A typical American household spends $2,060 a year on electricity, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Unfortunately, if a home isn’t efficient, a lot of that energy goes to waste—possibly as much as three-quarters of it, according to Renewable Nation, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit focusing on affordable and clean energy. If your clients are contemplating money and energy-saving updates to a house they’re planning to buy or sell, offer them these suggestions from Renewable Nation’s app for homeowners.

© seksan Mongkhonkhamsao - Moment/Getty Images

1. Start by getting a home energy audit. Whether through the Building Performance Institute or the Residential Energy Services Network, certified professionals can conduct a home or building assessment that will help shed light on where energy is being lost and which systems are operating below par. The findings can be used to identify cost-effective improvements to make the property more comfortable and efficient.

2. Seal air leaks. Homebuyers are willing to pay a $7,095 more for a home that will reduce energy costs by $1,000 a year, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Sealing leaky windows, doors, and electrical outlets with caulk, expandable sealant, and weather stripping will help. Hiring a professional to insulate and seal ductwork in forced-air heating and cooling systems can also help lower energy bills by as much as $400 a year, Renewable Nation says.

3. Consider water usage and the water heater. Heating water is typically the second-largest energy use in a home, and can alone cost $600 or more a year, according to Renewable Nation. A homeowner can cut those costs in half by switching to a hybrid water heater that combines a standard water heater with a heat pump. If that’s not an ideal option, simply washing clothes in cold water can save $63 a year in energy costs.

4. Get a smart thermostat. Heating the overall space of a home or property is the largest energy expense, accounting for about 45 percent of residential energy bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. An owner can save 10 percent each year on heating bills by turning down the thermostat 7 to 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) for eight hours a day. A programmable thermostat can help accomplish that.

5. Avoid the “phantom” menace of energy drains. Electricity used by electronics when they are turned off or in standby mode are a major source of energy waste. Smart power strips can help eliminate the problem of phantom loads by shutting off the power to electronics when they are not in use.

6. Upgrade the fridge. If a refrigerator or freezer is more than 15 years old, it may be so inefficient that a new one would pay for itself in energy savings in just a few years. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy says modern refrigerators and freezers consume 20 to 25 percent less energythan older models.

7. Flip the switch on smart lights. Replacing your home's five most frequently used light fixtures or bulbs with Energy Star models could save $75 per year.

8. Look for the Energy Star label. If your clients are considering appliance upgrades, remind them that using products with the Energy Star label can help save up to 30 percent on related electricity bills.

Two weeks ago, an agent seeking advice came to Holly Eslinger, ABR, CRB, broker-owner of Exclusive Homes & Land in Arizona. A woman had visited the agent’s open house and brought what was apparently a comfort dog that proceeded to pee on the carpet—twice. Because the agent didn’t get the woman’s contact information, the sellers asked the agent to cover their $1,200 carpet cleaning bill.

Eslinger shared this story Friday during the Risk Management Issues Committee’s educational program at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Boston. The session, focusing on legal issues related to assistance animals, was aptly titled “Are You Managing a Property or a Zoo?” and featured a panel of industry experts discussing how to handle requests for animal accommodations in housing.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that service animals, which are highly trained dogs that do specific tasks, be accommodated in housing. But the federal Fair Housing Act has a broader service animal definition that allows tenants to request a reasonable accommodation for any assistance animal, including emotional support animals.

Despite these laws, people still have to be in control of their pets, said Peter Lewis, CPM, CGPM, vice president of property management at the Schochet Companies. “A dog can’t go to the bathroom anywhere; they still have to maintain their animal the whole time,” he said.

Kenneth Krems, managing partner and chair of the real estate management team at Shaevel, Krems, O’Connor & Jackowitz, LLP, in Boston, said fair housing law likely applies in the case of the open house incident Eslinger shared. However, because reasonable accommodations were made to allow the dog into the home, the dog’s owner should pay for the damages. But since the agent didn’t require that the person sign in and leave their contact information, the agent is responsible for payment.

Tenants with pets have to comply with the normal pet rules, such as not showing aggression toward people, cleaning up messes, paying for damages from pets, and keeping up with required vaccinations, and they may be required to prove that they’re complying, Krems says.

It’s reasonable for a property manager to request to meet a service or emotional support animal, says Daniel Weaver, enforcement branch chief at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity. If a dog is problematic or aggressive, you can ask the tenant to get another dog, he says.

This week, HUD dismissed a case in which a tenant wanted accommodations for three service animals. But another case was recently settled in favor of a woman who had been sexually assaulted and wanted to keep a large German Shepherd in her apartment because it allowed her to work and live more comfortably and securely. “You can always call your local HUD office and say, ‘I’ve got this issue; what can I do about it?’” Weaver says.

