Looking for house with updated energy efficiency
When you’re house searching it’s pretty easy to feel like you’re running in endless concentric circles, chasing some idealized home that doesn’t exist.
You might go in with a certain set of deal breakers and must-haves, but soon you’ll have completely altered the entire list. It will often feel like you’re trading one necessity for another with each passing home visitation, until you aren’t even sure what your dream home looks like anymore. This has been my experience, anyways. I can tell you with certainty that at least one feature has never left our must-have list in these past 6 months of house hunting – the need for a home with updated features for high energy efficiency. You see, we’re no fools. Though it’s attractive to worry about an updated kitchen or bathrooms, it’s more attractive to think about the energy savings down the road when a home has been properly maintained. All we need to see is an updated AC unit, heating system, and thermostat, and we’re feeling pretty good about the investment. We also want to find energy star rated windows with double paned glass in order to insulate the house as much as possible. We need to see thick, current insulation in the attic and crawlspace, and the external doors have to seal tightly. These features work to ensure that our high quality indoor air will be effectively trapped indoors, rather than escaping outwards. Over time all of these energy efficiency upgrades will save us tons of money, energy, and headaches. That is definitely a must-have.