Buying a new (or new-to-you) home is a very exciting time. Once you’ve put in an offer and it’s been accepted, time progresses very fast! There are a lot of important steps to take to ensure that you get the best value for your investment.
Having a professional team check your new house’s HVAC systems in advance of the final sale can sometimes give you leverage in negotiating a better deal. The tricky thing is, how can you know what to ask if you haven’t needed to maintain your own HVAC systems recently, or maybe ever?
The Calfo pros have worked with many prospective buyers in the metro Pittsburgh, PA area, and we’re here to help you too! Here are some of our most-important-to-ask HVAC questions for new homes before you sign the final contract.
DIY vs. Professional Inspection
HVAC systems tend to be a blind spot for homeowners of all experience types. Having a professional HVAC technician inspect your systems before you buy ensures that you don’t inherit a lemon of a system without having the opportunity to negotiate a purchase price that’s indicative of the actual value of the home and all of its components.
Start with a DIY Visual Inspection
Do a walkthrough of the home and visually inspect all the HVAC systems and components. Look for rust, mold spots, dust, signs of pests, and anything else that you aren’t 100% confident looks normal. Even better, take a picture of areas you’re concerned about with your phone to share with your HVAC contractor in Pittsburgh, PA! This step will help you rest assured that all of your questions will be answered.
Request Copies of All Maintenance History Documentation
Another thing to do prior to calling in your preferred HVAC technician is requesting maintenance, cost, and repair documentation from the house’s current owners when applicable. This should include utility bills to help you determine average monthly costs!
It’s reasonable to allot a week or two for the documentation to be gathered together. Once received, this will help your technicians best assess the state of the existing systems so that you can be best informed about their value.
Estimate the Operational Life of the System
Buying a house with an old HVAC? A reputable HVAC technician will be able to assess the remaining operational life of your HVAC systems based on an in-person inspection and any maintenance repair history documentation. Based on this assessment, you’ll be able to determine the value of the home’s systems as part of the home you’re buying!
Inspect Any Ductwork
Calfo highly recommends completing an HVAC inspection when home buying, which should include an inspection of your ductwork if there is any. Your ductwork impacts your indoor air quality, and it has to be structurally sound and functioning well to transport your conditioned air effectively.
Test the Heat and AC (Regardless of the Purchase Season)!
A crucial but often overlooked step is to check the systems that aren’t currently in use! Whether you’re buying in the warmer or colder months, it’s smart to check both. An HVAC technician will evaluate HVAC systems based on a number of factors, and check to ensure that the system isn’t making any concerning noises, emitting any smells, or anything else that could be a red flag.
Check All Components
When reviewing your home buying checklist, well-functioning HVAC systems would ideally be near the top. Still, if the home needs significant furnace repair in Pittsburgh, PA, or new systems entirely, checking all components in advance of the final sale can save you a lot of money.
Consider Indoor Air Quality
It’s not ideal to move into your new home and immediately succumb to allergy symptoms due to poor indoor air quality! Calfo can test the air in your new property to determine its quality, and whether you’d like to improve your IAQ prior to or post sale, Calfo has ventilation and air purification and filtration solutions to help resolve any issue.
Buying a New Home? Calfo Can Help Inspect Your Systems!
Whether you’re looking to work with a new HVAC contractor in Pittsburgh, PA or your new home needs central air repair in Pittsburgh, PA, Calfo has you covered! Each member of our team goes through 5 years of training to become an expert in their field. We prioritize training and customer care so you can rest assured that Calfo will get the job done correctly the first time!
Calfo offers care for all of your home’s HVAC systems, including:
