Energy-Saving Improvements to Boost Salability

Energy-Saving Improvements to Boost Salability

For the majority of Canadians selling average homes, it can be difficult to highlight the reasons why yours is the best  choice among similar homes on the market. If you’re intent on increasing your home’s value and marketability with Home  Inspection Toronto services, making it more energy efficient may be the best strategy. Here are 3 low-cost energy-saving  improvements that could make a big difference to buyers.

Install Programmable Thermostats

One of the simplest ways to increase energy efficiency in your home is to install a programmable thermostat, which can adjust  the temperature while you’re at work or sleeping. According to Moneysense.ca, for each degree you turn your temperature down  in the winter, you could save up to 5% on your monthly heating bill (and vice versa for cooling in the summer).

In fact, multiple thermostats for system zoning could be an even more appealing selling point, especially if you’re selling a  larger house. System zoning allows you regulate the temperatures of different areas of your home based on when they’re more  frequently used, which can dramatically reduce energy consumption and save potential buyers hundreds of dollars per year.

Add Insulation

Upgraded or added insulation is a great way to improve the energy efficiency of a house in colder climates like ours. The  attic (if there is one) is usually a good place to start, since blowing in loose fill insulation is usually inexpensive and  doesn’t require a huge renovation commitment. If you choose to go this route, a good rule of thumb is to add enough  insulation to reach the tops of the ceiling joists. However, it’s important to ensure that the ceiling is air sealed,  otherwise warm, moist air could leak into the attic and cause condensation. The added value for your buyer? Moneysense.ca  estimates that upgrading the R-value (the scale used to measure insulation effectiveness) from R-10 – a common value in  attics – to R-50 could reduce energy costs by 6% per year.

Tackle the Small Stuff

There are a number of small improvements you can make that can add up to big energy savings for your buyers. One of the most  effective steps is to seal household drafts. Small air leaks around your foundation, windows, doors, and electrical sockets  can lead to surprising energy wastage, so be sure to seal cracks, replace weather stripping around windows and doors, and  install draft-reducing gaskets behind switch and outlet covers.

Other small-but-smart energy savers include installing motion sensors on outdoor lights and dimmer-switches inside. You could  also improve water heating costs by as much as 3-4% annually by insulating the hot water pipes in your home. The more small  improvements you make, the better the overall picture of your energy-efficient home.

Of course, there are a number big-ticket energy-saving upgrades you could make before selling (like installing new windows or  thermal blinds, putting in a high-efficiency furnace, or swapping out your major appliances for high-efficiency models), but  you’d have to consider the possibility of not getting a full return on your investment. If smaller jobs are better suited to  your budget and schedule, following these simple tips could put your listing ahead of the curve.For more details to get an  appointment from 10 years experiences home inspectors in the Home Inspection Toronto services to click the website  WWW.goldenhomeinspections.ca and book the appointment.