Air Conditioning to sell House

[paceman]

We are going to list our house this spring. Our house does not have Central Air. Do you think it would be a big selling point to add Central Air. It would cost be abour 2500 bucks. With this slow house market I doubt if I would be able to recup the costs of putting it in by raising the price.

[LightningBG]

A while back I tried selling a house that didn't have AC. Didn't go over too well. Didn't end up selling. Since then, I have put in AC. Ended up costing 2400. I dont think that I'll "get back" that money, but hopefully it means I have more than 1 less than great offer next time around.

It's a tough call, but AC is a pretty big thing.

[Getanet]

No personal experience selling a house, but as someone with a toe in the water looking to buy my first home, I can tell you if I was comparing similar houses and one had Central air and the other didn't, I'm going with Central air without a second thought. $2,500 more on the purchase price would be small potatoes compared to having a house that is bearable in the summer.

In fact, when I'm looking at MLS listings, if the house doesn't have Central AC it usually doesn't make my consideration list. Right now a buyer can afford to be picky though.

[CJH]

As mentioned, it will help sell your house faster. Will you get your money back out it - maybe, but probably not 100% .

[BobT]

The only way you can know if you get back the cost is if you knew for sure what you would have sold for before putting in the AC. You can't know that answer because each sale is subject to the moment.

[nofishfisherman]

I think its probably worth the money. If it costs you $2500 you can look at it as money well spent if it allows you to sell the house and move on with life's next adventure. And in the end you are likely going to get some of that money back when you sell the house, probably not 100% but you'll likely get something.

Like was said above if I was looking for a new house I would likely disregard any house that didn't have AC. So some people that may like your house aren't even going to look at it because of it not having AC. Even though these people could put it in themselves they can afford to be picky and only look at the houses that meet every criteria they are looking for.

[BobT]

I think its probably worth the money. If it costs you $2500 you can look at it as money well spent if it allows you to sell the house and move on with life's next adventure. And in the end you are likely going to get some of that money back when you sell the house, probably not 100% but you'll likely get something.

Like was said above if I was looking for a new house I would likely disregard any house that didn't have AC. So some people that may like your house aren't even going to look at it because of it not having AC. Even though these people could put it in themselves they can afford to be picky and only look at the houses that meet every criteria they are looking for.

The real funny part about that is even those that build a house from the ground up never end up with a house that meets all the criteria they look for. Sometimes we are too picky but that's the way we are I guess.

[Down Deep]

Fisrt thing I would consider would be is your area hot enough in the summer months where AC is essential. If it is then buyers will cross your property of the list especially since it's a buyers market and they have thier choice of many houses. Buyers can afford to be choosey and will look around until they find the most features for the least amount of $$$. You could always put it on the market and see how it goes. If it doesen't sell because of the AC you could offer a refund at closing to cover the cost or just go ahead, put it in, and solve the issue. You may or may not get the investment back, but then again the house might sit on the market.

[Surface Tension]

It'll make the house a bit more attractive to a buyer. When we're talking anywhere from 100-300+K asking price for a home, the AC cost is sort of a wash. IMO there could be better things to put money into to improve the value or make it more attractive to a buyer. An unsightly deck for example.

It is a shame that if the home needed AC to make it comfortable for you that you didn't do that for yourself.

Its like putting cheap seat covers in the new truck so when you sell it the new owner can have brand new looking seats.