To lighten the load, Warm Fuzzies put together their top tips for how you can bring a property up to standard as cost-efficiently as possible.
Tip #1: Start with your insulation
Getting insulation sorted first can save you a lot of money down the road when meeting heating requirements.
If you aren't sure if the current insulation will meet compliance requirements, getting a professional in to assess it means you'll be able to top it up to standard and accommodate settling from the get-go.
Starting here also means the property will retain heat better, making it easier to reach the heating requirements down the line.
Tip #2: Always, always, always compare quotes
If you already know that maintenance needs to be done to bring the home up to compliance standards, make sure you get multiple quotes for the work before choosing your contractor.
It can seem like a lot of legwork, and there's no guarantee your second or third quotes will be any better than the first. But sometimes, those extra few minutes coordinating another quote can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars.
If you haven't already had a Healthy Homes inspection and want several quotes to compare for work that needs doing, Warm Fuzzies can help you with both.
Tip #3: Check for grants and financial support
There is a grant provided by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, known as the Warmer Kiwi Homes Grant. If you're eligible, you could get up to 80% of the cost of your ceiling and underfloor insulation or 80% of the cost of an approved heater.
This is only available if your house was built before 2008 and you still live in the house you're applying for. So if you're looking for help with a rental property, options are a little tighter.
Many local councils will offer you the ability to finance insulation work via your rates payments through a Voluntary Targeted Rates Programme.
It's also worth mentioning that both ANZ and Westpac offer interest-free loans for four to five years if your mortgage sits with them.
Tip #4: Try to hit two birds with one stone
As one final tip, you can save money by using your Healthy Homes inspection to identify the work that needs to take place rather than booking multiple inspections over time.
Warm Fuzzies offers Healthy Homes inspections that include three quotes for repairing any faults that hold your property back from compliance. They operate in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin.
If your property fails inspection, but the necessary repairs are booked through their contractors, your compliance status and documentation will automatically be updated to reflect that the property is up to standard.
