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Currently rivalling braai-side conversations about the Springboks’ chances of winning in the forthcoming Rugby World Cup in France and whether a Ford Ranger is even a match for a Toyota Hilux, talk of which neighbours spent what on their respective load-shedding “fix” is all but guaranteed to spark debate in many South African homes.
Whether you’re able to spend whatever it takes to become altogether less reliant on the national grid, or you’ve chosen to navigate a balance between affordability and keeping only must-have appliances and conveniences running during periods of unstable power delivery to your home, depending on the extent of your solution, it could also help you to sell your property when the time comes, with the real possibility of adding to asking price.
According to the Director/Principal of Fine & Country Helderberg, Shaun Harris, it really depends on which sector of the market you’re in. “In selling homes upwards of R10 million, we find that the new owner isn’t too concerned with what systems are already in place, as they have the means to bring in their own ‘people’ to customise an existing setup, or even start from scratch if needs be.”
“In homes that are currently selling for below R5 million, the presence of an existing solar PV or, indeed, battery and inverter solution may prove appealing as the new owner will likely have to spend a large portion of the money that might go towards a new system on things like transfer duties and associated fees.”
According to Harris, some developers have even taken to offering an inverter and battery installation as a means of enticing an uncertain buyer into a new purchase. “The idea of a battery backup that keeps the lights on during load-shedding has broadly replaced discounting as a sales tool for some.”
Of course, when looking to purchase a new home that has an existing system in place, it’s important to make sure that all the necessary certificates of compliance are in order. With homeowners currently clambering to keep the lights on, many fly-by-night installers have taken to offering enticing deals for systems that simply don’t meet regulations or are, indeed, unsafe in the long run. This includes mounting panels on points that haven’t been certified to carry additional weight, illegal electrical connections and poor regard for the health and safety regulations, placing themselves and owners alike at risk.
It also stands to reason that you need to make sure that the solar PV system that you see in the pictures is being sold with the home. With rental options becoming ever-popular, there is a chance that the company to whom the solar PV system still belongs will be arriving to remove it once more.
“While it’s hard to say that an installed and fully compliant solar PV system and/or backup power solution will add significant value to your home, its presence may well prove to be the deciding factor between your home and a similarly priced property that doesn’t yet offer such a system. You should also be able to at least recoup the cost of the installation within your asking price,” concludes Harris.
Megan Ladbrook, general manager of Only Realty, on the other hand, believes that the appropriate load-shedding solution could add up to 8% to the asking price of your home.
The Rentech brand was established in 2001 as a dedicated provider of renewable energy products and services. It forms part of the AutoX family that manufactures Willard and Sabat Batteries, some of South Africa’s leading battery brands. Rentech is focused on supplying local and selected African markets, including a range of inverters, lithium batteries, lead-acid batteries, and PV panels of the highest quality. It provides expert advice to assist customers in choosing the best product solutions, appropriate for specific applications and requirements.