If you’re preparing your home for a sale, you’ll want to stage it in a way that appeals to buyers. While some homeowners make do with what they have, others take a more proactive approach by creating an eco-friendly, sustainable space that will appeal to modern buyers. There are a number of ways to go green when staging your home.
Green Cleaning and Decluttering
Before you can add anything to the home, you should clean and declutter. Opt for eco-friendly cleaning products. Here are a few suggestions:
- Lysol Daily Cleanser isn’t the traditional cleaning product you might have in mind — instead, it kills nearly 100% of germs, has few ingredients, is free of harsh chemicals, and is safe to use even on eating surfaces.
- Surface Cleaner from The Laundress is a safe multi-cleaner that can tackle just about any hard surface. Say “goodbye” to a cabinet full of cleaning supplies.
- If your carpets are in decent shape and only need a quick refresher, use the eco-friendly ECOS Stain and Odor Remover.
- Donate, donate, donate. Donate whatever you have that’s in good condition instead of throwing it out. Bring it to your local Salvation Army or Goodwill. Alternatively, some rubbish disposal services will donate items on your behalf.
- Re-gift items you never used. If there’s something that’s brand new and unopened, set it aside to re-gift for an upcoming birthday or holiday. You’ll eventually get rid of it without crowding a landfill, and you’ll also save money.
- Double-check that you can recycle something before you put it in your recycle bin. A simple Google search should do the trick. However, be aware that if you put a non-recyclable in a recycle bin, it could contaminate the actual recyclables, which means nothing in the container can be recycled.
- Refrigerators are a huge energy vampire. Limit how much energy they consume by only having one in your home (instead of an additional fridge in the garage), opting for a fridge on the small side and avoiding fancy add-ons like a wine refrigerator or an in-door ice maker.
- Shop for a clothes washer with an Energy Star label, which can reduce energy and water use by over 40%. Note that most dryers aren’t Energy Star-rated.
- Some of Samsung’s new AC systems use a digital inverter to sustain temperatures without the system turning on and off frequently. Without stopping and starting so much, less electricity is consumed.
- Swap out your regular bulbs for LED bulbs. They cost more upfront, but home buyers will appreciate that they’re long-lasting and will cut down on their electricity bill.
- Unless the interior of your home needs a full-scale paint job, consider painting just an accent wall in a few select rooms. You’ll cut down on the paint you use and the toxic chemicals you release into the air. Make sure to consult a professional Stager who can advise you on what colors to use. Going too dark or too specific with a color you like may backfire as it could be a color that is not buyer-neutral and friendly.
- Sherwin Williams has a line of low VOC paints that are eco-friendly.
- Outfit the garden with native plants. It’ll be easy to maintain the garden because the plants are used to the local soil and weather, and you’ll reduce your carbon footprint because the plants aren’t shipped from far away.
- If you have to redo the roof or the siding before listing your home, opt for recyclable construction materials. For example, asphalt shingles can be recycled when it’s time to replace them, and you can find siding made from recycled wood.