Go Green!

Tips for homeowners to make their home more eco-friendly.

Interest in the environment and green building has moved beyond installing energy efficient appliances and swapping out incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescents. With luxury condos touting eco-friendly features like rain water recycling and construction companies incorporating energy saving features into new homes, it's no wonder real estate professionals say more and more potential home buyers are asking about "green homes."

With demand for environmentally friendly homes blossoming across the country, one way to make a home stand out in a stalled real estate market is to retro-fit it to green standards. Below are some tips from the professionals at Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation on how to make your home sustainable, energy- and cost-efficient now, to appeal to eco-conscious home buyers later.

Replace hardwood floors with renewable materials. While hardwood has been the flooring of choice for the past several years, bamboo floors are much more eco-friendly because bamboo grows quickly and can be easily replaced. In the kitchen, linoleum floors, made from solidified linseed oil, wood flour or cork dust over a burlap or canvas backing, is very eco-friendly compared to modern floor coverings made from polyvinyl chloride.

Don't flush away your money. Consider replacing existing commodes with low-flow toilets which use approximately 20 percent less water per flush, or dual-flush toilets with two buttons to give home owners the choice of flushing with a half- or full tank.

A ray of light. In many neighborhoods, owning a home on the north side of the street has always been more desirable than ones on the south side. South-facing windows provide more natural daylight, making a home more bright and cheery. More importantly, natural daylight helps keep indoor climate comfortable during the winter months, allowing a homeowner to lower the thermostat. Alternatively, drawing shades during key daylight hours during the summer can help cut down on air conditioning needs.

Green gardening. Sustainable landscaping is becoming all the rage to eco-conscious home owners. Planting native plants, vegetation and shade trees strategically around a home will keep it cool during the summer and block cold winds during the winter. Native vegetation thrives in its preferred environment and won’t require excess water. In addition, concrete driveways and patios can be replaced with permeable paving materials, allowing water to pass through to the ground, in turn reducing runoff that erodes soil and causes flooding of sewer systems.

Switch to green power. The use of renewable energy in a home, such as solar, wind, water or geothermal, greatly helps reduce pollution. However, installing solar panels or wind generators can be enormously expensive. Today, many utility companies in the U.S. are offering home owners an option to purchase a form of renewable energy that does not cost much more than conventional energy. The government also offers many financial incentives to home owners who install renewable-energy systems.

Open Sunday

Come see us Sunday at our Open Houses!

6818 N Buckeye, Edwards
Five bedroom, three and a half bath two- story Signature Home located in Sommer Place in Edwards. Dunlap schools, great three-stall garage with master suite and three bedrooms upstairs. The finished basement offers a Rec room with a fifth bedroom that has an egress window and a full bathroom. This house has 9’ foot basement, a 16x12 patio, gas log fireplace, tile in the kitchen, laundry and entry way! $299,900 See the listing for more details.

112 Woodbrook Court, East Peoria
Great 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home located in Stonewood Subdivision in East Peoria. There are many upgrades including a fully Sodded Yard, a large deck, upgraded carpet and pad, and a fully painted basement. This home was built in 2006 and sits at the end of a cul de sac. The entry has hardwood floors in the foyer, a gas log fireplace in the great room, and a Master suite with whirlpool tub and separate shower. This home is in immaculate condition and a pleasure to show! $199,900 See the listing for more details.

Coldwell Banker Ranked Highest in Home Seller Satisfaction!

Coldwell Banker was recently ranked the HIGHEST IN HOME SELLER SATISFACTION by J.D. Power and Associates! We received the following press release late last week.

J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES RANKS COLDWELL BANKER HIGHEST IN HOME SELLER SATISFACTION

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Sept. 17, 2009 – Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC ranked highest among real estate companies in satisfying home sellers according to the recently released J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM.

“This recognition is a testament to the brand’s legacy as an industry leader, our commitment to innovation and, above all, our powerful network,” said Jim Gillespie, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “With unsurpassed local knowledge, expertise and work ethic, we at Coldwell Banker have always felt that our network of professionals is the greatest in the industry, and we’re pleased J.D. Power and Associates recognized it.”

