Buying a new home is a really big deal. Usually, if the house is brand new a buyer may choose not to have a home inspection. The builder provides a 1 year warranty by state law, and often a Home Owners Warranty for the second year as well. However, even if you have a home inspection done the inspector may fail to ask a very important question. Does this house have a HERS score?
The new Energy Codes which exist in most States require homes be built to specific energy efficient standards. Many concientious builders spend a little extra on the house by having a certified HERS rater inspect the home during construction and test it to determine the energy efficiency of the house.
What does a HERS rating say about a house?
The HERS Index measures a home's energy efficiency and there are a lot of great reasons to have a home energy rating performed on your house.
It can tell you so much about the home you live in, like how efficiently it’s operating and where you can make modifications for greater energy savings. When you're selling your home, a low HERS Index Score can command a higher resale price. And when you’re buying a home you can anticipate the costs of energy bills and efficiency upgrades.
How does the HERS Index work?
A certified Home Energy Rater assesses the energy efficiency of a home, assigning it a relative performance score. The lower the number, the more energy efficient the home.
The U.S. Department of Energy has determined that a typical resale home scores 130 on the HERS Index while a standard new home is awarded a rating of 100.
- A home with a HERS Index Score of 70 is 30% more energy efficient than a standard new home
- A home with a HERS Index Score of 130 is 30% less energy efficient than a standard new home
Ask about the HERS Rating when buying a new home. Already bought the home? We can still determine the HERS score with some degree of accuracy; keeping in mind that some of the areas we would have viewed before the drywall are no longer visible.
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