Wall choices may seem ho-hum and routine. But innovative design professionals and entrepreneurs have developed new choices that you as a real estate professional should know about. With a recent onslaught of hurricanes and storms, anxious clients may be interested in products that can help a house better thwart high winds and rain or discourage mold growth in flood situations. Also, Eric Corey Freed, founding principal of Organic Architect in Portland, Ore., recommends real estate professionals learn what’s available for environmental- and health-conscious consumers, such as recycled options that keep raw materials out of landfills, concrete walls that “eat” carbon to remove it from a room’s air supply, and tiles that decoratively cover walls while eliminating contaminating gases for those highly sensitive to certain chemicals.

Many architects, builders, and engineers test their ideas as commercial and industrial wall designs, and then, if they work, adapt them for residential use. However, not every innovation works for every home. Some options won’t meet local building codes or offer a good return on investment, says Erin Hatcher, vice president of sustainability at AMLI Residential, a Chicago-based development and management company.

Here are six options that will expand your wall knowledge to fit today’s market options.

Living “Green Walls”

This product is actually something of a misnomer in that it’s more of a host for living plants than an actual “living wall.” The greenery doesn’t make up the actual wall support, but rather adds a living cover to a small wall area or expanse, which offers structural and nutritional support. Some popular plant choices include philodendron, pothos, and spider plants. In an exterior wall, homeowners should select plants based on a home’s USDA zone. For interior walls, the amount of light plants need should be the determining factor.

Why it’s noteworthy: When used outdoors, living walls can protect structures from inclement weather and ultraviolet rays. Indoors, they’re prized for their ability to remove toxins, add pleasant smells and textures, and even improve residents’ mental health. “Living plants have been shown to improve a person’s mood and increase productivity,” says Matthew Hills, a project manager with Ambius in Redding, Penn., an industry leader in this field. He advises grouping different plants on the same wall to help mitigate a variety of pollutants. “A spider plant removes carbon dioxide twice as much as a philodendron does,” he notes. The NASA Clean Air Study offers a list of common indoor plants and the toxins they can remove from the air. Finally, Mike Haynes—sales and marketing coordinator with Livewall in Spring Lake, Mich., which provides support systems for green walls—adds that they can create an acoustic barrier for a more peaceful setting. Homeowners can purchase DIY kits or rely on garden professionals to build and plant the walls.

Price per square foot: Varies based on the size of the wall and options, such as built-in irrigation. Ambius’ options range from $80 to $200; maintenance visits are extra. Livewall’s range from $85 to $135.

Mycelium Panels and Insulation

The rootlike fibers of mushrooms, otherwise known as mycelium, are being used to create wall panels and tiles. Ecovative Design, an upstate New York firm, patented the technology after its mechanical engineer founders saw the promise of fungi as “nature’s glue.” The company grows the material in its factor by binding together agricultural waste substrates to the fungal fiber. Ecovative originally used the technology to create lightweight product packaging and insulation, but they recently began selling modular acoustical wall panels.

Why it’s noteworthy: Because the material is renewable and it helps create a new use for agricultural waste, it’s environmentally friendly on two accounts. The tiles’ all-natural origins mean they’re free of volatile organic compounds and other harmful materials. The finished product is also durable, water- and fire-resistant, and compostable.

Price per square foot: Ecovative’s 16-by-16-inch acoustical panels cost $22 each; they also offer a 10-pack of slightly smaller tiles (covering approximately 9 square feet) for $100. The company is still working on scaling its insulation offerings.

Recycled Fly Ash Products

This product recycles waste fly ash, a by-product of coal combustion, into an attractive building material that cuts like wood, can be painted, and is highly durable. One company, Boral TruExterior, uses 70 percent recycled fly ash to create siding for exterior walls, trim components, and interior wall beadboard. “It works better than cement fiberboard, an industry basic,” says architect Nate Kipnis, who focuses on sustainable architecture at his Chicago-based firm, Kipnis Architecture + Planning, and uses the siding and trim on several client projects.

Why it’s noteworthy: Traditional wood products used for siding and trim tend to rot over time and are susceptible to insect damage. By contrast, this material is highly durable and dimensionally stable. Also, the process of creating it removes troublesome fly ash from the waste stream by encapsulating it during the production process.

Price per square foot: About 30 percent more than cement fiberboard, according to Kipnis.

