Beating the loadshedding blues, 12 things to have in your home right now

As we head into winter with the news that power outages may increase further, and despite the relief provided to homeowners by the City of Cape Town (CoC), it is good to again remind homeowners of some of the measures that they could take.

Solar power - fast becoming the most in-demand feature. It provides clean and renewable energy, and the future potential to sell excess back to CoC. Loan options and a once-off tax incentive* is available.

Gas stove or burner - can help with cooking needs and to boil a kettle. A gas stove has become another key selling point.

Gas or wood burning fireplace - with more power outages on the cards, alternative heating is not only vital, but can help the shift towards clean and renewable energy.

Solar geyser - a start for those who are not yet installing solar. Given that a geyser is the main contributor to your electricity bill, you can save costs and add value to your property.

Gas water heater - can be localised in the bathroom or kitchen (or both) and can provide instant hot water when needed.

Inverter - a great alternative to a noisy and polluting generator, this can run a few lights, the internet, a computer and TV depending on what you install.

Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) - another great solution to keep your laptop and internet powered for two to four hours. Depending on the number of devices, you may need to get two or more.

Back-up battery system for your gate, security system and an outdoor light - especially in view of the increased security, these are now vital features.

Rechargeable lights - another necessity. They generally only last two hours, so rotate the lights during an outage and remember to keep them charged.

Outdoor solar lights - another important security precaution, especially the addition of motion-sensor floodlights which could be triggered when movement is detected.

Power banks - portable and easy to keep around to charge cell phones, tablets, laptops and other devices. Just remember you will need to keep the power banks charged as well.

Water tank - besides a stock of fresh water (at least 10-litres), homes without a borehole or wellpoint, should consider water tanks to harvest rainwater for various non-potable usage around the home.

Home is our Story and property my passion. Aside from the preparedness to deal with power outages, most of these features will add value and marketability to your property. We are in fact seeing an increasing number of buyers looking for properties which do come with features such as inverters.

As with any improvements, it is always advisable to consult with a local area agent if you would like to know more about what value these would add. Please feel free to contact me today for a free valuation.

*Note - a reminder that a once-off tax incentive for solar installations is available for this tax year only which amounts to 25% of the costs with a maximum of R15,000.