An energy efficient home can sell for substantially more than an average home. Recent research (Domain Sustainability in Property Report 2022) by Domain (a real estate property listing company) has shown that energy efficiency features allow a home to sell for substantially more than a non-energy efficient home.
Even in South Australia, the average premium n 2022 was 22.6%. Some of this is no doubt due to the fact that many sustainability features are also liveability features. If you are thinking of selling your home, it is worth maximising the potential premium by ensuring potential buyers are aware of the comfort and running cost benefits of the features. One method of achieving this is with a Residential Efficiency Scorecard Assessment (Scorecard).
Even in South Australia, the average premium n 2022 was 22.6%. Some of this is no doubt due to the fact that many sustainability features are also liveability features. If you are thinking of selling your home, it is worth maximising the potential premium by ensuring potential buyers are aware of the comfort and running cost benefits of the features. One method of achieving this is with a Residential Efficiency Scorecard Assessment (Scorecard).
Residential Efficiency Scorecard
A Scorecard Assessment gives a star rating out of 10 for an existing home. Importantly as well as the construction of the house, it includes the major energy using fixed appliances, so it is a much better indicator of energy costs than the NatHERS new home star rating.
As the average Scorecard star rating is three, even a six star rating home is well above average.
Scorecard also gives summer and winter comfort ratings out of five, so people can see how comfortable they will be without air conditioning or during a power failure.
The Victorian Government administers the Scorecard program on behalf of all Australian Governments. Scorecard assessments are carried out by private accredited Assessors.
Because the program is audited, with rigorous quality control checks, the rating is reliable.
As the average Scorecard star rating is three, even a six star rating home is well above average.
Scorecard also gives summer and winter comfort ratings out of five, so people can see how comfortable they will be without air conditioning or during a power failure.
The Victorian Government administers the Scorecard program on behalf of all Australian Governments. Scorecard assessments are carried out by private accredited Assessors.
Because the program is audited, with rigorous quality control checks, the rating is reliable.
What features help an energy efficient home sell for more?
Typical keywords that people might be interested in that make a house sustainable are: solar panels, north facing, eco homes, bio, grassed, sunny, conservation, energy, eco, orientation, shading, shade, rainwater tank, cross ventilation, insulation and zoning.
In fact the most important features that give low running costs and also a good Scorecard rating are:
If you have at least four of the above features there is a good chance that a scorecard rating ( in stars out of 10) would significantly exceed the average rating which is only three.
In fact the most important features that give low running costs and also a good Scorecard rating are:
- Solar power
- Efficient Appliances (Heating, Cooling, Hot water, lighting etc.)
- North facing home
- Appropriately shaded windows on the east, west and north
- Good insulation
- High performance windows or window treatments
- Good ventilation
- Ceiling fans
If you have at least four of the above features there is a good chance that a scorecard rating ( in stars out of 10) would significantly exceed the average rating which is only three.
How can you use Scorecard to maximise your selling price?
If you are selling a home with energy efficiency features and are not interested in a long term plan to upgrade the home, a Home Sale Scorecard assessment from Low Energy Home can be done for a discounted price of only $300* (compared to the standard $480). The price is tiny compared to the potential returns. The assessment provides a two-page certificate that can be displayed at the open inspection and used in your marketing.
Watch a Scorecard YouTube video on using Scorecard to sell your home below.
Watch a Scorecard YouTube video on using Scorecard to sell your home below.
To organise a free half hour video or phone consultation to determine if it is likely to increase your sale price further Contact us .
*(Costs are for a standard single-story home of a common construction method within 50 km of the Adelaide GPO- Ts and Cs apply)
*(Costs are for a standard single-story home of a common construction method within 50 km of the Adelaide GPO- Ts and Cs apply)