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My Advice…

February 28, 2021 By Doug Francis

Building? Add EV Power Now

Although you may not drive an electric vehicle now, know there is a high probability you will ten years from now.

  • Volkswagen announced recently that more than half their sales will be EV’s by 2030.
  • Volvo has planned to be fully electric by 2030.
  • GM plans to be offering only EV’s by 2035.

So the EV isn’t a trend, especially when companies have staked their future plans on eliminating combustion engines and going all electric. It makes a smart case for making sure your new home is ready today.

Powering up your EV

We currently have plenty of EV’s driving around Vienna, VA and there are charging stations at the Wawa and at Walgreens. But you probably don’t want to hang out at Wawa every week, or shop every aisle of Walgreens to get your power, right?

With that in mind, you can see why it is important to plan ahead when building your house to add EV circuit in the garage that can quickly power up a car..

During construction, a smart upgrade is to have the builder’s electrician add a dedicated Level 2 circuit with a 240 volt outlet. A 240 volt plug is what you’ll see behind your clothes dryer and it pulls plenty of power to really dry your clothes.

Typical 20 amp garage outlets will work, but you will only get a handful of miles per hour charging that way.

Adding a larger circuit now makes sense and will add to the resale of your home even if you are selling it next year. So, investing $1,000 now during construction is the smart decision.

Today’s home buyer needs power

An interesting example of a builder underestimated consumer EV demand was in a condominium project in McLean, VA. When they started to sell these million dollar luxury condos from the sales trailer in 2018, they offered twelve parking spots with EV charging capability.

These spots were quickly snapped up by buyers who already drove a Tesla, and having a power station at their parking spot was critically important.

So, why is this an upgrade and not a sales tool?

Builders have always commented that people want energy efficiency but don’t want to pay for it. Fortunately, the Energy Star program and use of LED lighting has helped reduce power demands at a reasonable cost.

Adding this circuit to your new garage may seem unique to you today, but in 5-10 years you’ll see these in every new home. Think resale value!

If you have an older home and don’t have an EV, you can probably hold off hiring an electrician to add this type of circuit right now.

And if you live in a condo, put this idea to add EV circuit in the garage on your Board’s agenda of a modern project to add future value to the whole building!

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Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: new homes, technology, Vienna Real Estate

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he was profiled in a commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna. He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Helping my clients add value to their home has always been important to me. My step-by-step recommendations are intended to increase market appeal, return more then invested, and help net more when selling.

Beyond just sellers, I have helped many new homeowners make smart design decisions when remodeling. We gutted our house and totally remodeled it, and I pass that experience along because living in a nice house is simply better.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the Town of Vienna tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Questions? Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

Filmed in Vienna and McLean

https://youtu.be/ClqEIV1zoQg
Viva Vienna Vienna Idol event on the Town Green sponsored by Caffe Amouri

The Vienna Town Green

The Town Green in Vienna, Virginia is located where Maple Avenue intersects the W&OD Bike Trail and Mill Street. The Town

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About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My elite clientele has been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients now.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or email me at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

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TTR Sotheby's International Realty
6723 Whittier Avenue McLean, VA 22101

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