The housing market is currently competitive, but if you’re looking to significantly increase the resale value of your home in the near future, you need to consider making energy and water conservation features a priority. These do more than just save you money on your monthly bills; they also show the prospective buyer that you care about the environment, which will qualify your home as an attractive option in their eyes. Here are some great eco-friendly features to consider adding to your house:
Solar Panels
This is undoubtedly the best addition you can have to your home. Nowadays, people want to have the option to consume clean power to reduce their carbon footprint and curb the consequences of climate change. The biggest and most beneficial switch that a household can do is to start using electricity generated from renewable sources.
A house that already has functioning solar panels is an incredibly beneficial asset since it shows that the current owner is concerned about protecting the environment. The fact that they are willing to spend money on a system that will help cut their monthly bill expenses proves one thing: they are invested in the house, which makes them even more likely to take good care of it.
Low-Flow Toilets and Faucets
Water is equally important in the effort to protect the environment. The fact that many households waste gallons of water on a daily basis contributes significantly to increasing the homeowner’s monthly utility bills, especially if they live in an area where fresh water is scarce. Water conservation features are best applied when selling a house because being responsible for conserving this natural resource will make the home more attractive to buyers who are concerned about leaving behind a planet that is still inhabitable for future generations.
Rainwater Harvesting System
Rainwater harvesting is a process by which the collected water is stored so it can be used for cleaning, flushing toilets, watering plants, etc. Instead of using tap water, people are encouraged to use collected rainwater because this will allow them to buy less packaged water.
If you have an attractive system installed in your roof that collects rainwater and purifies it, you will essentially contribute to curbing the drought crisis that is plaguing many places in the world, including California. That’s why this is one of those features that will considerably increase the resale value of your home.
Energy Star Appliances
Appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, and dishwashers tend to be some of the most energy-consuming appliances in our homes — but not all models are made equal. There are some brands that are much more efficient than others, but the best way to know if a household appliance is energy-efficient is simply by looking for the Energy Star logo. Even though the unit may be slightly higher in price than other brands, it will definitely pay off in the long run because it offers homeowners a significant reduction in their monthly utility bills and allows them to contribute to protecting the environment.
Natural Lighting
Windows are not just used to let light into our homes, but also as outlets for fresh air. They contribute to creating an open and comfortable atmosphere. When selling a house, homeowners are often advised to have as many windows as possible because they aid the natural flow of cross-ventilation that helps keep the house cool during the summer months which makes it more attractive especially in hot climates. The amount of money saved on air conditioning alone is enough to justify having windows installed throughout each room of a house.
Insulation
Insulation is not only beneficial because it helps lower the monthly utility bill, but will keep the warm air inside during colder seasons and help hold that heat to make sure that no energy or power is wasted. In the long run, homeowners will benefit from having a more comfortable household as well as one that uses less energy.
In the United Kingdom, home sellers are required to submit the property’s energy performance certificate which allows the potential buyers to know how much it will cost them monthly to use electricity in the house. Insulation is one of the elements that can significantly decrease a house’s energy use, thus increasing its resale value.
By choosing to make these energy and water conservation features a top priority, you will be able to significantly increase the resale value of your house. Potential buyers will find themselves eager to purchase the home because they know it will require lower maintenance costs, which means they can save money in the long term.
