Eco-friendly living is more than a one-time decision and more than a catchy buzzword. It’s a daily, routine awareness of how our actions affect the world around us. This extends to real estate—the types of homes we own, the products we use to clean them and the habits we form while living in them.

And it also extends to facets of home ownership beyond day-to-day living, such as home buying and, of course, home selling. Did you know that when you are selling your home, there are eco-friendly choices you can make?

Think about it. Each step of the home sale—from preparing to showing to moving—could be evaluated from a green perspective and done with an eye towards conscientiousness. Here are some ideas:

1. Preparing: It’s no secret that preparing your home for sale is a demanding task. You need to declutter, reorganize, stage. What results from all this work? Lots and lots of trash—items you no longer want or need. Instead of tossing it all into a landfill, take the time to recycle or repurpose, giving usable items to charity or people who can use them. Bonus: Less to pack and transport when you move into your new place.
2. Marketing: Because the Internet is the #1 tool for marketing real estate, it makes sense, both from a practical and an environmental viewpoint, to use it to sell your home. List with BuyOwner.com to create a full-color, 24/7 ad that highlights your property’s strengths. Through your Seller Tools, you can also print out customized brochures on recycled paper!
3. Showing: Once your home is on the market, you’ll spend a lot of time keeping it in showing condition and showcasing its features. At open houses and scheduled showings, create eco-friendly spreads of snacks, complete with cloth napkins, pitchers of water and organic fruit. Another idea: Fill the living spaces with vibrant plants to create a seamless sense of indoor/outdoor enjoyment.
4. Moving: If you’ve prepared for sale well, you’ll eliminate clutter and only need to move what is valuable to you. Try to find and save old boxes, packing materials, etc., to avoid buying new ones, and use those to pack up your belongings.