To what degree can you make your home sustainable? That depends on when it has been built. But can this mean that the year that is was built affect the value? Also, how can you take this into account when you are buying or selling your home? To get clarity on this, we called in an expert. Mie-Lan Kok (www.mielankok.nl) has been a household name, in and out of Amsterdam, for years as a real estate agent.
She specializes mainly with expats in buying and selling homes.
Mie-Lan Kok – Real Estate Agency
Sustainable homes are becoming more popular
Mie-Lan: “Over the recent years it was difficult to buy a home. With the high demand and the limited supply of homes, homebuyers were queueing with up to 40 other interested buyers at every viewing. Were you also interested? Then you had to act quickly, so to speak, and immediately place an offer. This was the only way to shake off your competition. This, in combination with low interest rates, resulted in people overbidding, ultimately resulting in high house prices.”
“However, with today’s current market conditions, this (fortunately) seems to be turning around. The supply of homes is increasing and they are also on sale for longer. There are at least two reasons for this. The first is the increase in mortgage interest rates and the higher costs this entails. The second, of course, is the energy costs. In some cases, they can be up to a third of the total housing costs.”
“Good to know: you can’t influence the mortgage interest rate. The amount on your energy, on the other hand, can be influenced! Sustainability is starting to play a larger role in the housing market, especially when compared to five years ago. Additionally, if buyers think it’s important, sellers have to follow.”
“Energy labels range from A++++ (most efficient) to G (least efficient). Homes that do not meet modern insulation standards (energy labels C, D, F or G), are declining in popularity. After all, it costs time, money and effort to improve homes. Because not everyone is willing to wait, this opens up room for negotiations.”
How can you make your home sustainable
Mie-Lan: Mie-Lan: “Homes with high insulation values (energy label A or B) have preference. In addition to good isolation, there is also energy generation to consider (houses with an energy label A+ or A++++). This is also a big advantage. The latter can be achieved by, for example, installing solar panels. We expect that there will be an increase in this in the future.”
“Do you have a house (or an eye on a house) with a low energy label (below C)? Then it is advisable to follow this trend and make your house more sustainable. This can be done by installing HR++ glass, cavity wall insulation, and solar panels. In short, there are plenty of options. However, make sure you think it through beforehand, and are well prepared to buy or sell.”
Is sustainability financially interesting for you?
Definitely! The sustainability trend for homes continues to grow. With this in mind, Klår expects that homes with a favourable energy label will move from being ‘nice to have’ to a ‘must have’.
Mie-Lan: “Would you like to become more sustainable, but you have no idea where to begin? Then we can help you with sustainability advice. Looking at different scenarios making a home more sustainable, you will immediately know how much you save. We assist our customers in this whether it concerns the purchase or the sale of a house.”
What can klår finance mean for you?
The investment does not have to come out of your own pocket, it is possible to receive a loan for it. Depending on the amount of the investment, you can look at increasing your current mortgage. Does that seem too expensive? Well, one example to consider, is if you incur relatively many costs for receiving the loan, some lenders also offer ‘sustainability loans’. They do this in a form of personal credit.
Do you have any questions?
