3 Money-Saving Home Features To Consider When Buying A New Home
When looking for a new home it is very important to consider those features that can save you a bit of money while you are in the home, mostly because they can help you offset the cost of a potentially expensive mortgage. Listed below are three money-saving home features to consider when looking for a new house.
Vaulted Ceilings
One of the most sought after home features is vaulted ceilings, mostly because it can make a room appear much brighter and larger than it actually is. However, this home feature is also a great way to limit your air conditioning use and save a bit of money on your cooling bills.
The reason for this is that cold air, such as that provided by your air conditioner, will naturally fall to the lower portion of the room where you and your family are. In addition, the hot air will rise and pool around the high ceiling where you and your family will not really be able to feel it. Since the hot air will be near the ceiling, your home will be more comfortable and you will not need to use your air conditioner as often.
Plaster Walls
Another feature to consider when looking for a house is plaster walls. While drywall is more common, interior walls constructed from plaster can often provide much better insulation. The reason for this is that plaster is often applied in layers, which results in thicker walls.
These thicker walls will be able to cut down on your heating and cooling bills by preventing your heated or air-conditioned air from escaping the house, making it easier to maintain a comfortable temperature within your home. A nice added bonus is that the thick plaster walls will also reduce the amount of noise that gets into your house if you have loud neighbors or live near a busy area.
Solar Panels
Finally, look for a house that has solar panels in order to reduce the amount of money that you pay on your utility bills. Solar panels not only have the potential to completely eliminate your need to pay for power, but they also have the potential to earn you some money as well. When your solar panels are capable of producing more power than your home needs, the excess power that is produced gets sent to your local power company.
This will result in your power company sending you a check for the power that you provided. The money earned is going to vary, but if you live in an area where power shortages are common, then you can reasonably expect a premium for the power that you provide.
Contact a real estate agent, like one from RE/MAX INTEGRITY, today in order to begin the search for a home with money-saving features. Vaulted ceilings, plaster walls, and solar panels are all great house features that can help you save money every month that you live in the house.