Page 17 - Hawaii Renovation - May 7, 2017

DGo green to give your home an energy boost
emand remains high warm weather approach- ture for hours,tankless water for energy-efficient, ing, it’s a great time to think heaters use far less energy. eco-friendly home about landscaping that has Energy Star said a tankless
features, according to a sur- vey by the National Associa- tion of Home Builders.In fact, the majority of builders now put energy-efficient windows, heating and cooling systems, thermostats and appliances in their construction, the sur- vey said. If you’re selling your home and hope to compete with new construction — as well as set your house apart from other resales — making green improvements could significantly pay off.
“Updating your home with green features can at- tract more buyers and even increase your home’s sale price,” said president of RE/MAX LLC, Geoff Lewis. “Buyers are not only looking for cosmetic upgrades, they also want improvements that will help save them money for as long as they live in the home.”
Some green projects you can easily accomplish yourself, like replacing less efficient light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs or LEDs throughout the house, or installing a programmable thermostat. Other improvements may require professional exper- tise but can result in even bigger payoffs.
Here are five popular green home improvements that could help boost your home’s resale value:
• Windows: Replacing older windows with Energy Star-rated high-efficiency windows could lower your annual energy bill as much as 12 percent, according to the United States Department of Energy. What’s more, En- ergy Star-rated windows may qualify for a tax credit of 10 percent off the cost of the windows.
• Insulation: Most homes in the U.S. don’t have enough insulation, according to energystar.gov. Adding in- sulation and sealing air leaks could reduce annual energy bills by 10 percent. At the time of resale, adding fiber- glass insulation in the attic could recoup 107 percent
of the cost, according to Re- modeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report.
• Front door: It’s a key par t of your home’s curb appeal and the last exterior feature homebuyers see before entering your house. However,afrontdoorneeds
to do more than look good. Replacing an older, wooden door with an energy-effi- cient, secure steel door re- coups more than 90 percent of its cost when you sell your home, according to the Cost vs. Value repor t.
• Landscaping: With
green value as well as cos- metic appeal. Adding trees in addition to flowers can provide shade that will help keep the home’s interior cooler in summer months. In fact, planting five shade trees can return up to 100 percent of the project cost when you sell your home.
• Water: Most water heaters last about 10 years, so if your home is older, a new water heater could be a big selling point. A tankless water heater could be even more appealing; because they only heat water when it’s needed, rather than con- sume energy to hold gallons of water at a set tempera-
water heater could save you up to $1,800 over its usable life — which is twice as long as the lifespan of traditional tank water heaters.
When you’re thinking of selling your home, you’ll probably invest a lot of time and energy into staging. Con- sider saving some additional budget for energy-efficient home improvements that may help boost your home’s value. A knowledgeable real estate agent can advise you on which green home im- provements can get you the biggest return on investment.
This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.
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