Live Green, Rent Green: Eco Upgrades for Your Investment Property

Nowadays, everyone cares about saving the planet. Renters tend to look for eco-friendly spaces to live in. This change in preferences is a fantastic opportunity for investors. By implementing green upgrades into your property, you can easily contribute to a healthier planet and attract responsible renters. Ultimately, this leads to higher rent revenues and lower costs for your property. The experts at Jooble helped us explore some of the most effective ways of turning your investment property into a green place for your renters.

Lowering the bills

Effective upgrades will benefit you and your tenants, leading to a healthier environment. Some of the simplest ways to reduce the total cost of bills are:

• • LED-based lights: switching from traditional light bulbs (halogen-based) to modern LEDs will help you cut the electricity bill by up to 80%. They usually last around 5-6 years and are cheap to replace. Having LEDs instead of halogen-based light bulbs will make your property more attractive for tenants with a limited monthly budget. 

• Smart thermostats: Installing wireless smart thermostats will allow you and your renters to control the temperature within the property from anywhere. You can program these devices to adjust the heating and cooling automatically depending on how many people are at home. This not only reduces the overall costs but renters can customise their comfort level with minimum effort.

• Saving water: Water is one of the most expensive resources tenants have to pay for. Switching from traditional faucets to sensor-based faucets may reduce water waste by up to 60%. Alternatively, reduced-flow shower heads will help you cut costs even more. 

House Caretakers are Your Best Friends

Finding long-term renters for your investment property is a must. These tenants will genuinely appreciate the upgrades you included in your property. Moreover, they are more likely to keep your house in good condition or even come up with brand new ideas for you to implement for a greener future. 

If you are not a property owner, but a sustainability enthusiast looking for flexible job opportunities, consider house caretaker couple vacancies. These are usually a husband and wife entrusted with caring for your property (building and grounds). Sometimes, the couple will live within the house itself. Still, they will often occupy a small dwelling, such as a cottage, on the property’s grounds.

Natural Light and Smart Design

Strategically using natural lightning will cut the costs of electricity. This translates to a more luminous ambience for your tenants. Evaluate the possibility of installing supplementary windows within intense traffic areas on your property – such as the kitchen, living room, or office. Even standard-sized windows will make a significant difference as long as they are put into the right place.

Investing extra money in high-quality blinds allows your tenants to precisely control the amount of light that enters the building. This is crucial not only for comfort but also to prevent overheating during the summer. Pro-tip: stick to reflective materials for the exterior blinds to maximise the rejection of sun heat.

Watch Out for Leaks

Sealing the air leaks near the windows will help your tenants reduce the overall cost of heating or cooling. Investing in high-quality sealants allows your property to remain effective over time.

Key areas you should seal before putting up an ad for your property include but are not limited to:

• Window frames;
• Door frames;
• Basement;
• Thin walls.

Landscaping and Automations

Having a fantastic yard is a major plus for any property. However, keeping the yard in good condition with minimal costs requires extensive knowledge of the latest technology-based systems. 

For example, integrating automated irrigation systems to water your plants and grass will help you reduce the total cost of water on your property. However, these systems are usually quite expensive. On the other hand, building an irrigation system yourself is no rocket science. Plenty of DIY guides available on the Internet can help you. 

Another automation that is very helpful within your investment property are solar panels. If you own a house with a flat roof, tons of solar light-based systems will help your tenants with heating and electricity. 

If you are still determining what automations to integrate into your investment property, we highly encourage you to contact a landscaping expert. They will help you with precious tips and advice that will make your house truly eco-friendly.