Modern home buyers prioritize green living. If you're a home owner who is thinking about selling your property in the next few months, making green upgrades to your property can help you attract more buyers and bigger offers.
Low-Flow Bathroom Fixtures
Low flow bathroom fixtures like low-flow toilets and low-flow shower heads can help reduce your home's water usage while having little impact on your day-to-day life.
At one time, low-flow toilets had a bad reputation for requiring multiple flushes just to get the job done. Modern low-flow toilets are much more effective and are able to flush away waste efficiently. Low-flow toilets can save homeowners as much as 10,439 gallons per year and are just as effective as toilets from years past.
As for low-flow shower heads, these fixtures can save an estimated 5,475 gallons of water each year and they clean just as effectively as the old shower heads. Home buyers like hearing about reduced usage of natural resources and money savings, so feel free to include this information in a packet or home guide that can be distributed during showings.
HVAC System
Air conditioners and furnaces become less efficient as they age. Installing a new HVAC system, including a new air conditioner, furnace and smart thermostat, is a great way to save money on utilities. To ensure best performance, look for models that are ENERGY STAR® rated. After purchasing a new HVAC system, consider tracking your money savings. This information can be included in the home guide to show the ways that the new HVAC system leads to savings.
Energy Efficient Appliances
New appliances are almost always attractive to home buyers, especially if the appliances are ENERGY STAR® rated. If you're not sure which appliances to replace first, pick those that are oldest or those that use the most energy when in operation.
After the air conditioner, the clothes dryer and water heater tend to use the most energy in a typical household. If your water heater and clothes dryer are very old, it's likely that they use even more energy than modern models. Replacing these appliances with the most recent models can help your home save money and can reduce your home's carbon footprint.
Energy Efficient Lighting
Energy efficient lighting can be achieved easily by replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient LED light bulbs. If you'd like to go the distance with your energy efficient lighting, consider installing smart light bulbs in your home's light fixtures. Just remember that if you plan to advertise that your home is equipped with smart lighting, you'll have to leave the smart light bulbs behind when you move.
Water-Wise Landscaping
Water-wise landscaping is landscaping that requires little or no additional water beyond what falls naturally in the form of rain. Drought tolerant plants like succulents typically require little watering throughout the summer months. In addition, native plants are another option, as many native plants will be adapted to the natural rainfall in your area. Before planting anything in your garden, check the USDA grow zone for your area to be sure that the plants you choose can survive on your lawn year-round.
Work With Your Real Estate Agent
A good real estate agent will know which green upgrades appeal the most to home buyers. If you're thinking about selling your home and would like to make upgrades that make your home more attractive to buyers, talk to your real estate agent. He or she can help you decide which renovations and remodels to make that will make your home more attractive when it goes on the market.