Another incident involved a support dog that shed profusely, and another resident of the building was allergic. To mitigate the issue, property managers prohibited the dog from going into the community room from 1-3 p.m. each day when the other resident was there. However, the dog owner protested and filed a complaint against the landlord, claiming discrimination. But the reviewing commission agreed that reasonable accommodations were being made at the property for the dog, Weaver says.

Krems encourages property owners and managers to keep an open dialogue with tenants and provide an interactive process to solve service pet issues. Weaver echoes that point. While owners are required to make reasonable accommodations under the ADA and fair housing law, he adds that if a tenant’s animal isn’t complying with standard pet rules, then the next step is to engage with the tenant to try to find an alternative solution whenever possible.

The streak of sluggish home sales finally came to an end in October. Following six consecutive months of decreases, existing-home sales reversed to post a rise last month, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Wednesday. Three of the four major regions of the U.S. reported gains in October.

Total existing-home sales—which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and co-ops—increased 1.4 percent in October from September. Sales, however, are still down 5.1 percent from a year ago.

National Association of REALTORS®

“Buyers are finally stepping back into the housing market,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “Gains in the Northeast, South and West—a reversal from last month’s steep decline or plateau in all regions—helped overall sales activity rise for the first time since March 2018.”

Here’s a closer look at how existing-home sales fared in October:

Home prices: The median existing-home price for all housing types in October was $255,400, up 3.8 percent from October 2017 ($246,000).

Inventories: The number of homes for sale at the end of October fell from 1.88 million in September to 1.85 million existing homes available for sale. Unsold inventory is at a 4.3-month supply at the current sales pace, up from 3.9 months a year ago.

Days on the market: Forty-six percent of homes sold in October were on the market for less than a month. Properties typically stayed on the market for 33 days in October, up from 32 days in September but down from 34 days a year ago. “As more inventory enters the market and we head into the winter season, home price growth has begun to slow more meaningfully,” Yun says. “This allows for much more manageable, less frenzied buying conditions.”

First-time buyers: First-time buyers accounted for 31 percent of sales last month, down from 32 percent a year ago. “Rising interest rates and increasing home prices continue to suppress the rate of first-time homebuyers," Yun says. "Home sales could further decline before stabilizing. The Federal Reserve should, therefore, re-evaluate its monetary policy of tightening credit, especially in light of softening inflationary pressures, to help ease the financial burden on potential first-time buyers and ensure a slump in the market causes no lasting damage to the economy."

All-cash sales: All-cash sales accounted for 23 percent of transactions in October, up from 20 percent a year ago. Individual investors, who account for the bulk of cash sales, purchased 15 percent of homes in October, up from 13 percent a year ago.

Distressed sales: Foreclosures and short sales represented 3 percent of sales in October, the lowest since NAR began tracking in October 2008. Broken out, 2 percent of October sales were foreclosures and 1 percent were short sales.

Grays, mixed metals, and farmhouse styles are some of the most popular trends for remodelers taking on sprucing up their master bathroom.

The 2018 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study is based on a survey of more than 1,100 homeowners who are planning or recently have completed a master bathroom renovation. Some of the trends that emerged from the report:

1. Seeing gray: Gray colors continue to dominate for walls and flooring in the bathroom. Gray cabinets are also gaining popularity, climbing from a 10 percent share in 2016 to 16 percent in 2018.

2. Taking the upgrade: More homeowners are upgrading their master bathrooms with special features when they remodel. The most popular premium features are dual showers, one-piece toilets, vessel sinks, and built-in vanities.

© Holly Marder - 2013 Houzz

3. Mixing up the metals: Two in five renovating homeowners do not match metal finishes across fixtures and hardware in master bathrooms. Of the 58 percent of renovating homeowners who do match metal finishes, the most popular options are matte nickel and polished chrome (38 and 28 percent, respectively).

4. Going a little country: Farmhouse styles are jumping in popularity. While contemporary style continue to be the leading choice among renovating homeowners, the style has dropped over the past three years. Farmhouse style, on the other hand, has more than doubled in popularity, from 3 percent in 2016 to 7 percent in 2018.

5. Making it accessible: The majority of baby boomer homeowners (ages 55 or older) are addressing aging-related needs during master bathroom renovations. Nearly half of renovating baby boomers are changing the bathroom layout, and one-third are removing the bathtub. Other upgrades include installing accessibility features like seats, low curbs, grab bars, and non-slide floors in upgraded showers and bathtubs.

© Angela Flournoy - 2013 Houzz

6. Building a master suite: The study found that homeowners are focusing on their master suite as a whole, not just the bathroom in their updates. Nearly half of master bathroom projects also were accompanied by master bedroom renovations (46 percent). Some homeowners are making their master baths even larger than their bedroom. One in ten master bathrooms is the same size or larger than the master bedroom (11 percent).