Future Proofing Your Home For Long-Term Savings

Owning a home is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Ensuring that your home stands the test of time is essential. Future proofing your home means taking steps today to prevent significant costs and surprises down the road. Paddio is building a future for the digital homeowner, drastically simplifying the homeownership experience.

Here is how you can future proof your home:

1. Measure the Current State of Your Home

Before making any changes, it's crucial to understand your home’s current condition. Do you know how old it is? What are the walls insulated with? These questions are quickly answered when conducting a thorough inspection or hiring a professional to identify existing issues. These assessments often include assessing the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling systems. For example, your roof will be evaluated to understand the materials and expected lifespan. Is it possible that your roof is already past its lifespan? Could minor water damage or heat loss occur?  

Electrical and heating and cooling systems are always on and should be monitored consistently. It's important to determine how much of your monthly bill is attributable to appliances such as your dishwasher and air conditioner. Understanding these details is crucial for assessing overall home efficiency and health.

2. Prioritize Immediate vs. Future Home Efficiency Upgrades

Once you have a clear picture of your home’s current state from the home inspection, prioritize the areas for improvement to achieve the most monthly savings. Is your winter heating costing a fortune? Considering your heating source is crucial, as annual increases in heating oil and natural gas prices may make it more affordable to replace them with an energy-efficient heat pump, which can cut energy consumption by more than 50%. This not only reduces fossil fuel dependency but also results in significantly lower monthly bills. Many Canadian homes are switching entirely to solar power for further savings, some seeing upwards of 90% decrease in their annual energy bill.

Interested in exploring more about adding solar to your home? It is easier than you think. 

A leaking roof or faulty wiring requires immediate attention and often has additional effects on the home that need investigation. Other improvements, such as cosmetic changes, should be planned for a later date, as they don’t save you money like home energy efficiency upgrades or address potential safety or structural issues. .Creating a wishlist of improvements with a timeline helps manage costs and ensures that critical issues are handled promptly. Paddio can assist with this process, answer a brief survey to get your free home energy efficiency score! 

3. Immediate Focus on Value-Enhancing Upgrades for Savings and Home Value

Major improvements are key to future proofing your home. These long-lasting systems significantly impact monthly energy bills and are essential for maintaining comfort. This might include replacing the aging roof, updating the HVAC system with an energy efficient heat pump, or enhancing insulation with modern spray materials. These improvements not only increase your home’s value but also enhance its energy efficiency, safety, and comfort.  Think of these as the bones of your home that all other components depend upon.

4. Use Tools to Measure the Ongoing State of Your Home

Think of your home like the dashboard of your car. Just as you often check the gas mileage and engine light, you should regularly monitor your home’s key systems. For a minimal cost, you can obtain real-time information about your electricity usage or how warm your child's room gets in the summer. This proactive approach helps identify energy efficiency and home comfort seasonally.

Utilizing smart home technology to monitor the ongoing condition of your home is rapidly gaining adoption across Canada. If you have invested in home improvements, it's essential to measure those improvements by assessing your energy bill pre- and post-improvements. This level of visibility can significantly enhance your ability to budget and proactively plan home upgrades. Commonly used devices include smart thermostats to monitor home humidity and temperature, water leak detectors to identify and locate moisture issues, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) appliances that provide real-time data, alerts, and automation features to reduce energy consumption. These tools help you monitor your home’s critical systems and catch issues before they escalate.

5. Don’t Get Left in the Cold: Plan Home Maintenance and Replacements

By striving for an entirely preventive maintenance cycle, we approach what Paddio defines as The Futureproof Home. Smart devices and detailed digital service records remind you when an important component, like your furnace, is reaching the end of its life, ensuring your family isn’t left cold when it breaks in the middle of the winter.

Paddio enables homeowners to manage all aspects of their home in one place. We assist in replacing critical components, ensuring service providers are aware of your home’s unique characteristics. Knowing the age of your home systems (i.e. furnace) is crucial to avoid unexpected breakdowns and to access government rebates or loans for these essential systems. Without timely replacements, you risk urgent repairs that prevent you from benefiting from significant savings or incentives.

Paddio supports you in accessing certified home energy auditors, tradespeople, and financing from government loans or rebates seamlessly. Your home profile maintains a record of all services performed, and Paddio provides reminders for upgrades or maintenance, ensuring you’re never left in the cold.

6. Enhance Market Value with Full Home Documentation

When it’s time to sell your home, having a complete history of all maintenance and improvements is a valuable asset for attracting prospective buyers and maximizing value. Buyers appreciate transparency and knowing the home has been well-cared for, often passing on homes that lack this assurance. In today's competitive housing market, many homebuyers aren’t able to conduct home inspections or make conditional offers. Providing buyers with a record of all third-party inspections, repairs, and upgrades assures them that they are making a sound investment. This detailed history can motivate buyers to exceed the asking price to secure a move-in-ready home. Buyers can now see the full picture of the home's quality, increasing their confidence in their investment.

Future proofing your home is an ongoing process that protects your investment and ensures your home remains safe and comfortable despite changes in the environment. By measuring the current state of your home, prioritizing repairs, conducting strategic improvements, utilizing smart technology, and maintaining detailed digital records, you can stay ahead of potential issues. Paddio offers a range of services to support every step of this journey, empowering the next generation of homeowners.

Start measuring your home now with Paddio!

Paddio Guarantee

We guarantee a seamless home efficiency upgrade process, from initial audits to final installations, ensuring you meet all requirements for Canada’s Home Efficiency Loan. With Paddio, you'll receive expert facilitation of pre and post-work EnerGuide assessments, access to qualified retrofit products, and professional tradespeople for installation. If you're not satisfied with our service, we offer a 100% refund on the $500 Paddio services fee.

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