Buying Or Selling A House? Don’t Forget About Heating And AC Repair And Inspections | Dallas, TX
There are so many things to think about if you’re planning to buy or sell a house. The more care you take with the process, the greater your chance of enjoying a successful transaction. HVAC systems are critical home features. Whether you’re selling or buying, a close examination of the heating and air conditioning systems is an important part of your deal. One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas specializes in heating and AC repair as well as maintenance and inspections for customers in and around Dallas, TX. Put our expertise to work for you either tuning up or inspecting your HVAC system before you make any real estate deals. Here, we’ll explore some important HVAC considerations associated with selling or buying a house.
Selling a House: Get Your HVAC System in Prime Condition
When you make the decision to sell your Dallas, TX, home, it’s important to put your property’s best face forward. That may include tree trimming, interior painting, and lots of scrubbing, but don’t forget your HVAC system. If you need any type of heating and AC repair work done, it makes sense to complete this work before you list the house. Depending on the real estate market in your area, homes can sell quickly. You may receive an offer for your home sooner than you expect. Once you accept an offer, the process can move quickly; the buyer is likely to want to move forward with a home inspection right away.
Not surprisingly, your HVAC system will definitely factor into their professional inspection. If it requires heating and AC repair, don’t be surprised if the buyer wants you to make those repairs before completing the deal, negotiates for a better price, or even asks that you replace the HVAC system before completing the deal.
In other words, if your unit requires a repair, it won’t escape the notice of inspectors and buyers. So, if you need any maintenance or repairs performed, rely on One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas to tackle the job.
Benefits of HVAC Maintenance
Before listing your Dallas, TX, contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas to perform a thorough inspection of your HVAC system and provide a tuneup and some routine maintenance. During the course of our inspection, if you need heating and AC repair service, we can tackle the work right away.
Having a complete evaluation of your system is a great marketing tool. When you meet with buyers, you’ll be able to tell them that you just had the unit inspected and that it’s in optimum working condition. They may have questions for you about any HVAC repair work you had done recently. Our Dallas, TX HVAC technicians can discuss your unit in detail so that you have a clear understanding of its condition and any past problems.
Should You Replace an Old HVAC System?
Replacing an HVAC system is a big investment. If you’re selling your home, this might be too large an investment to make. You may be better off hiring One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas to perform any needed heating and AC repair work rather than replacing your old unit. A new HVAC system will certainly be appealing to potential buyers, but you naturally want to get a great return on any investment you make on your home renovations.
Talk to our technicians about your unit. Knowing its exact condition will help you make the decision of whether to replace the unit or opt for heating and AC repair work instead. The truth is, some old units will turn off house hunters because they don’t fancy the prospect of replacing the heating and cooling systems soon after they make a purchase. Many home buyers are looking for homes that have new, energy-efficient HVAC systems installed.
However, if you can demonstrate that your old HVAC system has enjoyed prompt heating and AC repair service and is in great condition in spite of its age, you may persuade some buyers to make an offer. Questions of HVAC replacement involve considerable thought, but you can turn to our heat and AC repair technicians for our feedback on your system’s condition and needs. In other words, we can help you make an informed decision before you list your house.
Buying a House: HVAC System Considerations
As a home shopper, there are home features that you always want to pay close attention to. It’s crucial to have a good understanding of the condition of the home’s roof, foundation, plumbing, electric, and HVAC system. Ideally, you want to purchase a house that has heating and AC systems that are in good working order and have been treated to routine maintenance. Many buyers may be able to tell you the age of the HVAC system but not much else. That’s why you need to inspect this system closely so that you are aware of its condition.
Ask the Seller Questions
Most home sellers aren’t HVAC experts, so don’t expect much technical information from them. However, they have an obligation to provide honest information about their home’s features. When meeting with sellers, it may help to ask them certain questions to get an idea about the condition of the unit. A few questions you might ask include:
- What are your monthly heating and cooling costs?
- How often have you had the HVAC system inspected?
- When was the last tuneup your HVAC system had?
- Is any of the equipment still under warranty?
- What heating and AC repair services have you have had done?
- How old are the heating and AC units?
Knowing the answers to these questions will give you an idea about the unit’s condition. If it’s an older system, you’re probably already aware that it’s not going to be as energy efficient as a newer model. That means that you may have to pay higher-the-average energy bills if you buy the house.
