How much are those 'green' features really worth? Ask Pearl Certification
I live in a passive house. Don't know what that is? Neither did the listing agent who represented the sellers when I bought my home in 2016, which is why the price was reduced twice before we made an offer (and purchased the property) for $55,000 less than what the sellers wanted for it. A passive house is a type of high-performing home that's much more common in Europe than in Colorado. The insulation envelope, air exchange systems, and HVAC setup are all dead giveaways that the house is highly energy efficient. But because the sellers were using my now-home as a vacation rental, they weren't able to clue in their agent, and so the house was listed and marketed without including any of the amazing features that lower my energy bills while keeping my family perfectly comfortable. It worked out to my advantage, but those sellers (and their listing agent) forfeited a significant amount of money as a result. This is a scenario that probably makes a lot of listing agents' shoulders crawl up around their ears just reading about it. Concerned you might make a similar mistake? The professionals behind Pearl Certification want to teach you how to avoid it. What is Pearl Certification? Imagine a certification program that categorizes homes according to the different energy savings features they possess, documenting all of the little things that add up to a high-performing home and placing each item on a weighted scale. The assessment examines the building shell, heating and cooling systems, baseload equipment, home management features, solar panels, and electric vehicle charging setups. Homes can achieve four different levels of Pearl Certification: Pearl Platinum, Pearl Gold, Pearl Silver, and Pearl Asset. The company also awards "badges" that signify a home's high performance in certain categories, such as a solar badge. The certification report includes details on a home's special performance features, and homeowners who request a report will automatically get enrolled in Greendoor, an app powered by Pearl that helps them understand what upgrades will elevate their property to the next certification level. Pearl Certification includes an official appraisal addendum that's generated in order to provide Green Certification for the home and thoroughly document the extent of any energy upgrades. How does Pearl Certification help agents? Pearl Certification is building an elite network of real estate agents who have been trained on the high-performing home standards. After registering, agents are provided with education and background, then must prove their knowledge before they can fully join the network. Participating agents can request home certifications for their clients, and the network connects homeowners with agents who understand high-performing homes and how to market them. We know what you're going to ask: What's the referral fee? Here's a pleasant surprise — Pearl Certification is not a brokerage and has no plans to become one, so the referrals sent to agents through the network are yours to work for free. And the company also offers training on navigating MLS Green fields (if your MLS has them) so that any energy-efficient homes you're listing can be properly marketed to interested buyers. Heather Elias, Vice President of Real Estate at Pearl Certification, notes that the solar badge could be useful for agents listing homes with solar panels. "Solar has been a bit like the Wild West," she says, "and the solar badge can go along with a full certification, but it can also stand by itself in helping sellers and their agents calculate the equity of the solar system that's on the house and properly market that information on the listing, as well as walk through conversations around the loan or lease that's on the solar systems." And don't forget: Pearl Certification isn't just for passive homes like mine. "It doesn't have to be a house with rain barrels and solar arrays and all the energy-efficient things you'd expect to see," Elias notes. "We can help with any house."

[Podcast] Erin Shine on Sustainability in Real Estate
Erin Shine is the founder of Attainable Home. He's a real estate business owner and investor passionate about building net-zero attainable housing. Listen to this podcast to learn how to save clients money through sustainability, the modifications needed to hit net-zero, the biggest energy users, how to watch how much energy you're using, and tests you can do in your homes. This episode covers everything from solar panels to Teslas. Here's a small sample of what you will hear in this episode: How many homes has Erin made more sustainable? What number do you need to get under to be net-zero? Is there any gas in the home? How do induction stoves compare to gas stoves? What sustainability advice does Erin have for real estate professionals? How much energy does HVAC use? What's the difference between different EV chargers? How does Dalip's electric setup compare? Connect with Erin at AttainableHome.com. Check out the episode and show notes below for much more detail. Listen on: Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Visit the episode homepage for show notes and more detail.

