ing and windows. After all, those are not necessarily “fun” aspects of sustainable design. The good news for investors with an eye for upcycling, recycling, and repur- posing is that buyers feel the same way you do in many cases! They want to see the visual appeal of their sustainable decisions, which leads to some great opportunities for really enjoyable, creative inte- rior design decisions. Of course, this is also the area most “dangerous” to your budget. Sure, repurposed barn doors are great, and a historic neighborhood certainly lends itself to your use of the old cellar wood as newly refin- ished hardwood floors. Correctly done, you can turn that old butch- er’s block you found in a field into an absolutely breathtaking kitchen island. “Correctly done” is the key. Consider three factors when considering these types of design decisions: The cold, hard facts for real estate investors demand you temper your desire to use recycled, repurposed, and upcycled materials with your bottom line. Any time the two do not appear to mesh in a beneficial way, think very hard before continuing down that route to using sustainable materials. You can’t help the sea tur- tles — much less yourself and your real estate investing business — if you go broke in the process. • 1. Time 2. Cost 3. Resident appeal
Upcycling The reuse of discarded objects or materials in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original. Recycling The action or process of converting waste into reusable materials. These materials may be less expensive or more durable than new materials, but not always. Repurposing The act of adapting something that was used for one purpose to serve a different purpose.
Using sustainable lighting op- tions is great, but there are a lot more ways to incorporate sustain- able materials into your rehab. Windows are a highly attractive staple of sustainable buildings because they add value to the home through energy savings while simultaneously improving curb appeal. Depending on the nature of the comps in your area, you may want to opt for double- or triple-pane windows, gas-filled panes, and a variety of modern frame designs. Take time to inves- tigate comps in the area to identify what options buyers appear to ex- pect, then evaluate in light of your rehab budget. Remember, cutting corners on an “option” like win- dows can hurt you in the long run if every other property for sale in the area has better windows and better energy savings than yours does. RECYCLING, REPURPOSING & UPCYCLING When you think about using sus- tainable materials in a rehab, you probably did not first leap to light-
Carole VanSickle Ellis is the editor- in-chief of Self-Directed Investor Magazine, a publication dedicated to the needs and interests of self-directed
investors interested in alternative assets — like real estate! — and tax advantaged retirement savings. Learn more at SelfDirected.org or email Carole at carole@selfdirected.org.
32 | think realty magazine :: september / october 2019
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