Building a new house or renovating an old home can be exciting. You are in control of every decision made and you get to choose what your new home will look like. While you are picking out new tile for the bathrooms, consider a few additions that will not hurt your bank account.
Home automation is a great way to bring your home into the age of technology. Most appliances, like smart thermostats or smart lighting systems, connect to your phone and are controlled through an app. With a smart thermostat, for example, you can lower the temperature when you are not home and save money by not having it running. Automated lights run on a timer and save you from painstakingly flicking every switch off when rushing out the door. By linking your home into one centralized system, you put yourself in charge of the energy your appliances are using.
To help with the cost of updating your home and environment, solar panels are a great addition to your home. The process of going solar often takes a decent amount of cash upfront, but the cost savings over time help offset these costs. Solar panels are also a great fit if you live somewhere where your house receives a lot of sunlight throughout the day. As a bonus, aside from the installation process, there is little the homeowner needs to do with the panels to save money. The sun does all the work for you and all you need to worry about is the occasional cleaning and upkeep.
With all that you are saving on your automated heating and air conditioning, the last thing you want is for your money to go out the window. This is why you should look into energy-saving windows that keep your home insulated. Different window materials serve different functions, but most agree that wooden windows need to be upgraded to more energy-efficient window frames, and replacing the glass is a good idea as well. Quality windows will eliminate the drafts on those cold January days and allow you to keep your home cool during the hot summer months.
While many improvements seem to cost a lot upfront, they will end up saving you money over time. Simple upgrades to your new home will leave your neighbors astonished when they see how great your home looks and all the money you save. Then you can recommend making money-saving changes to all your new friends’ homes as well.
To find your new home, check out the homes we have for sale!