6 Things Every Agent Needs to Know About Solar Energy for Homes
Solar energy for homes is surging in popularity. The residential solar market saw its fifth consecutive record year in 2021, growing 30% over 2020. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, homeowners remain motivated by increasing electricity bills brought on by more time spent at home, power outage experiences, and low financing costs to add solar features to their homes. A Pew Research Center study revealed that the appetite for solar homes is high. While just 6% of U.S. homeowners say they have already installed solar panels at home, nearly half (46%) say they have given serious thought to adding solar panels to their homes in the past year. Two factors are driving the solar housing marketplace. First, more homeowners are adding solar energy features. Second, home shoppers are looking to buy more energy-efficient homes to reduce their total housing expenses. Real estate agents will need to become "solar savvy" about the unique features and benefits of solar-powered homes. Here are six things every agent needs to know about solar energy for homes: 1. Solar homes sell for more: A U.S. Department of Energy study found that homebuyers throughout the U.S. are willing to pay more for a house with solar energy. Buyers were willing to pay $15,000 for a home with a solar system compared with a similar home without one. 2. Solar homes sell faster: An Appraisal Institute-sponsored study discovered that homes with solar panel systems stay on the market much shorter than homes without solar. Other studies have shown that new homes with solar installed sold twice as fast as homes without solar. 3. Benefits to sellers and buyers: Energy savings from a solar-powered home can be significant. Solar panels typically produce enough electricity to power at least half of an average-sized home, dramatically reducing annual energy costs. Solar homes also offer energy security. Solar homes deliver reliable energy in states like California and Texas with scheduled blackouts and/or energy surge pricing. Solar homes that become energy independent are never impacted by energy rate hikes. Finally, solar energy is clean energy, saving homeowners more than dollars – solar homes also help save the Earth. 4. Solar energy tax advantages: For more than 15 years, the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit has given homeowners a significant one-time deduction on their federal returns. In December 2020, Congress extended the tax credit, which, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, now provides a 26% tax credit for systems installed in 2020-2022 and 22% for systems installed in 2023. Previously, systems installed before 2019 were eligible for a 30% tax credit. Still, a 26% credit essentially brings the price of a $20,000 solar photovoltaic system down to $14,800. Additional state and local tax incentives could save homeowners even more money. A big bonus: There is no maximum amount that can be claimed. 5. Solar homes work in cloudy states, too: The idea that solar only works in sunny conditions is a myth. According to GAF Energy, new solar cells are more efficient than ever. Today's cells can capture the sun's rays even in low-light situations. Cities like San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle have plenty of foggy or overcast days yet have many "happy solar customers," the firm notes. Some of the fast-growing new markets for solar homes are Boston, Massachusetts, and Newark, New Jersey. 6. Searching online for solar homes listed for sale: Several years ago, the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) partnered with the Energy Department's Better Buildings. As a result, RESO led the effort to actively promote adding home energy information into MLSs to aid online home searches. The result is that residential listings feature fields for solar power systems, giving consumers the ability to search solely for solar homes listed for sale in a growing number of markets. To learn more about solar homes, check out the resources available from the Department of Energy or see the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) map that shows solar data, state by state here. Related technology educational blogs: Choosing Impressive Listing Photos Can Dramatically Boost Your Image, Too Top Tech Issues Every Real Estate Pro Faces How Safe Is Your Computer? Check Out This Safety Checklist! Tricia Stamper is Director of Technology at Florida Realtors®, which owns and operates Tech Helpline and Form Simplicity.

