When you’re preparing to put your house up for sale, there are a variety of things you can do to help your house sell for the best price quickly. A deep clean, decorating, and landscaping are just some of the essentials to a good first impression.

But what about your home's HVAC system? Buyers are well aware of how important a fully operational HVAC is and how much of an investment it is. Because of the substantial upfront costs, it’s not something most people want to replace, especially not those who have just bought a new property.

With that in mind, your Nashville real estate agent is sharing the key steps to ensure your HVAC system impresses potential buyers.

Maintenance First

Ideally, you will have been having your HVAC system regularly inspected and serviced by an HVAC technician, at least once a year. With each check, you should receive a maintenance report to add to your records. These are also great to show to prospective buyers, offering them the peace of mind that the HVAC system is in good working order and has much life left in it.

Regardless of previous HVAC maintenance, it’s a nifty idea to get your system inspected, cleaned, and repaired before putting your property up for sale. Showing a record of this to prospective buyers will help provide reassurance, assuming that the inspection goes. If the HVAC technician spots problems, then the next step is to consider whether a repair or complete replacement makes the most sense.

Securing a maintenance plan you can transfer with the sale of the property is also an easy method of adding value for prospective buyers. It provides the reassurance that if any issues arise, a repairman will be there to fix it pretty quickly.

Another important tip: change your air intake filter before viewings, as you don’t want buyers to find it dirty and thus cause to doubt the overall maintenance of your property.

Is Your System Ancient?

On average, an older-home HVAC system lasts around 10 years before it needs to be replaced with a new one but you better plan recycling too, comments waste & sustainability blogger Antonia Ko, as the environment-friendly attitude, could get you some bonus points. So if your system is ancient and you’re considering selling an older property, it may be time to consider replacing the system before listing and finding a use for scrap while at it, as that will surely get you bonus points for priorities of prospect buyers. If you went as far as recycling old heating, you’d surely be a conscientious home owner taking good care of the property, right?

It’s even more pressing if your HVAC technician finds any issues during the inspection. The lifespan varies depending on appliances connected, e.g. heat pumps and air-con, which last around 10 years, while combination boilers can last up to 15 years.

According to heating professional Stephan Smith, if the prospective buyer discovers that the HVAC system is on its last legs, it’s a sure sign that they’re going to have to spend more money and something that may put them off making an offer.

Even though replacing your HVAC system may be substantial, it can impress potential buyers. Sometimes, even meaning you can increase the sale price of your property, allowing you to easily recoup ROI on home improvements.

Potential Buyers Like to Save Money

Newer HVAC systems are much more energy-efficient than those of yesteryear, so it can often make sense to upgrade an old, inefficient model. House hunters aren’t looking to know about the cost of the home, but how much it will cost to run and maintain, which is where an efficient HVAC system may appeal.

Having an efficient HVAC system in your property can make or break the final choice, and it shows your property is the soundest financial decision. This is the case for a variety of other home improvements too, for example, a buyer is much more likely to want to invest their money in a property with new windows.

Don’t Forget the Ducts

It’s also important to take proper care of your HVAC systems ductwork before you list your home on the market. This means getting them cleaned professionally is a certified HVAC technician. Not only does this prevent the likes of mold and dirt from building up, which over time can cause damage to your home, but it also helps improve the system's overall efficiency.

It’s even more important to maintain if your system hasn’t been set-up the best and is providing uneven heating and cooling, besides dirty ducts can often lead to a funky odor that buyers may notice.

Install Extra Features

Although it may seem unnecessary at first, some modern features can be quite impressive to prospective buyers. These modern upgrades make HVAC systems more convenient to use, safer, and help homeowners reduce energy waste and therefore save money long term. 

A west switch is a useful feature to install on your HVAC system. The switch detects any leaks or excessive condensation and if it does will switch the system off to prevent damage. This simple mechanism can provide prospective buyers with the added reassurance that their home will be safe in the unfortunate event of an overflow.

Having a smart thermostat is another extremely useful gadget that can help homeowners better monitor and manage their energy usage. The most popular device on the market is by far the Nest smart thermostat now owned by Google, and these are just some features the device has:

• Location detection (a.k.a Geo fencing)—detects when you’re at home.
• Control from anywhere—enables you to control your system remotely.
• Nest Protect—can detect carbon monoxide leaks helping to keep members of the household safe.
• Open Therm technology—can manipulate the temperature of your appliance, allowing the system to use less energy once the desired temperature has been reached.

As you can imagine these features can be genuinely useful, creating a home that is much easier to manage and stand out in the market.