Make £3,350 More On A Green Home

By Overseas Property Live • August 31, 2008

energy efficient green home

Forget kerb appeal and think carbon appeal. In the current housing climate if you want to get ahead of The Jones and their new spa bathroom, designer kitchen and the latest in-house surround sound entertainment system and you can add £3,350 extra value onto the price of your home simply by making your home energy efficient.

New research from the Energy Saving Trust reveals 53% of all householders would be willing to pay extra for homes with greener features so invest in an energy efficient home and you could greener in more than ways than one.

Half of UK home owners believe homes with greener features will be easier to sell in the current market. It seems however they also believe that estate agents don’t put enough value on a homes ‘green’ credentials, with many feeling that they lack the knowledge and skills to highlight the benefits of a property’s energy efficiency performance. Two thirds of home owners questioned would like clearer information as to the likely running costs of a home during the sales process, a clear indication that eco property is starting to become mainstream terminology in today’s housing market.

Two-thirds agreed that in light of the current economic climate, of rising gas prices, water and electricity prices home-buyers are more likely to consider the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to ensure a home has lower-running costs above other factors. A ‘poor’ EPC could in fact result in you losing money as a potential buyer may haggle down the extra cost against having to improve the home’s efficiency in the future.

Commenting on the research, Nubricks resident international property expert, Chintan Mahida, said, ” I’m in no doubt this research will have an impact not only on UK property sales but also foreign property sales. Emerging property markets such as Brazil, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt are already beginning to implement ‘green’ features into new resorts setting them ahead of established holiday home countries such as Spain and Italy who are already facing tough times. Having a green overseas property should set you apart from other sellers especially as rising fuel costs are resulting in a larger carbon footprint.”