Selling a period property is exciting and a bit daunting at the same time. Before the marketing of your period property can start in earnest, you need to prepare a home report. In our last blog [link], we covered the single survey that is one part of the home report. This time, we take a look at another part – the energy performance certificate (EPC) – and what it means for your sale.
Understanding EPCs
If you have recently bought or sold a house, you are likely already familiar with EPCs. These certificates provide buyers and tenants with an idea of how energy efficient their property is. EPCs also include advice on what the potential rating could be and provide recommendations on how to achieve that.
A Closer Look at the Ratings
Energy efficiency ratings from A to G (A being the best) indicate whether you are looking at relatively high or relatively low energy bills for the property in question. With energy prices set to increase even further this winter, EPCs have never been more important to home buyers. Many are looking at securing energy efficient homes to help minimize spiraling costs.
Energy performance certificates also list the building’s environmental impact rating. This rating lets you know how much the building’s carbon emissions will impact the world around you. As people worldwide are starting to notice the effects of global warming, potential home buyers are taking more notice of this rating than they previously did.
Any residential property needs to have an EPC for it to be marketed for sale. Period properties rarely achieve an A rating. This is often due to the period features that potential buyers covet, such as traditional windows. As a result, prospective buyers know that they may need to compromise. However, improving your rating as much as possible will help you to appeal to more prospective buyers.
What the Potential Rating Tells You
Let’s say your property was rated F. This is quite a low score for energy efficiency and signals to prospective buyers that they will likely face high energy bills and some work involved and bringing the property rating up to a more agreeable level. Perhaps the potential rating was listed as C? That’s good news, as it means that with some adjustments you can make your property even more attractive to potential buyers.
An improvement of two grades will result in significantly lower energy bills. We guarantee that this will benefit you during the sale, increasing interest and perhaps also leading to a higher sale price.
What to do With the Recommendations Report
Whilst the potential rating tells you how high your property could score; the recommendations report explains the path from an F rating to a C rating in our example.
The surveyor may suggest upgrading insulation around the property, securing and updating pipes, or installing double glazing (where restrictions allow). Double glazing doesn’t need to diminish the period character of your home, but it will result in significantly improved energy efficiency.
The report also guides you on the potential costs of the recommended changes. Of course, you want to get detailed quotes before starting any work. However, these estimates tend to give you enough information to decide whether the upgrades are worth it.
How to Get an EPC
Like the single survey [link to the previous post], the EPC is part of the mandatory home report that all sellers need to commission before we start marketing your property.
To help you select a reputable EPC supplier, the Scottish Government maintains a database of approved organisations (AOs). These organisations work in your local area and have staff with the qualifications needed to complete an EPC. We can also recommend a trusted partner in your area.
Once your EPC is completed, it is valid for ten years. In fact, an EPC may already be available for your period home. If you’re unsure we’re happy to check for you and guide you on recommended modifications to help your home put its best foot forward when we start marketing.
Think of the EPC as a guide to help you prepare for a more successful sale. It’s a well-structured document that makes it easy for buyers and sellers to understand the property better. Talk to us today if you’d like to know more about how to improve your home’s EPC rating.
