Future-proof your home

Future-proofing your home is ultimately about ensuring that when you decide to sell your home — be it in six months or ten years — it is as appealing as possible to future owners. There are a number of ways that you can future-proof your home, such as ensuring that it is as energy-efficient as possible and reducing its carbon footprint. Another important part of future-proofing involves making sure that people coming to view your home are easily able to envision it as their home. With the 'internet of things' becoming more and more of a reality, yet another important component of future-proofing your home involves connectivity, and making sure that your home is as technology-friendly as possible.

One of the first things to think about when it comes to future-proofing — due to Eskom's ongoing challenges with regard to the provision of power - is to make your home as "off-the-grid" as possible. While investing in solar panels and the like may be completely out of your budget — or impossible if you live in a flat — there are other measures that you can take. Installing a gas stove, for example, means that a family who is considering purchasing your home will know that they can still cook a meal when Eskom turns out the lights.

Another strategy for ensuring that your home is future-proofed is to look at the structure of your home. If you live in an older house (probably built during or before the 1980s), you may have more separate rooms and less open-plan space. Open-plan is the way of the future, and would-be home owners have come to expect that the lounge, dining area and kitchen will flow into one another. If you've got the time and the budget to do some renovations, this would be a great place to start. Make sure you always consult an expert when taking on a project like this.

When it comes to technology, it's virtually impossible to see into the future and tell you exactly what will appeal to a potential home-buyer in five to 10 years' time. What we do know, however, is that "smart homes" are going to become increasingly prevalent, and the core requirement of this futuristic phenomenon is good internet access. If fibre internet has made its way to your neighbourhood, make the investment and get this installed.

When people talk about the idea of smart homes, they could be referring to a number of different factors which, for them, would make the home "smart". For some, lighting that can be controlled from a smartphone may be considered "smart". For others, this may involve being able to watch any media stored in the cloud from anywhere in their home. For yet others, "smart" may mean the ability to close blinds at the press of a button or to press a "movie" button on your smartphone and have the entertainment system come on immediately, while the lights dim and the popcorn maker is activated. Whatever your definition of smart — you are going to need a good internet connection to make it a reality.

Technology is not the only area in which your home should be as modern as possible in order to appeal to its future owners. If possible, replace old toilets with new ones that offer the half-flush option and ensure that your geyser has a good energy rating. In addition, it's important to ensure that your spaces are as adaptable as possible. A family with small children who come to view your house need to be able to easily imagine your home office as their children's playroom.

When it's time to find a new home — smart or otherwise — the team at Jawitz Properties is at your service! Contact us today about the wide range of properties they have on offer in every corner of South Africa.