The Best Eco-Friendly High-Tech Home Products
At the recent International Builders Show, companies from around the world assembled (virtually, of course) to showcase their latest innovations in home products and technology. Many of these products weren't just fancy and fun to look at — they were designed to be environmentally friendly, too. Let's take a look at some of these eco-friendly standout products. Mighty Buildings 3D-Printed Home The construction technology firm Mighty Buildings showed how it can fully 3D-print a 350-square-foot house in less than 24 hours. Using its own composite building material and by applying state-of-the-art automation, the firm said it can produce structures twice as fast as conventional builders with 95% fewer labor hours and with 10 times less waste. Company spokesperson Helen Wong highlighted that the system can build everything from small backyard alternative dwelling units to entire subdivisions. Source: mightybuildings.com It's also worth mentioning that the company, in conjunction with the Palari development group, also recently announced its first-ever community of 3D-printed houses. The 15 eco-friendly homes are set for a five-acre site in Rancho Mirage, California. "This will be the first on-the-ground actualization of our vision for the future of housing," said CEO Alexey Dubov. Kohler Smart Faucet Kitchen appliances and fixtures made strong appearances at this year's show, including Kohler's voice-activated smart faucet. The unit dispenses measured amounts of water at your spoken command; just say the words to turn the water on, fill a container to a preset level or dispense a specific quantity. The faucet also features a motion sensor that can turn the water on and off at the wave of a hand, reducing water waste (and your utility bill!). Source: us.kohler.com If commanding water flow isn't just plain spiffy enough, the faucet also connects with the Kohler Konnect app so it can alert you to your water usage and detect if there's any unusual water flow. (RELATED: How Has COVID-19 Impacted Use of Smart Home Products?) Beko French Door Refrigerator Beko, a company consistently awarded for its energy-efficient products, showcased an eco-friendly 36-inch French 3-Door refrigerator. With what it calls its "EverFresh" and "Active Fresh Blue Light technology" for meticulous temperature management and precise humidity control, this refrigerator keeps food fresh up to 30% longer than an average unit – up to 30 days. Source: beko.com According to the company's website, this technology simulates natural light conditions, extending the photosynthesis process, and thus maintaining freshness and nutritional value of your food while reducing food waste. Lasso Loop Recycling Center Still in prototype, but an eco-friendly problem solver nonetheless (when you consider that a whopping 91% of all plastic is actually not recycled), Lasso Loop's in-home recycling center is a clever, dishwasher-sized appliance that works in tandem with an app to maximize recyclability. While shopping, your app can scan container barcodes to determine if the packaging is recyclable before you buy it. If so, the unit can clean, shred, and compress the metal, glass or plastic materials into an onboard container. Source: lassoloop.com According to their website, "Plastic, metals and glass are broken down separately, reducing [them] to a fraction of their size and maintaining valuable purity throughout," making them viable for closed-loop recycling. Once the bin is full, all you have to do is schedule a pickup from your app or a drop-off at an approved facility. LG Studio WashTower Another eco-friendly award winner at the show, LG's Studio WashTower makes laundry day easier with a series of sensors that detect fabric texture and load size, and then automatically select the optimum controls, washing and drying temperatures, and speed settings for the most efficient laundry experience on the market. Source: prnewswire.com According to LG's website, "The LG STUDIO model offers the platform's largest capacity with a 5.0-cubic- foot ENERGY STAR certified front-load washer – large enough to tackle king size bedding – below a 7.4-cubic-foot ENERGY STAR dryer so you can get more done in fewer loads." Paired with the LG app, you can start or stop the units at will and check for the remaining cycle time. To view the original article, visit the Homes.com blog.

Top 8 Eco-Friendly Home Features in Demand
Designing a new home or redesigning an existing one has undergone some major changes over the years. What was once deemed important to a relatively small segment of the population is now seen as both contemporary and necessary to today's home buyers. Home builders and contractors have seen the change in the preferences for living spaces in today's fast paced world. What many buyers and homeowners are demanding are comfortable spaces and reduced home energy costs. Let us explore what is emerging as must-haves that are also considered "eco-friendly" (in harmony with the environment), chic and smart! Here are the top eight features according to several of the leading, innovative architects and designers today.

4 Ways to Market Eco-homes to Buyers
According to a National Association of Realtors survey, 61% of real estate agents have worked with home buyers who are interested in sustainability. Eco-homes are appealing to more buyers, so knowing how to market eco-friendly homes is very important. There's a balance to marketing these features, though. Some green features can boost the listing price, and others might not appeal to every buyer. Here are four tactics you can use to sell eco-homes:

4 Green Marketing Ideas Agents Can Try this Earth Day
Earth Day is this Sunday--and you know what that means, right? A primo marketing opportunity is here! Not only do holidays (yes, even minor ones!) make it easier to connect with consumers online, research shows that "green" issues resonate with today's consumer. Fifty-six percent of Realtors say their clients are interested in sustainability, and 71 percent said that promoting energy efficiency in listings was important. So if you're a Realtor who has earned NAR's Green Designation, an agent in a market where solar panels are common, or just a fan of all things eco-friendly—try these marketing strategies to connect with green-minded real estate consumers in your area.

