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First off, where are you reading that? I can't find it anywhere..
Second, even if there is an energy-audit requirement enacted, what makes you think it would be a 'government' energy audit? I'm speculating, but I'd say it would be more in line with the home inspections and termite inspections we see today, which are performed by private businesses.. Small businesses, usually.
Somehow, I just don't see the federal government sending someone out to audit each and every house that goes on the market..
Moreover, you didn't mention anything about a 'grading' system or whether or not the results of any such test could keep the house off the market.. I mean, the law today requires that the current owner of a house either fill out a property disclosure or disclaimer... They can put whatever they want on the disclosure (i.e., "THIS HOUSE IS A DEATH TRAP!") or they can sign a disclaimer and keep their mouth shut -- either way, the house may still be sold.
That said, it makes sense to me that the results of the energy audit -- however good or bad -- would simply be passed along to potential buyers so they may differentiate between homes. If it turns out that your house is an energy hog compared to the competition, it seems to me that the "punishment" would be that it sits on the market until you caulk some windows, put up a little bit of weatherstripping and so forth to make your house competitive with the market...
Maybe it's just me, but I'm all about competition in the market.
Edited to add:
Ya know, the more I think about it, the better the idea sounds.. Right now, short of requesting utility bills and speculating on personal habits, there's really no way to compare apples to apples in terms of energy use when you're looking at two homes. This would be the way.. Plus, as people are doing their 'sale prep,' this would actually give them a reason to look at their energy efficiency instead of saying "oh well, that's the next guy's problem..." and letting things go.
The cherry on top would be that mandatory energy audits would create a lot of work and opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs to start little energy audit companies..
Aside from the few bucks it would cost to have it done and the PITA of rectifying the problems (or lowering the sale price to compensate), I don't really see much downside...
I'm actually kinda hoping flopshot's right, and that they are going to require it!
First off, where are you reading that? I can't find it anywhere..
Second, even if there is an energy-audit requirement enacted, what makes you think it would be a 'government' energy audit? I'm speculating, but I'd say it would be more in line with the home inspections and termite inspections we see today, which are performed by private businesses.. Small businesses, usually.
Somehow, I just don't see the federal government sending someone out to audit each and every house that goes on the market..
Moreover, you didn't mention anything about a 'grading' system or whether or not the results of any such test could keep the house off the market.. I mean, the law today requires that the current owner of a house either fill out a property disclosure or disclaimer... They can put whatever they want on the disclosure (i.e., "THIS HOUSE IS A DEATH TRAP!") or they can sign a disclaimer and keep their mouth shut -- either way, the house may still be sold.
That said, it makes sense to me that the results of the energy audit -- however good or bad -- would simply be passed along to potential buyers so they may differentiate between homes. If it turns out that your house is an energy hog compared to the competition, it seems to me that the "punishment" would be that it sits on the market until you caulk some windows, put up a little bit of weatherstripping and so forth to make your house competitive with the market...
Maybe it's just me, but I'm all about competition in the market.
Edited to add:
Ya know, the more I think about it, the better the idea sounds.. Right now, short of requesting utility bills and speculating on personal habits, there's really no way to compare apples to apples in terms of energy use when you're looking at two homes. This would be the way.. Plus, as people are doing their 'sale prep,' this would actually give them a reason to look at their energy efficiency instead of saying "oh well, that's the next guy's problem..." and letting things go.
The cherry on top would be that mandatory energy audits would create a lot of work and opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs to start little energy audit companies..
Aside from the few bucks it would cost to have it done and the PITA of rectifying the problems (or lowering the sale price to compensate), I don't really see much downside...
I'm actually kinda hoping flopshot's right, and that they are going to require it!
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