You may feel that investing in energy efficiency for your Fort Meade rental properties is not the best use of time and money. After all, you are not the one living in the property, and therefore will not reap any of the benefits.
Well, think again.
Energy efficient updates to your rental become very appealing selling points when it comes to advertising your vacancy to interested tenants. And, chances are good you’ll be dealing with fewer vacancies if you make an effort to increase energy efficiency in your rental.
There are several simple and cost-effective ways you can update your rental properties to achieve the energy efficiency that tenants love.
In the past, we have looked at some easy energy-saving tips for landlords looking to lower their tenant’s utility costs.
Today, we are taking that a step further and offering simple updates that will not only lower utility costs, but drastically reduce your tenant’s carbon footprint.
9 Energy Efficient Updates for Your Fort Meade Rental Property
1. Window Treatments
Caring for your property’s windows by re-sealing cracks can help keep the heat in during Fort Meade’s cold winter months, and thus save on energy bills. However, if your windows are outdated or not working properly, it is important to update your rental property’s windows.
Not only does this help lower the energy bill, it makes your tenants more comfortable during the winter. No one wants to live in a drafty rental property.
2. Power Strips
Though including these in your rental home is definitely not a necessity, doing so is a simple and inexpensive update that has the potential to go a long way with your new tenants.
Most tenants may not realize just how much energy their dormant electrical devices (think appliances, televisions, computers, etc.) use throughout the day, even when not in use.
By providing power strips for those areas in your rental that have multiple devices plugged in at once (whether they are being used or not), you can significantly reduce energy usage, and your tenant’s power bill.
Plus, making your tenants aware of such a simple energy efficiency strategy will surely be appreciated.
3. Air Conditioning Shade
If your rental is the type that has a window-mounted air conditioning unit, create a way to keep it shaded at all times. This shade will ensure the unit stays cool even in the middle of summer, thus allowing it to run more efficiently.
Shading your air conditioner will also make sure that the unit only runs when the rental needs cooling, not when the air conditioner itself does.
4. Exhaust Fan Covers
Retain more heat during the winter and keep the heating bill lower for your tenants by installing inexpensive exhaust fan covers in your rental’s kitchen and bathrooms. Not only will you lower the drafts of cold air coming in, you will also prevent warm air from escaping.
5. Door Sweeps
If your Fort Meade rental property doesn’t already have them, or they are long overdue for a change, consider installing fresh new door sweeps to all doors leading to the exterior of the property. This includes the front and back doors, as well as the door leading to the garage, and the garage door itself.
Again, preventing drafts of hot and cold air from entering the property in the dead of winter or the midst of summer will reduce energy costs, which are already soaring during those prime times of the year.
6. Programmable Thermostat
Many tenants, whether they are searching for an eco-friendly rental property or not, love to see programmable thermostats in a rental property.
That’s because it is a well-known fact that over 40% of a tenant’s monthly utility bill money will go towards heating and cooling the rental property they reside in.
Programmable thermostats make reducing tenant energy costs very simple. All your tenant has to do is program the thermostat to work around their schedule, so that the air or heat units do not run when no one is home.
And, as a way to feel extra cozy or cooled off right before returning home, the thermostat can be scheduled to turn on just before your tenants enter the door.
7. Plant Trees and Shrubbery
Providing a backyard oasis is something many Fort Meade property owners have in mind when it comes to drawing in high-quality tenants searching for the best looking properties full of amenities.
Take advantage of the fact that your tenants want greenery in the backyard, and work to strategically place trees and shrubs in areas that will help shade your property. This greenery will help insulate your rental from wind, cold, and heat.
8. Go Tankless
Installing a tankless water heater in your Fort Meade rental is a great way to save on water usage, energy usage, and space. And, while some models are not inexpensive per se, the long-lasting benefits and savings of going tankless might convince you to invest a little more upfront:
- They only heat and deliver water when requested by tenants
- Many states offer rebates for going tankless, since it’s a green option
- Lifespan far surpasses that of traditional storage tank water heaters
As you can see, many benefits accompany the installation of a tankless water heater in your rental property.
9. Install Ceiling Fans
While ceiling fans do not change the temperature of the room your tenants are in, fans definitely circulate the air enough to provide a cooler sensation.
Ceiling fans also give rental properties a boost when it comes to visual appeal.
Because ceiling fans are able to cool off your tenants during the hottest summer months, without wasting energy (like an air conditioner might), they are great for increasing energy efficiency in your rental.
Altogether, making your rental property energy efficient is not tough to do. It doesn’t always require a lot of time, effort, or money. Energy efficiency benefits your tenants, and gives you more leverage when it comes to advertising your property when it’s vacant.
If you own a rental property in Fort Meade and need help devising simple ways to make your property more energy efficient, or want an experienced property management group to professionally advertise your vacancy, contact Bay Management Group today.
Not only can we help with staging your rental to be as energy efficient as possible while keeping overhead costs under control, we can help cater to prospective tenants that are looking for environmentally friendly rentals.
With the right platforms to advertise on, and the knowledge of what it takes to make a strong rental property ad, you will find that enlisting our help is something worth doing.
