Allen Edwin Homes
For over the past 25 years, Allen Edwin Homes has been providing quality homes throughout Michigan and Indiana.
In this month’s feature, we asked Rachel Sabo of Allen Edwin Homes to share some insight on building HERS® homes for their customers.
Q: What is special about a HERS® Rated home?
A: Rachel: As a home builder in the Midwest, our climate changes from cold winters to warm summers. The cost to heat and cool a home can become a big variable when looking to purchase a used home versus a new home. We educate our homeowners on the importance of understanding the total cost of homeownership when comparing homes. A HERS® rated home gives our buyers the confidence and understanding to know that the steps we take to ensure energy efficiency are going to be in their new Allen Edwin Home.
Q: Why should consumers ask for the HERS® Index Score on homes they are shopping for?
A: Rachel: When shopping for cars, consumers are educated to know and understand miles per gallon and how fuel-efficient their new vehicle will be. When shopping for a new home, it should be no different. As opposed to a vehicle, you may save hundreds of dollars per month for a lifetime when purchasing a new home with a home that has received a HERS index score lower than a home that is used. That savings can add up to thousands of dollars a year.
Q: Why does Allen Edwin Homes choose to have their homes HERS® Rated?
A: Rachel: We made the decision in 2010 to have our homes HERS® rated. We realize the importance to the buyer of knowing that the steps we take in constructing their home separate us from the used homes and those of other builders. Our homeowners quickly see savings and often respond to our customer satisfaction surveys that they now have lower heating and cooling bills in their new (and larger) Allen Edwin Home than they did in their (smaller) previous home.
Q: Why consumers should expect energy-efficient homes?
A: Rachel: Homebuilding technology is available for builders to incorporate money-saving energy efficiency in a home that will give homebuyers lifelong savings. We believe that the investment upfront to do so is a simple responsibility that all home builders should but don’t take. To make the investment in time and money upfront to do so is one that will pay dividends for our homebuyers and us as a home builder in referrals for years to come.
Q: How many homes does Allen Edwin Homes build with HERS® per year?
A: Rachel: We build 100% of our homes, over 700 per year, each with a HERS® rating.
Q: How do you market HERS® Rated homes?
A: Rachel: Several ways. First, we incorporate it into our sales presentation to better understand the needs of our buyers and what they are shopping for in the new and used home market. We promote the HERS® rating in our digital marketing via our website, social media, and listings on various platforms as well as printed displays in our models. We take the additional step to educate our buyers by also doing what we call a “Compared to What”. That is, taking the HERS® score of a new Allen Edwin Home and the savings they would receive in the new home versus homes available in the market. Buyers often do not realize the significant amount of savings they will receive each month in heating and cooling until they see these numbers in black and white.
Q: How do your customers feel about HERS® Rated homes?
A: Rachel: Our buyers and our REALTOR partners LOVE the HERS® rated homes. When they see the HERS® score their home receives at the time of closing, they are often blown away by seeing a 30%, 40%, and even 50% savings as compared to used homes in our markets.
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