In tumultuous economic times it’s rare to come across a home improvement strategy that makes sense whether you want to stay in your home or are ready for a move.
Thanks, in part, to the relentless increase in energy costs1 and the expanding environmental awareness of the average homeowner (or prospective homeowner), making energy efficient upgrades to your home can pay off in lower monthly costs and a higher market value for your home.
It just might be time for you to find out how increasing your house’s energy efficiency can pay dividends when it comes to the overall value of your house.
Rising energy costs
It’s no secret that energy costs have been on the rise. While energy use and the dollars required to pay for it have sharply climbed over the past two decades, paychecks haven’t necessarily kept pace.2 With an ever-widening gap between the bill for powering our 21st-century lives and the bottom-line realities of a recession hitting our bank accounts, rising energy costs continue to be a leading driver of energy efficiency awareness and action.
Increasing the energy efficiency of your home will not only put more dollars in your wallet today, but it can dramatically improve the market value of your home. In a time where it’s hard to predict from one day to the next whether it’s a good time to buy or sell, energy efficiency is practically a no-risk venture, which creates a win-win situation, whether you plan to welcome grandchildren into your current home or are looking to sell.
More eco-conscious buyers
Along with the tighter financial climate comes a wave of buyers who are not only fiscally savvy, but care about the impact their lives have on the environment and the future of the planet. The upside is eco-conscious buyers are more willing to lay out cash for a home that was made as energy efficient as possible, and they’re going to be more attracted to your home, thanks to the environmentally sound energy decisions you’ve made as a home owner.
If you’re looking to make eco-friendly upgrades to your home, here are the three best things you can do to increase your home’s value through energy-efficient measures.
What you can do
1. Get a home energy score.
First, find out how your home currently rates when it comes to energy efficiency. Having an evaluation by a reputable source will let you know where you need to put your home improvement dollars. An energy rater will do a review of your home and compare it to a “reference home” that is similar to yours in type, size and shape. Some of the factors considered in your home’s energy rating include
- Ceilings and the roof
- Exterior walls
- Doors and windows
- Garage and/or cellar floors
- Attics, foundations and crawlspaces
- Vents and ductwork
- HVAC systems and thermostat
- Water heater
2. Upgrade your windows.
Upgrading your windows is one of the best ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home,3 and it comes with the benefit of adding aesthetic as well as economic value. On the National Association of Realtors report about which home improvement projects make the biggest impact, window upgrades ranked high.4 To make sure you get the biggest bang for your buck, look for double pane insulated glass and reputable, well-reviewed installation.
3. Get energy-efficient home automation.
There is a lot you can do with home automation to help make your home more efficient. Each package comes with something different, depending on the provider, but there are a lot of great options out there. For example, Vivint offers easy energy management with a thermostat you can control from any web-enabled device as well as program it to turn off during peak usage hours to conserve energy. Their Energy Management package also includes 12 energy-efficient lightbulbs, which last 10 times longer and use 75 percent less energy than a standard bulb.
4. Consider an energy-efficient mortgage.
When it comes to increasing your home’s value while minimizing your consumption footprint, an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) gives you the freedom to make green upgrades that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive. Some of the improvements that an EEM will help fund include window upgrades, improving your insulation, making the switch to alternative heating like a pellet stove, solar panel installation and making sure everything is sealed up tight as a drum with weather stripping and air sealing, especially in attic and basement walls. One important thing to note is that an EEM is billed similarly to having a second home; however, you will not have an additional lien or second mortgage on your property.
What’s at the top of your energy-efficiency list?
Sources
- Move.org, “Utility Bills 101: Tips, Average Costs, Fees, and More“
- Economic Policy Institute, “State of Working America Wages 2019“
- Energy.gov, “Update or Replace Windows“
- National Association of Realtors, “Home Improvement Projects Are Worth Cost and Time, Says Realtor Survey“
Related pages on Safewise
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