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Martin Harvey/Getty Images August 29, 2022 Dina Cheney Dina Cheney is a home and garden writer for Bankrate. A writer for 20-plus years, she’s contributed to publications including Good Housekeeping, Parents, Health, Men’s Health and SELF. Troy Segal is Bankrate's Senior Homeownership Editor, focusing on everything from upkeep and maintenance to building equity and enhancing value. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by and edited by , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions an individual will ever make. Our real estate reporters and editors focus on educating consumers about this life-changing transaction and how to navigate the complex and ever-changing housing market. From finding an agent to closing and beyond, our goal is to help you feel confident that you're making the best, and smartest, real estate deal possible. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Investing in eco-friendly, energy-efficient home upgrades can help you save on utility bills and lighten your carbon footprint. But of late evidence is emerging that being green could bring in more green when you . A analyzing energy-efficient-rated homes rated for their energy efficiency found that rated homes are sold for 2.7 percent more than unrated homes and, among rated homes, those with better ratings sold for 3 to 5 percent more than lesser-rated homes. And of the 1,000 real estate agents surveyed in , nearly half (48 percent) said that homebuyers are increasingly prioritizing energy efficiency in their home search. Agents nationwide estimate that over the past 12 months, the value that energy efficiency adds to a home has increased 25 percent, from $6,556 to $8,246, the report says. Read on to learn how and why having an could up your and sales price, plus which energy efficient elements will likely be most attractive to buyers.
How eco-friendly features influence home sales
That environmental consciousness is becoming a selling point for properties is clear: In the National Association of Realtors’ () , 63 percent of the surveyed pros said energy efficiency promotion in listings was “very or somewhat valuable.” How valuable is it? A recent concluded that homes with descriptions mentioning green features such as programmable thermostats, double-pane windows and smart sprinklers or lights could sell up to about a week faster and for up to 1.4 percent more than comparable homes without. Houses equipped with electric vehicle charging stations and drought-resistant landscaping could sell nine days faster. Why the appeal of these homes now? Part of it could just be that, with environmental issues constantly in the news, energy efficiency is increasingly on homebuyers’ minds: They’ll have to invest in eco-friendly features like solar panels or electric-car charging stations eventually anyway, they figure, so why not buy a home that’s already equipped? Another, more compelling motive: the skyrocketing prices in — well, everything. “In general, inflation is causing some buyers to be more cost-conscious, which is driving more interest in energy efficiency,” says Caroline Feeney, senior managing editor of HomeLight. “The benefits of decreasing utility bills are only magnified when costs are rising in every sector,” she says. “Houses running off old systems will be more expensive to heat comfortably, and buyers are increasingly aware of that. Now and in the near future, thinking about cost savings will be really impactful for today’s buyers.” “With the rising costs of living, the concept of low maintenance costs is very appealing,” agrees Miami-based HomeLight agent Zachary Dworsky. “It allows for buyers to invest those funds elsewhere.” Limited impact of eco-friendly
That said, it’s not like the eco-friendly effect is highly dramatic. Although 78 percent of house-hunters report being concerned about the planet, only 15 percent are willing to pay more for a home described as environmentally friendly, according to (NAHB) report “What Home Buyers Really Want.” It’s only when potential buyers understand these features will lead to annual savings in utility costs that they’ll shell out more dough. Even then, the outlay’s limited: 57 percent are willing to pay $5,000 or more, on top of the price of the home, to save $1,000 a year in utilities. And of course, the interest varies according to region and real estate market. For example, Realtors in the western U.S. say rooftop will increase property values more than Realtors in the South, according to the NAR . The Inflation Reduction Act encourages energy-efficient homes
Updating Appliances: Installing a Heat Pump: Installing a Heat Pump Water Heater: Updating Windows and Doors: Installing a solar roof
Which energy-efficient features are the most desirable
Not all eco-friendly features are created equal in homebuyers’ minds, as the NAHB study found. Here are the ones that top the in popularity, with some approximate prices. Feature % of Respondents Who Found It Essential or Desirable Up-Front Cost Estimates Source: ENERGY STAR-rated windows 83 $270-$800 or more per window, including labor ENERGY STAR-rated appliances 81 Varies Efficient that uses less energy 80 ENERGY STAR rating for entire home 79 Varies Triple-pane insulating glass windows 73 Insulation higher than required by code 68 Tankless water heater 67 $1,000 average Tips for making eco-friendly upgrades to your home
Should you revamp your home with an eye to resale in mind? Some thoughts: First, get an energy audit, recommends , a Phoenix-based HomeSmart Realtor, educator, and climate restoration advocate, who points out that many local utility companies subsidize this expense. The report will direct you towards features that could benefit from improvement. Check with a real estate agent to assess local market trends: “Interest in energy-efficiency is highly market-dependent,” Feeney says. For example, according to HomeLight, 62 percent of agents in California versus 52 percent of agents in Florida said homebuyers are increasingly prioritizing eco-friendly elements in their home search. However, in the Northeast, many buyers prefer a more traditional home and value character and charm over energy-efficient features, she adds. Consider your home’s age: in particular are good candidates for upgrades, as they will likely struggle more to compete with energy-efficient new construction. Try less pricey improvements: Feeney suggests relatively economical upgrades, like insulating your attic, crawl space, and basement; swapping out incandescent bulbs for LED lighting; and equipping doors and windows with proper weather stripping. Consider large investments if you’re staying for a while: “If you’re ready to list in one month to one year, it’s not the time to invest in a ton of expensive home improvements solely for the sake of your home’s energy-efficiency,” says Feeney. If you’ll be in your home longer, you might consider bigger improvements, but mainly as issues crop up. Investigate tax rebates from the government: If you upgrade, you might save even more money thanks to federal and state government tax incentives, says Camp. As these are phasing out in the next two years, you might want to act sooner rather than later. Marketing homes with energy-efficient features
Your home might boast the latest green features. But if potential buyers don’t know about them, these upgrades won’t help you when it comes time to sell. In short, you need to “make the invisible visible,” says Massachusetts-based Agent Partner of Laer Realty Partners, who leads a team focused on eco-friendly properties. “So many of these features are behind the walls and get lost in the process.” To spread the word, consider certifying your home, through LEED for Homes, ENERGY STAR, or Pearl Certification. Next, hire a familiar with green features, such as a REALTOR with a Green Designation. When promoting your property, they should mention its eco-friendly features in the Green data fields in the and listing descriptions. Foley also recommends creating flyers or posters educating buyers about your home’s energy-efficient features and benefits. The final word on eco-friendly homes and sales
Admittedly don’t make a huge difference when it comes to a home’s resale value or marketability. “They are often a nice-to-have but ultimately not a deciding factor for many of today’s homebuyers, particularly first-timers,” the HomeLight “Top Agent Insights” report states. Still, they are definitely on house hunters’ radar to an increasing extent. And could well continue to do so, if energy costs and environmental concerns continue to rise. Should it become more of a buyers’ market, might want to seize every competitive advantage they can. And w SHARE: Dina Cheney Dina Cheney is a home and garden writer for Bankrate. A writer for 20-plus years, she’s contributed to publications including Good Housekeeping, Parents, Health, Men’s Health and SELF. Troy Segal is Bankrate's Senior Homeownership Editor, focusing on everything from upkeep and maintenance to building equity and enhancing value. Related Articles