Saving money isn’t the only reason to renovate with reclaimed materials and install alternative energy systems in your home. Eco-friendly improvements increase the value of your property, which comes in handy if you need to tap into your equity.
Buyers want sustainability, and the demand for energy efficient real estate is high. In Washington D.C., between 2008-2013, eco-friendly homes sold for 23% more than traditional homes. If you decide to sell your home in the future, the following eco-friendly improvements will help you get higher bids:
1. Energy efficient appliances
Most people have at least one energy efficient appliance in their home, like a dishwasher or a refrigerator. However, there are other energy efficient appliances to think about. For example, installing an energy efficient toilet is a simple and easy way to conserve water. Toilets waste thousands of gallons of water every day. Some newer toilets allow you to select the amount of water you want to flush with so you’re only using more water when you need it.
2. Upgrade your plumbing
One of the most expensive yet crucial improvements you’ll need to perform is replacing the plumbing. If your home is older, you can’t put it off for long. Most investors will run the other way if an older home still has its original plumbing. The risk of leaks and other problems is too great.
It’s a good idea to replace showerheads and faucets, and use tank less water heaters to conserve water and electricity. However, you’ll need to replace the pipes, too.
Old, inefficient plumbing is mainly a concern with older homes. Be cautious of buying older homes to transform into eco-friendly rentals. Unless you’re the one fixing up the house and don’t mind the extensive labor, it’s not profitable to buy older homes to rent out. Experts from Green Residential advise those looking for an investment property in Houston to think twice about buying an older home to turn into a rental property, and old plumbing is just one of many reasons.
Older homes are best suited for fixing and flipping, or to live in if you’re willing to put in the work.
3. Insulation
If it’s time to re-insulate your home, doing so will significantly raise its value. You can redo everything, or you can add to existing insulation without having to tear down your walls. When your home is well-insulated, heating and cooling costs will go down. This is yet another eco-friendly feature that will make your home more attractive to potential buyers.
4. Upgrade your doors and windows
Drafts from doors and windows keep central heat and air running unnecessarily. Replace single-paned windows with double-paned glass, and make sure sliding windows close all the way. If you need to seal cracks to block the draft, it’s time to replace the windows.
Picture windows look good, but if they’re not double paned, replace them with double paned glass.
Garage doors and entryway doors can be just as drafty. Hopefully, the door that leads from your garage into the house shuts automatically, but if not, make sure your garage door is insulated and closes as much as possible. You might remember to close the inner door, but if you sell your home to a family with kids, all bets are off.
5. Install wall-to-wall carpeting
If you’ve got nice hardwood floors that were professionally installed, you’re probably better off than people who self-installed their flooring. However, bare floors don’t usually retain heat unless specifically designed for energy absorption.
Hardwood floors are not easy to keep warm. You can’t use radiant floor heat if your flooring is solid wood because it will swell and shrink. It’s not necessarily worth the money to redo solid hardwood floors as engineered wood floors just to use radiant heat. It’s cheaper to install wall-to-wall carpeting.
If you cover large areas of your hardwood floors with area rugs, that’s an indication it’s time to switch to carpeting. If you can’t enjoy the look of hardwood floors because it makes your house cold, there’s no benefit to keeping them.
Give potential buyers a reason to bid on your home
Making eco-friendly improvements involves more than using recycled materials, although that’s a start. To increase the value of your home, you need to give potential buyers a good reason to want your home over the others that are on the market. Make eco-friendly improvements that will save buyers money and satisfy their need to conserve resources. You’ll see a return on your investment while you live in the home, and a bigger one when you sell it.
Article Submitted By Community Writer