Sustainability and Real Estate: How to Keep Up with the Growing Demand for 'Green'
Are you noticing an increased interest in environmentally friendly home features from your real estate clients? If so, you're not alone. According to NAR, 56 percent of Realtors report that their clients are at least "somewhat interested" in green real estate. Apart from the environmental benefits, many consumers are recognizing that "going green" means saving green, and more people are taking this into account when looking for homes. Not only is the cost of installing things like solar panels or energy efficient heaters dropping, green technology in general is having an interesting economic moment right now. On March 11, for example, solar power provided half of California's electricity, temporarily driving wholesale rates negative. Jobs in sustainable energy are available at nearly five times the rate of traditional fossil fuel jobs, and solar and wind jobs are growing 12 times faster than the US economy. So it's safe to say that the green revolution is here to stay—and to grow. Real estate technology is still playing catch-up in many markets, however, with only 43 percent of Realtors reporting that their MLS has green data fields. If your MLS doesn't yet offer green data fields, the Center for Sustainable Energy suggests that listing agents instead add sustainability information in the MLS remarks section. For example, for solar power systems, they recommend adding helpful information like: Solar system size – Number of panels and kilowatt capacity Estimated annual production – System output in kilowatt-hours Type of ownership – Owned, owned with loan, leased or power purchase agreement Utility bill savings – Either from the utility or third-party system owner Photos – Show the system, as well as any home energy ratings or green certificates

The Future Is Now: Sustainable Homes for the Booming Millennial Market
I get home late and everyone's asleep. We're in the middle of a heat wave, but it's so cold inside that I know the A/C has been on all day and probably all week. Next month's utility bill confirms this suspicion. I walk upstairs and notice all the lights are on, except the one in the hall which would've shown me the Lego I just stepped on. So now I'm freezing and my foot hurts too. I think to myself—there has to be a simpler way. There must be another way that I can shelter my family without wasting so much money and space and resources. We don't need half the space in our house and consume twice as much as we should. Who am I? I'm a millennial. I was born in 1984. There are around 75 million people in the US just like me. And guess what? Many of my millennial peers feel the same way I do. Considering we outnumber baby boomers as the largest portion of the American population, real estate professionals should take these feelings very seriously. What do I want? I want alternatives. I want a smaller house and fewer bills. I care about the environment. I want to do my part for the world and live sustainably. So what are my options?

Going Green: 3 Marketing Tips for Real Estate Agents
Earth Day is fast approaching and many people are ready to take the initiative to go green. In fact, cities like Portland, Oregon and Chicago, Illinois have already joined the green movement by becoming more eco-friendly. Going green has become a very popular topic in the real estate industry and it would be a great idea to have some tactics under your belt on how to market to clients who desire to live a greener life. Here's some ideas that may be useful to you: 1. Consider joining the green movement. As a real estate agent, you might want to bring yourself up to speed with what green living entails because some of your clients will be looking for eco-friendly homes. You should even think about taking courses to help you become a green real estate specialist. Doing so will help you learn about the specifics concerning green buildings and what the market is like for them. 2. Figure out what your client want. A key factor in assisting your client with their real estate needs is asking, "What are you looking for?" If possible, provide them with a list of possible amenities that an eco-friendly home may have. According to the recent Homes.com Smart Home Technology survey, 48% of real estate agents say that homebuyers are looking for homes that have an automated home security system installed. According to Networx.com, homebuyers are also looking for green amenities such as energy efficient windows, sustainable flooring, and Energy Star® appliances including refrigerators, freezers, and dehumidifiers.

