Many homeowners have worked hard for many years to fulfill their dream of owning their own home. That is why property owners should pay particular attention to maintenance and modernization. This will also help to preserve the value of their beloved home for many years to come— after all, your own property should also be a good retirement provision and retain the greatest possible sales value. The better the values on the energy performance certificate, the more you can ask for the property later on.
To increase the sale price and make existing properties more attractive, owners can take proactive steps and improve the energy class through appropriate measures. To make energy-efficient renovations more affordable, the government is promoting the project through the KfW Bank with subsidies that vary in amount depending on the measure. The current crises clearly show us that buildings must become more climate-friendly.
Is energy-efficient modernization worthwhile at this point in time?
Inflation, rising interest rates, shortages of building materials and skilled workers – for many property owners, now does not seem like the right time to modernize their real estate. However, it can be worthwhile – not only does it reduce energy costs, but it also increases the quality of living and the value of the property. But how should owners proceed now?
Renew thermal insulation
Measures for energy-efficient renovation include, for example, insulating exterior walls or basement ceilings. The installation of heat-insulating windows is also included. Many older properties have poor insulation or none at all. And the windows are sometimes not up to the latest energy standards. This means that too much heat is lost to the outside. An expert should be consulted to assess the situation and determine what can be done to improve the heat transfer coefficient (U-value) of windows and insulation, for example.
In addition to the usual insulation materials, seaweed can now also be used for insulation, as it offers many advantages as a material. Those who want to go even further can install roof or facade greening to provide heat protection in summer and additional thermal insulation in winter. In addition, the roof's service life is extended by around ten years due to protection from hail and other weather influences.
Heating without gas or oil – what are the alternatives?
In addition to gas and oil, wood and electricity can also be important energy sources. Owners who switch will save on heating costs in the long term and also increase the value of their home due to reducedCO2 emissions. Before spending money on converting your heating system, you should check whether and how this can be done. For example, certain requirements must be met in order to install an electric heat pump in an old building.
Pellet burners are often cheaper than electric heat pumps because they require less technical conversion. All you have to do is remove the existing boiler, which then serves as a heat exchanger. Those who want to be even more climate-friendly can switch to an electric heat pump. This extracts heat from the air, ground, or water. The principle is simple: the heat from the environment is absorbed by the coolant and evaporated. The electricity compresses and heats the whole system. Finally, everything is transferred to the heating water via the heat exchanger.
Renewable energies can also be integrated with both alternatives. In addition to solar thermal energy, there is now also so-called micro wind power—wind turbines for house roofs. Which combination offers the most benefits for homeowners in terms of cost savings, technical retrofitting options, and value appreciation should be clarified in advance with a real estate agent and technical expert.
Electricity through affordable solar power systems
Photovoltaic systems not only help to save energy costs, they can also increase the value of a property. For anyone who has been thinking about installing a system, there is now good news: since the beginning of the year, PV systems have become cheaper and more profitable for private households. The use of solar energy is promoted by the German government. However, two new changes seem to have been overlooked: since the beginning of the year, VAT has been waived on the purchase of PV systems and income tax on income from their operation has been abolished. The change in the law applies to PV systems with a capacity of up to 30 kilowatts.
The increase in the value of the property can even exceed the acquisition costs of the PV system. This is because not only the current market value of the system is taken into account, but also the expected income from the EEG remuneration and the electricity cost savings are included in the calculation. An experienced real estate professional can tell you exactly how a PV system will affect the value of your property.
Is energy-efficient renovation still worthwhile shortly before selling?
Has it been a while since your property was last renovated? A damp basement, poorly insulated windows, and yellowed wallpaper cause problems and lower the sale price. But is it worth investing again to increase the value of the property? Renovating or refurbishing a property is worthwhile if the resulting increase in value is higher than the costs incurred. It is therefore important that you calculate the costs of all the changes you want to make carefully.
For most owners, it is difficult to estimate how much the value will increase after renovation. It is therefore advisable to leave this assessment to a specialist. This way, you avoid the risk of spending a lot of money that you will not recoup through the sale.
Would you like to renovate your house to make it more energy efficient, or do you have questions about increasing its value before selling?
As experienced real estate agents, we are happy to advise and assist you in planning and implementing modernization and renovation measures with our large network of service providers and partners.
We would be happy to show you what other means of increasing value are available and look forward to getting to know you and your property during a non-binding initial consultation!