The widespread blackout that affected different areas of Spain yesterday has generated more than a simple anecdote: it has awakened a profound reflection on how we value our homes and their capacity to cope with unexpected situations.
While a one-off blackout may seem like an isolated event, the reality is that events like this quickly reveal the strengths and weaknesses of our housing stock, especially in terms of energy efficiency and residential autonomy.
What does a blackout reveal about your home?
A prolonged power outage highlights a number of key factors in the real estate market:
1. Energy efficiency and insulation: Homes with better thermal insulation are able to maintain temperature and comfort for longer without the need for additional energy. This factor, although often overlooked, has a direct impact on the quality of life during energy emergencies.
2. Energy self-sufficiency: The ability of a home to generate and store its own energy, e.g. through solar panels and battery storage, is particularly relevant after events such as the recent blackout. Self-sufficiency is no longer just a sustainable fad, but a tangible necessity that increases the value and resilience of the property.
3. Location and quality of infrastructure: Not all areas react equally to a power outage. Houses located in modern housing developments, with up-to-date infrastructure and energy back-up systems, have a competitive advantage over older properties in more deteriorated urban centres or with outdated facilities.
How this influences the value of real estate
The blackout is not only an opportunity to assess comfort and energy efficiency; it also influences the perceived value of properties. Properties equipped with sustainable technology, reinforced thermal insulation and energy autonomy tend to appreciate in the market, especially in contexts where events like this may occur more frequently due to ageing infrastructures or the European energy transition.
According to the latest report by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), investment in energy improvements increases the value of a property by between 10% and 20%, depending on its degree of self-sufficiency and efficiency. In addition, buyers are showing increasing interest in properties capable of maintaining a high level of comfort and safety in adverse circumstances.
Opportunities for owners and investors
From a landlord’s point of view, a power outage may initially seem like an inconvenience, but it also represents an opportunity to improve the property, make it more competitive and align it with future European energy efficiency regulations.
In the case of the investor, it is a clear signal as to which properties will be most in demand in the future: those that can guarantee comfort, efficiency and autonomy in all circumstances.
In short, what has happened invites us to reflect on the true value of real estate, which goes beyond design or location, and brings to the forefront the sustainable and autonomous quality of life that a home can offer.
At Quality Keys Inmobiliarios we are already advising our clients on how to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, taking advantage of subsidies and preparing for the demands of the immediate future.
