How to Increase Resale Value of Home with Sustainable Choices

If you are planning to sell your home any time in the future, making it more sustainable and energy-efficient will increase your chances of selling it at a better price. And although the market in Ireland is expected to slow down in 2022, the demand will remain relatively high. 

It is mandatory, as you may well know, to get a BER certificate before you put up your home for sale. The purpose of a Building Energy Rating assessment is to show a prospective buyer or renter how energy-efficient the property is. 

So, this post will look into ways of making your home more sustainable and eco-friendlier, which will not only increase its resale value (if selling it at some point is on the cards) but will also contribute to the environment, as well as to your comfort while living in it. Of course, improving your home’s energy efficiency will lower your utility bills, as well. 

BER Assessments And BER Certificates - What You Need To Know

Your home’s energy performance can be assessed by an SEAI-registered BER assessor, who will then supply you with a BER certificate. The rating scale goes from A to G, with A indicating that the dwelling is energy-efficient, doesn’t lose heat and has a low carbon footprint. The certificate is legally required for all buildings, built after 2007. It is also mandatory if you intend to sell or rent your place.

The assessment doesn’t take more than an hour and it costs in the range of €200 and €300. It’s important to note that the assessment only covers the energy performance of a property, related to heating, cooling and lighting. Also, don’t be disheartened if your BER rating is not as good as you wanted it to be. There’s always a scope for improvement to achieve the benchmark of good energy performance, such as the B2 rating. And let’s not forget that help is available for older homes in the form of government grants.

How To Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency 

Let’s take a look at several ways of lowering your energy consumption and helping nature, to get a higher BER rating (when the time comes), and likely increase the resale value of your home going forward.

Consider Investing in Solar Panels

Installing Solar Panels in Ireland can be the ultimate source of renewable energy. Not only are they clean and green but also free, once budgeting for the actual installation of the solar panels and the rest of the PV system’s components. What’s more, if you’re asking yourself “how much do solar panels cost?”, there’s no need to worry about the price. The installation cost of a solar power system doesn’t have to break the bank, as various discount schemes and grants through the SEAI program are available. 

This makes investing in a photovoltaic system attainable and many people, nowadays, don’t hesitate to improve their home’s sustainability this way. And if a household’s energy needs can be met for free, for the long-term, this will inevitably increase the property’s value.

Upgrade Your Heating System And Lighting 

If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s heating system, Far Infrared space heaters are an ideal choice. These types of heaters work by using stored radiating energy that passes directly through the air and provides unparalleled warmth and comfort. They are extremely efficient in terms of warmth generated compared to energy consumption and are a fast and effective way to heat a room entirely. Far-Infrared panels can also reduce your household energy consumption by anywhere from 30 to 70%, especially when paired with a solar PV system.

When it comes to lighting, LED and other types of energy-saving light bulb options have been long incorporated into our homes. But you can do more by replacing your light switches with smart or dimmer ones to gain better control over how you light up your home. Motion sensor lights and such on a timer are also sustainable options for outdoor security and garden lighting. 

Improve Your Home’s Insulation

There is no point in investing in innovative or more nature-friendly ways of heating your home if it’s not insulated properly. Heat loss is as big a problem as a high carbon footprint. So, make sure to upgrade your old windows and doors with new ones, which are more energy-efficient and can keep the heat inside during the colder months. You can also tint windows and glass doors in certain rooms to better regulate the loss of heat if you like.

In addition, older homes can easily lose energy through the floor and roof, therefore you should insulate underfloor and roof spaces properly, as well.

Other Home Improvement Tips To Increase The Value Of Your Property

There are plenty of other property improvements you can make to bring up the value of your home. It’s all a matter of how much you want to invest, of course, so that you increase the chances of selling it at a good price rather than losing potential profits in the process.  

Install An EV Charging Point At Home

Not many homeowners would think of an EV Charger installation, however, according to the Irish government’s 2019 Climate Action Plan, nearly one million electric vehicles are expected to be on our roads by 2030. It’s extremely likely, therefore, that we will be seeing a dramatic increase in electric vehicles being used in Ireland in the coming years.

A potential property hunter may well appreciate your offer if your home is fitted with a charging point for electric car charging at home. An EV charger such as a zappi Charger is an excellent investment for any homeowner looking to increase the resale value of their home. Furthermore, any other outdoor electrical fittings, such as sockets to plug conveniently gardening tools and light fixtures to improve one’s safety in the dark and the security of the property, will undoubtedly increase the resale value of your home.

Ensure Proper Ventilation 

Mould in damp bathrooms becomes a real problem when ventilation is poor. So, consider installing an extractor fan if the room lacks a window. The same goes for your kitchen. It’s worth replacing your old and inefficient kitchen extractor hood if necessary to minimise humidity levels and grease build-up on walls and surfaces. If you’ve turned a storage room into a laundry room, then, again, ensure that sufficient ventilation is in place to prevent mould and mildew issues.

Smart Up Your Garden

You don’t need to go crazy and spend lots of money on making your outdoor space presentable and attractive to a potential buyer. But you can smarten up key garden features and just tidy up overgrown patches, flower beds and seating areas. Fix the gate, paint the fence, give your lawn the care it needs, trim the hedge, replace cracked flowerpots, etc. 

With a bit of effort, creativity and money, you can improve the recreational corner in your garden, be it by revarnishing the decking or by pressure-washing the patio. Give your metal or wooden garden furniture another coat of paint, too. If you’re looking for inspiration, there are plenty of websites that offer garden tips that are sure to stir up your creativity and help you grow the garden of your dreams!

To Finish

More and more people are becoming nature-conscious and decide to change their ways and daily routines to accommodate a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. And this goes for incorporating sustainable changes, related to their property and to the ways one runs their home. 

Through investing in energy-efficient sources of electricity and heating, upgrading the property’s insulation and considering other eco-friendly home improvements, you will not only contribute to the environment in a statement way, but you will also maximise your property’s value and the potential to sell it at a better price.