Energy efficiency affects value

ENERGY EFFICIENCY is an
important consideration when
buying a home because your
house is probably the most expen-
sive investment you will ever
make.

Location, price and features
generally provide the primary
motivation for a buyer to select
one house over another.

““As the old saying goes, the
three most important features in
buying a home are location, loca-
tion, location.

‘*Other reasons are that people
like the house, the wallpaper is at-
wactive, and it has appeal,’’ says
John Wentzell of the Canadian
Real Estate Board.

But smart home buyers also
look at a house’s energy costs to
help make that final decision. The

energy efficiency of a house will .

have a direct impact on its resale
value.

Two homes can have very dif-
ferent total energy costs, even
though they are similar in design
and layout.

Those differences should be
factored into the asking price, or
at least the cost of making the
house more energy-efficient
should be taken into account,

_ The simple addition of caulking
and weatherstripping is not as ex-
pensive as replacing a furnace or
insulating a basement cr attic.

Those simple steps can go a
‘long way to ensuring long-term
prospects for prosperity for Ca-
nadian homeowners across the
country, especially at resale time.

Other steps, such as purchasing
advanced, energy-efficient ap-
pliances, will save you money in
the long term.

The -total annual energy costs
for a home include the bills for
space and water heating, summer
cooling, as well as electricity for
lights and appliances.

“Many homeowners and realtors
will provide energy bills from the
previous year as a selling point for
a house. But if the bills are not
available, you may be able to get
them by writing directly to the
utility and/or fuel supplier.

**We usually ask people who list
with us for their heating bills. But
heating bills are only a start.
Lifestyle has a lot of impact,”
says Rod Anderson, representative
of a large, international reali estate
company.

“Buyers should hve a house in-
spected by a qualified person,”
Anderson suggests. The cost for
the inspection can range anywhere
from $175 to $350, depending on
whether a client wants an oral or
written inspection.

Most customers go with the in-
spector, on site, make written

Photo submitted

VISITORS TO this week's
home show can benefit
from advice from an array
of experts on home
renovation, decorating and
other home-oriented pro-
jects.
an

Notes or use a tape recorder.

You can make a rough com-
parison of the efficiency of dif-
ferent sized houses using the same
types of energy b,’ simply dividing
the total annual energy bill by the
total square m tres (or square
feet) of the nous.

This will give the energy cost
per square metre (or square foot)
for each house.

Space heating and other energy
costs are significantly lower in an
energy-efficient home, and this
means you may be able to afford
a higher-priced home than would
otherwise be possible.

in any case, lower monthly
energy costs will provide you with
some protection against inflation
and escalating energy prices.

You can decide whether or not
a house is energy-efficient by do-
ing a simple energy walk-through
of the home. Five basic areas
should be taken into account.

© The heating system (furnace,
ducts, chimney, furnace fan, etc.);

* Air leakage (windows and
doors, electrical outlets and swit-
ches, basseboards, etc.);

® insulation (walls, attic, base-
ment);

® Windows and doors; and

© Lifestyle differences (number
of people in family, thermostat
setting).

Note down what needs to be
renovated or repaired.

An energy walk-through is im-
portant to both the buyer and
seller of a home. If you are think-
ing about selling your house in the
near future, its energy efficiency
could be a major factor in a com-
petetive market.

And when you are thinking of
purchasing a home, your con-
sideration of energy efficiency
improvements could be crucial to
your long-term financial security
and comfort.

A

Wednesday, October 14, 1992 — North Shore News - 33

LEARN TO COMPOST!
Saturday, Oct. 17, 11am - ipm

Have all your composting

questions answered

§ at the North Shore's

Xe Compost Demonstration
f.. Gardens. Come to Park

& Tilford Garden, or
visit West Van's garden

at 15th and Argyle, and receive free
wildfiower seeds while quantities last!

—Sponsored by the GVAD, North Shore Recycling Program
and Park & Tilford Gardens.

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