"I have found EnSight to be right on the ball, up to the best that is happening internationally, switched into new technologies and the smartest most efficient way of doing things." Professor John Cole, former Director, Queensland Office of Clean Energy.
Executive Summary for Real Estate Agents
What You Need To Know
From 1 January 2010, new Queensland legislation requires a Sustainability Declaration to be completed when selling a house, unit or townhouse. As part of the recent Copenhagen agreement, in February 2010 Australia will announce its commitment to achieving 5-25% emission reductions below 1990's levels. This means legislated emission cuts of a minimum of 45% below current levels by 2020. Major changes must be implemented nation-wide to achieve these proposed cuts.
In Queensland, a $200 increase on electricity bills is predicted per household per year over the next three years, and in New South Wales the price of electricity is set to soar by 65% over the next three years.
Consequently, the sustainability of a property is fast becoming an essential factor for the real estate industry to understand and apply.
Your Options
Over the coming weeks, you could be presented with three options of how to complete the Sustainability Declaration.
1) The first option is to allow home owners to complete the form themselves. This is an option many real estate agents are currently choosing. Whilst the legality of this is not an issue, the later contractual ramifications could have major implications at the time of the building and pest inspection. A $2,000 fine applies to homeowners if an error is made on the form. Also, a Building and Pest Inspector could charge up to $200 to later verify the content of the declaration.
"In my thirty years of being an expert witness in property settlement cases, I can see that sustainability declarations will end up creating added costs and delays at the time of building and pest inspections."
Bob Sternberg, former Building Inspector, Toowoomba Regional Council
If the buyer is an informed buyer, the Sustainability Declaration could come back into play during the time of building and pest inspection, if there is discrepancy between the homeowner's prepared declaration and the building inspection reports. Plainly, if a homeowner completes the form, there is a high probability of difficulties and disputes, which could reduce the sale price. The REIQ has recognised this and has recommended that real estate agencies delegate the process to a third party.
2) The second option involves engaging an independent company to complete the form for the homeowner (currently priced at between $100 and $240). This is a safer option, obviously on the proviso that the person is suitably qualified and trained. Unfortunately, the declaration alone does not provide much useful information to you, the buyer or the seller - thus likely impacting on the sale price of the home.
"As real estate agents, we're about maximising the sale price of our clients' homes and reducing obstacles for buyers. The EnSIGHT service is the best method I know of that allows us to achieve this."
Tony Dean, Principal, James Dean Residential
3) Your third option is to engage the services of Queensland's leading sustainability consultancy, EnSIGHT. Our accredited professionals will complete the assessment, as is the legal minimum requirement, and will provide you with a comprehensive sustainability report, giving a separate star rating for the home's energy, water, access and safety. A key feature of the report is identifying the sustainable energy and water initiatives and their capital cost to improve the star rating of the home. Our report provides the information required by the buyer and seller to minimise confusion and maximise the sale price.
"EnSIGHT's service is a huge opportunity for property sellers to promote the sustainability features of their home and for buyers to know what they need to do to increase the sustainability of the home they're about to buy."
Rod Welford, Chairman, Energy Management Institute and former Queensland Minister for Environment
Who are we?
EnSIGHT is a multi-award winning sustainability consultancy, having completed numerous high level sustainable designs. Our work is displayed in the Kelvin Grove Urban Village, Couran Cove Island Resort, Hall Chadwick building, Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre, South Bank Corporation and Tarong Energy Corporation, to name a few projects.
We are sustainability, mechanical and electrical engineers, master electricians, solar designers and installers, NABERS assessors and Green Star Professionals. We hold $10m Public Liability Insurance with QBE and $5m Professional Indemnity Insurance with CGU. We were the recipients of Australian Institute of Engineers Sustainable Energy Award, the Australian Institute of Engineers Environmental Design Award and the National Energy Efficiency Award.
The sustainability declaration service we are offering you is endorsed and recommended by the Energy Management Institute.
Our package includes a range of services to support the introduction of these new initiatives:
Free 30 minute Green Speak and Government Sustainability Rebate workshop for your staff;
Free handout for householders of current State and Federal Government rebates;
Free handout for householders of Solar and Energy Efficient Homes;
Free Energy Assessment for your real estate office; and
Green Agent Network accreditation for your business.
Our commitments to you:
The sustainability report will be delivered by email within 48 hours of the service date;
An EnSIGHT Sustainability Declaration Kit issued for each listing;
The home owner will receive a checklist of items required to complete the Sustainability Declaration;
A comprehensive, practical and nationally recognised report, with your logo displayed on the front page for promotion of the property;
A designated EnSIGHT Assessor Partner will provide your agency with ongoing long-term support and advice, at no cost; and
A bi-monthly e-newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on all the latest energy efficiency news, government rebates and legislative changes that affect you and your clients.
EnSIGHT will provide all of these services for only $220, inc. GST. Our report is comprehensive and provides full disclosure of the energy and water efficiency of the property with details on the costs to improve the property's sustainability star rating; this is information that will provide a return on your investment at time of sale. We are the only company in Australia that offers this service.
Free Home Sustainability Assessments
We also offer free Federal Government Sustainability Assessments (Green Loans Program) as an avenue for your landlords to improve the rental income and sustainability of their property. EnSIGHT will book a free Green Loans Assessment for all eligible homes on your rent roll. This service provides an opportunity to add value to your landlords' properties and assist them to gain access to government sustainability rebates and programs.
Be Informed
The sustainability factor of a property is now being assessed by prospective buyers as equally as they examine the location and condition of a house. Climate change and energy efficiency are relatively unknown concepts to many people. We understand this and are thus committed to helping you to empower your clients, and to show them how sustainability is relevant to their decisions as home owners, sellers and buyers.
