“Can I sell a house with a broken air conditioner?”
It is possible to sell a house with a broken air conditioner. However, it might be much harder to find a buyer, or you might have to list your house at a much lower price to get a buyer.
This could be especially true when trying to sell a house in the hot Denver summers. I remember the first time I got a house with an ac unit. It made a huge difference for me!
Selling without or with a broken ac unit in Colorado.
Let me ask you a quick question: Are you trying to sell your house without spending any money? If so – by all means sell without fixing the ac. On the other hand, repairing or replacing the broken air conditioner may improve the value of your house and increase the chances of getting a buyer fast.
With that said, replacement or repair does not always guarantee increasing value. This is because the standard expectation is that houses should have an air conditioner.
Therefore, it is up to you to determine if it will benefit the entire sale process to replace or repair the broken air conditioner or leave it as is.
Factors to Consider When Determining Whether to Repair a Broken Air Conditioner Before Listing a House for Sale
Below are the key factors to consider when determining whether to repair a broken air conditioner before listing a house for sale.
Is the air conditioner completely broken, or does it work? Does the entire system need to be replaced or just a part? What is the model of the air conditioner, and can you find replacement parts easily? How long would the replacement or repair process take, and would the listing and sale schedule get in the way?
Is the ac the only thing you have to repair? Are you selling your house without a fridge or stove? Are there other items you should focus on instead? If the list of things to fix is too long, maybe you should sell your house as-is.
If you have been keeping up with the air conditioner’s routine maintenance schedule, the damages may not be extensive and can be affordably repaired.
Otherwise, they may be extensive, and you would need to replace the entire unit. Similarly, if you have an old unit whose warranty is almost due or already due, the damages likely indicate that it has done its time and needs to be replaced.
If you live in a region where an air conditioner is unnecessary, you might get away with not repairing or replacing a broken unit. This might be up in the northern states.
On the other hand, if you live in an extremely hot or humid area, an optimally working air conditioner is vital. Also, if you sell your house during the summer, the air conditioner must work.
We all know that Denver can get hot in the summer. It only lasts for a few months, but the air conditioning is nice on those hot nights!
I don’t know about you, but I sweat a ton in bed when its hot outside and inside! I was so excited when I finally got a house with ac. Sleeping was way more comfortable for me.
PRO TIP: If selling a house unoccupied in Denver during the summer, I suggest turning the ac off – and this is why. Denver and Colorado houses can fall prey to squatters. Squatters may stay longer if it’s hot outside and your house has air conditioning. Now you have an added problem when trying to sell your house.
If the power is on, you can’t turn off the utilities on the squatters. This is because in Colorado, squatters have rights. There are laws you must follow.
This is one of many prevention tips if you don’t want vagrants, squatters, and unwanted guests living in your house.
Depending on the extent of the damage, repairs can cost as low as $100 up to thousands of dollars in replacement parts and labor costs. A good rule of thumb for determining whether to repair or replace a broken air conditioner is multiplying the unit’s age by the repair cost. If it exceeds $5,000, replacing the broken unit with a new one is more cost-efficient than replacing it.
Homeadvisor.com says the cost of installing a new AC unit ranges from $3800 for smaller units to $7500 for larger ones. If you add labor costs and permit fees, the total cost may exceed $12000.
There are many selling situations in this might not add up. For example, if you are selling your house for $1.00 to your son. You are already giving him stellar deal. Do you really want to drop another $12,000 on the house. That would be a hard pill to swallow.
If replacing the unit is the best option, go for one that is energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and most compatible with your existing HVAC system. Keep in mind that the unit does not have to be big to be better.
Most modern air conditioning units are designed to be space-saving, aesthetically appealing, and energy-efficient. Also, ensure that the new air conditioner meets the SEER 14 standards and has a reasonable warranty against defects.
You will have to repair or replace the unit if you want to keep the listing price within the fair market value.
If you choose not to repair the air conditioner, have a specialist assess how much it would cost to repair or replace the unit and deduct the amount from your sale price.
You are also obligated by the law to disclose in the sale agreement that the air conditioner is broken.
If the house has already been listed and some potential buyers have had a chance to view it, what was their reaction?
Were there some that considered buying the house as is, or were a majority put off by the broken air conditioner? If the latter, it is best to replace or repair the broken air conditioner to improve your chances of closing a sale.
The answer is that it depends on the factors discussed early in the article. If you have some money to spare, replace the broken unit as it could improve the value of your home. If not, leave it as is but indicate this on the disclosure form in the sale agreement.
If you leave it as is, remember that it may put off some potential buyers, and it may take much longer to sell the property. Also, buyers who agree to buy the house as is will most likely negotiate for a lower price reduction.
As such, if you have a tight timeline to sell the house, like a short sale or a looming foreclosure, repairing the broken unit can improve your chances of getting a buyer and closing fast.
The simple answer is no. Home warranties do not cover appliances that are already broken.
However, if you anticipate that your central air conditioner may break down within a few months of the new buyer acquiring the house, getting a warranty for air conditioning repair may be a viable option for cushioning the new homeowner.
In this case, consider taking a comprehensive home warranty to cover all appliances in the house. It costs $300-$600 and will give you and the seller peace of mind.
Legally, you can sell a house with a broken air conditioner as long as you indicate it in the disclosure form. However, it would be best to repair or replace a broken air conditioner before listing it.
Seeing as the real estate market is quite competitive, even simple things like a broken AC can stifle your effort to sell the house. On the other hand, you might be lucky to find a seller who does not care if the air conditioner is broken.
If you are unsure what to do, consult your realtor on the best course of action. They will advise you according to the market trends and whether they think the broken central air conditioner will limit the house’s ability to sell. They will also guide you through each step of the sale process.
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