Do Energy-Efficiency Ratings Matter When Selling a Home?

We hear a lot about energy efficiency but does it really matter how efficient your home is? Do buyers really care?

Yes, they do.

The purchase price for your new property is one thing; the ongoing running expenses are another. The fact is that a large proportion of today’s buyers have done their research so more often than not they aren’t investing on impulse or emotion; they’re weighing up the costs associated with maintaining their new home before they sign on the dotted line.

So, while the energy efficiency of your home might not necessarily make or break the sale, it might contribute towards clinching the deal in the end. But whether you’re planning to sell or not, improving the energy efficiency of your property is an excellent investment regardless. It’ll take the comfort of your home up a notch and in the long run, it’ll be kinder on your back pocket too.
Above everything though, you’ll be able to rest easy, knowing that as a responsible homeowner, you’re doing what you can to care for your patch of green and contribute to a sustainable future.

Read on for our top 6 tips for making your home more energy-efficient:

1. Insulate, Insulate, Insulate
Good insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve the overall efficiency of your home. By keeping the heat inside during the winter and outside during the summer, you can transform the comfort of your house and maintain a more even temperature all year round. In fact, when compared to a non-insulated home, your energy bills could be reduced by as much as 40 – 50% per year! Walls, floors, ceilings… excellent quality insulation will also help to prevent the buildup of condensation and deaden noise.

2. Replace the Windows
If yours is an older home with single glazed windows, the transfer of heat and cold through the glass could be significant. In fact, it’s estimated that a whopping 40% of a home’s heat can be lost and 87% of its heat can be gained through the windows! Replacing the windows is no mean feat, but it could be a ticket to reducing the energy consumption of your home. Double or even triple-glazed windows are a superior choice. Gas-filled windows are another way to maximize efficiency. Frames made from wood, fibreglass, or other composite materials are strong and robust and conduct less heat than the aluminium frames we know so well.

3. Make the Most of the Sun
By harnessing nature, you can save yourself a pretty penny. Most Aussies see solar panels as a good thing, and research indicates that homes that have a lot of solar panels are likely to fetch a higher price than those with few. The ability for your home to generate its own power (and feed excess back into the grid) is a great way to reduce the bottom line of your energy bill. And it’s
not just the inside heaters and lights – solar power can dramatically reduce other overheads too, such as the cost of running a home pool.

4. Opt for Energy Efficient Hot Water
Is your hot water unit super inefficient? Replacing your hot water service with one that’s efficient and appropriate for the size of the home is another way to make your home more sustainable. Taking your thermostat down a degree or two will help too.

5. Block out the Draughts
Draught proofing your home is about more than comfort. Sealing up those cracks and holes will help to keep your home warm during the winter and cool in the summer. Think about your door seals and window seals – if there are draughts coming in, they’ll seriously compromise the efficiency of your home.

6. Lights
How many times did your parents tell you to turn out the light when you left a room?! While cutting out bad habits is important, replacing your light fittings with energy-efficient options is another way to improve the overall performance of your home.

Creating efficient homes is something that every homeowner can take part in. In fact, as responsible adults, it’s our duty to do our bit towards building a sustainable future for our children. And the good news is that it doesn’t have to be done all at once – improving the efficiency of your home can be a long- term project broken down into smaller ‘chunks’ and achieved over a number of years.

For many Australians, their home is their single biggest asset, so investing in improvements that will add genuine value is important. Energy efficiency mightn’t always be obvious on the surface but believe us when we say it’ll seriously boost the resale value of your property.