SOUTH MIAMI Blog

How insulation raises your home's value

Increasing value by making energy efficient upgrades to your home can offer a wide range of benefits. A higher home value means more equity and also means a higher sale’s price if you decide to sell. If you’re wondering how to increase home value for appraisal, then improving the energy-efficiency of your home is an option that creates benefits for both current and future homeowners. 

Increasing the insulation in your home is an excellent strategy to increase the value of your home in the real estate market. Efficiency-labeled homes also are showing an increase in popularity and preference for new homebuyers, and are improving in visibility across housing markets. Insulation increases energy efficiency and most energy efficiency upgrades are in high demand as they are very appealing to most qualified home buyers as they are looking to have as little work as possible done in their new home. According to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders, energy efficiency is the second highest influence on purchase decisions, after community safety. That means that you will be able to sell your insulated home at a higher price - some reports indicate that the increase in value can be between 2 to 6 percent. That makes insulation a home improvement project with a great return on investment! However, the impact of insulation on the value varies based on the size of your home and the type of insulation.

Home Improvement Projects and ROI

The return on investment of a home improvement project describes how effective the project is and how quickly you will be able to gain back the cost of the project in savings. In regards to energy efficiency, a higher ROI will mean lower energy bills in the future. 

The Remodeling Magazine published a “Cost vs. Value” report in 2016 for the typical prices and paybacks of home improvement projects and fiberglass attic insulation topped the list with an impressive 117% ROI - the only home improvement project with an ROI of over 100%! That means that fiberglass insulation more than pays for itself in added value. 

Insulation Upgrade Benefits 

Home insulation, air sealing and general weatherization are all geared towards maximizing control over the air and heat flow in your home. For homes in South Miami, that means keeping the heat out of your home year-round and keeping a stable temperature inside on those odd cold days in late December and January.

Reduce Monthly Costs

With that intense Florida heat burning down on our roofs every day, air conditioning units in un- or under-insulated homes are struggling to keep up with cooling the living space. That means that your A/C is working overtime, leading to higher energy bills and a shorter lifetime of the unit. Insulation will protect both your home and your A/C.

Increase Energy Efficiency 

Energy efficiency is not only important when it comes to your wallet but instead has a big impact on the environment. According to the Institute for Insulation, by reducing the need for energy, i.e. natural gas, propane, fuel oil, and electricity to heat and cool buildings, insulation benefits the environment in the form of reduced emissions of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide, among others. Additionally, there are insulation materials like cellulose that are made from up to 90% of recycled materials.

How to know if your home needs an insulation upgrade

While the best way to determine if you need more layering in your attic is to go up and have a look at what’s there, your house may already be showing you signs it needs an insulation boost.

Common symptoms include:

• Hefty heating and/or cooling bills
• Drafts in the home
• One or more rooms that are much cooler or warmer than the others in the home
• An A/C unit that’s constantly running

As with most things, the value only increases if you use quality materials and have the job done correctly. That’s why it’s important to work with a trusted insulation professional. Here at Koala Insulation of South Miami, we’re committed to finding the perfect, custom insulation solution for you and your home. Give us a call and have a member of our team come out to your home for a free insulation evaluation.