By Trulia
A home energy audit might not be at the top of your to-do list, but if you’re getting ready to sell your home, here’s why you should make it a priority.
If you’ve ever been in the market to buy or sell a house, you’re probably familiar with a few key questions when it comes to utilities. Septic or sewer? Oil or gas? And how much will it cost to heat and cool this place?
The answers to those questions can affect the final offer because what buyers want to know is this: How much will this place really cost me? The monthly mortgage payment is one consideration, but ongoing maintenance and utility bills are also part of a smart consumer’s equation.
In other words, an energy-efficient house is an attractive house. (In fact, in some states, an energy audit is required before selling a home.)
Energy labels for homes exist — LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and Energy Star, for example — but you don’t need an official (and sometimes expensive) title to reap the benefits of efficiency. What you …read more
Source: Home Sellers