8 Resources for Saving 'Green' this Earth Day
It's Earth Day--but we're not going to talk about saving the environment by going green today. While there are many virtues to reducing your paper and energy use, we know that you've probably heard all about that already. Instead, we're going to talk about saving green. When you think about it, caring for your finances and caring for the planet are not that different. In the end, it all comes down to responsible resource management. What resources are you conserving by going paperless? Money, certainly, but also time and effort. In the spirit of helping you conserve the resources that are most important to you (whatever they may be!), we've rounded up some of our favorite articles and calculators to help you navigate the world of going paperless. Exploring Expenses We get it. The printing, the faxing, the copying--it's all familiar and maybe even comforting, especially if you've been doing it for years. If you're reluctant to switch to a paperless real estate practice, perhaps some cold, hard facts and figures will make you reconsider. Just how much is all the printing, faxing, and copying costing you? See The Hidden Cost of Paper Transactions to learn more. Still not convinced? These two 'paperless' calculators can give you a more personalized look at how much money you're throwing away each year: Paperless Savings Calculator - This tool from Instanet factors in things like printing costs, storage costs, and staff time to give you a detailed idea of how much money you spend in a year on paper related expenses. Green Marketing 'ROI' Calculator - If you still focus on direct mail instead in favor of online marketing, this calculator from eMerge lets you know how much you could save by turning your focus to digital channels instead.

The Hidden Cost of Paper Transactions
Are the tools and processes you use in your real estate business giving you the maximum return on your investment? If you're still battling through mountains of paperwork, there may be room for improvement. Examining the Hard Costs of Paper Depending on what state you live in, a single real estate transaction can require signatures on anywhere from 10 to 100 documents. The cost of all this paperwork makes a significant impact on your bottom line. Let's take a quick look at where these expenses lie: Printing - On a standard office printer, a single black-and-white page costs $0.03. With color, the cost jumps to $0.08. Delivery - The cost of postage and courier fees adds up quick. For documents that can be signed locally, factor in the time and expense of travel, as well as the hassle of coordinating meeting times that are convenient for all parties. Storage - Storing and managing paper documents costs over 50 times as much as electronic records, thanks to necessities like filing cabinets, boxes, folders, and more. Not only will you need more space as time goes on, but there are special considerations that paper archives need, like temperature, humidity, and fireproofing. Document loss and reproduction - Whether lost in transit or just lost in the shuffle, paper documents are always at risk of going missing. When this happens, you re-incur the costs of printing these documents again.

Best of 2012: Why You Must Be A Paperless Agent
We're celebrating the end the year by counting down our 10 most engaging articles of 2012. This article, by Krisstina Wise, was posted in December and is #8 in our countdown. A Ubiquitous Gadget Over the past 12 months, I've traveled the country speaking at real estate conferences on the importance of mobile technologies and practices to the future of real estate agents. Because the smartphone, and now iPad, are becoming ubiquitous gadgets that agents own, there is no shortage of platform speeches on subjects like, "Top 10 Apps for Your Real Estate Business." Yet, despite the number of mobile themed topics being presented, I've begun to wonder how many agents who own iPads actually know how to use it in their business. I've speculated that the majority of these agents do not. Anyone can buy an app from the app store – that's a piece of cake – but what they're missing is the knowledge of what to do with the application once it's been downloaded. The Big Reveal To test my theory, I opened my last conference talk with this question to the audience (about 400 agents), "How many of you own an iPad or a tablet?" Nearly every hand went up.

Two Approaches to Commute Calculation
Offering information about commute times to people shopping for a new home is, quite simply, a great idea. This is particularly true in our current culture, one focused on reducing expenses and protecting the environment. Today, we'll take a look at two different approaches to doing just this – courtesy of Trulia and Walk Score. My Commute Matters I should explain that I don't live in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago or another thriving metropolis. However, I do have a commute to work (about 35 to 45 minutes, in fact). And it's a huge part of my day. Lengthening or shortening that commute will be a major consideration for me in making my next home purchase. I'm not alone. Many Americans are hampered by a long commute, and are looking for ways to cut it down. They want to save time, spend less money on fuel, and be kinder to the environment. So, like me, as they make their real estate choices, the length of the commute could be an important factor. Smart real estate professionals will recognize this priority, and will respond by offering information about commute times. New online tools, like the ones we're about to discuss, can be a great first step. Trulia's Commute Map I was actually inspired to write this article after spotting a recent post on the Trulia blog announcing their new Commute Map. I decided to give it a try for myself. Before I share my experience, I want to point out that Trulia's Commute Map lives on Trulia.com. In order to recommend this tool, agents will have to direct their clients to Trulia.com – away from their own website. However, the Commute Map represents another feature that Trulia offers to provide a richer home searching experience to online visitors and may encourage visitors to spend more time on the site (and, in a perfect world, more time viewing any listings that you have syndicated there). Alright, that being said, here's my experience with the Trulia Commute Map.

