Not only does living green provide a healthier lifestyle and lower electricity and utility bills, but according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 90 percent of home buyers have said that energy efficiency is a significant factor that they are looking for in a new home! Now that you know it could improve the interest of your potential buyers, here are green improvements to consider:
• Add insulation where it’s needed. Outside, walk around the exterior of your home and look for cracks in the construction. On a windy, cold day, head to the attic and/or basement to listen for whistling sounds that might be making their way through cracks. Pay attention to drafts anywhere in the house. For more information on energy-efficient insulation, click here.
• Install new energy-efficient windows, or add a screen or an extra pane of glass to the windows or sliding glass doors. The more layers, the more efficient against wind and cold temperatures. Keep the curtains open so that the sun can shine through in the cold, and keep them closed to keep the heat out in warm temperatures. For more information on windows, click here.
• Purchase new Energy Star appliances that are the most energy-efficient options out there. They are expensive, but they are a huge selling point for the kitchen, which is one of the most popular rooms that a buyer pays attention to. For more ways to create a green kitchen, click here.
• Invest in a tankless water heater, and/or add energy-efficient, low-flow water fixtures to your sinks or showers. Show potential homebuyers your water or heating bills to prove how much money these mechanisms will save them. For more information on tankless water heaters, click here.
• Fill the home with natural or eco-friendly lighting by adding a skylight, adding dimmers to light switches, or replacing all of the lights with fluorescent bulbs. For more information on skylights, click here.
Loads of more green, eco-friendly advice is available in our archives, which you can browse here. Knowing that 90 percent of potential homebuyers are interested in eco-friendly aspects should aspire you home sellers to look further into the suggestion!