MEDIA RELEASE
Homestar™ unveils first Certified Homes
Real estate group supports rating tool for improving property values
AUCKLAND, 7 July 2011 – The first certified homes assessed under the Homestar™ residential rating tool were unveiled today at an event
supported by online property market portal Realestate.co.nz.
Homestar™ is the comprehensive home rating system developed by the New Zealand building industry and backed by the
Government that aims to help Kiwis create healthier, morecomfortable and energy-efficient living spaces.
Alex Cutler, CEO of Homestar, announced the first certified homes located nationally that achieved Homestar ratings of
between 4 and 7 stars, including several homes that are on the market.
“We are delighted to now have homes with official Homestar ratings available on the property market.This is an important
developmental step in the process of improving the overall stock of New Zealand homes. ”
These homes also received enthusiastic support today from Alistair Helm, CEO of Realestate.co.nz. Mr Helm says that from
today, Homestar Certified properties for sale will have their ratings featured on the Realestate.co.nz property portal
to show buyers that these homes have an added value in terms of performance and comfort.
“Houses that are warmer, drier and more energy efficient will always be more appealing to buyers. In this way, Homestar
has the potential to be a great service to homeowners, real estate agents and the whole New Zealand community,” says Mr
Helm.
Mr Helm presented international research at the event that showed a direct correlation between homes with high
performance ratings and higher property prices. He said Homestar will provide vendors and real estate agents with a
direct competitive edge when marketing properties.
Support for Homestar was also received from Hon. Maurice Williamson, the Minister for Building and Construction.
“I would like to extend my warm congratulations today to Alex Cutler and the team at Homestar on the work they have done
towards realising this achievement today. The unveiling of the first Certified Homes today is the result of many years
of hard work, research and development to bring to the New Zealand market a home rating tool that is comprehensive,
robust and accurate,” said Mr Williamson in a statement.
“Homestar provides homebuyers, sellers and especially real estate agents a benchmark for rating the environmental
attributes of New Zealand homes to increase their comfort, appeal and value. I warmly commend the Homestar tool to the
real estate industry, and encourage agents to educate themselves about it."
To achieve a certified rating, Homestar Assessors typically spend a few hours at the home measuring in detail the
attributes that contribute to itscomfort, health and performance. The Assessor performs a comprehensive assessment of
features such as the level of insulation, type of heating, water use, waste, ventilation and indoor air quality, among
other things, and calculates a rating from one to ten stars, based on thesefactors. The homeowner then receives a
Homestar™ Certified Rating, along with a unique registration number for authentication purposes.
“When you are selling or renting a home a Homestar Certified Rating will provide a greater level of credibility and
assurance for any prospective home owner or tenant,” says Ms Cutler.
“The assessment is not compulsory, though over time it is expected that market forces will encourage more home owners to
obtain a Homestar Certified Rating when buying or selling a home. We expect Homestar to have a growing impact on
property values, with higher star ratings providing a competitive edge for some houses on the market.”
For more information, please visit www.homestar.org.nz, or to view Homestar Certified properties for sale visit www.realestate.co.nz.
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About Homestar™
Homestar™ – a comprehensive, national voluntary rating tool that evaluates the environmental attributes of New Zealand’s
stand-alone homes – was created to address the fact that most New Zealand homes are under-performing in comfort, health
and energy-efficiency. Homestar was developed by a joint venture partnership between BRANZ, Beacon Pathway and the New
Zealand Green Building Council with the support of the building industry and key Government agencies; the Department of
Building and Housing and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. Homestar's industry partners include
PlaceMakers, The Healthy Home Group, Pink Batts, Gib Living, Fletcher Aluminium, Stonewood Homes, Metro GlassTech,
Resene, Cavalier Bremworth, Methven and Mico. Homestar also receives support from industry organisations such as
Certified Builders, Registered Master Builders, Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ and the Concrete and Cement Association of NZ.
How Homestar™ works
Homestar is a comprehensive, national, voluntary residential rating tool that evaluates the environmental attributes of
New Zealand’s stand-alone homes. The Homestar rating tool framework has been developed to assess new and existing homes
and allows for both self-assessment by the homeowner using the free online tool and also independent assessment that results in the issue of a formal Homestar Certified rating. After taking the online assessment, the homeowner/tenant is provided a provisional rating out of ten along with a
Recommendations Report with suggestions on how to make the home healthier and more comfortable to live in. Some
suggestions may involve simple actions that involve little or no cost, while others may involve investments that will
pay for themselves through lower running costs or other benefits to the household. To gain a higher star rating the home
owner will need to address the core issues highlighted in the initial assessment, and then can reassess the house once
the changes have been made. To gain a formal HomestarCertified Rating on their property, a homeowner can engage a
Homestar Assessor who does a comprehensive, in-depth audit assessment on the property. This is useful information if
selling or purchasing a home and may add value by giving potential purchases peace of mind at point of sale.