Viva Green Homes Info Sheet

06 July 2016, 10:53

Viva Green Homes: Buy, Sell & Market Eco Homes Nationwide and Much More.

Viva Green Homes is currently the largest national eco homes specific listing website. Simply put, we are the Zillow or Trulia of eco-friendly homes. But we’re doing much more than just listing eco homes.

According to a 2014 report from the National Association of Realtors, sustainable features such as heating costs, energy efficient lighting, eco landscaping, and solar panels were "very important" factors for 9 to 36% of home buyers. Taken conservatively, this means a minimum of 500,000 eco-conscious consumers are searching for homes in the U.S. each year. But finding an eco-friendly home on any of the national real estate websites is not easy or is sometimes impossible.

With most homebuyers starting their searches on a national real estate website, home buyers need a place to begin their home search that includes eco-friendly home options and the sellers of eco-friendly homes need a place to accurately market their premium listings and to their targeted audience.

The real estate industry and the eco home service providers, professionals, and retailers need a national platform to connect with their consumers and educate them about the qualities of being “green.”
 

Viva Green Homes is working to be the leader in everything real estate for eco-friendly homes.

VGH is a semi-finalist in Mentor Capital Network in Bethesda, MD, a semi-finalist nationally with CleanTech Open and we are a member of 1776 in Crystal City, Arlington, VA.

VGH has partnered with ZeroHomes.org and Savenia Labs and we are working with many third party certifiers, energy auditors, listing agents and homebuyers in the country to optimize our website experience and database.

In October 2014 we launched a beta test version and in May 2016 we launched a full platform site with many more tools and advanced features to come.

  

VGH is focusing on 4 key areas to grow the eco homes industry:

1.        The largest, most comprehensive & accurate national database of eco homes listings.

·       Currently we have approximately 4,500 active listings and plan to have to over 20k in late 2016/early 2017. We will be connecting with major metropolitan areas’ MLS (including Washington DC area).

·       Hundreds of eco features that sellers/listing agents can select from to accurately market the home, while allowing buyers to search for exactly the right type of eco home, whether they want water efficiency features in southern California or geothermal in Minnesota and everything in between.  

2.        Combating “greenwashing.”

·       Providing a unique 1-5 star green homes score for homes that are not already third party certified based on the quality and quantity of eco features.

·       Working to verify and even automate certifications and eco features of homes as soon as they come onto the market. (Example: A “HERS Verified” label with the HERS score for homes that claim a HERS rating)

3.        Providing a national platform for customers to find a full range of eco professionals, real estate agents and services that cater to their eco home buying or sales needs. This will search not just on eco credentials, but also professional experience.

·       Appraisers, energy auditors, solar installers, home builders, certifiers, product distributors and more.

·       Sellers can find specific types of real estate agents. For example, a seller with a geothermal home would likely prefer to find an agent that has experience marketing and listing geothermal homes. VGH will help match clients with experienced agents.

4.        Lastly, we’re working to find the true economic value of eco homes.

·       What does a home with a LEED certification, geothermal, solar, etc. sell for above and beyond its traditionally built neighbors? How well is a home with one type of eco feature doing in a region over other regions?  VGH will be able to provide this type of data to industries to help them make better decisions for their products and companies.

·       Implementing tools to help give an estimate of utility cost savings with an eco home.

 

VivaGreenHomes.com was founded by Kari Klaus, who as an experienced Virginia real estate licensed agent with a background in sustainable development understood firsthand the demand for eco homes as well as the difficulty in finding and properly marketing these homes. VGH is headquartered in Arlington, VA, with a team across North America that are knowledgeable and passionate about making sure that the real estate market includes these premium listings for sellers to market their homes and helping to educate and provide a platform for homebuyers to find their next home or eco professional.

Contact us at [email protected]                                                                               www.VivaGreenHomes.com


Back to news