Sustainability isn’t a trend. It is a smart investment for anyone with property.
With rising energy costs and increasing demand for greener homes, developers have a real opportunity to target Liverpool homeowners.
By integrating eco-friendly features into new builds or major refurbishments, you can appeal to future-focused buyers and tenants. Better yet, you also boost rental yields and resale prices in the process.
Are you wondering how to take proactive steps to be more sustainable? Whether you’re starting with a new plot or a derelict vacant home, here’s how large-scale green development can be done successfully.
Financing your green upgrades
Eco-conscious renovations come with various benefits, but there is one issue: they require a significant upfront investment.
High-performance insulation. Sustainable building materials. Low-emission heating systems. Renewable energy tech. Add these costs together, and the bill can quickly become a scary one.
If you are building from the ground-up, you can integrate these enhancements from the get-go and make sure the long term benefits don’t cut across your profit margin. That’s where development finance comes in, with a flexible way to fund new builds and incorporate the costs of sustainable improvements.
A specialist mortgage broker like Commercial Trust can help developers secure the right funding for their project. It’s a way to the best rates and repayment terms to maximise your budget.
By using development finance, eco-friendly builds become more accessible.
Eco-friendly enhancements that add real value
There are various routes you can take when making eco-friendly enhancements with your development project. Here are some popular options:
- Energy-efficient heating: One of the best ways to add eco-friendly value to a property is by integrating energy efficiency. By either installing a heat pump or selecting a boiler that is a modern, energy-efficient model, you can lower future energy bills and make your property more attractive to buyers or renters. Liverpool’s climate makes proper insulation and efficient heating systems essential.
- Include solar panels: Solar panels are an excellent long-term investment. They cut electricity costs while making your build more sustainable. In a city/country with rising energy bills, solar offers long-term savings and adds a competitive edge to rental or selling listings.
- Insulation and windows: Consider upgrading from standard double or triple glazing for improved insulation. This can significantly reduce heating bills and make your property more energy-efficient. It’s also a simple yet effective way to boost a new build’s property value.
There is one consideration you may also look at, but it comes with a caution:
- Sustainable building materials: Eco-friendly materials like reclaimed wood, recycled metal, or low-carbon concrete may seem like a good idea for lowering your environmental impact, but many buy to let and commercial mortgage lenders have not caught up with this trend and you may struggle to secure exit finance where your property is not of standard construction – speak to the team at Commercial Trust to scope this out, before you get too far into planning your project.
A greener future for Liverpool homes
There are various reasons to invest in eco-friendly improvements when developing property.
You’re playing your part for the good of the planet. You can reduce monthly bills for homeowners and tenants. Importantly for the main topic of this guide, it’s also an effective way to improve property value.
From energy-efficient heating to solar panels and triple glazing, these upgrades can make your property project more appealing to buyers.
High-efficiency homes command premium prices. When renting, they also reduce vacant periods and attract better tenants.
Ultimately, sustainable development isn’t only good ethics. It’s also good economics.
