When it comes to preparing your home for sale, one of the best things you can concentrate on is energy efficiency. Today’s budget-minded buyers give great consideration to saving money when possible. It stands to reason, then, that a home designed to be more frugal in terms of power bills and its carbon footprint are much more likely to capture the attention of ‘green’ buyers. When you are house styling for sale, begin your sales plan with an energy audit.

Review your home systems including heating, cooling, roofing, and plumbing and see what could be repaired, replaced, or upgraded in order to improve energy efficiency.

  • Insulation: It is not at all unusual to discover that your roof cavity and/or walls are not insulated sufficiently to keep the heat in and the cold out or vice versa. It’s amazing how inexpensive it is to raise your R-Factor, the measurement for degree of thermal resistance, and how much it can mean to the ultimate sale price of your property.
  • Doors: Some builders cut corners when it comes to the quality of doors and windows used in new construction. Check to see the material used to create your exterior door. For example, steel and fibreglass doors typically have more insulating value than timber doors. Units that qualify for the Energy Star rating must be independently tested and certified, and should offer tighter-fitting frames, energy-efficient cores, and, for models with glass, double- or triple-panel insulating glass to mitigate thermal transfer.
  • Windows: Because Australia has significantly different climate areas, the Australian Window Association has divided the country into three sections, each with its own grading scheme. Using windows rated by this association can help you and future owners of your home enjoy lower energy costs and a better quality of living because these windows reduce heat transfer in all seasons. Savvy buyers will appreciate your forethought if you upgrade as part of your house styling for sale plan.
  • Appliances: From refrigerators to garbage disposal units, the amount of energy used by your appliances can make a big difference in the ongoing cost of operating your home. If any of your appliances needs replacement, even a used, refurbished appliance that has earned a high Energy Star rating, will add to the value of your home.
  • Hot Water: Water heating units have come a long, long way in the past 100 years. Whether you heat your water with gas or electricity, there are units to heat the water at the source as needed. These ‘on demand’ units eliminate the need to heat a full tank of water and then maintain a high temperature for long periods of time. Ask your property staging company whether or not such an ‘on demand’ water heating unit will bring a good return on your investment if you upgrade.
  • Lighting Fixtures: Another electrical tool we often take for granted is the humble light bulb. Using today’s high efficiency LED bulbs in effectively designed lighting fixtures can enlighten any home and, as a bonus, save the homeowner substantial amounts in electricity costs over the course of a year.

As your grandmother probably told you, when you look after the little things in life, the big things take care of themselves. This is true when it comes to the energy efficiency of your home as well. Today’s thrifty home buyers understand that a few dollars saved here and there add up over time, making the monthly operating costs associated with your home much easier to bear.

Probably even more important in the house styling for sale department, buyers see an energy efficient home as the sign of a conscientious owner who is not likely to have deferred or delayed important maintenance tasks that could end up costing them money in the long run. Such a well maintained home will sell much faster and for more money.

 

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