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25
Home Sellers: How Important Is Energy Efficiency?
If you're in the housing market as a seller, you should know what features buyers are looking for in a new home. Our real estate agents are accustomed to selling homes in the South Bend area and know a thing or two about what buyers really want. Chief among them is energy efficiency, but does your home deserve that label?
Energy Efficiency: What's the Big Deal?
Maybe you've lived in your home for a few years, or perhaps you've been there for decades. In either case, the chances are you've grown accustomed to paying your energy bills at roughly the same clip year after year; however, like most of us, shopping around for better rates or, better yet, improving the energy efficiency of our homes isn't on our radar.
Energy efficiency is a growing concern among buyers, and many municipalities are starting to enact various updates of the International Energy Conservation Code or IECC. Updated energy codes and buyer demand will likely necessitate that you pay a little more attention to the efficiency of your home before getting too deep into the selling game.
Insulation
There's absolutely nothing wrong with older insulation in your home. Many homeowners and contractors swear by older Rockwool insulation with its water resistance, fire resistance, and sound barrier qualities. Rockwool is in many older homes, but there's a bit of a caveat.
In attic applications, blown insulation will settle over time, and that settling lessens the net effect of the R-value of the insulation. In other words, more compact insulation means a lower insulative property. One thing you can do to alleviate the problem is to add modern Rockwool or fiberglass insulation to give your home's energy efficiency a significant boost.
Lighting
One place we lose a great deal of energy efficiency is lighting. Incandescent lights are energy hogs and can potentially be costing you (and your buyer) some serious cash when it comes down to it. One way to lower your lighting costs is to switch to highly energy-efficient LEDs.
LED lighting has come a long way over the past few years, and most manufacturers offer a pop and plug solution for almost any of your lighting needs. Replace the bulbs in your light fixtures with LEDs throughout the house and replace any can lights with LED trims to help cut energy costs.
Appliances
Probably the biggest user of energy in your home, as well as the most expensive to upgrade, are your appliances. From air conditioners to water heaters to dishwashers and laundry devices, there are a lot of places you can save some serious bucks in your home by upgrading to more efficient appliances.
While not cheap, appliance upgrades will likely make the most significant difference in your home's overall energy efficiency. If it's in the budget before you sell your home, or if you're considering selling your home in the near future, then think about upgrading some of your appliances.
Windows and Doors
Old single-pane windows and hollow core doors can drive your energy bill through the roof, but they are also some of the most labor-intensive things to replace in your home. Start by replacing west-facing doors and windows with Low-E Energy Star Certified doors and windows.
Whether you're on the hunt for an energy efficient South Bend homes for sale or you're looking to sell one yourself, Cressy & Everett can get you started by helping you find the home you need or sell the home you're in. Contact us today to learn more!
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