Thinking about listing your Linden Hills home this season? Buyers are asking smart questions about comfort, safety, and energy costs, and you want clear answers that build confidence. A quick visit from the Home Energy Squad can give you verified data, simple upgrades, and a written report you can use in your listing. Here is how the program works in Minneapolis and why it is a smart pre-list step. Let’s dive in.
Why Home Energy Squad matters in Linden Hills
Linden Hills has many homes built before 2000, from classic cottages to early 20th-century houses near Lake Harriet. That makes energy diagnostics especially useful for sealing drafts, assessing insulation, and confirming combustion safety. The neighborhood’s housing stock skews older, which aligns well with the more detailed HES visit option for older properties (Linden Hills overview).
For sellers, an HES visit delivers what buyers want to see: objective test results, a prioritized report, and immediate low-cost upgrades. You get third-party documentation that can support your marketing remarks and help you respond to inspection questions with confidence. Small installs like LEDs and weather-stripping also polish the way your home shows.
What a visit includes
Visit types and cost
Home Energy Squad services are delivered by the Center for Energy and Environment in partnership with Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy. You can choose from two main in-home options and a virtual option (program details):
- Energy Planner Visit. Best for homes built before 2000. Includes a blower-door air-leak test, infrared insulation check, combustion-safety testing, and on-the-spot installs. Plan on 2-3 hours. Typical cost: about $100.
- Energy Saver Visit. Best for newer homes, condos, and renters. Includes LED bulbs, high-efficiency water fixtures, basic air sealing, and next-step recommendations. Plan on 2-3 hours. Typical cost: about $70.
- Virtual visits are available if you prefer no in-home entry.
On-site installs and testing
Crews arrive with LED bulbs, faucet aerators, efficient showerheads, and weather-stripping, and they install what makes sense for your home. For older homes, they add blower-door and infrared diagnostics plus combustion and carbon monoxide checks. Afterward you receive a written Home Energy Report with prioritized recommendations you can use in your listing.
How this helps your listing
- You can cite third-party findings in your remarks, such as blower-door tested, attic inspected, and safety checks completed. That lowers uncertainty for buyers.
- The report helps you decide which fixes to complete before market and which to price or disclose, improving your strategy.
- Documented efficiency can increase marketability. Studies of rated homes show a modest average price premium when efficiency is documented, with results varying by market and measure (RESNET summary of value impacts).
Timing, scheduling, and incentives
When to book and how long it takes
Most visits take 2-3 hours, and you will receive your report the same day or shortly after. Many sellers schedule the visit one to two weeks before going live, which leaves time for quick fixes and quotes for any larger items.
How to schedule
To schedule, call 651-328-6220 or email [email protected]. You can also start through the Home Energy Squad website to confirm service area and visit type (schedule on the HES page). An adult 18 or older must be present.
Local cost buy-downs
Standard pricing is typically $70 for Energy Saver and $100 for Energy Planner. Minneapolis and nearby cities sometimes fund visit discounts or even free visits while funding lasts. Check for current city incentives before you book (see a recent City of Minneapolis bulletin for an example of limited-time free visits program announcements). Income-qualified households may be eligible for free visits through the program.
What to do after the visit
- Tackle quick wins. Replace bulbs, add weather-stripping, set the water heater to the recommended temperature, and install a compatible smart or programmable thermostat if advised.
- Get quotes where it counts. If the report shows insulation gaps or specific air leaks, get bids for targeted air sealing or attic insulation.
- Use the Energy Advisor service. CEE advisors help you prioritize projects, find vetted contractors, and identify utility rebates and low-interest energy loans so you can invest wisely before you list (Energy Advisor support).
- Organize your paperwork. Save the HES report, any contractor invoices, and rebate documentation. Your agent can upload the report with your MLS documents and use it to support your disclosures. Minnesota law allows sharing third-party reports and requires disclosure of material facts (Minnesota statute overview).
Quick checklist for sellers
- Confirm your home’s year built and choose the right visit type.
- Book your visit 1-2 weeks before you plan to list.
- Complete the simple installs during the visit.
- Decide on any pre-list upgrades using the report and advisor guidance.
- Add the HES report to your listing documents and reference it in your remarks.
Ready to make your Linden Hills listing stronger, faster, and easier to market? If you want help coordinating your Home Energy Squad visit and weaving the report into a Compass Concierge-backed prep plan, reach out to Kelly Bollinger.
FAQs
What is the Home Energy Squad and who runs it?
- Home Energy Squad is a residential service delivered by the Center for Energy and Environment with Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy, offering in-home and virtual visits that include installs, diagnostics, and a written report (program overview).
Which HES visit should a Linden Hills seller choose?
- Most older Linden Hills homes fit the Energy Planner Visit, which includes blower-door and infrared diagnostics; use the Energy Saver Visit for newer homes or condos (visit guidance).
How much does a visit cost in Minneapolis?
- Typical prices are about $70 for Energy Saver and $100 for Energy Planner, and Minneapolis at times offers city-funded discounts or free visits while funding lasts (pricing and city offer example, Minneapolis bulletin).
Will an HES visit delay my listing?
- No. Visits usually take 2-3 hours with a report delivered the same day or shortly after, so you can still list on schedule while tackling easy fixes (visit timing).
How do I use the HES report in disclosures and marketing?
- Add the report to your MLS documents, reference key findings in remarks, and keep invoices for any completed work; Minnesota law permits sharing third-party reports and requires disclosure of material facts (state statute reference).
