Should You Get A HVAC Inspection?

When making the biggest purchase of your life, it can be scary and exciting at the same time. You may question whether you're doing the right thing, if you should have really put in an offer on a home, or if the timing is right. These feelings are very normal. It is important to have a real estate team by your side to guide you step by step throughout the process to help alleviate unnecessary worry. 

Once you have put in an offer on a house and it is accepted, what do you do next? Freak out? Lose sleep? NO. This is where your Realtor comes into play. They will recommend vendors for various types of inspections. Of course at the end of the day you get to choose which company does your inspections. We use vendors that have proven to us to deliver on time and give us accurate reports.  There are no kickbacks in the real estate world for recommending one of our vendors.  If a vendor proves themselves to us time after time, of course we will recommend them to our clients and even use them in our personal homes.

The due diligence period starts right away after your offer is accepted. The due diligence period is a window of time when you have the opportunity to do your homework to see if the house meets your expectations and if it has any big ticket fixes or safety issues. The due diligence period can generally range from 2-4 weeks depending on how your Realtor negotiated the contract.

Home, radon, & pest inspections are the most common. Oftentimes, the buyer is not even aware they can get a HVAC inspection.  An experienced Realtor should let the buyer know their options. My favorite HVAC inspection company is Howard Heating & Air located in Raleigh. They charge $100 per system and provide a very detailed report with pictures that anyone can follow.  A lot of times homes in North Carolina have more than one system so it is important to get them both checked out.

HVAC systems are complex and many people do not know how they actually function. The unknown can be scary when we are not educated about something. Put your mind at ease and get a HVAC inspection. You are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars---why not spend another couple hundred to find out if anything is wrong?  HVAC repairs can be costly and it is best to know what you are getting into before you own the home. Your Realtor can negotiate on your behalf to have the repairs done before closing or receive money in lieu of repairs from the seller.  If a system is 15+ years old, you may be able to get some money from the seller to go towards a new system after you close. The point is, if you don’t know anything is wrong or could go wrong shortly after closing, you have just bargained with your finances. 

A HVAC inspector will ensure all systems are operating properly and safely. They will also check on the efficiency of the system.  The age of the HVAC system should be disclosed on the NC Residential Property & Owners Association Disclosure.  In general, most HVAC systems will last from 15 to 25 years depending on if the system had routine annual maintenance or not. Over time, furnaces, boilers, central air conditioners and heat pumps wear out. 

Heating and cooling equipment needs maintenance to operate properly. It does not hurt to ask the sellers about past maintenance. When you are in the house, pay attention to how comfortable you are. Is it hot and stuffy when the AC is on? Do you feel a draft when the heat is on? Are certain rooms uncomfortable? Having a system that is not running properly can decrease the energy efficiency which in turn leads to an increase in your electric or gas bill.

Keep in mind if you are getting an HVAC inspection in the warmer months, the inspector typically cannot test the heating unit as it could damage the unit to turn it on in the “off” months of the year. Vice versa, if the inspection is done in the cooler months, the AC unit typically cannot be turned on as it could also cause damage to the unit.

The cost to replace a HVAC system ranges from $5,000-$15,000---depending on the size, bells & whistles you choose, and energy efficiency. 

Fun Fact: According to Trane.com - Take the age of the equipment and multiply that by the estimated repair cost. If the number is more than $5,000, then you should consider replacing your unit. 

Hopefully you have learned a little more about the importance of getting the HVAC system checked out before purchasing a home. It is always best to trust the experts and know what you are signing up for. No one likes getting blind sided…..be a smart buyer…..get a HVAC inspection :)

Keri Nelson Client Care Manager

Keri@peterkima.com