Park City Real Estate News

L.E.D. lighting can make a real difference

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
May 29, 2015

Most homeowners want to be eco-friendly, yet they worry that making changes in that regard might be costly and time consuming. Incorporating energy-efficient lighting is a great way to make a big impression with green-conscious homebuyers. In fact, studies have reported that 80% of homebuyers identify energy savings and comfortable surroundings as key factors when deciding between listings.

It isn’t just limited to fluorescent tubes or CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps). LEDs are an energy-efficient light source that began growing in popularity around 2007. LED lighting can be used as accents to better showcase the home’s features. From track lighting over the fireplace to under-counter cabinet lighting and recessed lighting in the hall, LED fixtures can cast dramatic light on your home’s best features, while at the same time, remaining cool to the touch and easy on the wallet.

Here are some interesting facts about LED lighting:

  • Offers the same bright white output as incandescent lighting
  • Uses 75% less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs
  • Uses 75% less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs
  • The Department of Energy estimates that replacing regular light bulbs with LEDs could potentially save 190 terawatt-hours annually—the equivalent of lighting over 95 million homes
While buyers can make these changes themselves, savvy sellers know that they will judge your eco-friendly actions in a positive light and may be more inclined to deal with you.

Strategic Selling: Go Green.

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Apr 28, 2015

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Today’s sophisticated homebuyers are seeking green features partly for ethical reasons and partly for cost efficiency. Incorporating green features and sustainable tactics is an inexpensive way to add value to your house.

Here are some cost effective eco-friendly upgrades to incorporate in your home:

-Replace all the light bulbs in your home with CFLs or LEDs.

-Seal, upgrade and insulate (it can reduce your annual heating bill by $100 according to Department of Energy figures).

-Consider upgrading to energy-efficient appliances. (There are tax deductions and rebates that make this more affordable. Modern appliances can be a very attractive selling point.)

-Tankless water heaters are known for energy efficiency and water conservation.

-Update your yard with hearty, drought-tolerant greenery that can save many gallons of water each month.

When showing or marketing your home:

-Be sure to list and mention all of the eco-features of your home.

-Educate any potential buyers on the economic and health benefits of going green.

-When staging, instead of using bottled water, offer a chilled pitcher of filtered tap water at the ready. Add some organic fruits or vegetables and eliminate excess packaging.

-Advertise online and consider marketing around the sustainable features of your home.

Employing any of these tips will paint a desirable picture for today's prospective, eco-conscious buyers.

Building Healthy Homes

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Feb 24, 2015

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Sustainable green builds are more than just positive for ecosystems and your finances; they’re also beneficial for your health. In his keynote address at the latest Green Building conference in New Orleans, famed guru, Deepak Chopra, discussed the measurable ways in which "green" builds and features support health. The entire conference focused on inhabitant health, which has become the latest reason to embrace green building.

Green building has become a huge selling point as both a mark of a sophisticated, newer build and as a money-saver. According to the US Green Building Council, residential homes account for approximately 20% of carbon dioxide emissions in America; and to date, more than 1 million green homes have saved consumers an estimated $200 million annually in utility bills. At BHHS Utah, we feel that green building needs to be looked at holistically.

Rather than seeing sustainable homes as separate systems of different technologies, strategies, and materials, they need to be viewed as individual human habitats. Up until recently, discussing green building in any depth required a solid background in building or LEED certification (standardization for green building). Green Building has evolved to where builders are able to utilize sustainable technologies to build you more than a home, but a habitat that promotes wellness...in addition to meeting your standards of design, functionality, and sustainability.

While kitchens with built-in juicers, hydroponic herbariums, and bathrooms with reflexology stones and teak steam rooms might seem a bit over the top, adopting a few principle features of sustainable building can improve your emotional and physical health drastically. By using building materials with minimal off-gassing, like wood, and increasing natural light, you can decrease your risk of cancer and ward off environmental-induced depression.

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In a recent quote, Deepak Chopra stated in support of building for human health: “This is the next step in the real estate industry — understanding that sustainability should begin in the home. Our bodies are sustainable but exposed to pollution, no different than the environment.” We agree and are doing what we can to champion healthy homes. Reach-out to your BHHS agent for more info on which homes near you are adopting this trend.

In the Know: Design Predictions for 2015

By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties
Jan 15, 2015

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Color will make a comeback.

Don’t get us wrong, we freaking love Scandanvian minimalism, but we are ready for the return of vibrancy. The Norse design block, headed up by Sweden, seems to have a challenger in Spain. We love the colorful flair coming out of the inspired minds of Madrid and Barcelona’s interior maestros. We expect to see more oranges, yellows, and pinks this year and a general infusion of more color and patterns. Check-out the playful interior of Casa de Luis Galliussi in Madrid for an idea of what we’re talking about.

Simple will be traded for sumptuous.

Practicality and functionality have been controlling design philosophy for a while now, but interior mavens like Roman and William (one of our all time fave design teams), have started to rebel. Stark furniture and tidy floorplans are being undermined by opulent furnishings, eccentric ornaments, and dramatic neo-gothic color schemes. Think Addams Family meets Martha Stewart. It works, really!

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Small is the new big.

It used to be about the square footage. Now there’s a whole branch of architecture devoted to “tiny living”. We are especially fond of the Vipp Shelter and the Outdoor Research Tiny House. The OR Tiny House is home to professional skiers, Molly Baker and Zack Griffin, who hitch their tiny shelter to the back of a truck and park it at the base of whichever ski resort currently has the most snow. Millennials are a very different demographic than has ever been seen before, and unlike baby boomers, they are used to cramped apartments and feel strongly about having less of a footprint environmentally. This generation can be expected to promote functional spaces with little to no excess.

Healthy homes.

At the annual Green Building Conference, which took place in New Orleans in 2014, the theme was healthy living spaces. In depth scientific studies found that interiors that incorporate wood, plants, and light keep us happy and healthy. Architects have taken this information and incorporated it into designs—indoor flora, expansive wood ceilings, natural settings, etc…will all be trending now. Behold, the stacking green house.

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