Get an Excellent Return on Investment with These 4 Electrical Home Improvements
Whether you are considering putting your home on the market or merely want to make prudent decisions about which electrical improvements you make, it is essential to realize that some home upgrades are worth more than others. Some upgrades might add convenience or comfort to your property, but they may not be worth the price of hiring a local electrician to complete the job.
At Watson’s Charging Stations & Electric, we want to help you make wise decisions about where you put your money. As the leading local electricians in the Gilroy, CA, and Santa Clara Valley area, we put together a quick guide on the four electrical home improvements that will increase your home value and give you an excellent return on your investment.
Electric Panel Upgrade
You might have an older 100-amp electrical panel if you have an older home. This panel might provide sufficient capacity for some families; it is an outdated and often underpowered panel. In fact, nearly all new homes come with a 200-amp panel to meet the demands of modern electronic devices and electrical appliances.
In some cases, you may have an electrical panel that is outdated and unsafe. If you have an electrical panel from Federal Pacific or Zinsco, or your house uses split-bus panels or fuse boxes, a panel upgrade is a worthwhile home improvement project.
Outdated or unsafe electrical panels will not go unnoticed during a home inspection, which could deter potential buyers from making an offer. Hiring an electrical contractor to evaluate and upgrade your old electrical panel is sure to attract buyers and bring in higher bids.
Go with a Smart Panel
If you really want to impress potential buyers, go with a smart electrical panel. A smart electrical panel takes the work of your current electrical panel to a new level. A typical service panel takes power coming into your house from the utility company and distributes it throughout your home. It uses circuit breakers that can disconnect power from the circuit if too much power is present to protect your electronics, appliances, and your overall electrical grid.
A smart panel handles the work of an electrical panel but adds additional layers of monitoring and control. Homeowners can create schedules, track energy usage, and prioritize some circuits over others. Some smart panels can even detect abnormalities in your electric grid to predict if appliances or other equipment is about to fail.
Some top-selling smart panels come from SPAN and Square D and cost roughly $3,500 before shipping and installation. Gong with a smart panel does not cost much more than a regular panel upgrade and will be more attractive to buyers. A smart panel is an intelligent choice.
Add Energy Storage
Energy storage can take on numerous forms. It can refer to something as simple as a whole house battery backup system or as complex as a complete solar-powered microgrid. The idea is to have a system that stores electricity to be used at a later time.
If your home is in an area with frequent power outages due to weather or an aging electrical grid, energy storage acts as a backup power source to keep the lights on even when the neighborhood goes dark. Your potential buyers can rest easy knowing that their heating/cooling, refrigeration, and other electrical systems will continue to work regardless of weather conditions.
Energy storage can also save money in the long term. These batteries can store power during off-peak hours when utility costs are low. This stored energy can then be utilized during peak hours, thus saving you from paying higher prices.
If your home has solar power, energy storage can help you manage how and when your electricity is used. Solar panels already come with short-term storage to help keep power flowing during a passing cloud, but a long-term solar battery can ensure your power stays on for hours or even days.
Energy storage systems have an extensive range of abilities and prices, but they all give buyers the peace of mind they need to make a quick and large offer. Contact the licensed electricians at Watson’s Charging Stations & Electric to get a complimentary quote to upgrade your home with energy storage.
Smart Home Automation
Smart home technology comes in all shapes and sizes and provides endless options. While some smart home technologies like motion-sensing flood lights and security systems have been around for decades, modern smart homes have advanced functionality that adds greater convenience, flexibility, and security to your home.
Smart homes can even include artificial intelligence, if-then routines, and proximity sensors to complete many tasks. You can also control these smart devices through virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Siri to accept voice commands or your smartphone.
Not only can smart home automation, like smart locks, security systems, outlets, and light switches, make your home more attractive to buyers, but it can also reduce utility bills. Smart thermostats, for example, can sense when you are away from home and adjust the temperature accordingly. Smart showerheads can monitor your water usage to help adapt your routine and save water.
Current studies show that 81% of home shoppers are looking to purchase a house with smart home technology already included. You may even be able to make some smart home improvements on your own. Hiring an electrician, however, to install more complex smart home features can make your home stand out from the crowd.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
The sale of electric vehicles continues to grow every year. In California alone, new EV registration jumped 68% from 2020 to 2021 and will continue to grow as the state works towards removing all new gas-powered vehicles from sales lots by 2035.
The uptick in EV sales shows that potential buyers for your home are likely to already have an electric vehicle. If they do not have one today, they will certainly have on in the future. The data shows that homes that already have a level 2 home charging system sell fo 13% more than other houses in the area. On top of that, 76% of homes with a level 2 charging station saw an exponential increase in value.
The IRS even has a program that rewards these kinds of home improvements with the potential of up to a $30,000 tax credit for certain charging station installations. You can take advantage of these savings while making your home more appealing for buyers.
Let Watson’s Handle Your Electrical Home Improvements
There is no need to tackle all of your home improvements on your own. Upgrading your electrical panel, adding home energy storage, providing an EV charging station, and installing advanced smart home tech often require the touch of a professional, licensed residential electrician.
Watson’s Charging Stations & Electric has been serving the Santa Clary Valley area for years. Whether you are making home improvements for yourself or want to get the most out of your home’s sale, we can help ensure that you get a great return on your investment on all of your electrical upgrades and repairs. Give us a call to get a free consultation and quote today.