Is replacing your HVAC when selling a home a good deal for both you and the buyer? Like many other financial decisions, there’s more than one right answer, depending on the specific circumstances. A heating and cooling system is a substantial part of a home’s value and plays an important role in a potential sale, both for the seller of the house and the person who’s making a buying decision.
Here are a few of the variables to keep in mind about replacing your HVAC when selling a home.
- How old is it? The average life expectancy of a central A/C is about 12 years while a gas-fired furnace may last up to 20 years. If your existing system is approaching the end of its expected service life, prospective buyers know they will face the expense of HVAC replacement if they buy the house. This can be a negative when it comes to attracting qualified buyers willing to pay top asking price. By replacing the system before selling, you remove that negative issue and are able to attract higher offers from motivated buyers.
- Does it need repairs? A pre-sale home inspection often includes a close inspection of the HVAC system by a qualified expert. Expensive repairs to a system more than 10 years old are rarely a good investment. If the inspection reveals that certain components are marginal—particularly costly items like an A/C compressor or expensive safety issues like the furnace heat exchanger—many buyers may decide to look elsewhere. Replacing the system before you sell eliminates that potential deal-breaker and maintains buyer’s interest.
- How efficient is it? An older HVAC unit with outdated efficiency compared to present standards will cost more to run. This higher recurrent monthly expense may be a deterrent to interested buyers on a budget who are seeking lowest operating costs. Installing a new system that is up to date with current federal efficiency standards is a big plus you will want to mention up-front.
For a professional perspective on replacing your HVAC when selling your home, contact the experts at Ace Hardware Home Services.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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