If you want to make your property more saleable this year, start making sure it’s “energy friendly”, says Berry Everitt, chief executive of the Chas Everitt International property group.

“The spectre of Eskom’s proposed price hikes hangs over all home owners, even though they may be smaller than initially expected. In addition, there is a growing awareness of the need for individuals to do more to conserve energy and resources for environmental reasons, and home buyers are increasingly keen on ‘green’ properties.”

The sort of features buyers are looking for, he says, are roof insulation, double glazing, solar or gas geysers, prepaid electricity meters, boreholes, drip irrigation systems and rainwater storage tanks – anything and everything that helps to cut household power and water consumption.

Everitt says there is also increasing consumer demand for a comprehensive scheme to reward home owners who do “go green”, such as that in the UK where owners who have installed energy-efficient equipment are charged less for the power they do use.

“At present, the only incentive available is the rebate Eskom is offering on the installation of solar geysers, but with the pressure mounting for SA to contain its energy usage while Eskom creates more generating capacity, government may well come up with a broader plan to encourage home owners to ‘get off the grid’ in large numbers.”

Meanwhile, he says, many property developers are now building energy-efficiency into new housing projects.

“In the past, energy-efficient methods and devices were often not specified in new construction because they were rated too costly, but many of these are now making economic sense – and enhancing the desirability of the new homes among consumers.

“This means that, even if a ‘green incentive’ does not materialise, existing homeowners would do well to pursue energy efficiency to ensure their properties remain competitive,” says Everitt.