When listing your home for sale, you want it to stand out - for all the right reasons.

Successful selling (along with getting a great price), comes from creating buyer demand. So instead of the house for sale down the street, people want yours!

Here at PGG Wrightson Real Estate, we’re seeing properties with sustainable features and energy efficient fixtures and fittings receiving a lot more attention than they were a few years ago. And this could be a useful strategy for attracting more buyers to take an interest in your home.

Rest assured, this doesn’t mean having to install solar power panels tomorrow (unless you were planning on it). But with a few small changes and simple updates, there’s a number of ways in which you can showcase the ‘greener’ aspects of your home.

Why?

You may be wondering what sustainability has to do with selling your established residential home. Here’s a few points to get started with:

• It can be highlighted in the listing, providing your property with a unique selling proposition. This is certainly helpful if there is a lot of competition in the market.
• Any cost savings when it comes to electricity and water bills are a definite selling feature. If buyer’s can see the potential for reducing their energy consumption, this could increase the demand (and therefore value) for your property.
• More and more buyers are becoming eco-conscious when it comes to making their purchasing decisions. By presenting a more sustainable home, the greater the appeal to those who prioritise these attributes.
• Sustainable living also usually goes hand-in-hand with more healthier, comfortable home environments. This is another key selling point many buyers will be looking for.

How:

So, if you like the idea of creating a more sustainable home and property before you go to market - what are the steps to achieve a green tick of approval from buyers?

In reality, the list could be extensive (and overwhelming). So we’ve put together some ideas on where to get started. They may seem small and insignificant on their own, but in combination, they have the potential to be a key selling point for your property.

Curtains

Window dressings are not just crucial for closing up your home at the end of the day. By reducing the amount of ‘air exchange’ between a window and a room, they also contribute to keeping heat inside a home. Think of them as insulation for your windows.

But not all curtains are created equal, so if you have window dressings that could do with an upgrade, make sure you choose ones which are made of sustainable fabric, thermally-backed and the right size, in order to maximise their full impact.

Led lights

Did you know that led lights can last up to 25 times longer than a normal bulb, and also use 75 percent less energy? There’s some serious cost-savings that could be made from making the switch.

Garden water tanks

While the rain radar has been pretty busy this year, you never know when a dry period is on the cards. And for those with an established garden, a combination of water restrictions and hot weather can be a recipe for disaster. Not only is having a tank to catch rain a tick for sustainability (conserving water), it’s also a tick for being self-sufficient and resourceful.

Replace tapware

If some of your bathroom and kitchen fixtures and fittings could do with a spruce up, replace them with tapware which are designed to conserve water and use water more efficiently.

Wool carpet

Do the carpets need replacing before the house goes on the market? If this is on your to-do list, even just for the main living areas, make sure wool is at the top of your list of choices.

Wrapping hot water cylinder

Wrapping your hot water cylinder can add up when it comes to cost savings and is a really simple way to lower energy consumption. This is because heat is lost through the walls of the cylinder, even if it’s not being used. It’s what’s known as ‘standing losses’.

Heating

Not all heating appliances are created equal, so if you’re going to invest in a new one - make sure you choose one that’s cleaner and greener on the environment. Its energy efficiency will also contribute to a lighter electricity bill.

Smart home technology

Modern technology has some really exciting tools that can be utilised in and around the home to promote sustainable practices.

From smart appliances that can be set up to run more efficiently, to retrofitting existing appliances with smart plugs and getting an electrician to install a Home Energy Management System (HEMS), it’s all about optimising energy usage.

Vegetable garden

For many, sustainability means being self-sufficient, and growing fruit and vegetables are often high on the list for those looking to lower their food miles and carbon footprint. Even if you don’t want to tend to a veggie garden, you could still establish a bed that is ‘ready to go’, or plant a few fruit trees.

Fresh insulation

Insulation is crucial for a warm, dry, healthy living environment. So if it’s been a while since your insulation was installed, consider whether it could do with an upgrade.

There are a number of regions around New Zealand that qualify for an insulation subsidy, considerably lowering the cost of the initial outlay, while adding to the value of your home.

 

If you’re keen to understand how sustainable and energy efficient practices could help increase your property’s value, get in touch with our team of local, experienced salespeople - wherever you are in New Zealand. Because we live in your communities too, it enables us to provide knowledge and advice you simply won’t find anywhere else.

Request a free property appraisal today, or contact one of our regional offices today - we’re always ready to help.