Formaldehyde-Eating Drywall

CertainTeed takes its gypsum board and incorporates a proprietary ingredient that converts formaldehyde—a common VOC—into two separate inert compounds. The product is known as AirRenew and can be used wherever standard drywall board is used, according to Kipnis. Not only is it notable for being free of formaldehyde, it also promises to improve interior air quality by absorbing formaldehyde gassed off by cabinetry, carpeting, paint, adhesives, and and other materials. Tom Prokop, CertainTeed’s innovation and product manager, says AirRenew has been created to continue working for decades, even if new products with formaldehyde are introduced into a room.

Why it’s noteworthy: It looks and weighs the same as drywall, making it ideal for homeowners sensitive to these compounds and similar toxins. “It adds a lot of benefit for a relatively low cost and is one of the cheapest upgrades when building or remodeling,” Prokop says.

Price per square foot: About 25 percent more than standard drywall board, according to Kipnis.

Barn Wood Wall Panels

Homeowners who are looking for a rustic, hand-hewn look might consider recycled barn wood. Several companies have taken this desirable material and made it easier to work with. Different companies offer slightly different takes on the concept. Viridian Reclaimed Wood makes an easy do-it-yourself stick-and-peel paneling from fencing that it has dubbed “Good Neighbor,” after the Robert Frost poem. The Portland, Ore., company finishes the rustic material to be sure it’s fire-rated and offers it in different updated hues of natural, clear, Tiffany blue, white, and black. Another company, Kith + Kin Walls, offers engineered wood planks that feature the texture of wood grain and color variations of reclaimed barn wood but are delivered in more consistent sizes than are found on barns to simplify installation. Home owners who like DIY work should know what’s involved. With Veridian’s materials, DIYers must use a razor knife to cut excess, then peel and stick the panels. Taking them down later is tougher, since they’re considered a semipermanent installation. “Walls would require patching,” says Veridian co-founder Pierce Henley. His company’s product also wouldn’t work on concrete walls. Kith + Kin’s barn wood planks come in planks that require using a nail gun and saw to install.

Why it’s noteworthy: Viridian’s panels are environmentally friendly and lack VOCs, and its adhesive is rated to last at least 10 years. Kith + Kin feature a soft backing to protect walls and increase sound insulation.

Price per square foot: Veridian’s are $10.50, while Kith + Kin’s come in a box of 20-square-foot lengths for $228.70. Both companies offer online calculators to measure how much wood is required.

Thermal Wall Insulator

Energy efficiency can take a big hit through what’s called “thermal bridging,” when one section of a wall conducts heat much quicker than another, leading to condensation and less comfortable interiors, especially in cold weather. Historically, builders have used insulation, thermal break pads, or specific framing techniques to mitigate this problem, but there’s a newer option that can be more easily applied to an existing structure. Aerolon coating—a VOC-free, resin-based product by the Righter Group—uses Aerogel (produced by another company, Cabot Corp.) to manufacture its peel and stick tape that goes on walls, along with lintels and other architectural members, to thermally insulate them. The company uses the same Aerogel particle mixture in liquid form, which can be applied to achieve similar effects. Both the tape and fluid can be applied to steel, aluminum, concrete, wood, and other materials. “What the Aerogel particles do,” says Greg Pope, owner and president of the Righter Group in Wilmington, Mass., “is alter the surface temperature and slow heat transfer more efficiently than conventional foam and other insulation do, thereby helping the home retain energy.”

Why it’s noteworthy: One of the biggest problems with residential construction is condensation in wall cavities, which leads to mold and mildew. This helps prevent that from occurring, says Pope.

Price per square foot: $5.

Painting can be one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce up a listing. But homeowners can also make a lot of mistakes with this common DIY job. Realtor.com® recently spoke with staging and color experts to find out some of the most obvious mistakes that they see most often.

1. Choosing the wrong finish.

Homeowners need to select a paint finish that correlates with the room’s purpose. “Many homeowners are nervous about using shiny semigloss, but it’s more durable than flat or matte and more moisture-resistant, which makes it perfect for bathrooms and the kitchen,” Kristen Chuber, marketing director at Paintzen, told realtor.com®. However, flat and matte finishes may make better choices for high-traffic areas like hallways or kids’ rooms, since they usually allow for easier touch-ups.

