Given the demand for homes, it is easy to think vendors only have to put their house on the market, and there will be a significant level of demand for the property.
Of course, there is a lot more to selling a home than this.
At Stones Residential, we aim to provide you with as much support as we can. It is vital your home stands out for all the right reasons, and that it looks appealing to buyers.
One of the smartest steps a homeowner can take when listing their property for sale is to focus on making the property more environmentally friendly.
A green home appeals to buyers, especially in London.
Some people make major decisions while considering environmental options. Many others see the financial benefits that come with environmentally friendly options, and therefore, they decide that is the best solution for you.
If you are keen to make these changes to your home, you have many things to take on board, and help is available.
Get help in improving your home
Near the end of 2020, the government announced an extension to the Green Homes Grant. This scheme allows property owners to apply for a grant to make energy efficiency improvements to their properties. The scheme funds up to two thirds of the improvement costs, up to the value of £5,000 per household.
Some qualifying green home improvements include:
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Insulation
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Heating
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draught-proofing
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double and triple glazing
It is also possible to upgrade renewable energy features such as solar panels and heat pumps.
Evan Maindonald, CEO and founder of MELT Property, says: “With the government’s introduction of the Green Homes Grant and the public’s growing awareness of environmental issues, we are seeing a steady increase in buyers wanting to embrace a sustainable lifestyle. If you are looking to improve the energy efficiency of your home, a good first step would be to review your property’s heating system. Old-fashioned heating systems will send utility bills rocketing and have a high carbon footprint. To reduce both, consider installing an Air Source or Ground Source Heat Pump.”
Meera Chindooroy, deputy director of campaigns at NRLA, comments: “We have had an incredible amount of interest from our members following the Green Homes Grant announcement. However, we heard from a large proportion of members who said they were having huge problems finding local installers with capacity to carry out the work and this was causing a backlog. We fed these case studies back to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to highlight our concerns. We welcome the news of these changes and encourage landlords to make use of this important initiative.”
According to research carried out by City Plumbing, 84% of property owners in Britain “plan to make energy efficiency improvements” in 2021.
Over 52% of households look set to invest in energy-efficient measures to lower their energy bills. The preferred methods are as follows:
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Upgrading insulation in cavity walls
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Improving loft insulation
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Adding underfloor insulation
Evan Maindonald explains: “Improving insulation can have a significant impact on your property’s energy use. There is a wide variety of insulation materials available, each of which offers different benefits and suits different budgets. If you’re looking for something affordable that, at the same time, is environmentally friendly, you might want to consider cellulose insulation. This material is particularly well suited to insulation of floors, walls and roofs.”
If you would like to arrange an appointment to help you negotiate the local housing market, please contact Stones Residential today by calling us on 020 7483 0685 or emailing belsizepark@stonesresidential.co.uk.
