High-performance appliances are a popular upgrades for homeowners because they are able to reduce costs and improve the overall efficiency of a home. The cost reductions are so great that the applications could eventually pay for themselves. However, this process occurs over an appliance's lifetime, making it difficult for homeowners to cash in on their home improvement investments all at once. Homeowners can circumvent this scenario by planning to sell their home, and the added value from green appliances helps families make their money back.
Go green to get green
From basic weatherstripping to high-tech water heaters, green home improvements are one of the most sure-fire ways to enhance a home's curb appeal. Research led by UCLA and UC Berkeley showed that green building labels alone had a significant impact on home sale numbers. On average, the 4,0000 homes marked with LEED or Energy Star labels sold for nearly 10 percent more than comparably homes in nearby neighborhoods, according to the San Francisco Department of Environment. Homes are worth even more for resale in climates with heavy cooling needs and in neighborhoods where sustainable lifestyles is treated as a lifestyle.
Pass on the investment
Adding new green appliances does more than increase the sell price of a home at a flat rate. These sustainable upgrades provide talking points that home sellers can show off as they lead prospective buyers around the property. Furthermore, Green Packs notes that new sustainable upgrades, like thermally-protected windows and tankless water heaters, can be leveraged as part of the sales price discussion. Homeowners can even keep a running list of their sustainability expenditures as a way to show prospective buyers exactly how much was spent on souping-up up the home.
Sale price negotiations based on sustainable appliances have never been more relevant. More and more families are considering purchasing a home based on its collection of sustainable appliances. Homes with high-efficiency appliances are even being courted as show homes for cross-country Parade of Home tours, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The shifting trend shows that sustainable appliances have even gained a bit of aesthetic appeal as green homes have become more popular.
Key appliances to upgrade
Fox News ranks weather-proof windows, garage insulation and tankless water heaters as top priority appliances for replacement. Tankless water heaters can help a sustainable family to reduce its water heating bill by almost half, says HGTV. Plus, tankless models are typically need far less floor space than a home's original water heater. This floor space can be translated into greater square footage, and a bit of extra square footage could be used to bump up the sale price of the home. Don't forget to supplement tankless technology with new low-flow shower heads as well. Tankless water heaters can help to save a home even more extra money when combined with other additional efficiency upgrades.