Get ready to talk up more green features with your homebuyers and sellers, and let them know how they can reduce energy usage in the home. More than half of REALTORS\u00ae say that their consumers are showing a greater interest in real estate<\/a> sustainability issues and practices, according to NAR\u2019s REALTORS\u00ae and Sustainability report,\u00a0which stems from NAR\u2019s new Sustainability Program.<\/p>\n To help start these conversations, more Multiple Listing<\/a> Services are adding data entry fields to identify a property\u2019s green features. Forty-three percent of REALTORS\u00ae surveyed say their MLS now has green data fields; 19 percent say they do not.<\/p>\n REALTORS\u00ae say they see value in promoting energy efficiency in listings, with seven out of 10 feeling strongly about the benefits in promoting such features to clients.<\/p>\n The green home features REALTORS\u00ae say clients are considering \u201cvery\u201d or \u201csomewhat important\u201d surround a home\u2019s efficient use of lighting; a smart\/connected home; green community features, such as bike lanes and green spaces; landscaping for water conservation; and renewable energy<\/a> systems, such as solar and geothermal. Eighty percent of real estate agents<\/a> and brokers said that solar panels are available in their market, and 42 percent said solar panels increase the perceived property value of the home too.<\/p>\n Twenty-seven percent of real estate professionals surveyed reported that in the last 12 months they\u2019ve had 1 to 5 properties with green features. Seventy percent of real estate pros, however, say they had no properties with green features in that time.<\/p>\n That is \u201cleaving a great deal of room for future growth,\u201d NAR notes in its release on the survey findings.\u00a0<\/p>\n Indeed, \u201cas consumers\u2019 interest in sustainability grows, REALTORS\u00ae\u00a0understand the necessity of promoting sustainability in their real estate practice, such as marketing energy efficiency in property listings to homebuyers,\u201d says NAR President William E. Brown. \u201cThe goal of the NAR Sustainability Program is to provide leadership and strategies on topics of sustainability to benefit members, consumers and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n NAR recently launched the REALTOR\u00ae Sustainability Program to aid greater talks on sustainability issues among REALTORS\u00ae, brokers, allied trade associations, and consumers, and provide resources to help educate on such topics. Learn more.<\/p>\n Source: \u201cREALTORS\u00ae and Sustainability: 2017 Report,\u201d National Association of REALTORS\u00ae (2017)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n [ad_2]![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/realtormag.realtor.org\/sites\/realtormag.realtor.org\/files\/rmo_files\/images\/2017_mar\/sustainability_2017_FINAL.JPEG\")
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