if you ’ re comfortable , ask your real estate agent to show potential buyers copies of your utility bills so they can see how much less they will be paying .
How to make your home more energy-efficient : Ceiling insulation
• By using ceiling insulation : you will reduce the energy needed to keep your home at a comfortable temperature .
• By using ceiling insulation , you are helping to eradicate the largest contributor to global warming and it ’ s a return on investment - a win-win situation .
Geyser blankets Lighting systems i . e * LED ’ s or * CFL ’ s
• CFL - Compact fluorescent lamps can reduce power consumption by up to 75 %
• LED : These are the latest saving energy light globes and they last up to 100 times longer than the usual globes
Solar water heater
• Having a solar water heater can drastically reduce power consumption and will save a large amount of electricity .
• If you cannot install solar heating , consider a heat pump .
Spruce up your exterior
First impressions are lasting impressions . Ensuring that the exterior of your home looks good is imperative because its what people see when they first arrive . The key is to create a lasting impression from the moment people pull up and the trick to doing that is by enhancing your entrance . Greeff says that “ improvements to your property are definitely steps in the right direction and will certainly improve curb-appeal .”
How to improve the exterior of your home : Create a designated pathway
• It is essential that when you design and build your path that you get the width correct - more often than not , pathways can be too narrow so ensure that you leave enough room for two people to walk side by side .
Keep it clear
• Trim down overgrown trees and bushes that block the view of your home and walkways .
• Install low-cost , low voltage outdoor lighting . This not only adds to the safety and security of the home , but it also adds accent lighting to the house and can illuminate a pathway .
A fresh coat of paint
Re-painting the interior of the home is a must when wanting to boost value . Greeff says that ‘’ most sellers don ’ t realise how much abuse walls take until that fresh coat of paint has been applied . A new paint job has the potential to lighten rooms , hide visual defects and can instantly make a space feel fresh and clean ”.
Tips for re-painting your home :
• Choose a colour that not only appeals to you , but to a larger pool of people as well .
• Colour suggestions include : Gray Owl White Duck egg Pantone ’ s 2020 Colour : Classic Blue
If you are wanting to boost your home ’ s value before listing it , consider the above renovation tips . These are renovations , that even if you decide not to list , they will still make your home more livable and more aesthetically pleasing . You can ’ t go wrong with a kitchen and bathroom remodel and when talking about top-quality finishes and additional features , it not won ’ t only make your home more enjoyable to live in , but when you do decide to sell , it will certainly work in your favour .
SOURCE Greeff Christie ’ s International Real Estate
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 19