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Help realtors sell propane-powered homes, businesses

August 25, 2020 By    
Photo: Feverpitched/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Marketers should share propane’s advantages and address myths surrounding LPG with local realtors. Photo: Feverpitched/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

There is no organized industrywide effort to educate realtors on the advantages of a home with propane as the main energy source. The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) concentrates on other influencers in the residential market, such as homebuilders, although many of the same marketing materials can apply.

As the old saying goes, “All real estate is local,” so that leaves it up to propane marketers to tell the propane story to local realtors. Realtors need to hear about the many advantages that propane offers the homebuyer and have some energy myths broken. Realtors need to receive this information in ways that make it easy to translate for homebuyers and sellers.

You already know most of the advantages of propane, but your realtor may be operating mostly on the myths that surround it. While some priorities have shifted over the years, here are the primary longstanding advantages of propane that realtors need to hear more about from you:

  • Propane is a cost-effective gas energy, especially when used with modern high-efficiency gas appliances.
  • Propane is affordable. In most parts of the country, using propane can lower energy bills when compared to electricity.
  • Propane is reliable on-site gas energy. Scheduled propane deliveries assure homeowners of an uninterrupted energy supply. Add a propane standby generator for additional home energy security.
  • Propane is an environmentally sound energy choice. Propane gas is a low-emission, low-carbon energy source and is not a pollutant to groundwater or soil.
  • Propane is a safe energy choice. Properly installed and maintained propane systems are providing safe gas energy to millions of homes across the country.

The realtor also needs answers to the following questions from you or the home seller before talking with potential homebuyers about propane:

  • For what is propane used inside the home and outdoors?
  • Who owns the on-site propane storage tank? Is there available proof of ownership?
  • What is the storage capacity of the propane tank? How much propane is in the tank?
  • If the tank is owned by the propane company, what arrangements must be made to do a lease transfer at time of sale? Can it be done online instead of a trip to the propane office?
  • How will the new homebuyers receive their duty-to-warn materials?
  • Is the tank an above-ground or below-ground installation?
  • Are maintenance records available? Does the tank need painting or inspection to determine other required maintenance?
  • Are there any propane appliances that are being removed from the home by the seller?
  • Are there any new or used gas appliances that are being brought to the purchased home?
  • Do any appliances in the home need to be converted from natural gas to propane?
  • Are there any opportunities to upgrade from electric appliances to propane for the buyer?

Think about how you can work with realtors to make the somewhat complicated process of moving into a home easier and more welcoming, especially from a propane standpoint. Check on what a homeowner must do to transfer the electricity service, and work toward making your propane transfer process even easier for both the homebuyer and the realtor.

The oil heat industry has an organized regional approach to educating realtors about oil-heated homes. Check it out at oilheatpros.com. Maybe it is time for the propane industry to consider a similar approach to educating realtors about propane. Propane marketers may welcome a PERC boost to their local approach.


Tom Jaenicke is vice president of propane marketing services for Warm Thoughts Communications. He can be reached at 810-252-7855.

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