2. Not paying attention to the room’s undertones.

Pay close attention to the other elements of the room that can influence how the color looks on the walls. “Your color will look off if you pair a pink undertone with a yellow one, so look at the counters, the stone fireplace, and cabinets when choosing paint,” Karen Gray-Plaisted, a home staging expert with Design Solutions KGP, told realtor.com®. The flooring can influence the color perception too. For example, a warm mahogany hardwood might look strange when paired with a cool gray paint, Gray-Plaisted says. Also, be sure to “test your color swatches in different lighting, or you’ll end up with a shade that’s all wrong,” Chuber notes.

3. Selecting the wrong color of white.

White paint comes in many shades. “Some whites are cool, others warm, still more are neutral, so the one you pick will depend on the room’s finishes and undertones,” Gray-Plaisted says. Liat Tzoubari, CEO of home decor boutique Sevensmith, told realtor.com® she sees homeowners overuse white paint in a home. “Instead, choose a white with a slight pink or yellow tint, such as cream,” she suggests.

4. Forgetting about what’s overhead.

Ignoring the ceiling when repainting can make the room appear dull and dirty, says Chuber. “Whether you pick white or a bright color, painting it properly will give you those sharp edges along the top and can make wall color pop,” Chuber says.

5. Adding an accent wall in an odd place.

Adding a pop of color to an accent wall is a popular move, but homeowners should make sure the effect isn’t jarring. “Accent walls are supposed to draw attention to a beautiful area, like the dining room—but not the bathroom or toilet area,” Kaitlin Willhoit, a real estate pro with The Boutique Real Estate Group, told realtor.com®. Also, the paint chosen for the accent wall needs to still work with the overall color scheme of the room or the house, says Bee Heinemann, interior designer with Vant Wall Panels. Too bright or too bold a color may be a turnoff to buyers.

Source: “Time to Brush Up: 9 Ugly Painting Mistakes You’ll Come to Regret,” realtor.com® (Oct. 25, 2017)

With inventories so tight, many consumers say they’re even willing to live in a haunted house.

Thirty-three percent of more than 1,000 consumers recently surveyed say they’re willing to live in a haunted house, and another 25 percent said they’d consider it, according to a newly released survey by realtor.com®.

“Haunted houses are a popular attraction this time of year, but we wanted to see how many people would actually live in one,” says Sarah Staley, a housing expert who commented on the study’s findings. “What we found may be a sign of today’s tight housing market, or for many living in a haunted house doesn’t have to be a deal breaker.”

Further, 47 percent of respondents said they’d live in a home where someone has died, and 27 percent additional respondents said they’d at least consider it, according to the survey.

Still, 40 percent of consumers said they’d need a price reduction in order to choose a haunted home over a non-haunted home. Also, a good neighborhood, extra square footage, and more bedrooms would convince them too, according to the survey. On the other hand, 42 percent of respondents insist they aren’t open to the idea of buying a haunted home, even for those extra perks.

For some consumers, living in a haunted house may not be considered a stretch because they claim they’ve already lived in one. For example, 28 percent of respondents said they have lived in a haunted house, and another 14 percent think they may have. They say their house was haunted because of strange noises, odd feelings in certain rooms, and even some reports of objects moving or disappearing.

Source: realtor.com®

 

The exterior of the home counts big for creating first impressions. Indeed, 99 percent of real estate pros say that curb appeal is a critical factor in attracting a buyer, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2016 Remodeling Impact: Outdoor Features survey.

Get more ideas: Amp Up Curb Appeal

Here are a few things you can do to enhance the curb appeal to your listing:

1. Paint colorful flowers.

Adding colorful flowers, like yellows or pinks, to your landscaping can be the pop of color needed to attract buyers. Visit the local nursery or garden center to learn which varieties are the most hardy for where you live.

2. Freshen up the mailbox.

The mailbox counts too in adding curb appeal. Consider a new mailbox, or try to save the old one with a fresh coat of paint. Add new numbers to the box to spruce it up too.

3. Pressure wash.

Driveways can develop oil stains and a deck can show some wear and tear. To remove pesky stains, power wash the deck and driveway to get them clean.

4. Add lighting to walkways.

Beckon buyers to the front door by adding lighting to the path to the door. This will also create a clean border along your walkway. Select solar-powered LED outdoor lights, which don’t require any wiring, to brighten up the exterior pathways.

