Did you know you can get an EnerGuide number for your home? I was surprised that you could get one for a house. Now the Victoria Real Estate board will let agents put the EnerGuide rating on the MLS®. The first home with its EnerGuide rating on the MLS® was a home here on Salt Spring island, BC, on January 6, 2010. This happened with the efforts of the Victoria Real Estate Board, CRD, LiveSmart BC, Earth Festival Society and the dedicated group at the Salt Spring Energy Strategy. 
So what does the rating mean? The higher your rating, on a scale between 1 and 100, the more efficient your home. 
The average energy efficiency rating for a house in British Columbia is 56. If a home has a rating of 80 that would be at the top of the practical list. To get a rating of 100 the home has to be off grid and use no outside power. So how do they get a rating for your home? Well you have to hire an expert. They put a large fan in your door and do a test like the video below. Once the experts rate your home they will prepare a detailed report on your home. The report will show all the improvements that could be made.  
How much does it cost? If you are going to list your home on the MLS with me before May 31, 2010, it's free. What a deal! So what happens if the home comes in with a really low rating? Well, if you have a really low rating it would probably be obvious and the buyers would know anyway. If you can feel a wind in your living room and you burn a cord of wood every week to heat your home, it will not be a surprise to anyone. Most homes will do fine. This is a guide to give the buyers some peace of mind when they buy. The more information they have, the higher the probability they will buy your home. This just another way to show the buyers you are serious about selling your home. How do we get started? Call me.
Scott Simmons Team |