The independently administered study measured customer satisfaction of homebuyers and sellers among the largest national real estate firms. The study incorporates more than 3,100 evaluations from 2,801 respondents who bought or sold a home between April 2008 and June 2009. The survey was fielded between April and June 2009.

J.D. Power and Associates examined four factors in the home-selling experience including: agent; marketing; office; and package of additional services. Among home sellers, Coldwell Banker Real Estate ranked highest with a score of 815 and performed particularly well in all four factors.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate also ranked particularly high in the home-buyer segment. The brand ranked second with a score of 801 on a 1,000-point scale, performing particularly well in the office factor.

Complete results for the study can be found here.

About Coldwell Banker®Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker® organization has been a premier full-service real estate provider. In 2008, Franchise Times magazine’s prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system No. 1 in real estate for the ninth straight year and 12th among franchisors in all industries. The Coldwell Banker System has approximately 3,500 residential real estate offices and approximately 100,000 sales associates in 47 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker System is a leader in the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and luxury property through its Coldwell Banker Previews International® division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge® Service Program and award-winning Web site, www.coldwellbanker.com. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.

About J.D. Power and AssociatesHeadquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on home building and home improvement, car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.###

Open Sunday!

We hope to see you Sunday at

1312 Willow, Washington

Over 2500 finished square feet! Magnificent 2 story new construction in Bristol Park. Very open floor plan in this 4 bedroom and 2-1/2 bath home with a fireplaced Great Room, Kitchen with hard surface countertops, Formal Dining, Informal Dining, & main floor laundry. This home offers hardwood and ceramic tile floors, arched doorways, rounded corners, vaulted ceilings, tray ceilings, 9’ ceilings on the main level and a 9’ basement. All 4 bedrooms are upstairs including a Master Suite with 2 walk in closets. The Master Bath has dual sinks, a walk-in shower, and a corner whirlpool tub. Bedrooms 3 & 4 also have walk in closets, and the main bath also has dual sinks. Still time to make selections! $256,900. Check-out the listing for more details.

Get Your House Ready to Show to Buyers

A house that "sparkles" on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor, even though both are structurally well maintained.

From experience, REALTORS® also know that a "well-polished" house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price. Additionally, buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is well maintained, they assume that what they can't see has probably also been well maintained. In readying your house for sale, consider:

• how much should you spend to prepare your house for sale?
• exterior and curb appeal
• interior appeal

Before putting your house on the market, take as much time as necessary (and as little money as possible) to maximize its exterior and interior appeal.

To learn more about how much you should spend preparing your home for sale, exterior and interior appeal, visit the Sellers section of our website or contact us.

Just Listed!

2812 W Parkridge, Peoria

Great 2 bedroom 1.5 bath ranch style home located in Wardcliffe subdivision. This house has updates galore, including new kitchen appliances, new flooring through out, updated bathroom, updated kitchen, updated roof, updated main bathroom, updated half bath, paint throughout house, and laundry area. The Partial finished basement has new paint and carpet with a separate area for storage. The home sits on a nice lot with mature trees, 2 stall attached garage and a back patio. All appliances stay, just move right in!!! $134,900 Check-out the listing for more details. Email or call us at 309-657-0063.

Enjoy Labor Day!

We hope you enjoy the day that rewards all of your hard work! Have a safe and happy weekend!

Just Listed in Stonewood Subdivision!

112 Woodbrook Court, East Peoria

Great 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home located in Stonewood Subdivision in East Peoria. There are many upgrades including a fully Sodded Yard, a large deck, upgraded carpet and pad, and a fully painted basement. This home was built in 2006 and sits at the end of a cul de sac. The entry has hardwood floors in the foyer, a gas log fireplace in the great room, and a Master suite with whirlpool tub and separate shower. This home is in immaculate condition and a pleasure to show! $199,900 Check-out the listing for more details. Email or call us at 309-0657-0063 if you have any questions.