If you’re considering listing your home, you want your house to
stand out among the rest. While there are many ways to do that, one way
you may not have considered is addressing your home’s energy efficiency.
Eco-conscious buyers who prioritize sustainability in their lifestyle
could be won by how energy-efficient your home is. Making
energy-efficient upgrades to your home isn’t just good for the planet;
it's good for your pockets too. Here are five improvements you may want
to consider before you list.
- Air Sealing: Air sealing involves investigating any possible way air could leak around your home. You can start by caulking gaps in window seals, doors, or around plumbing. Unaddressed leaks can waste a lot of energy from your AC blasting in the summer or your heat pumping in the winter.
- Insulation:If you’ve been in your home for years, your insulation may have been great when you first moved in, but over time, insulation is something you should revisit as your home ages. Addressing insulation coupled with air sealing by a professional will do wonders for your energy bill and prevent any future threat of mold in the home.
- Smart Thermostats:Installing smart technology throughout your home can be a huge selling point for some buyers. Smart thermostats allow you to program your thermostat to regulate your home's temperature as you go about your daily activities. Some devices are even smart enough to learn your temperature preferences and adjust the heating and cooling on their own. This type of device works best when the proper foundation has been set with the installation of the first two upgrades: air sealing and insulation. Without addressing these two, the effectiveness of your smart thermostat in saving you money could vary.
- Solar Panels: Installing solar panels can help you save on your energy bill but also provides an extra benefit in tax incentives. Solar panels allow you to produce your own electricity through sunlight. While this type of upgrade is a hefty investment, it pays off in the long run and has a lasting impact on the environment by aiding in reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases.
- ENERGY STAR Appliances and Products:Maybe you’re not ready to make the financial leap into solar panels. Consider starting a little smaller with focusing on ENERGY STAR appliances and products. Refrigerators, washers, and dryers consume a lot of energy. Look for the blue ENERGY STAR label on anything from dishwashers to light bulbs to be confident that you’re buying items that have been certified to use less energy.
Investing in your home now
could make it even more attractive to buyers when you’re ready to list.
For more tips on preparing your home for the market, connect with nearly
9,000agents on REIN.com.
Ready to buy but not sure what you can afford? Check out the mortgage
calculator to help estimate possible monthly payments. Download the REIN.com app
and put the power of fresh and accurate listing data in the palm of
your hand. The app is available free in the Apple App Store and Google
Play Store. For local listings you can trust, start with REIN.com.
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