Increasing energy efficiency in a property may boost its value by more than £2000
Selling a Home in Autumn and Winter: Making Your Property More Appealing to Winter Buyers
Selling a home during the autumn and winter months in England can be a smart move, as these seasons traditionally see a buzz in the housing market. However, to appeal to winter buyers, it's essential to make the home cosy and energy-efficient.
Verona Frankish, CEO of Yopa, suggests that sellers should focus on improvements that enhance a property's energy performance. This includes double glazing, boiler upgrades, and energy efficiency enhancements. Such improvements can increase a property's value by over £5,000 and 3%, according to Yopa.
Double glazing reduces heat loss and drafts, lowering heating bills in colder months, making it a strong selling point as buyers seek homes that can stay warm affordably in autumn and winter. Although some restrictions historically applied to heritage properties for such upgrades, recent shifts in guidance support energy efficiency improvements even in older homes.
Upgrading from an older boiler to a modern, efficient model decreases energy consumption and heating costs, which not only reduces bills during heating seasons but can also boost the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. This is important, as buyers increasingly value a high EPC rating in colder months.
Energy efficiency enhancements, like improved insulation and efficient heating systems, contribute to higher property valuations, as energy costs rise and environmental awareness grows. These improvements align with a market that shows house price increases in England since mid-2024, reflecting demand for well-maintained, efficient homes.
Yopa, a full-service estate agent, has created a guide to help sellers improve their homes for better sales during the colder months. The guide emphasises the importance of improving a property's energy efficiency, as the government has announced that by 2030 homes must have an EPC rating of C or above.
Prospective buyers during the colder months are interested in properties with good warmth and insulation. Improvements to a home's warmth and insulation can help attract winter buyers and potentially lead to a faster sale. Sellers should consider focusing on improvements that provide shelter from external elements during winter, such as updating internal doors and replacing the front door.
While focusing on improving garden space and sources of natural light may be important for summer buyers, it may not be as crucial for winter buyers. Instead, sellers should prioritise making their homes warm, cosy, and energy-efficient to appeal to winter buyers.
In summary, making such home improvements ahead of or during autumn and winter enhances occupant comfort and reduces energy costs, thereby increasing a property's market appeal and value in England.
- Transaction in housing during autumn and winter in England, boosted by market activity, can be more effective when the property is made energy-efficient and inviting, such as through home-improvement projects like double glazing.
- Home-and-garden makeovers focusing on natural light and garden space might not appeal to winter buyers as much; instead, sellers should prioritize home-improvement projects that ensure warmth and energy efficiency, like investing in modern and efficient boilers and insulation.
- Interested buyers in colder months emphasize properties that offer good insulation and heat retention; sellers could attract these buyers and potentially speed up the selling process by focusing on home improvements that offer shelter from external elements, like updating internal doors and replacing the front door.
