sarah@brittmorrishomes.com

Ready to Sell?

Have you ever considered what it takes to get your house ready to sell?  With some careful planning and a little bit of work, you can be ready for buyers in no time.  Here are some of the most important steps you can take.

Ø  De-Clutter

o    Get started on packing

o    Remove your knickknacks

o    Keep kitchen and bathroom countertops clean

o    File all papers/documents and keep them out of sight

o    Eliminate any piles of bills/magazines/junk visible on any flat surfaces

Ø  De-personalize

o    Pack away personal photos and artwork

o    Make sure buyers aren’t distracted by looking at your things and not your house

Ø  Rearrange your kitchen cabinets/pantry and closets

o    Pack up everything that’s unnecessary    

o    Neatly stack your dishes, clothing, etc.  Hang shirts facing the same direction

o    Make sure there’s no chance of any items falling out of closets or cabinets when buyers open doors

Ø  Rent a storage unit or a POD

o    Store extra furniture (leave only what’s necessary in the room – less furniture means the room looks larger and has a clear purpose)

o    Remove your boxes of clutter and put them in storage

o    Store all your boxes of extra kitchen/closet/clothing/personal items

Ø  Remove and replace items you’re not including in the sale of the house

o    Take down favorite curtains/rods

o    Remove any chandeliers or mirrors and put up replacements

Ø  Make necessary minor repairs    

o    Replace light bulbs

o    Replace cracked tiles if possible

o    Patch holes in walls

o    Paint walls neutral colors to appeal to many buyers

o    Fix leaking faucets

o    Re-caulk bathtubs/showers

Ø  Clean - a LOT

o    Eliminate pet odors, cooking odors

o    Wash windows – inside and outside

o    Vacuum everyday

o    Put out fresh rugs and towels in kitchen/bathrooms

o    Dust – windowsills, tables, shelves, ceiling fans, etc.

o    Clean out the refrigerator – buyers will open it

o    Clean mirrors, sinks, chrome

o    Polish stainless steel refrigerators – get rid of fingerprints

o    Gather up appliance warranties for the new home owner

Ø  Take an objective look around

o    Make sure mirrors, curtains, etc. are hanging level

o    Is the house inviting?  Clean?  Enough light?

o    Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes – is it appealing

o    Re-arrange furniture if necessary

o    Consider getting professional help staging your home

Ø  Curb Appeal

o    Mow the lawn

o    Weed flower beds

o    Plant some flowers if possible

o    Trim shrubbery

o    Freshen up paint & trim if necessary

o    Make sure porch lights/exterior lights are working

Ø  Finally…Try to let go of your emotions for the home

o    Get excited about the new home you’re moving to

o    Try to imagine the house is a product that you’re selling

o    Letting go will give you the advantage of being open to offers and not making decisions based on emotions instead of the facts

 

By Sarah Bracken - sarah@brittmorrishomes.com

What Happened?

It happened.  I woke up today and realized it's almost time to don a Sombrero for the celebration of Cinco de Mayo?  That's right, the 5th of May for those lacking bilingual skills.  It's been a crazy first four months of the year.  It never ceases to amaze me that the older I get the quicker time goes by.  My dad used to say growing up "there aren't enough hours in the day."  Of course, in context he was talking about cleaning up the messes I was making both figuratively and literally. 

The Dallas real estate market has been making some quick moves or messes as well.  Some which also could use a clean up on aisle investment.  For the first time this past month we saw higher end homes slide in price as well.  We still fared well compared to the rest of the nation, but a 4% slide is a 4% slide.   

In other bright news, there continue to be incredible investment opportunities regarding foreclosure  properties and even HUD properties.  I  had several clients in the past month able to purchase with 20% equity already in the property before planned improvements.  There are some very interesting loop holes in the purchase of HUD properties which will be of particular interest to those investors with cash on hand and owner occupant clients willing to do a little work before move in.   

All in all, the market is as fun and interesting as ever.  This is the time to find some true diamonds in the rough.  As always, I'd be happy to answer any questions regarding these new investment opportunities.  britt@brittmorrishomes.com