From Guest Blogger Cooper Klein: The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Green Home

Deciding to buy a house is not an easy decision to make and there is no reason to rush into it. Instead, make sure to get well-informed on the current market situation and carefully consider exactly what kind of a house you’re looking for. Green homes have gained quite a lot in popularity lately, so we advise you to keep an eye on them as well. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to see the advantages they offer. Therefore, we’ve decided to help you out and prepared the ultimate guide to buying a green home. Let’s take a look.

Conduct an energy inspection

In order to make sure that your new home is absolutely energy-efficient, you have to conduct an energy audit as soon as possible. First of all, you should check the heating system in order to be sure that everything is functioning properly. On top of that, pay attention to your potential new home’s insulation. Furthermore, don’t forget to see whether there is a draft coming through the doors and windows since these can have a huge impact on your energy bills. After all, if you discover all the possible flaws on time, you’ll be able to lower the price of the property and then invest that money into remodeling.

Location matters as well

One of the most important characteristics of a house is its location. Therefore, before you start considering other details, make a list of everything that you’ll need to have in your new neighborhood. For example, some of us believe that it’s most important to live close to shops and metro stations, while others prefer living in the vicinity of other facilities like yoga studios or cinemas. Finally, you should be clear on whether you want to avoid high-traffic areas, as well as be well-acquainted with crime levels in certain parts of the city. After all, safety matters the most.

Get help

More and more Australians are buying environmentally sustainable homes every year. Although this may mean a higher initial investment, it definitely pays off in the long run and they are all well-aware of it. So, if you want to join the group, make sure to hire an experienced property buyer’s agent in Sydney who will keep you informed on the latest offers and show you some off-market properties as well. Owing to them, you’ll be able to strike the best possible deal and enjoy all the advantages of your new green home.

Solar energy is a must

Don’t even think about buying a home without solar panels since they can substitute other non-renewable power sources and reduce your energy bills significantly. On top of that, using renewable energy sources is highly advisable since they help the reduction of carbon emissions and thus contribute to the preservation of the environment. Keep in mind that these houses can cost more than regular ones, but when you weigh in all the advantages, you’ll realize that they are absolutely worth it.

Don’t forget to check the yard

A yard is an extremely important part of every house and opting for the one with gorgeous landscaping full of mature trees would be a wise decision. Aside from creating a beautiful atmosphere, trees can be great climate controllers as well. Just imagine how amazing it would be to have a tree right in front of your bedroom window which will serve as a natural shield against hot sun rays. In other words, you won’t need to turn on your cooling system that often which will definitely result in lower bills and have a positive effect on the environment.

Consider materials used in construction

This may sound as though we’re going into too much detail, but we assure you that paying attention to the materials used in construction is equally important as any other item on the list. For example, professionals would definitely advise you to go for salvaged lumber, that is, the lumber taken from the old houses that have been demolished. The main reason why they recommend it is that this lumber has gained a certain level of density which makes it more durable than any other.

Consider a home with effective water-saving solutions

Finally, the importance of water preservation has been highlighted lately, and more and more homeowners are installing water-saving devices and systems into their properties. Therefore, once you start looking into all possible options, pay close attention to this aspect as well. For example, you may check whether the toilet and shower are low-flow, and opt for a bathroom that has an energy-efficient boiler already installed. Finally, if there is a chance, choose the house that has a smart meter installed since it will provide you with detailed information on energy consumption and identify any excessive usage that you can reduce.

As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when buying a green home. However, if you make a list of all the important characteristics that your house needs to have and stick to it, the process of finding the best one will be much easier. All you need to do is get organized and not shy away from asking professionals for help. Good luck and enjoy your new place!