Looking for your home, whether it’s your first or fifth, isn’t always straightforward, something we are very familiar with as property developers.
Knowing what to look for in a home can lay a great foundation for you to build on in the property search, narrowing down what it is that’s important to you and maybe even discovering some of your non-negotiables.
With homes for the future, keeping sustainability for the planet and longevity for homeowners in mind, we have a good understanding of some of the key requirements to consider in your property search.
At Whitebox, we know a thing or two about sustainable homes and future-proofed living, keep reading to find out more below.
What To Look For in Your Property?
1. Energy Performance Rating
As a prospective buyer, it’s important to take note of Building Energy Ratings (BER) and how important they are, both for you and environmentally.
For you, a good BER is going to provide you with vast benefits, both short and long term, that make this feature a priority in a property.
A good BER will help to lower energy bills, given the property is much more energy efficient, can make you eligible for Green Mortgages, that offer discounted and preferable rates to those in sustainable properties, while also giving you some security for the future, as a good BER can make a positive impact on the the resale value of your home, and that’s just some of the benefits.
Learn more about BER in our article here.
2. Heat Recovery Ventilation
An effective heat recovery ventilation system will allow you to prioritise the circulation of fresh air without having to forego a warm, cozy feeling in the home.
HRVs aim to reduce humidity in the home, which typically contribute to odors and mould by removing the humid air and returning fresh, preheated air to these rooms.
According to Energywise Ireland, on average 95% of air that usually goes to waste is recovered with a HRV system.
New build homes will already have this as a built-in feature, however, if you are going for an older, second-hand home, it may be worth looking at if the home was retrofitted or if it would need to be.
3. Sustainable Heating
Another way to reduce your heating bills and enhance value is via sustainable heating systems like air-to-water pumps.
As a heating system, air to water pumps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources, making it a very clean and green way to power and heat a home.
This heating process makes use of air and water, using an external unit that draws in fresh air, heats it and distributes it into the home for warm water or powering radiators.
For more on the benefits of air to water pumps, read our article.
4. Location
Where you want to live is definitely worth giving some thought to when searching for your home.
Considering the future and where you see yourself in 10+ years time and what you think your life might look like can massively help to shape the process of finding the right home for you.
Right now you may be a single working professional but if you have plans for the future, such as starting a family of your own, now is the best time to search for the home that can fulfill your needs now and into the future.
For a lot of homeowners, being in close proximity or in commuting distance to schools, colleges and workplaces is usually high up on the list of requirements for a property.
5. Quality & Longevity
Always keep in mind the quality of the home you are considering buying.
While it can be tempting to jump at the first home you see or the first offer you receive, we recommend doing your due diligence and ensuring that this is a home that is secure, well-developed. Otherwise, you could end up with a property that needs much more work than you may have bargained for, setting you back financially in the long run.
An increasing number of homes are being developed with the future in mind both structurally and environmentally, and can reassure you that you have a home that will cater for you at every stage of life’s journey.
6. Community Spirit
Whether you plan to live in a home for a short time, long time or forever, the community spirit that surrounds you is something that we would definitely recommend considering.
Community, or lack thereof, can make or break where you live, because the people that surround us impact and influence our experience, more than any brick home.
As a developer, one of our core values is to ensure that we consider the community we are creating when we plan residential properties, ensuring that everyone feels like they can be part of an inclusive community with our integrated housing solutions.
Searching for your new home can be an overwhelming task, but with a breakdown of the absolute-musts to consider, make sure to use our guide to support you through the property search.
We at Whitebox take pride in the properties we are bringing to a variety of locations across Ireland, ensuring we provide inclusive, sustainable communities and homes that will be there to support homeowners now and for the future.
Explore some of our developments, past, present and future here.
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