Santa Cruz Real Estate News & Information

Let’s cut right to the chase, shall we?

Will eco-friendly renovations improve the value of my home? The short answer is yes!

While few things in this world are quite that simple - generally speaking spending a lot of money to renovate your home won’t lead to a direct increase in your home’s value. The truth is that you’ll rarely recoup the full cost of renovations when it comes time to sell.

The exception to this rule is certain eco-friendly home improvements.

Savvy home buyers aren’t just thinking about the initial upfront costs of purchasing a home, but also the regular costs - the ones that come from home maintenance and monthly utility bills. In addition to being highly attractive to buyers, eco-friendly home features have the added benefit of lowering monthly expenses - and who couldn’t use a little more spare change.

Plus, eco-friendly features have never been so popular - in fact, “green homes” on average sell for more than $18,000 more than homes without these features.

What Can I Do To Make My Home More Eco-Friendly?

Luckily, improvements to your home that will have the greatest environmental impact tend to also be inexpensive. Here are a few improvements you can make to your home that won’t cost you an arm or a leg.

Plant Some Trees

Not only do trees offer a beautiful way to accent your outdoor space and provide welcome shade from the California sun, they also absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, lowering your carbon footprint.

Do your research though and find the right type of tree that will work with your home and where you want shade.

Add New Insulation

Adding insulation is probably is probably the single improvement that will have the greatest impact on your utility bill. Start by checking for leaks throughout your home - common culprits are below doors, around windows and ducts.

Spray foams are a great way to quickly and easily add insulation to an existing home. Newer sustainable spray foams are available made from recycled plastics and even soya beans.

Conserve Your Water

There are low-flow options available for a whole host of appliances. Take a look at replacing any old, leaky faucets. Low-flow toilets and shower heads are also great improvements.

Another big energy waster is your appliances. Newer, energy-star rated products use much less energy and may also come with rebates or tax credits.

A programmable thermostat will also help you regulate your energy usage better. You’ll be able to heat or cool the home when you need it. Simply adjusting your thermostat up or down by a single degree in summer or winter can have a sizable impact.

What About Lighting?

It pays to think about lighting.

Of course, switching to energy efficient bulbs is a quick fix, but why not take advantage of the California sunshine?

Skylights and sun tubes are a great way to take advantage of our incredible climate and introduce amazing natural light throughout your home. Adding a skylight may be a major renovation, but sun tubes can be a great alternative to illuminate the dark corners of your home.

But, What About the Roof?

While not an inexpensive renovation by any means, replacing your roof can have huge, long-lasting benefits.

If it’s time to fix your roof, think about re-shingling with newer, recycled materials. This style of shingle can be built from many materials including rubber, plastic or clay - they’re all designed to reflect the sun’s rays, keeping your home cooler in the summer while also lowering your monthly bills.

While more costly, metal roofs are also the longest-lasting and most durable you can choose.

There you have it. When it comes to eco-friendly home renovations, you truly get out what you put in. While it doesn’t have to cost a lot, the benefits can be huge when it comes time to sell.

If you're interested in making a home in the Santa Cruz area, please contact Lauren Spencer online or call 1.800.226.4717 today!