Upgrading Your HVAC: What Every Homeowner Should Know

When considering home improvements that increase market value and appeal, upgrading your HVAC might not be as appealing as remodeling a kitchen or bathroom. However, the efficiency, functionality, and comfort provided by a modern, high-quality HVAC system can significantly boost a home’s value and attract discerning buyers looking for a move-in-ready property. 

Photo of a contractor sketching on some draft paper - Upgrading Your HVAC: What Every Homeowner Should Know
Upgrading your AC does not require any demo and can usually be done in just a few hours. | Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

For homeowners in Kentucky, understanding the impact of these upgrades—and ensuring skilled professionals implement them—can make all the difference. Consider enhancing your knowledge through Kentucky online classes to delve deeper into this field.

Old System vs Brand New HVAC

Some buyers might find the replacement of a property’s heating and air conditioning system (HVAC) a big drawback. It is, after all, a big ticket item that takes a good amount of time to perform and comes with some mess.

If some buyers are comparing your home to another with a fairly new HVAC already in place, this might be the thing that tips the balance in favor of your competitor’s home. This will be especially true for people who’ve never gone through the replacement process in the past.

However once the new system is in place, the home seller’s real estate agent can then promote the benefits of their new HVAC in the listing and all of the marketing materials. Things like, lower utility bills and better indoor air quality. Make sure to include the Energy Star mention as many of today’s buyers are more eco-conscious than buyers in the past. All this means a higher sales price for the seller.

Home Appraisals and a New HVAC

HVAC appraisers are very vigorous in assessing a property’s value. A high-performance HVAC will increase the appraisal value to a degree and an old one will certainly drop it down.

A new HVAC system tells appraisers and prospective buyers that this home is well-maintained. This may spur thinking that other elements of the home have been updated or recently renovated as well. When selling any property, you want to promote the positives and let everything else speak for itself.

Navigating to the Right HVAC System

Choosing an effective HVAC system involves considering several aspects, such as the size and design of the house, the local climatic conditions, and the energy usage. Homeowners should involve themselves in consultations with HVAC professionals who have extensive training experience and are familiar with present-day technologies and state-by-state regulations. These consultants can give you information about the most appropriate systems for your situation. Often it comes down to paying more for higher efficiency versus saving money with a less efficient system.

Make sure to ask about heat pumps as well. Your HVAC specialist may recommend them for your home. Geothermal systems are another option but are more costly and may not be a good fit for a home already completed. But if you’re creating your dream home, putting in a geothermal system may be the perfect choice. They provide lower energy costs and positive environmental impact in the long run.

Less Obvious Benefits of Upgrading Your HVAC

The perks of upgrading your HVAC system don’t only include increased home value and better comfort for the occupant. A new HVAC system will also save money over the long term by reducing utility bills, incurring fewer repair costs, and sometimes even offering tax benefits.

If you’re moving from a very old system to a brand new one, they are also designed to be easily paired with smart thermostats for better control, efficiency, and convenience.

Homeowners pondering these modifications should also consider maintaining a higher marketability value of their houses. Nowadays, the buyer is sophisticated, and he is looking for a home that not only has aesthetic values but is also structurally sound and advanced with new technology. HVAC efficiency is high on the list of advantages customers look for, and an upgraded system will surely do the job.

Conclusion

Replacing your HVAC system is not merely a residential improvement but a long-term guarantee for the future return on your property. This investment may not only upgrade your comfort but also increase the value of your home. Whether you’re selling your home or not, there will always be benefits to upgrading to a brand-new HVAC.

Tre Pryor, Realtor

Tre Pryor is the leading real estate expert in the city of Louisville. He is a multi-million dollar producer and consistently ranks in the top 1% of Louisville Realtors for homes sold. Tre Pryor has the highest possible rating—5.0 stars on Google—by his clients and is routinely interviewed by the local NBC news. Tre Pryor is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame.