Smart Ways to Spend Now, Save Later in Your New Home

18 Mar Smart Ways to Spend Now, Save Later in Your New Home

Owning a new home is a fantastic feeling but keeping it up to date and looking fresh can be very expensive, and at times, downright exhausting. Home improvements are often tedious and involve the work of specialists, which adds to the cost of most projects.  

It doesn’t have to be that way, though. In fact, there are some steps you can take when building or renovating a home that will save money in the long run. While these aren’t the only instances where it plays out, here are a few ways to spend wisely that will lead to saving money in the future.   

Install Energy-Efficient Windows 

There’s a big difference between standard windows and those that are energy efficient. While the upfront cost is more for the latter, the long-term savings far outweigh the initial spend, making energy-efficient windows a smart decision for new homes. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat gain and heat loss through windows are responsible for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use. Imagine if you cut that in half?  

Buy a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats epitomize the Internet of Things era we live in, but they’re useful in many ways. The best thing about smart thermostats is precisely that — they’re smart. They learn your habits without having to be told, which means an intelligent thermostat helps cut down on how much you’re spending to cool and heat your house. Between Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell, and more, smart thermostats are easily found with prices coming down, too.

Choose a Tankless Water Heater 

Not only do tankless water heaters take up less space than conventional options, but they also help save money, too! A traditional water heater stores up a large amount of hot water whether you need it or not. That often leads to standby losses — hot water that cools down after going unused. The energy it takes to heat the water up is money out of your pocket, as is the power it takes to reheat the very same water. You’ll also most likely see a dip in your water consumption, which is both good for your bottom line and good for the environment.  

Upgrade Your Insulation  

When building a new home, we all have choices to make. One of the choices you’ll have that you’ve probably not thought much about is the type of insulation to use. While it’s more expensive up front, choosing foam insulation will save money in the mid-to-long-term as it’s more effective and can last much longer than traditional insulation.  While paying for installation can be pricey at times, it’s a short-term spend that leads to long-term savings. Plus, if you’re a fan of attic and crawl spaces, you can probably install the insulation yourself.  

It takes a lot to keep your house up to date, and there are many expensive ways to try and do so. Most of us need to be smart with our money, however, and that means doing the research necessary to know when and what to invest in.  

These ideas work well for any house, but we’d love to imagine them as part of your beautiful new home in McDonough or Locust Grove by Sunrise Builders. Please contact us here or call us at (770) 749-7216 to learn more about communities in your area.