Why You Must Be A Paperless Agent
Guest contributor Krisstina Wise says: A Ubiquitous Gadget Over the past 12 months, I've traveled the country speaking at real estate conferences on the importance of mobile technologies and practices to the future of real estate agents. Because the smartphone, and now iPad, are becoming ubiquitous gadgets that agents own, there is no shortage of platform speeches on subjects like, "Top 10 Apps for Your Real Estate Business." Yet, despite the number of mobile themed topics being presented, I've begun to wonder how many agents who own iPads actually know how to use it in their business. I've speculated that the majority of these agents do not. Anyone can buy an app from the app store – that's a piece of cake – but what they're missing is the knowledge of what to do with the application once it's been downloaded. The Big Reveal To test my theory, I opened my last conference talk with this question to the audience (about 400 agents), "How many of you own an iPad or a tablet?" Nearly every hand went up. Since the topic of this particular talk was The Paperless Agent – How to Use Your iPad as a Foundational Tool for Business, my heart sank momentarily because I thought, "Oh no, perhaps my talk isn't relevant to this tech-savvy group, as they all own an iPad!" BUT, I quickly felt relieved after asking my next question, "Great, most of you own a tablet, but how many of you use your device everyday as a fundamental tool for your real estate business?" Care to guess the answers from the audience members? Here's the big reveal. Although most agents in the room own an iPad, they admitted to not knowing how to use it.  

Virtual vs. Brick-and-Mortar Offices
Welcome to the future, where "the office" can sometimes be your bed, a bar, or a beach chair in the Bahamas. For the uninitiated, it may be difficult to believe, but doing business doesn't always require a traditional, brick-and-mortar office. The virtual office is growing in popularity . . . and in effectiveness. To understand what this means for real estate professionals, we talked to Mehrdad Alaei, CEO of GoPaperless Solutions. GoPaperless is one company that has made it their business to serve the changing needs of a technologically advancing industry. They offer one example of how REALTORS® may become more efficient by streamlining their business with electronic transactions. Benefits of a Virtual OfficeThere are 4 primary benefits to a virtual office: 1. Financial savings. One of the most obvious benefits of a virtual office is the money saved on overhead. Eliminate expenses like rent, utilities, printers and copiers, toner, paper supplies, ancillary staff members, a cleaning crew, and much more. 2. Kind to the environment. In general, a virtual office is more "green" than a brick-and-mortar office. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule; many companies with physical offices make green practices a priority, and many folks working remotely get printer-happy. However, most people with virtual offices use technology to digitally share and manage documents, which can be a real tree-saver.

Going green, easier than you think!
Guest contributor Deb Rabin from HomeFinder.com says: The term “go green” seems to be used everywhere. We continually hear how important it is to “go green” within our homes but other than the easy recycling of paper or plastic, it can be intimidating, and exhausting concerning ourselves with yet another thing to worry about. It is hard enough to decorate our homes, keep them clean and manage a household. Now we have to keep them “green” as well? Yes, we do, or at least we should try because it’s actually a lot easier and less expensive than most of us might realize. Here are five eco-friendly and thrifty ideas on how you can not only make a difference in our “green” world but also save you some money.

Going Paperless: A Smart Choice
Environmental conscience doesn't have to take a back seat to business savvy. What many people may not recognize is that they can make smart choices that are good for business and the environment. A great way to get started is to go paperless. Before I start my spiel, I want to take the opportunity to reach out to you, our brilliant readers. Going paperless is just the beginning of the many ways that REALTORS® can green their business. Are there any green ideas that have inspired you? Do you have any advice for your peers?

Need a New Year’s Resolution?
The term, “New Year’s resolution,” is often associated with an ambitious goal that often falls flat come February.  However, if the goal is realistic and practical, it’s easier to adopt. For real estate professionals, that realistic and practical goal could be adopting a paperless platform. Going paperless is beneficial to real estate professionals in a variety of ways.  For starters, the transaction and negotiation process of buying and selling a home is riddled with paperwork that requires signing, faxing, printing etc. Eliminating this tedious process significantly increases agent efficiency and decreases burnout.