Often when moving home, all you want is a quick sale, a cosy new home and the smallest bill possible. The best way of doing this may be to be as energy efficient as possible, both in your old and your new house to avoid receiving any surprising energy bills. When choosing a home, make sure you choose one with a good energy rating, save money in long run by improving it and arrange it for efficiency. To attract buyers and get a quick sale, it is often beneficial to improve your old home and make it energy efficient as potential buyers will be using the same energy check-list as you!
What To Look For
When viewing a property, make sure you see a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which should be provided with every house [1]. The ratings run from A (very energy efficient) to G (very inefficient) and the average rating is generally a D rating. However, the newer the home then the higher rating you should expect it to have. Try and avoid the lowest rated houses (F and G) as not only will your carbon footprint be greater, it will cost you a lot to heat unless you are willing to improve the house as soon as possible.
There are also a few other things to look for when moving home: Loft insulation keeps heat in and is estimated by the Energy Saving Trust to cut your heating bills by up to £145 a year. Similarly, cavity wall insulation is estimated to save you around £110 a year. If your new property doesn’t already have either of these insulation options, they are relatively easy to install and you may qualify for a grant from the government. Double glazing can cut noise and condensation and save you around £130 on your energy bills. In a gas heated home, having an energy efficient and regularly checked boiler could save you up to £225 a year. Modern heating controls save energy so make sure you have a thermostat and timer as they can save you up to £55 a year in energy bills. Finally, if your house comes furnished, make sure you don’t get landed with inefficient appliances as it may be more cost and energy efficient to replace them with new A rated products in the long run.
Attracting Buyers For Your Home
Just as you will be looking for energy efficiency in your new house, the potential buyers of your home will be too. Half of UK home-owners consider houses with greener features to be easier to sell in the current market, and 20% of buyers are put off by single glazed windows. Therefore think about what improvements you can do to your home to have the best impact, and make sure they are done before it is assessed for its Energy Performance Certificate.
[1] http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Home-improvements-and-products/Moving-home-a-green-guide
