Making home improvements can increase your home’s value. It can also make your home easier to sell. If you make green, or environmentally friendly improvements, it’s nearly like you are putting money into the pockets of the buyers. Even if you do not plan to sell anytime soon, investing in the right upgrades and changes can make any home more enjoyable (and affordable) to live in.
The question is, what green home improvements should you make? Unlike traditional home upgrades, like painting walls or installing new floors, you do not have to worry too much about a potential buyer’s taste when making the changes. Nevertheless, the following are the easiest, most beneficial changes to make.
#1-Improve Energy Efficiency with Insulation
Keeping cool air in and hot air out is essential during the summer months. Likewise, during the winter, you need to reduce the amount of heat lost. One way to do this is to improve the insulation of a home. First, look for holes, cracks, or other air leaks. If you have holes, such as those in exterior walls, plug them. Look for cracks along the seams of windows, too. Then, invest in added insulation throughout the home. This includes the attic where most of the heat to the home escapes during the winter. Look for Eco friendly insulation products, both because they are highly effective and they use environmentally friendly products.
#2-Improve the Windows
The windows (and doors) of your home are some of the most problematic areas. They obviously allow people to come in, but even when closed they tend to allow air to pass through them. Like with cracks and holes, this impacts the energy efficiency of the home. Replace old doors with energy efficient models. Do the same for windows. Double pane windows help ensure less air and heat transfer occurs.
#3-Upgrade Appliances
If you need to invest in a new heating and cooling system, choose the most efficient models available. This type of upgrade can reduce costs as much as 35 percent in some cases. Upgrade stoves, dishwashers, and even your washer and dryer to Energy Star models with the highest rating. It is also a good idea to consider upgrades to your hot water heater. A tankless system, for example, reduces energy costs. Newer tank models also can reduce your costs.
#4- Think Lighting
The lighting throughout your home can also benefit from an upgrade. Avoid using traditional light bulbs and instead upgrade to compact fluorescent bulbs use a fraction of the energy to light a room, produce more light overall, and last for up to three years. All of this translates into cost savings for the user.
#5-Consider Solar Power
Solar power is becoming more readily available than ever. Simple systems can be set up on the roofs of homes and used to power HVAC systems. You do not have to transform your entire home to solar power to benefit, either. However, if you do get enough light, this upgrade allows you to not only power your home for very little each month, but any extra energy these panels produced can be sold back to the electric company, producing a profit for you.
Home improvements that boost the overall energy efficiency of your home is those buyers need and want. They bring in higher dollar values and they make sure that buyers can reduce their carbon footprint right at move in time.
Author Bio: Premier Sotheby’s International Realty is the leading luxury real estate brokerage firm in Florida. The firm has 450 sales associates who assist buyers with Bonita Springs real estate and surrounding areas in SW Florida.