On the other hand, if the unit is old and in questionable condition, you can certainly factor that into your purchase offer. Talk to a heating and AC repair technician from One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas to discuss the likely longevity of HVAC systems. It will help to know approximately how long you can expect a particular model, afforded with good maintenance, can be expected to last. In other words, you want to have a decent guess about how long the system will work before you need to seriously consider replacing it.
HVAC Inspections
If you make an offer on a home and the buyer accepts, the process is far from complete. You’ll need to have the home and its essential systems thoroughly inspected. Home inspectors will make a comprehensive inspection of the home’s heating and air conditioning systems on behalf of the buyer. Naturally, they will want to ensure that the HVAC system is operating safely. During their inspection, you can expect the technician to:
- Inspect air filters
- Perform a thermostat test
- Evaluate the condition of the equipment
- Assess the airflow
- Check the AC system’s refrigerant levels
- Inspect the heating system’s gas connections
- Inspect exhaust systems
- Inspect the blower motor
- Inspect condensate drain and drip pans
- Ensure that fail safe components / features are working
- Assess both mechanical and electrical components
- Note any signs of pest damage
- Produce a diagnostic report that includes both inspection findings and heating and repair recommendations
One House Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas provides inspection and maintenance services as well as all manner of heating and AC repair solutions. We can perform inspections as well as complete any heating and AC repair work that’s recommended by your home inspector.
Negotiating with the Home Seller
If your inspector’s report turns up any problems with the HVAC system, you can request that the seller hire a heating and AC repair technician to make the necessary repairs. However, that’s not all you might request. It’s not uncommon for buyers to make requests such as:
- Replacement of old thermostat with a smart thermostat or programmable thermostat
- Install an air purifier or provide extra filtration
- Install leak protection devices
- Replace wearing parts
A buyer can also ask the seller to replace the HVAC system if it’s old and not functioning properly. Of course, the seller has the right to deny this request. These types of issues often lead buyers to backing out of deals. You can also adjust your offer if the HVAC inspection turns up the need for substantial heating and AC repair. You may opt to perform this work after completing the deal, but you may want to factor those costs into your adjusted purchase offer.
HVAC Issues That Can Derail a Deal
Whether you’re a buyer or seller, it’s a good idea to be aware of some common HVAC issues that can detail a real estate deal. That way, you can be better prepared for what may be in store.
Leaks / Emissions
HVAC systems that are experiencing leaks or gas emissions are potentially dangerous–even deadly. Any unit that has problems like these requires immediate inspection and heating and AC repair work. In many cases, problems like this will send buyers running. That’s why it’s helpful for sellers to hire their own technician to inspect their unit before listing it. They can uncover any safety problems or repair needs before potential buyers even walk through the door.
Obviously, whether you, as the seller, are living in the home or not, want to ensure that your heating and AC systems are safe for use. As critical aspects of your real estate investment, the heating and cooling systems of your house demand professional maintenance and heating and AC repair service when needed. If you do uncover leaks or emissions, contact One House Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas. We can send a certified HVAC technician to your Dallas, TX, home to make the necessary repairs.
Poor Installation
If an HVAC unit has been improperly installed, that’s a substantial problem. Poorly installed units are notorious for breaking down and suffering reduced longevity. If an inspector reports that the unit isn’t installed properly, many buyers will back out from the deal. A heating and AC repair specialist may be able to correct poor installation problems. If you’re a seller and you experienced installation problems, you might want to consider tacking on a home warranty plan to encourage buyers to make an offer. That way, if they have any concerns about the heating and cooling systems, they can rely on the warranty for a period of time to cover any repair costs.
Defective or Missing Parts
If your HVAC system is missing parts or has defective parts, heating and AC repair is needed. However, defective parts like a bad heat exchanger may break the deal. Sometimes, a bad part signals the need for HVAC replacement. When reports uncover problems like these, buyers may also get the idea that the system hasn’t been well maintained. That could send up a red flag and persuade them to reduce their asking price, request immediate heating and AC repair, request HVAC replacement, or rescind their offer altogether.
Focus On the HVAC System When Buying or Selling Property
As you can tell, the condition of a home’s HVAC system can greatly influence a real estate deal. Whether you are selling your house or shopping for a new home in Dallas, TX, you can trust One House Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas to provide you with outstanding heating and AC repair service and maintenance. We have years of experience and all of our technicians are licensed and insured. Contact us to schedule a heating and AC system tune-up or inspection. We’re known for our efficient and cost-effective services. Call us to learn more.