The 2021 Report on Realtors and Sustainability, issued by the National Association of Realtors in the United States, showed that 57 percent of agents are not sure or do not know that high-performance equipment actually increases the value of a home; and 16 percent even believe that this attribute has no impact on its value, compared to that of another house similar in size, location and general construction characteristics, but without the features that allow it to be classified as high performance.
But what really is a high performance house?
It is one that is built or renovated in accordance with certain scientific principles of construction, to make it more comfortable, favorable or protective of the health of its occupants, safe, durable and efficient in the use and consumption of resources for its operation, compared to another regular house.
The importance of real estate professionals recognizing the added value of incorporating technologies, both passive and active, to improve the performance of a house, lies in the fact that they are the key element that connects buyers with houses.
On the purchasers side, different studies and surveys in the last decade have consistently shown that they are highly interested in energy efficiency, in renewable energies and in general in the functionalities that make homes healthier, more comfortable and safer. .
From a list of more than 170 elements, having energy-saving applications or generation with renewable sources, LED lighting, devices with independent certifications such as Energy Star®, or elements that favor water conservation, are among the 10 preferred and considered essential when making the decision to purchase a home.
So, according to these data, there seems to be a disconnection between what the market demands and what those responsible for making this connection between the product and consumers are offering. This could be revealing a huge area of opportunity for real estate agents to learn more about these features, which according to recent studies add between 2.5 and 14 percent to a home’s value.
Better training and focusing marketing and advertising efforts to highlight these features in homes can create a virtuous cycle for designers, builders, and developers to implement these technologies that buyers already appreciate in a home, and enable real estate professionals to sell at a better price, faster and generate satisfied customers.
The effects of global warming can be mitigated with bioclimatic design techniques in homes, combined with new insulating materials, more efficient devices in their electricity consumption and renewable energy generation equipment. Carbon neutrality in the housing industry must be a pursued objective, due to its contribution of value and because it generates opportunities for sustainable development.
Raul Asis Monforte Gonzalez
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Facebook: Raul Asis Monforte Gonzalez
Twitter: @raulmonforteg
www.elfinanciero.com.mx