If you are planning on selling your home soon, there are several ways to increase its value while being environmentally friendly and not breaking the bank.
Increase Your Property Value with Green Upgrades
Expand Your Home's Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most valuable considerations when making improvements to your home. There are a few ways you can increase efficiency and the value of your home, which is especially helpful when you’re ready to sell. For example, you might want to double-glaze the windows. If it is an older house, you can check the caulking around the windows or replace the windows with more efficient models. If you have a little more money to spend, you can update to more energy-efficient appliances. When you are finished, organize an energy rating certificate inspection.
Another good tip is to install a smart meter, which monitors the electricity use in your home. A smart meter helps you learn which device is using the most electricity and when your peak usage times are. Sometimes, you can use smart meters to pre-program when devices turn on and off.
By making your home more energy efficient, it takes less electricity to heat or cool the home. Not only does this help the environment, but it also reduces the monthly utility bill. It’s estimated that installing energy-saving bulbs alone can lower your bills by $75 a year! Energy-efficient savings are something that potential homebuyers consider and will pay more for.
Expand Your Home's Water Efficiency
Water efficiency is another way to increase your home’s market value. There are lots of simple ways you can do this. For example, you can swap your faucets or shower heads for WaterSense models. Fixing leaky pipes is also a must when selling your home, and it’s recommended you call a licensed plumber to fix them. If you want to make an even bigger change, you can add a water collection tank to harvest rainwater.
While these changes might require a little capital injection, they yield big results by drastically reducing the amount of home water consumption. This reduces the amount the next homeowner will pay for utilities and makes your home more appealing to potential buyers.
Plant an Herb Garden
If you want a smaller project to increase your home value, consider planting an herb garden. This project is very simple and everything you need can be purchased from your local home improvement store. It will take a few of hours to get everything set up and planted, but once it’s complete it will add aesthetic value to your home. Not only does it look pleasant, it’s useful and can lead to grocery bill savings for the new owners.
Install Solar Panels
One of the best energy-saving investments you can make is installing solar panels on your home. They can greatly reduce your electricity bill over your home’s lifetime and, in some cases, you may not need to pay anything at all. Usually, over the life of the system, you’ll save between $10,000 to $30,000.
Cultivate Your Home's Landscape
Your home’s landscape is one of the first things that a prospective buyer sees. So, consider investing in your lawn and flower beds to improve your home’s curb appeal. There are lots of simple ways you can do this. Make sure you maintain the lawn and avoid over-watering and over-fertilizing. It could be a good idea to plant a small garden near the doorway, as bright flowers will help catch the buyer’s eye. Native plants that can handle Texas weather and drought conditions are also recommended. Even something as simple as putting solar lights next to your path can make the house look more appealing.
If you live in a busy area, consider planting a hedge. This will offer more privacy while also absorbing sound and rainwater runoff if placed strategically. Plus, they can be easy to take care of with some minor trimming—using a pair cordless hedge trimmers* can further simplify this task.
Protecting the Texas environment through green home improvement projects is a noble goal. Many of these changes can be simple, taking just a few hours of your time to implement. Try some of these tips as you prepare to sell your home to help conserve resources and increase the value of your property.
Contributed article written by Mary Ford, a writer for BackyardStyle.com, a Take Care of Texas Proud Partner.
*TCEQ does not endorse or recommend any specific product makers or brands.