How Your HVAC System May Affect Your Home's Resale Value
Boost your home's resale value by staying on top of your HVAC maintenance and quality
Highlights
Newer, more energy-efficient HVAC units make your property more appealing to buyers.
Regular HVAC maintenance can boost property value by optimizing efficiency and reducing repair needs.
Central HVAC is more appealing to potential buyers than room-by-room systems.
The state of your HVAC system has a significant impact on the resale value of your property. Savvy home buyers want the best bang for their buck, and that includes a cost-efficient and well-maintained heating and cooling system.
If you’re selling your house and the home inspection reports that your HVAC system is worn, inefficient, or has unacceptably high maintenance or running costs, the buyers may ask you to fix it. Or worse, they may walk away from the sale.
Let's take a look at how the quality of your HVAC affects your home's resale value and what you can do to improve the outcome.
How Does a New HVAC System Improve Resale Value?
According to the US Department of Energy, if you replace a 10-year-old central air conditioner with a new model with a seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) of at least 15, you could save up to 40% of cooling energy costs.
Similarly, replacing an old fuel furnace or boiler with a newer one with a 90% efficiency rating could reduce your home's carbon footprint by up to 2.5 tonnes per year, which is a significant saving. Plus, you'll benefit from reduced heating costs.
These reductions in emissions and improvements in efficiency boost the appeal of your property to potential buyers. Homebuyers are increasingly concerned with the long-term and ongoing costs of a property as well as the sustainability of the property’s systems.
That’s why a home with a new, efficient HVAC system is significantly more attractive than an outdated, non-efficient system that produces energy wastage. Keep in mind that a new HVAC system can increase your home’s worth by 5% to 7%, and provide a return on investment of about 60%.
How Does Regular HVAC Maintenance Increase Property Value?
While most people need to replace their HVAC units every 10 to 15 years, with regular care and maintenance, heating and cooling systems can potentially last up to 20 years while sustaining an acceptable efficiency level.
If you can prove that you've had professional maintenance, inspections, or servicing carried out on your system, you'll boost buyer confidence and property value. Knowing that a system is well-maintained, even if it's a few years old, reassures buyers that there's a limited risk of constant repair bills and excessively high heating and cooling energy costs.
To keep your HVAC system in sale-worthy shape, it's a good idea to hire a local HVAC pro to inspect the system twice a year. You should also consider an annual HVAC service contract that handles the standard heating and cooling inspections and maintenance.
Does the Type of Unit Impact Resale Price?
Central HVAC systems are considered more valuable than ductless or room-by-room units. Central systems are generally less obtrusive and more aesthetically pleasing, and there are fewer mechanical units to maintain and repair.
Showcase Your HVAC System During Home Tours
Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature during home showings is a smart move. It creates a sense of comfort for potential buyers, and it also showcases that you have a working HVAC system and, assuming you've kept it well-maintained, using it during home tours lets potential buyers hear its low volume.