HOME EDITION
viewings to ensure the house appears as ready to move into as possible,” says a spokesperson. “It’s also essential that you work with an agent to set the right price – over-pricing can result in having your home linger on the market, while under-pricing might lead to you not getting the value out of your home that it deserves.” Eco upgrades Retrofitting eco-friendly and energy- efficient technologies is an increasingly popular way to enhance the saleability and sustainability of your home. Having an understanding of the following three factors is essential: where your home loses heat, its energy efficiency and where to find reliable advice. Cambridge Retrofit Hub and Cambridge Carbon Footprint offer valuable resources, including training, advice and case studies from more than 100 homes, showcased through the latter’s Open Eco Homes tours. “Solar panels and improved insulation are the most common first steps to take,” says Fran Sutton, home energy officer at Cambridge Carbon Footprint. “They’re CHIC AND STYLISH A bold corner office from The Cotswold Company (above) and a light, airy living room from Kris Turnbull Studios (right)
often instigated by the homeowners’ desire to extend their home but reduce their carbon footprint at the same time. Indeed, South Cambridgeshire is the second highest area for domestic solar panels in the UK. “We often have homeowners tell us how dramatically their heating and power costs have been reduced through adopting solar and heat-pump technologies. Many of our Open Eco Homes hosts are happy to share financial details of their investments and savings. For example, one homeowner who lives in a four-bed, 60s, detached house estimates her energy bills to be around £75 per month on average since going all-electric with an air source heat pump and solar battery storage.” A 2022 study undertaken by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Scottish
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