Energy Efficient Features that Help Sell a Home

Putting Your House on the Market? These Energy Efficient Features are in Demand

Posted on Dec 25, 2013 in Sustainable Living & Sustainable Lifestyle by Chris Keenan 1 Comment

If you are getting ready to put your home on the market, you probably want to do everything in your power to ensure a quick, hassle-free sale. More and more buyers, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, are seeking out green homes during their property search. Therefore, in order to get your home off the market as soon as possible, it is important to improve the energy efficiency of your home. The following four options are affordable ways to ensure that your home stands out.

Energy Efficient Features that Help Sell a Home

Put in a new refrigerator: Your refrigerator burns a lot of energy. If it hasn’t been replaced recently, seriously consider getting a new one. Companies have really increased the efficiency of refrigerators in just the past few years. Therefore, making a change will improve the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen and help your home become more energy efficient at the same time.

Get An Energy Audit: Contact your utility company to see if they will come out and perform a free energy audit. The energy auditor will look around your property and give you suggestions on how you can make your home more efficient. For example, they may find that your insulation does not meet code requirements. Once you receive the information from the auditor, go through each point and do what you can to rectify the situation. Not only will doing so make your home more attractive to buyers, but you should save money on your power bills while the property is still in your name.

Change Your Light Bulbs: If you haven’t already, make the switch to compact florescent bulbs. It is a very inexpensive change, but it will save you money, and it is something that buyers notice. Changing out about a dozen light bulbs in your home could add up to several hundreds of dollars in savings over the course of a year.

Consider Double Pane Windows: Most buyers who are concerned with the energy efficiency of a home will look for double pane windows. This could be a costly endeavor if you try to switch out all the windows at once; therefore, the best method is to start small. Pick one room in your home and replace those windows first. Also, you may qualify for tax credits as a result of installing the new windows, so make sure to take advantage of those. Finally, if you have double pane windows in your home already, keep an eye on them to make sure they maintain their seal. If not, they are not doing their job.

If you want your home to sell, it is important to think about the energy efficiency of your property. Obviously, making these changes won’t help you if a buyer just doesn’t like the layout of your home or can’t see themselves living there. However, it can give your property an important edge over other, similar homes, leading to a quicker sale. Your Signature Premier Properties agent and potential buyers will thank you.