Wednesday, 4 January 2012

Tankless Water Heaters: Green Homes Attracts Buyers

By Kenisha Kowsalski


Don't go installing solar panels just yet! If you're trying to list your property as an eco-friendly home with many green features, plunking down big bucks on these environmentally conscious elements right before putting it on the market will not be a cost-effective move. Having said that, it does not mean that smaller, simpler, and more strategic green changes won't make as much impact and appeal to potential buyers.

Appealing to your potential buyers is the key here. With the current home appraisal system, green fixtures are not factored directly into computing a property's market value. However, some green features might give a house that's on the market an advantage over otherwise similar properties.

Let's face it saying that the house has all energy efficient LED or CFL lighting is not that impressive; it's just not appealing, not sexy. It's a fact that does not quite engage you. Sure, in the end it's better for the environment and it will save the homeowner some money in utility bills but again, it is information that does not quite captivate. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a house that is south-facing and has a tankless water heater tend to really get people's attention.

There are a number of green home developments that will quickly make a home more pleasing to possible buyers. Besides the tankless water heater, insulation rates pretty much too, whether it is in the crawl space or along a window seam, it's a component the buyers value. A bonus to insulation is that it is a very quick and affordable installation. Weatherstripping doors and windows also belong to the easy and cheap bracket.

Managing your budget both for "curb appeal" and for substance is important when making decisions for these expenditures, keeping in mind that the goal is to sell your house. Perhaps it reflects your own lifestyle and beliefs that you want to highlight and pass on the green features, but maintain realistic targets and don't lose sight of what you're trying to accomplish.

While your home's energy-efficient highlights cannot be evaluated from an appraiser's point of view, a potential buyer may notice their real value by themselves.




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