Selling your home as an FSBO is a great idea, but it means you are responsible for attracting and dealing with buyers yourself. With that in mind, you need to do everything you can to market your home as a desirable listing. While curb appeal is crucial, people overlook plenty of other details in this process. One of them is the importance of HVAC maintenance before listing your home. You need to ensure your HVAC system is in top condition. A proper inspection before the sale can increase the chances of getting the price you want for your home. After all, potential buyers will appreciate knowing they don’t have to spend additional money on inspecting or fixing the heating and ventilation. With that in mind, let’s dive into the various details of proper HVAC maintenance.
Regular Maintenance Is Crucial
First off, you should know that the importance of HVAC maintenance holds true even if you don’t intend to sell your home. Ideally, it’s something you do on your property on a semi-regular basis. This also ensures your home will be ready for an FSBO process at any time.
How often do you need to service your HVAC system? Well, preferably as often as possible. However, most HVAC technicians would agree that scheduling a maintenance check-up once a year is sufficient.
When you hire a technician to perform the task, you’ll get a maintenance report in the end. If everything is in working order, it showcases the quality of your HVAC to potential buyers. If you need to make any repairs or clean, you can do so on time and ensure everything is in working order before the sale by hiring HVAC cleaning in Boston. It is always better to let the pros handle this task.
Once you decide to sell, it’s a good idea to schedule a new HVAC inspection a few weeks before the sale. This is advisable even if you’ve regularly had HVAC inspected in the years before. This way, buyers will know that everything is in order at the moment when they’re buying the home.
In case this final inspection detects issues, consult your technician on the next steps. Minor issues require a small delay while the repairs are completed. However, you may also need to consider a complete replacement if the repairs are impossible or too costly.
Consider an HVAC Maintenance Plan
Most HVAC maintenance service providers offer ongoing plans as an option. Instead of having to remember to schedule yearly inspections yourself, you can simply pay for a plan that includes:
With this type of professional plan, your HVAC system will have a longer lifespan. Plus, you’ll know it’s in working order at all times. This type of plan can be transferred with the home when you sell your property — and it’s another sign of a well-kept house to potential buyers. Also, it assures that a repairman will quickly address any issues that might arise in the future.
Here’s another pro tip — before you schedule a viewing for potential buyers, replace the old HVAC intake filter with a new one. Not doing that is a common mistake that reduces curb appeal. The filters can get dirty quickly and stick out like a sore thumb — even if they’re relatively new and still function properly.
How Old Is Your HVAC System?
When you consider the importance of HVAC maintenance, think about how old your system is as well. Like most things, HVAC systems have a relatively definitive lifespan. In older homes, a system can last between 15 and 25 years. After that, repairs will become more frequent and expensive — to the point where simply replacing the whole system is more cost-effective.
What does this mean for your FSBO listing? Before you sell your home, consider replacing the HVAC if you’re dealing with an older property. Besides the state of the HVAC itself, buyers will be impressed with your dedication to home maintenance in general. As a result, they’ll be prepared to pay a slightly higher price, knowing that the house is well-kept.
An HVAC replacement is even more crucial if a technician notices any problems during the last inspection. 3 Wave Cleaning and similar companies have professionals who can perfectly clean and maintain your system well. However, sometimes, a replacement is necessary.
Remember, the lifespan of your HVAC also varies depending on any appliances you’ve connected to it. For instance, combination boilers last longer than air-con and heat pumps.
On the other hand, buyers who notice an HVAC system that obviously needs replacement will likely run for the hills. In their minds, it’s another thing they need to spend money on after buying the home — potentially putting off budget-sensitive buyers.
New HVAC Systems Are More Efficient
Speaking of buyers who don’t want to spend a ton of money on HVAC replacements and repairs, remember that a newer HVAC system adds another selling point to your home — cost efficiency.
Newer systems don’t spend nearly as much energy as those installed a few decades ago, and it’s something to consider when buying and selling a home. As a result, homebuyers can expect lower electricity bills in homes with newer HVACs. Keep in mind that homebuyers don’t just consider the buying price of a home. They want to know how much it’ll cost them to maintain the house in the long run.
From that point of view, a newer HVAC system is definitely appealing. This is especially true when it’s coupled with new windows, which further elevate the heat efficiency of your home.
Wrapping Up
Clearly, the importance of HVAC maintenance before an FSBO listing can’t be overstated. It provides peace of mind to potential buyers and potentially increases the value of your home. Also, performing any necessary fixes or replacements on time shows your trustworthiness as a seller.
In the process, you can also make a few upgrades to elevate your HVAC system further. For example, smart thermostats and wet switches make the system both safer and easier to control. These are minor details, but if you can spare the money for a small investment, they can impress your potential buyers even more. Plus, they can help your listing stand out in a crowded, competitive market.
