Did you know that a property’s ‘green’ credentials are becoming as important as location, a big garden and broadband speed when buying and selling a home?
According to the latest Green Homes Report from Rightmove, not only are green features now more frequently used in search terms but a home with a higher EPC rating is also likely to sell more quickly.
The online estate agent found that 2 out of 5 homeowners see making green improvements as adding value to their home. While it reports that there is an increasing correlation between higher EPC ratings and higher property values. Improving a home from an F to a C EPC rating adds 16% to the property’s value, with a B-rated home the quickest to sell.
For the report, Rightmove surveyed around 9,000 homeowners, renters and landlords about the value of green features. In face of rising fuel bills, the number one reason for people making green improvements is saving money on energy costs, with 89% of people surveyed rating this as the key motivator. Better home insulation (55%), reducing their carbon footprint (49%), adding value to their home (41%) and helping to sell their home in the future (28%) followed.
The report goes on to say that “improvements that make a home more energy efficient can be done alongside improving its condition, such as installing new windows” with buyers “already on the look out for double glazing”.
Even if you are not in the market to sell your home, future-proofing it by enhancing its green credentials is now seen as the smart move.
The difference new windows can make
Our Lorimer range has been developed to be uncompromising in every aspect of its performance while maintaining a unique and attractive appearance. It is the market leader in terms of design, functionality, security and thermal performance.
Our double glazed units are filled with argon gas and fitted with one pane of low emissivity glass and a warm edge spacer bar for optimal thermal performance.
As a result, Lorimer exceeds the recommended Scottish Building Regulations and has an energy rating of ‘A’ as standard.
The benefits of secondary glazing
A simple fix to windows in listed buildings or conservation areas might be to install secondary glazing.
Installing secondary glazing creates a gap between your existing external windows and the new unit that acts as a layer of insulation and keeps the cold air out. The option of using low emissivity glass will maximise heat retention, while tight internal seals work to make draughts from existing windows a thing of the past.
Custom-made and fitted by our own fully qualified installers, our secondary glazing provides exceptional long-term energy efficiency, helping to lower heating costs.
Making it affordable
Having been in business for nearly 50 years, we know that when people see new potential in their homes and want to add value, affordability is very important. For that reason, CR Smith has led the way in easy payment consumer finance. As a credit broker, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, we work with a panel of lenders to find the best credit deals for our customers. These finance packages feature low, fixed APRs (for the whole term of the loan), and can include delayed payments, for example pay in 12 months, to suit your circumstances and budget. Always ask our representative or check out the finance calculator on our website CR Smith Latest Offers & Finance | Use Our Finance Calculator
Fabric First
EPC guidance and implementation are likely to be updated and improved as the green features of a home become increasingly important on the road to reducing our carbon footprint. At the same time, green mortgages, which offer better terms for greener properties, are also likely to increase in number and prominence. In light of these developments, Rightmove’s Green Homes Report advises that making changes to the fabric of your home is the best approach. Interestingly, though, one in five people who don’t have any plans to improve their home say it’s because they don’t know what changes to make and others are worried about changing the look of their home.
If there is one thing for sure, with new Lorimer windows or secondary glazing your property will not only look fantastic, but it will also be worth more, it will be greener and more attractive should you decide to sell.
You can read the full Rightmove report – https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/content/uploads/2022/07/Rightmove-Green-Homes-Report.pdf
