Solar power saves you money on your energy bills, but did you know it can also add an average of $15,000 to your home’s resale value? This number comes from trustworthy research by the U.S. Department of Energy. Solar’s curb appeal can offer real returns on your home investment.

In addition to installing solar on your property, there are several smart strategies to enhance your home’s solar resale value. Eco-conscious upgrades to your property, demonstrating profit potential with SRECs, and proving your system’s longevity with solid solar warranties can all boost your home’s value.

Read on for key takeaways from a recent national study on selling solar homes. Then we’ll break down some tips to make your home as attractive as possible to homebuyers hunting for an environmentally conscious home.

• Solar Resale Value and Curb Appeal
• Bigger is Better for Home Solar Resale Value
• Green Upgrades Complement Going Solar
• Adding Curb Appeal with SRECs and Solid Warranties

Solar Resale Value Adds Up to a Smart Investment

The U.S. Department of Energy recently funded a study on solar resale value for homes.^[1] Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy This study offers a clear demonstration of how going solar can add real value to your home. This study’s methodologies also confirmed the findings from another large-scale study, conducted in the same lab. These results are reliable, since they have been verified two times.

Researchers gathered data from real estate sales across six states in the U.S. Across regions, analysis revealed that buyers were willing to spend more on homes with working home solar installed. According to their findings, buyers will spend an average of $15,000 more for a house with solar.

Earlier data also showed that solar adds to properties’ curb appeal. And better curb appeal means that solar helps homes sell more quickly than comparable homes that rely on the grid.

In conclusion: your home could sell faster, and for a higher price, with solar installed. Going solar is simply a smart investment!

Bigger is Better for Home Solar Resale Value

As we’ve seen, studies show an average premium of $15,000 for solar resale value. But that’s for homes of average size, with solar panel systems producing an average of about 3.6 kW. Is your home larger than average? Or does your home need more energy than average? (For example, if you use a lot of A/C or heat because of extreme temperatures in your region.) If so, good news: a home with greater energy needs can see an even bigger boost to its solar resale value!

Green Upgrades Complement Going Solar

Let’s consider the potential buyer for your solar-equipped home. If they’re interested in a home with clean energy, what other green features might they also look for? Going solar is one of many eco-conscious home improvements that you could combine together to really boost your home’s curb appeal.

How about installing systems that are energy efficient? Appliances that are water efficient? Landscaping your yard with native plants? Maybe even a system for recycling grey water? Some of these improvements are more expensive than others. But any of them could help you get a bigger return on your solar investment.

Adding Curb Appeal with SRECs and Solid Warranties

You’ll attract the most interest from homebuyers if you can show them that investing in a solar-equipped home makes good financial sense. Saving on monthly energy bills is an obvious benefit, but there’s another financial boost that you could offer buyers. If you’re already making SREC profits, you can show potential buyers a bonus income opportunity that comes with owning your home.

There’s one more way you could increase buyer’s confidence in your home. And that’s ensuring that your solar warranties are all up-to-date and on hand. Solar panels have the potential to last from 25 to 30 years, and you could be selling your property within the life of the warranty. An educated buyer will want to review your paperwork before they purchase your home. As a seller, you’ll get the best offer if you can give buyers confidence in the longevity of your solar power system.

Of course, the value of your home investment all depends on keeping your solar installation costs low from the start.

(Illustration: Energy Efficient by Gregor Cresnar from the Noun Project)