An older home can offer a lot of benefits – charm, an establishedneighborhood and solid foundation. But it may also feature olderappliances, including an old HVAC system. Before you make yourpurchase, consider these points to ensure you are prepared for any oldfurnace or air conditioning repairs or replacements that may be needed.
Get a home inspection
A great place to start to understand the state of your HVAC systemis with your home inspection. The inspector will evaluate your heatingand cooling system, and can alert you to any damage or necessarymaintenance. Catching potential problems early in the buying processcan help ensure you’re paying the right price for your new home.
Consider a home warranty
A home warranty may be a good idea if you are buying an older home.You’ll need to understand the terms of your warranty, but it may coverany old gas furnace or air conditioner troubleshooting repairs. Youmay be able to negotiate with the seller to cover the cost of a homewarranty for the first year.
Use the HVAC system when negotiating the home price
If you are interested in buying the home but worried about thepotential cost an old furnace or air conditioner repair orreplacement, you can try negotiating the price with the seller. Theymay be willing to lower the price, allowing you to put the savingstoward a newer unit.
Ask for an estimate
It might also be a good idea to get an estimate of how much a newHVAC system would cost before you buy the home. If the home inspectorthinks the furnace or central air conditioning system won’t last long,you’ll want to determine the total cost to replace it. Or, if thehouse doesn’t have central air conditioning, you may want an estimatefor the cost to purchase and install a new system. Installing airconditioning for older homes could be an extensive job, so getting anestimate can help you decide whether you are willing to buy the homeas is.
To learn more about caring for an old HVAC system, or to schedule a
service or repair appointment, contact your local American Standard dealer.
Blog courtesy of www.americanstandardair.com.