SUSTAINABILITY and its environmental and financial benefits is gaining importance with home owners who are seeking these features in the homes they buy and build.
Research from the CSIRO and Common Capital for EnergyFit Homes showed 92 per cent of housing consumers want energy efficiency details revealed in building inspection reports, 82 per cent at open inspection and 72 per cent in property advertising, with half of home buyers and renters willing to pay for this information.
Two initiatives will allow buyers and those looking to build to consider sustainability features for their new homes.
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READ NOWSustainable House Day on September 15 will showcase design features for healthy, comfortable and low-cost living.
Organised by Renew, the annual event will include 40 WA properties and give people the chance to view exceptional homes designed, built or renovated with healthy and environmental living in mind and allow them to speak to and learn from home owners.
“Everyone wants a home that is well-designed, healthy, and runs efficiently in an age of high energy bills,” Renew chief executive Donna Luckman said.
“Sustainable House Day allows Australians to see real homes that have achieved this, and get unbiased advice on how to make their homes more comfortable and cheaper to run.”
The CSIRO has also launched a Liveability Real Estate Framework to give sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants a simple and effective way to identify 17 features that reduce an existing home’s running costs and increase comfort.
It covers location, floor plan and layout, key building structure elements, important energy and water efficiency devices and energy ratings.
Community West Real Estate director Chiara Pacifici has led industry training on well-designed, high-tech sustainable homes for over 10 years and welcomes the new framework.
She said more has needed to be done to better inform buyers, sellers and renters of the benefits so they understand how to make better real estate choices.
“Liveability is all about finding or creating your best home, one where you and loved ones can thrive” she said.
“Unfortunately, most of these features are missing in standard property appraisals and these are the very attributes that benefit buyers and tenants year-round; these homes are healthier, more thermally comfortable, affordable to run and connected with the community.”
Ms Pacifici said liveability features could also enhance property value, especially when marketed and communicated well to buyers and tenants.
“Property value and its improvement over time matters to all buyers, as does a better performing home that costs less to run,” she said.
As one of only a handful of agents qualified nationally as a Liveability Real Estate Specialist, Ms Pacifici is trained to identify, appraise and sell the 17 liveability features.
For more information on the liveability of your home you can contact her at info@communitywestre.com.au.
Real estate agents interested in training in this field are also welcome to contact her.
For more information on Sustainable House Day and to see what homes are open for viewing in Perth visit www.sustainablehouseday.com.