Does High Energy Efficiency Add Value to Your Property?

High energy efficiency is a big indicator of the quality of a property. If the property has very poor energy efficiency, a multitude of problems can arise. There are even regulations where properties that have poor energy efficiency cannot be let out to renters.

Many recommendations can be made to improve the quality of your house’s energy efficiency. Follow these recommendations and you can also improve the value of your house. Our EPC Glasgow team are able to offer recommendation reports that run alongside an Energy Performance Certificate.

A Prime Indicator of the Condition of the House

When buying a house, a key subject matter is whether or not the previous owners treated it well. Did they take good care of it, and what sort of ugly surprises are you going to be faced with if you decide to purchase the property? These are questions that all house buyers think about. The previously mentioned EPC (a statutory requirement needed when selling a house) can provide quick and easy relief to some of those questions.

If a house is energy efficient, then it means the owner has invested time and effort into making the house as eco-friendly as possible.

On the contrary, if the energy efficiency rating is low, then it can be assumed the house has been neglected or even mistreated. People will always pay more for a house that has been treated correctly, which is just one reason why a high energy efficiency rating adds value to your property.

Purchasing A House That Saves the Buyer Money

Forget the fact that energy prices have risen beyond the rate of inflation for almost fifteen years in a row and concentrate on the very basics of house buying. When you buy a house, you often have to work to improve the property. Part of fixing up a house these days means improving its energy efficiency. Creating an eco-friendly property is incredibly important in the world we live in.

People are simply not willing to live in an inefficient house anymore, and they are certainly not willing to pay extra for a house if it needs its energy efficiency upgrading. This is yet another reason why a high energy efficiency is going to add value to a house. Plus, buying a house is a long-term commitment, so buyers want good value for their energy budget if they are stepping into their future family-home.

Lower Utility Rates

Explaining how this works is a little tricky, but it all revolves around energy companies making your bills too difficult to understand. Instead of giving you a flat rate, they give you many different rates with many different tiers.

If you use less energy then you can exploit this confusing system. Look for companies that do not impose a standing charge, and that offer very low prices for your first few thousand KWH.

The con is that after the first KWH tier the prices go up dramatically. However, as a low energy user, you can often stay within the first tier and save yourself a fortune.

Newer Houses and Higher Prices

There is a misconception that newer houses are more valuable because there is a big demand for housing, but an empty house for sale is an empty house no matter when it was built. People also think that new houses are more expensive because they are new, but it is not the same as when you buy a car. You pay an average of 30% or more for a new car than you do a second-hand car, but the same margins do not apply for a new house.

The real reason why newer houses cost more is because they are more energy efficient. They are also most suited to an energy-efficient lifestyle, such as having roofs that are easier to install solar cells on and having garages where it is easier to install car charging stations.

Conclusion – A Costly but Valuable Investment

Why install new insulation, better roofing, solar cells, etc., when it is all so expensive? There are three reasons, and the first is that it improves the value of your house. The increased value is permanent, it is not like landscaping or decorating.

The second biggest reason is that energy prices have climbed at a higher rate than inflation for the last 15 years, and even longer if you include companies like British Gas and Npower. Investments in energy efficiency are paying for themselves far sooner than most people realize. That is why you need an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) and its accompanying recommendations today, even if you are not thinking of selling in the immediate future.   

The third reason is that moving towards energy efficiency and renewable sources will be better for the world.