Why do you need an energy audit? The answer is pretty simple: an energy-efficient house is an attractive house. When buying a house, the mortgage payment is one consideration, but ongoing maintenance and utility bills are also part of a smart consumer's equation.
If you are on the market to buy or sell a house, an energy audit should be on top of your priorities and here are 6 ways it can help boost your home listing price according to Trulia:
Show you where to put the money
Discover energy problems with a detailed home energy analysis like Home Energy Rating System Index and know where to put your home improvement dollars and make your home more attractive to buyers.
Lower utility bills
With the help of an energy audit, you can make sure that your equipment and electrical utilities are working properly and this is key to reduce your monthly energy bills.
Competitive advantage
When buyers look at two similarly priced houses in the same neighborhood, each of the house's energy bills could make or break a possible deal. If one house has an annual energy bill of $1000 and the other clocks in at $3000, which do you think would be more appealing to buyers? Memo to sellers: be the first house.
Increase purchasing power of potential buyers
An energy-efficient homes can actually leverage a homebuyer's purchasing power if they apply for an energy mortgage. These mortgages work in two ways: A homebuyer adds a sum - say $3,000 - to a mortgage loan to finance energy-efficient upgrades. Though the monthly payments are higher, they're offset by the new energy savings. Or buyers may qualify for a bigger loan if they can show that lower energy costs offset what they'd spend on a higher monthly mortgage payment.
Boost your market value
According to the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), the market value of a home increases by $20 for every $1 decrease in annual energy costs. This could equate to an increased value of up to $10,625 compared to other comparable properties, says RESNET. According to one study, homes with energy labeling have an increased value of 9% in California.
Improve indoor environments
Home buyers now consider indoor air quality and home emissions as amenities. Energy-efficient homes tend to get checks in these new must-have boxes. With a cleaner HVAC system, fewer allergens and pollutants enter the home; and an efficient house is less polluting. Plus, it's just simply comfortable if a house has an effective cooling or heating system.
