The Heating and Cooling Upgrades That Add Value to Your Home

Home Buyers Want Energy-Efficient HVAC

First, the bad news: according to a report in Remodeling Magazine, homeowners are embarking upon more residential upgrade projects than ever before, but without getting a reasonable rate of return on their investments. That means for every dollar spent on new tiles for the swimming pool, sliding barn doors for the den, or a larger fireplace for the living room, you won’t necessarily see that money coming back to you when you sell your property.

Except for one area. You guessed it: HVAC.

Another report by the National Association of Realtors found that upgrades to your HVAC system could increase your home’s resale value by 10-15%. That’s significant. And it makes sense: today’s weather extremes even here in the Southland require a reliable, energy efficient central heating and air conditioning system to ensure indoor comfort.

And luckily, you may not even need to replace your current equipment to see that kind of added equity.

For example, switching over to double or triple-paned, energy efficient windows will not only result in lowering your utility costs immediately, but attract lots of homebuyers too. The National Association of Home Builders recently found that 89% of families looking to purchase any residential property across all price points wanted Energy Star-rated windows, and would be more likely to purchase one home over another if it included this added benefit.

Indeed, having a certified, Energy-Star rated home is also very popular with prospective buyers, with 81% ranking this feature as “an essential/must have” or “very desirable.”

Another HVAC upgrade you may not have yet considered is a new smart thermostat. Replacing a manual version with one of these programmable models is relatively inexpensive. And it’s not just easier to operate than the old analog versions, but also provides more accurate temperature control, and real-time energy savings 24/7, every day of the year.

Smart thermostats let you program the temperature ahead of time, so you don’t need to worry about leaving without turning off the heat or air. You’ll spend less money cooling and heating when the house is empty, and ensure total indoor comfort in those hours when you are at home.

Finally, if you’ve had your HVAC system for more than a decade, or installed one that’s too large or too small for your home, it may be time to look into getting a new one prior to putting your home on the market.  Freon-based units are no longer practical, as Freon manufacture has now been banned in the United States. Furthermore, recent technology breakthroughs mean that today’s systems work better and use less energy than HVAC of the past. That translates into lower utility costs and greater indoor comfort for everyone.

So hold off on installing wall-to-wall carpet, or adding new, water-hungry landscaping that will be expensive to maintain. Investment in your HVAC will yield far better results, now and into the future, whatever your plans.

 

Get the HVAC specialists the San Gabriel Valley trusts for all their heating and air conditioning needs, since 1969. Call Air-Tro at  (626) 357-3535.