By G. M. Filisko, contributing writer, HouseLogic

Working with sellers looking for another way to make their home stand out? Suggest they dip their toes into a yard-watering system that saves water and money.

Almost one-third of the water the average family uses—an average of 100 gallons a day—ends up in home owners’ yard and garden, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The trouble is that as much as half that water is wasted. It falls on sidewalks or evaporates before it ever reaches the ground.

Sellers can impress potential buyers with a water-saving irrigation strategy, and you can show them how with tips from the July “Outdoor Projects that Save You Money” article package now available at the REALTOR^® Content Resource. Here’s information you can share with sellers:

1. Drip irrigation systems save water because they put it only where you want it—directly to plants’ roots, which cuts down on waste and also reduces weeds. A drip system is basically a long, thin plastic tube sitting on the ground or, less often, buried right below the surface. Small fittings, called emitters, release water at rates of one-half to four gallons an hour. The tubing is attached to your outside faucet with a valve. A new drip system cost from $50 for about 20 plants to $200 or more for a whole yard.

2. One inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof provides 600 gallons of runoff. Recapture that rainwater with a simple plastic or wooden drum with a spigot near the bottom where you can attach your hose. A 60-gallon model will cost $75 to $150. Just put the barrel under a downspout to catch rainwater coming off the roof.

For more water- and money-saving tips to offer sellers or drop into your marketing pieces, head to the REALTOR^® Content Resource. You’ll also find tips on saving money by growing fruit trees or an edible garden, starting a compost pile, and planting trees to save energy and grow your home’s value, which are also part of the “Outdoor Projects that Save You Money” article package.

The REALTOR^® Content Resource, the new tool brought to you by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®, is an exclusive NAR member benefit that entitles you to download free homeownership content in your consumer website, blog, or e-newsletter. HouseLogic is the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’^® no-topic-left-uncovered consumer website geared to helping homeowners make smart decisions to maintain, protect, and increase the value of their home.