Are you thinking about selling your house in the near future? If your answer is yes, then you’ve come to the right place! Getting the best deal is not an easy thing to do, but there are some effective ways to increase the value of your property.
You need to remember, though, that not every upgrade will result in companies offering cash for homes or swarms of potential buyers appearing at your doorstep for the showing. You need to implement smart solutions, and green home improvements are among the best ones. In this article, you’ll learn about six eco-friendly upgrades that can increase your home resale value. Consider which ones would be the most beneficial to you, and feel free to do more research on specific solutions. So, if you want to find out more about the best green home improvement ideas, keep on reading!
1. Replace the Windows
According to the survey conducted by the National Association of Homebuilders, a whopping 89% of today’s homebuyers want their dream home to have Energy Star-rated windows. What is it about windows that make them so important, and why exactly can they be regarded as a green home improvement?
Energy-efficient windows help you maintain an optimal temperature indoors. They act as an additional layer of insulation, blocking cold and noise from the outside world. It’s a sustainable solution for your home because it significantly reduces energy use, which, in turn, leads to lower utility bills. So, if your windows are old and dilapidated, consider replacing them with new ones that will be more energy-efficient.
2. Insulate Your Attic and Garage
When it comes to energy efficiency, your attic and garage are considered to be the weakest links in your home. If they’re not insulated properly, they cause the heat loss and make your energy bill skyrocket. Fortunately, you won’t have to break the bank to get insulation materials and proceed with the project. Loose-fill fiberglass insulation for the attic and rigid foam insulation for your garage are, among other types, great and effective solutions that can increase the value of your house upon its sale.
3. Replace Your Old Garage Door
Let’s focus on your garage a bit longer. As you already know, it’s one of the least energy-efficient areas of your home. The heat will escape through the windows and uninsulated walls. However, the weakest spot in your garage is the garage door. On average, you’re going to open and close it around 1,500 times a year. If it’s old and rickety, chances are it greatly contributes to the high energy bill.
The best way to limit your expenses is to get a new garage door and insulate it as well. The most energy-efficient models usually have three layers and can greatly improve your overall garage use. They’ll help you maintain a stable temperature inside, allowing you to work in your garage regardless of the time of the year, decrease the noise levels, and contribute to your home security.
4. Consider Installing Solar Panels
Compared with other ideas on our list, this one is probably the most expensive. Solar panels are not cheap, and the costs increase if you have to replace your roof to install them. However, they’re also one of the best ways to improve your home’s resale value and make your life better while you’re still living in it.
Real estate agents also claim they sell really fast compared to homes without solar panels – traditional properties spend an average of 50% more time on the market. As such, if you want your house to sell quickly and make a good deal, consider using solar energy.
5. Upgrade Your Appliances
Chances are your kitchen and bathroom appliances are outdated. They’re designed to last you a long time, but now could be the right moment to consider replacing them. They’re also prone to malfunctions – maybe you’re already tired of fixing constant leaks? Not to mention, they may look a bit disheveled after all those years.
If you can relate to some or all of these statements, consider getting new appliances for your kitchen and bathroom. Your living spaces will get a fresh, upgraded look that’s going to catch the buyers’ attention. Newer models are also more energy-efficient, yet again helping you limit the waste of electricity and water. It doesn’t have to be a huge investment, though! There are plenty of esthetically pleasing and functional appliances available on the market at a reasonable price.
6. Get a Tankless Water Heater
Every home has a water heater – you need it to use water above its initial temperature. A traditional device holds gallons of water, and they’re in a constantly heated state. Meanwhile, tankless models heat up the water only when you need it, by tunning it over hot coils before it leaves the pipes. By doing so, they limit your energy use. After all, they don’t heat something that’s going to sit in the tank unused, sometimes for hours on end.
Tankless water heaters are not only a green solution for your home. They also boost the allure of your property because there’s no big, ugly tank that spoils the bathroom’s design. Additionally, their lifespan is longer, and they’re much safer than traditional models due to a lower risk of leaking. Their only downside is their initial cost, but if you want to sell your home fast at a better price, getting a tankless water heater is definitely worth it.
The Bottom Line
Selling a house is not an easy task. While your potential buyers would like to get the best property for the lowest possible price, you should think about your profits as well. There are many home improvement solutions that can help you increase the resale value of your property. One of the best trends worth considering is going green.
Implementing sustainable home upgrades before you sell your property will increase your chances of getting more money for it. Additionally, it allows you to take care of the environment and benefit from that as well, mostly by using fewer resources and paying lower bills. Some solutions will be more expensive to introduce than others. However, we hope our shortlist of ideas will prompt you to try at least some of them in your own home.
Cover image: Photo by Ralph Kelly on Unsplash
