SRES® Blog

Every year, color forecasters and paint companies bring a burst of fun to the industry when they release their color of the year. Another perk is their creative language to describe the colors and the mood they're trying to evoke. Companies have started rolling out their 2024 color picks, and sharing the news can be an opportunity to reconnect with clients who may be ready for a fall or early winter refresh of their homes. There are options for clients willing to embrace trendy, bold colors and hues for those who prefer more subtle changes and a timeless feel. Evoking Emotion In picking colors

The 2023 Community & Transportation Preferences Survey by the National Association of REALTORS® offers some compelling statistics to use when you're talking with clients about their homes' selling points and in developing a marketing strategy. The insight also could help you position a home to attract younger prospective buyers.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), passed last year, will be a game-changer for homeowners looking to make energy-efficiency home upgrades.

If you’ve suggested home staging to sellers, but they’re reluctant, reinforce your recommendation with statistics from the 2023 Profile of Home Staging. The National Association of REALTORS® Research Group’s report can help you make the case that staging helps meet buyers’ heightened expectations and can sell a house more quickly. Another point that likely will resonate with clients is that staging homes often helps bring higher selling prices. For example, 20% of buyers’ agents said that staging a home increased the dollar value offered by between one and five percent, compared to similar un

If you haven’t explored the benefits that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can have on your business, now may be the time. A recent realtor.com® story outlined how real estate practitioners use ChatGPT to generate content. Three examples include: Writing listing descriptions Brainstorming topics for email drip campaigns Developing blog, social media posts, and video scripts Using AI can free up time that you could devote to activities that bring in more money—prospecting for new listings, improving customer service, and making deeper community connections. Learn more: ChatGPT, Google Killer? The

Home electrification is gaining traction, and the recent "Remodeling 2023 Cost vs. Value Report" (https://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2023/key-trends-in-the-2023-cost-vs-value-report) shows that electric heat pumps retain 103.5% of their value at resale. In addition, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 incentivizes people to convert to heat pump technology. Your clients may be able to tap a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of buying and installing a heat pump. To get ready for homeowners’ questions, you can familiarize yourself with heat pumps and how they work and the incentives

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