In light of today’s economy, one would think increasing a home’s value would be priority number one with homeowners. It seems that is not the case. Homeowners prefer to improve their homes through remodeling or decorating to benefit first and foremost themselves. Even with current Knoxville real estate prices and sales climbing, and the attractiveness of selling magnified, spending money on increasing a home’s value is taking a back seat. Troy Stavros, Broker and Partner with the 865 Real Estate team at Gables & Gates, REALTORS said, “As a REALTOR, I can’t help but think about how any remodeling project will effect a home’s resale value, but that is because I don’t live there. We have to remember that a home is where people live, every day. It is a major part of their family life and oftentimes work life. The investment aspect is typically toward the bottom of the list.”

Houzz.com, a web site and online community focused on interior design, decorating, and home improvement, recently completed a survey that confirms what homeowners are thinking. Among homeowners planning to build, remodel, or decorate in the next two years, 86% cited improving the look and feel of the space as an important driver for the projects. Only 47% cited increasing resale value as a reason for the improvements. The survey also stated that these priorities were consistent across all income levels and demographic groups.

Stavros stated, “The good news is that, according to the survey results, the projects being completed often align with those that naturally increase a home’s resale value. The most popular renovations being Kitchens and Bathrooms. More good news from the survey was that it showed 70% of the respondents paying cash for the projects. There is no better way to increase the value of your Knoxville real estate than sweat equity. Do what you can yourself. What you can’t do yourself, save up and hire a professional.”

When a buyer is searching Knoxville homes for sale, those updates to the Kitchens and Bathrooms can be what sets one home apart from the next. The 865 Real Estate team believes that making your home special for yourself, will often be the tipping point for making it special for a buyer. Their advice is to enjoy the home. Make it personal. It is a home first and investment second.

Knoxville Real Estate: Today more than ever, energy efficiency is of utmost importance.  Since partnering with Schaad Residential Construction, LLC, one of the few 100% committed Energy Star builders in Knoxville, we have seen the incredible impact living in an Energy Star home can have on a client’s utility costs. Troy Stavros, Broker and Partner with the 865 Real Estate team said, “The monthly savings on a client’s utility bills can be dramatic. We are talking hundreds of dollars a month. I think very few people understand the magnitude of the savings and the positive impact it can have on the environment. It’s now our job as a marketing partner with Schaad Companies to get that word out.”

So what features make an Energy Star Certified home different than typical Knoxville homes for sale, and what value do those features bring?  The features according to the Energy Star website are:

Optimal Value Framing and insulated headers: This is good for energy efficiency and good for the environment.

Closed/Conditioned Crawlspace. These perform better than a vented crawlspace in terms of safety, health, comfort, durability, and energy consumption.

Energy Star windows. These help reduce energy bills and reduce condensation. The benefit is a cooler home in the summer and warmer home in the winter.

Air Sealing. This is basically sealing every hole where wires penetrate through a wall (both interior and exterior). For those searching Knoxville real estate for some peace and quiet, Air Sealing reduces outside noise leading to a quieter home. It allows for less pollen, dust, pollution, and insects to enter the home. It lowers the moist air flow through a home ultimately improving the durability of the structure. It also lowers energy use, leading to lower utility bills.

Improvements to ductwork and overall HVAC improvements. The sealing of ductwork prevents leakage of conditioned air and can improve a system’s efficiency as much as 20%. Ductwork is wrapped in insulation and oftentimes an additional layer of insulation is blown over the ductwork in the attic. 15 Seer seer, high efficiency gas HVAC units can be located in the conditioned crawl space.

Energy Star fixtures. Energy Star rated lighting uses 1/4 the energy of traditional lighting and are constructed to last longer.

Energy Star Appliances. These appliances incorporating advanced technologies can 10%-50% less energy and water than standard models.

Thermal Air Barrier Alignment. This ensures that there are no gaps, voids, or compression in the insulation materials. An effective air barrier leads to a tight house and minimal lost energy.

Tankless Hot Water Heaters. These provide hot water only when needed. Traditional storage water heaters produce standby energy losses that cost the homeowner money. When looking at Knoxville homes for sale, keep an eye out for this upgraded feature.

Radiant Barrier Roof Deck. This stops radiant heat through your roof, reducing temperatures in the attic by up to 30 degrees!

Stavros concluded, “As you can see there is a big difference in what goes into an Energy Star Certified home. The biggest difference though, is what you will be paying the utility companies every month.”

The 865 Real Estate team, the leading Knoxville real estate team at Gables & Gates, REALTORS has recently partnered with long time Knoxville builder/developer, Schaad Residential Construction, LLC to market their new Energy Star Certified homes in Knoxville. The team at the 865 Real Estate team is currently marketing the Energy Star Certified Knoxville homes for sale in the Sheffield Subdivision in Farragut, TN, and the Kensington Subdivision in West Knoxville.

According to sources at Energy Star, increasing energy costs and continuing growth of consumer demand for efficient products that do not sacrifice performance have been the driving force for new developments in energy efficiency and green building programs across the nation. The Energy Star program was birthed as a joint venture between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The Energy Star Certification itself was designed to help builders meet high levels of energy performance while giving consumers the confidence of knowing their home systems are energy efficient.

Schaad Residential Construction has committed to 100% Energy Star built homes. Local Knoxville home buyers of Energy Star Certified, Schaad built homes, have confirmed what has been noted on the Energy Star website. That being huge results, like families saving about 1/3 the cost of their monthly energy bill. Couple that with the huge environmental benefits and the impact is tremendous. The website states that the energy savings in 2010 offset greenhouse gas emissions equal to the same output as 33 million cars, also equaling $18 billion in utility bill savings.

Troy Stavros, Broker and Partner with the 865 Real Estate team at Gables & Gates, REALTORS stated, “For the Knoxville real estate buyer, the benefits are both immediate and lasting. They will immediately benefit from lower utility bills and they will benefit in the future from increased resale value.”

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