5. Revisit the front door.

Invest in a new door if the current one is looking too old and dingy. A fresh coat of paint may help improve an existing one, if a new door isn’t in the budget. Consider a new color, like red. Also, replace the hardware, like the doorbell and locks, to give the front door a fresh new look.

6. Repaint the shutters.

Painting the entire house may not be in the budget, but sellers can still make a big impact to the exterior by painting just the shutters. They might even want to consider changing up the color to boost their curb appeal.

View more curb appeal tips and photos at Cheatsheet.com.

Source: “Foolproof Upgrades That Will Instantly Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal,” Cheetsheet.com (Sept. 26, 2017)

Décor choices can have a big impact on how large or small a home appears. Professional home stagers chime in with some tips on how to show off square footage, even when space is tight.

1. Remove heavy drapes. Leave windows bare or hang sheer linen curtains. The space will feel brighter, and “you’ll extend the view to the outdoors, which will automatically make your space feel larger,” home staging expert Lori Matzke told realtor.com®.
2. Go monochrome. Painting ever single room in the same color can help lengthen a smaller space. It “prevents your space from feeling choppy and gives it more of a continuous feel,” Matzke says. Furnishings and accessories should also be monochrome. Reduce contrasting colors whenever possible, says Justin M. Riordan, founder of Portland, Ore., and Seattle-based Spade and Archer Design Agency. “If you have a room with taupe walls, walnut floors, a brown sofa, and milk-chocolate pillows—all various names for medium brown—the edges of each item will be less defined and, in turn, be perceived as taking up less space,” Riordan says.
3. Remove rugs. “The more you break up the flow of your flooring, the smaller your space will feel,” Matzke says. Limit rugs to only one or two main areas, such as under the dining table. Also, small rugs can dwarf a space, so when you do use them, make sure they aren’t too tiny.
4. Add mirrors to rooms. Mirrors can help make a small room appear larger by reflecting more natural light, Bee Heinemann, marketing director and interior decorating expert at Vänt Wall Panels told realtor.com®. Consider placing a mirror next to or directly across from a window to add more depth to the room.
5. Raise the bar (in the bathroom). Place shower curtains and window treatments higher up on the wall. “Hang it as high as you can,” Heinemann says. “Doing so gives the illusion of higher ceilings and greater space.”

Source: “14 Sneaky Staging Tips for Selling a Small Home,” realtor.com® (Sept. 6, 2017)

A slower fall season in home buying may help more lingering home buyers to jump in.

Prices are easing somewhat. For the second month in a row, the median price of an existing home dropped. It reached $253,500 in August, after reaching a record high of $263,300 in June, according to the latest data from the National Association of REALTORS®.

Read more: 4 Home Maintenance Tasks to Tackle Now

“Median sales prices typically decline a bit heading into the fall,” says Danielle Hale, realtor.com®’s chief economist. “Summer is a big time for home purchases, so that families settle in before school starts in the fall. In the fall, the types of homes that sell are smaller for people without kids. So they tend to be less expensive.”

Existing homes are proving to be a bargain compared to newer homes. The median price of a new home reached $313,700 in July, which is 23.7 percent higher than an existing home.

Home buyers may find attractive mortgage rates this fall. Mortgage rates are still under the 4 percent psychological threshold, which can be a luring incentive for borrowers. Freddie Mac reported last week that the 30-year fixed rate averaged 3.78 percent, holding steady at a 2017 low.

Studies have shown that fall can be the best time to buy. A study conducted by RealtyTrac in 2015 found that October was the best month for home buyers. Purchasers in October paid 2.6 percent below the estimated market value at the time for their home, according to the analysis. In other words, buyers interested in a $300,000 home tend to see a $7,800 discount on it in the fall. Oct. 8 was found to have the best day for bargains too, with an average of 10.8 percent below estimated market value, according to the study.

Home sales in August started to decline heading into the fall season. Sales of existing homes fell 1.7 percent from July to August, but NAR mostly blamed the decrease on the limited number of listings for sale on the market.

Properties are staying on the market for less time, so buyers will need to be ready to act fast. Fifty-one percent of homes sold in August were on the market for less than a month, according to NAR. Properties typically stayed on the market for just 30 days in August.

Source: “Why It’s a Better Time for Buyers on a Budget to Purchase a Home,” realtor.com® (Sept. 20, 2017)