As a realtor or lender, knowing how to improve the energy efficiency of a home is very important. With energy efficiency becoming more and more of a concern every day, buyers are more informed on the subject and likely to turn down or pass up homes with a low energy efficiency rating. The millennial generation is looking to own their own homes while saving as much money as possible to pay off student loans, so energy-efficient homes are really hot right now. As such, let’s take a look at a few ways to improve the energy efficiency of a home so that you and your clients can profit as much as possible and satisfy all parties.
- Install Proper Insulation
Insulation is probably the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of energy efficiency. Regular insulation isn’t enough to seal a home completely, however. If you want to maximize the benefits of insulation, you’ll need to install both a roof and a house wrap. Roof underlayments for tile roofs and house wraps are forms of installation that go beneath everything else on the exterior of the walls and roof.
- ICF House Plans
Homes built with insulated concrete forms are far more energy-efficient than traditional wood-frame homes. ICF house plans offer hollow, concrete-hybrid blocks that are linked together with rebar to form a completely airtight seal that improves energy efficiency by a great margin. These homes also offer incredible durability as well as a 3 times quieter home.
- Energy Efficient HVAC
Leaky HVAC ductwork can waste a ton of energy. Sealing it up with help from a duct cleaning company is the best solution. They will seal off the HVAC system and test it to find every last leak, they’ll then seal up the leaks with a special mastic which leaves almost no cleanup behind. They’ll even provide stats on how much energy will be saved after they are done. All homeowners want an energy efficient HVAC unit to keep their home properly heated and cooled throughout the year.
- Don’t forget Your Soffit
Soffit plays a big role in keeping the roof from overheating. Ventilated soffit is installed beneath the edges of a roof where it hangs over the walls. It lets heat escape so that the home doesn’t overheat and the roof doesn’t break down, which could lead to a plethora of new energy-wasting problems as well.
Energy Efficiency is the Key to Profiting in Today’s Market
By using these methods to improve energy efficiency in homes you work with, you can stay ahead of the curve and continue to profit even as your competitors fall behind without knowing why.
About the Author: Corey Tyner is the owner of Phoenix Fast Sell Home and Austin Fast Sell Home Buyers. He is one of the top real estate investors in Arizona with over a decade of experience. His work has been featured on Bigger Pockets, Real Estate Agent Magazine, and several other real estate investor publications.