Incorporating green practices in your home is simpler than you might think. We’re not talking installing solar panels or adding car-charging stations in your garage (at least, not yet).

You can have an eco-friendly home without building one from the ground up. From switching to LED light bulbs to installing a toilet that wastes less water, there are a number of ways to make your home a little greener.

Light bulbs & Windows
Using LED light bulbs is the easiest thing to do that will change your electric bill. You can go to your local Home Depot or Lowe's and find a plethora of LED bulbs that will help save on your energy usage.

Changing to high-performance windows are crucial to having a comfortable home. 

High-performance, energy-efficient windows can offer you:

• Quieter home interior — multiple panes and insulated frames block outside noise.
• Reduced fading of curtains, furniture, and flooring — low-emissivity (solar window) coatings can block up to 98% of UV rays.
• Reduced utility bills — houses lose less heat in winter and absorb less heat in summer.
• Improved quality windows are made from better-quality materials easier to operate and carry extended warranties.

You may also want to rethink your current heating and cooling system. The Dwell Development team suggests using ductless mini-split systems throughout a home. You can mount them right on your wall, and they’re run by a remote control.

These ductless heating and cooling systems are 300 percent more efficient than most systems out there. Other benefits to ductless mini-split systems include their small size, easy installation, and ability to blend into the existing interior design of a room. These systems will soon become the new norm. 

Re-purposed materials
Try re-purposing old materials and turning them into treasured statement pieces in your home. From counter-tops to flooring, look locally for materials you can re-purpose.

​If you’re thinking about replacing your counter-tops, try recycled steel or reclaimed wood. Bamboo wood, for example, works quite well as a kitchen counter-top option; it’s both durable and resistant to bacteria and mold.

Environmentally friendly flooring options are also not difficult to find. Flooring made from cork, linoleum, and bamboo are not only renewable materials, but also assist in home insulation efforts. Linoleum, in particular, is known for its lengthy lifespan.

Water conservation
Selecting the right fixtures can save thousands of gallons of water a year.  An average toilet uses three gallons per flush. For an average three-bedroom house, you’ll save 6,000 to 9,000 gallons annually by using these toilets.

In addition to easy fixes like new toilets, look for other fixtures and appliances that conserve water. Purchasing tankless water heaters is another good place to start. Tankless water heaters skip the inefficient (and wasteful) process of reheating hot water in a tank. Instead, they heat on-demand, so no energy is wasted keeping water hot.

You’ll save money on operating costs, and save on water usage given you’re no longer running water while waiting for it to heat up.

Additionally, you can collect and re-purpose rainwater on your property to irrigate your garden and landscaping. Place rain barrels or cisterns beneath your downspout, and install rain chains, which drain water from your gutter and hang from the downspout hole.

From rethinking your heating and cooling system to water conservation efforts, the key to turning your home into a more environmentally conscious space is making one change at a time.
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You don’t need to build a green home from the ground up to incorporate sustainable home practices. Choose a few small changes you can enact in the near future, and you’re well on your way to a green-living home of your own.

When the time comes to sell your home, whether you’ve lived in it for three years or 30, you need to see it as a product for sale. And just like an item on a store shelf, you want your home to stand out from the competition.

Your feelings and emotions about your home — and all of the memories you made there — may make it difficult to detach and view your home as a product. But sellers who quickly transition away from the emotional connection and into investment mode will reap the financial benefits many times over. Homes that go into contract quicker and with few (if any) price reductions ultimately sell for more money. And isn’t that every seller’s goal?

What’s on buyers’ wish lists
Homes that sell quickly probably have many of the features today’s buyers find desirable. Smart retailers try to understand better what consumers want, and then deliver to them. Home sellers should do the same.

When you’re preparing to sell your home, consider small renovations, updates, cleaning and even some light staging. I’ve seen sellers make significant upgrades to their home before listing, leaving them to question if they actually want to move. 

Today’s buyers look for move-in ready and turn-key homes. The more bells and whistles, the better.

Focus on kitchens and baths
It’s a pretty well-established fact that kitchens and baths sell a home. If your kitchen or bathroom is tired or outdated, consider modest upgrades that pack a punch.

Painting cabinets white gives the kitchen a clean and fresh look. Consider new stone countertops like quartz or granite. And replace old faucets with shiny new ones. Spending a modest sum can reap incredible benefits — tenfold.

If you’ve got it, flaunt it
Research shows that certain features help sell a home faster. Even if you don’t have time for renovations, you might luck out and already have some of the items on buyers’ wish lists.

For example, subway tiles in the kitchen or bathroom, barn doors, and craftsman features are proven to help homes sell faster. If your home has these, play them up, because today’s buyers want them.

Just like companies figure out the next hot car, handbag or shoe for their respective industries, smart home sellers must know their audience and market their product to meet customer demand.
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When it comes time to sell, consider your buyer, and try hard to assemble your home into a top-notch product.