Will Recycling Bins Help Sell Your Home?
Staging a home may help sell it more quickly, and some say that green attributes could help tip potential buyers into making an offer. Photo: Flickr/Talke Photography
According to a recent release by RISMedia, sustainability is the newest trend in staging – the process by which a home is setup to appeal to the highest number of prospective buyers.
Traditionally, staging showcases the home’s strong points through carefully chosen furniture, arrangements and even small modifications such as new paint. Advocates of staging say that the process can reduce a home’s time on the market and increase the perceived value of the property.
But a new school of thought may be emerging, where styling for sustainability is the key.
Michelle Minch, who works for Moving Mountains Design and Staging in Pasadena, Calif., tells RISMedia, “Thus far, I haven’t seen a house sell just because it is green. However, I think a house with green credentials could help tip an on-the-fence buyer in favor of a home.”
RISMedia gives eight tips for emphasizing a home’s green attributes. Below, we take our favorite three for a spin:
1. Verify Environmental Friendliness
In terms of any environmental claim, it’s always best to have paperwork and third-party verification to add credibility to your statements. Recently, a National Geographic Society study found that when asked what discourages environmentally friendly consumer behavior, 44 percent of respondents answered “companies make false claims about the environmental impact of their products.” The same logic can be applied to your home sales efforts: If claiming an energy-efficient property, for example, an energy audit is a solid way to put action behind your words.
2. Include a Recycling Center
One of the easiest ways to incorporate a home’s “green” attributes is to showcase how simple it is to recycle in the space. Using RISMedia’s logic that “it’s possible to make separating bins a sleek design element,” try using organizers that fit the decor of the room. Also, simple upgrades like a Naturemill Automatic Compost Bin provide potential buyers a tangible way to imagine their possible eco-friendly lifestyle in your home.
3. Go Natural
Even if your home does not have a large yard (or a yard at all), emphasize its connection to the outdoors with living houseplants over silks. Not only can they help with indoor air quality, but live plants can help reduce noise pollution and even have proven health benefits, according to a NASA study.
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As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Reginald Whibbey
posted on June 16th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Yes, a recycle bin will help sell your home if the buyer is eco-friendly or inclined to be. When we look for a new home we always check to see if we can recycle; and if the current owner has recycling set up already.
As far as sleek recycling bin we sell the best looking bins in usa. we have wall mounted bins and bins with stylish designs on them. they are sure to change the look of a home for the better.
recycling bins
posted on July 13th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
While I would expect that energy efficiency should matter more to the eco-minded home buyer, I can see how a well placed recycling center in the home would grab their attention.