If you have a plan to sell your home, you’re probably interested in getting the best offers possible when it finally goes up for sale. If not, then what’s the point of selling at all? There are plenty of small things homeowners do to invite better offers: thoughtful staging, deep cleaning, the right agent, free cookies to everyone who takes a tour, and so on. These aren’t the only things that can be done. Another way to invite better offers is to offer a better product. Case in point: a remodeled home.

If you’re a homeowner that’s interested in improving your home’s equity for an eventual sale by taking on some remodeling projects, this is the post for you. We’ll detail the benefits of HVAC upgrades as a home selling point and list some of the most accessible upgrades for homeowners looking to make their home even more marketable than it already is.

Why should I use HVAC upgrades to improve my home’s equity?

Did you know that the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has reported that HVAC remodels have a higher average return on investment than nearly all other types of remodeling projects? On average, HVAC remodels can yield returns of up to 71%. The data speaks: if you’re going to do any sort of remodel on your home with the intention of reselling it, HVAC is a good bet. 

There are other benefits to consider as well:

• Improving the way your home’s HVAC system works is going to make your home generally more comfortable. Who lives in your home? You do! That means you get to live in a more comfortable home for the rest of your time there. The exacts of how your home will be improved will depend on the projects you choose, but the sentiment stands.
• You’re doing the environment a favor. Newer heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are generally more efficient and environmentally friendly. You’ll get the satisfaction of reducing your carbon footprint alongside the cost savings involved with using less fuel or electricity.
• Your home will be easier to sell. Sure, we can’t guarantee you’ll 100% make all the money invested in an upgrade back on the sale. The thing is, though, that updated heating, cooling, and air systems can be the thing that drives someone to make an offer you might not have seen otherwise.

Which HVAC projects should I look at if I’m interested in improving my home’s equity?

Now that we’ve explained the many benefits of using HVAC upgrades to improve your home’s equity, it’s time to discuss which upgrades are best to focus on. Upgrades that are ideal for a soon-to-be-sold home are going to be ones that are affordable and relatively low impact. Popular examples include:

• Switching to a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats are one of our most requested ready-to-sell home upgrades. Their capabilities are fairly wide, but the main draw is to be able to customize heating and cooling settings for individual rooms, in many cases from your phone or other smart device. That’s because installation is simple, offers immediate benefits, and is becoming more sought after in modern homes.
• Having an air exchanger installed. Air exchangers are a great home selling upgrade because they give you the ability to market your home’s “clean air.” Air exchangers work by switching stale air inside a home out for clean, fresh outdoor air. They use an easily installed fan and vent system to accomplish this task that, in turn, improves the overall quality of air inside your home.
• Getting your furnace or boiler replaced. This is one of the “bigger” upgrades that can impact your home equity. That said, it’s also an upgrade that can be a deal maker or breaker for people. Having a gas furnace replaced is fairly straightforward and can be done relatively quickly. An average furnace or boiler will last 12 to 15 years before needing replacement, but the older your home’s heating apparatus is the more often it needs repairs. If you’re not sure about the age of your home’s furnace, take a look at it and look for a tag with a serial number. You’ll be able to determine its age – and whether or not it’s overdue for replacement – by looking at this number. 

The housing market is currently favoring sellers, so it makes sense for anyone interested in selling to stack the deck in their favor. If you’re interested in improving your home’s equity and comfort of living with a few simple HVAC upgrades, schedule an appointment with the team at Welter Heating.