SRES® Blog

If you’ve tried getting an appointment with professionals— contractors, HVAC repair companies, or doctors—then you know how backed up everyone’s schedules are. There may also be delays when hiring pros for spring maintenance and cleaning projects, so remind your clients to schedule appointments early, especially if they cannot climb ladders and do DIY projects. Houzz and the New York Times provide lists of spring cleaning to-dos. Here are 10: Pest inspection Repairing windows and screens Washing windows Chimney inspection Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms check Swapping out winter tools for

The 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study shows the growing popularity of sustainable features. It’s valuable information to share with clients planning upgrades, given that 92% of homeowners incorporated such features during a kitchen renovation. Top kitchen sustainability picks include: LED bulbs (65%) Energy-efficient appliances (61%) Light dimmers (43%) Water-efficient fixtures (34%) Energy-efficient windows (27%). VOC-free paints, finishes, and coatings (21%) The most frequently cited reason for picking such options is their cost-effectiveness (74%). For clients wanting to boost home

There's good news for your clients who are weary of the cool greys and white that have been prevalent in homes in recent years. For those longing to introduce color, one takeaway from a Fixr.com study may be: "go for it." It notes the role that color plays in changing the mood of a room and says that incorporating colors that reflect homeowners' personalities is okay. Fixr.com asked sixty-two interior design industry experts about 2023 home color trends. Neutrals with pops of bold color are expected to be the most popular color combination for 2023, according to 58% of the respondents

Increasingly, homeowners and buyers are focused on the effects of climate change when making homebuying decisions, according to a recent Green Builder Media survey. For example, 55% of respondents said they’ve considered moving due to climate change, and just under 60% expressed concern about how climate change will affect the value of their homes and communities. The survey of 1,200 consumers across the United States – the majority of whom were Millennials – also identified healthy, connected, resilient, net zero (energy, water, and carbon), all-electric, and solar as important

Now is the time of year when you’re sketching out your 2023 business goals and deciding where to concentrate your dollars and attention for professional growth. The new course, Intro to Sustainability & Resiliency: What REALTORS® Need to Know, may give you a start in developing a new business niche serving the growing population of consumers focusing on sustainability in their homes, communities, and personal habits. For instance, more homeowners and homebuyers are asking for -- and are willing to pay for -- properties with sustainable features. Such features bring benefits like lower utility

Given that the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers so many provisions for making energy-efficient home upgrades, clients may have higher expectations of you. They may look to you for advice about decarbonizing their home and tapping the financial incentives that will be available. Now is an excellent time to get up to speed on energy efficiency and green home improvements and to get ready to address clients' concerns. Here are four resources to get you started. Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency– DSIRE gives you a quick way to search for and stay up to

Clients may look to you for advice when they discover a home health problem or when a home inspection reveals the presence of lead paint or some other hazard. To get up to speed on such issues, visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the guide. It provides information sheets (see page 11) on common home health hazards, including asbestos, lead, and mold, and their health effects. The guides are a quick way for you to become more knowledgeable about such topics and provide the best guidance to your clients. The information also is worth sharing – in blog posts

APR, closing costs, and other homebuying terminology roll off your tongue naturally, but clients may not be as familiar with such jargon as you think. In a MoneyWise homebuying financial literacy survey (https://moneywise.com/mortgages/american-homebuying-survey), over 56% of Americans flunked a quiz about common words like “mortgage rate” and “down payment.” The quiz gave grades A through F for each generation’s ability to accurately define several homebuying terms. Though Baby Boomers did best compared to other generations, only 26.2% in the age group aced the quiz, and 33.5% flunked. Given

When communicating in writing with your older clients, remember that fonts matter. One finding from a new study, “Towards Individuated Reading Experiences: Different Fonts Increase Reading Speed for Different Individuals” (https://www.nngroup.com/articles/best-font-for-online-reading/ and https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3502222#d1e6100), indicates that three fonts – Garamond, Montserrat, and Poynter Gothic – were better for older readers. So, consider how best to design your reading materials for your age 55+ buyers and sellers. Here are some tips (https://www.fonts.com/content/learning/fyti

Changing the Narrative Colorado (https://changingthenarrativeco.org/) combats ageism by trying to change how people think, talk, and act about aging. Its guidelines (https://changingthenarrativeco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Guidelines-for-Age-Inclusive-Communications_ChangingtheNarrative-1.pdf) for journalists about avoiding ageist terms are relevant to your business. When communicating with and about older adults in conversations and marketing materials, choose words and images carefully. Here are six considerations. Avoid ageist words like elderly and the aged and the stereotypes