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

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

To seniors, their homes are significant both financially and emotionally. "… home is more than just a place they live. It represents their journey, their accomplishments, their family, and the life they have created," says the American Advisors Group's (https://www.aag.com/homesurvey/p/1) "Importance of Home Survey." In addition, older Americans feel safe at home and value their independence. Those are good things to keep in mind when working with seniors who may be downsizing or moving to an assisted or independent living environment reluctantly. After all, 92% of seniors said they'd prefer

Have you recommended that clients stage their home, but they're still skeptical about its benefits? The "2021 Profile of Home Staging" by the National Association of REALTORS® (https://bit.ly/2Q6qlRf) can help you make a case for its value. One interesting fact worth sharing: buyers have been influenced by how homes on TV shows look. A median of 10 percent of respondents say that buyers thought that homes should look how they're staged on those shows. How well does your client's house align with such buyers' expectations? Forty-seven percent of buyers' agents said that home staging affects

According to the Shelton Group, a Knoxville, Tenn., energy, and sustainability marketing firm, three-quarters of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about the air they're breathing in their homes. Three-quarters of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about the air they're breathing in their homes, according to the Shelton Group, a Knoxville, Tenn., energy, and sustainability marketing firm. With so many still hunkered down at home because of the pandemic, homeowners continue to focus on home health and indoor air quality. You can help your clients assess just how healthy their home

If you’re tired of pale gray, the popular home paint color during the last year or so, look to the new hues of 2021. In recent months, paint companies released their 2021 color predictions. Many of their choices have been influenced by the changes the pandemic has brought to our lives. For example, in announcing its color of the year, Urbane Bronze (https://bit.ly/34RY9pf), Sherwin-Williams, suggests finding your sanctuary. It says, “As we're looking to create the ultimate retreat for reflection and renewal, we're turning to a hue whose natural simplicity and nature-inspired energy cultivate a

3 Ways Gen Xers Can Start Tough Chats with Boomer Parents Even if you’re a Gen Xer and your parents are younger baby boomers who are healthy and fit, it’s not too early to start talking with them about their future. You can start addressing some of the more challenging topics – finances, housing, and health directives – to get a feel for your parents’ plans and thinking. Weaving them into conversations early and making them natural discussion topics can lay the groundwork for later when you need to have more in-depth decision-focused discussions. Rather than always relying on direct questions

How to Stay Active When Moving to a New Community So, you’ve decided to move into a new community. You’ve packed the essentials and said hello to your new sanctuary. Once all the hustle and bustle of moving is over, what’s next? An adventure is what’s next. Now is the time to explore your new habitat and find the cool opportunities that your living space has to offer. This is the next and best chapter of your life. Types of Communities and Amenities There are numerous communities that are geared towards people of the same age and interests. Active retirement communities (https://www.55places

Every housing decision involves a complex set of factors, but moving into an active adult community adds several unique considerations. A real estate agent with the SRES® designation can help you sort through these and other factors when deciding on your next home: Location Do you prefer living close to family and friends or in a particular area for health or weather reasons? Do you want to live in a smaller urban facility with minimal services, or do you prefer a more extensive, independent campus that meets all your social needs and offers numerous onsite amenities? Do you plan to maintain