What makes your house more valuable is based on a number of factors. Adding marble bathrooms and a resort-style swimming pool to a 700-square foot home in a mobile home park might not add value to one home, but adding the same to a large home in a beautiful neighborhood might add ample value. Adding any sort of green upgrade to your home, however, is almost always a good investment, especially as the world becomes more concerned with the environment. Whether you’re an aspiring real estate agent training with Success Path or a homeowner ready to sell and move on, knowing which upgrades are both environmentally friendly and valuable for your home value is indispensable.
Tankless Water Heaters
These are always popular upgrades. They’re not that expensive to buy and install, but they provide ample savings. Potential buyers view these as big savings when buying a home because they didn’t pay for them, but they reap the benefits of having one. A tankless heater saves water, and it saves you hundreds of dollars every year.
Rainwater Collection Service
This is not something everyone has heard of, but it saves homeowners hundreds of dollars each year. This type of system sits along the gutters of your home collecting runoff from rainwater. It allows you to then use that water to irrigate your lawn and for other landscaping purposes. When you use recycled water for this, you save impressively on your bills.
Smart Thermostats
High-tech isn’t always a welcome feature for those who’ve yet to embrace technology, but this green upgrade is a big money-saver. When you can control the temperature of your house from your phone or any computer, you save big bucks. Buyers love the idea of buying a home they can control from work. The idea they can turn the air off in July while they’re at work or on vacation but have the house feeling cool and welcome when they get home is more than appealing. Most people save upwards of $150 per year with a programmable thermostat.
Energy-Efficient Windows
Older homes need new windows in most cases. If you’re looking to replace your windows, you might consider doing so with energy-efficient windows. They are more expensive up front, but they add tremendous value to your home. Buyers want as much energy-efficiency and savings as possible, and this is one green upgrade that adds both in no time. You’ll receive a one-time tax credit, which helps with the overall cost. Additionally, you’re going to save hundreds of dollars each year heating and cooling your home with windows that work for you rather than against you.
Energy-Efficient Appliances
It’s amazing how many people fail to realize that buying the right appliances for their home can add ample value. Buyers want chic, elegant kitchens with functional green appliances. The best bet is stainless steel, and they need to be energy-efficient. You’ll recoup all of your investment when you add these to the kitchen, and you’ll receive the benefit of a nice tax break when you file your income taxes for the year. The reason energy-efficient appliances are such a big deal to buyers is they save as much as 30% of your energy costs each year.
Home renovations aren’t always worthwhile, but green upgrades add value almost every time. When looking to improve your house, look to the green side of things. In addition to overall savings throughout the life of the products you use, you’re also receiving tax credits designed to save you money on your tax liability, which tend to offset the upfront costs of upgrading these items. Buyers love green upgrades, so your home’s value increases significantly.
