There are so many things a realtor needs to know about the homes they are selling. You must be a carpenter, an electrician, a plumber, a roofer, and an HVAC professional. Well, you don’t really have to know how to perform all the jobs. But you need the realtor’s insight to investigate the various parts and pieces of each to give good advice in the beginning stages of the property visits.
While we recognize the HVAC system doesn’t make or break the sale of a home, we know its impact on the overall opinion of the house. So, the friendly professionals here at Trust Heating and Air have put together our “Realtor’s Insight to HVAC Systems” to help you get the most out of your home visits and client relationships.
As a realtor, you know the impact an HVAC system can make on a sale. If the system is all new, you can proclaim it as an item to love about the home. If the system has been well maintained, realtors can bring that up as a benefit to the house as well. However, if the unit is old and in its last days of usefulness, the seller may need to consider replacing it to get the best sale price for their home.
If it does not need replacement, the realtor will often find it helpful to suggest an HVAC specialist come out to inspect, clean, and service the unit. Before showing the home, this small step will convey effort on your part and care for the house in the sellers’ interest.
Additionally, having a record of electric bills and service receipts will assist the buyer and their realtor in having confidence in the home’s integrity. And be sure to call attention to any high-efficiency ratings on the unit.
Going into a showing armed with the knowledge of the home will benefit you and your buyer. Gathering information is not readily provided; it shows the work you have put into the buyer’s interest. So, if you are showing a home, be sure to ask the sellers agent the following questions:
Today’s buyers like to see the energy efficiency ratings, especially if they are concerned about the environment and their utility bills.
In fact, according to GeorgiaPower.com,
“About half of our home energy costs comes from heating and cooling our homes. We recommend keeping your thermostat set to 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter. In the extreme summer heat and cold winter months, it takes more energy to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. You can’t control the weather, but you can control your thermostat, which has a big effect on your bill.”
Now that is a significant amount of usage. When buyers come from other states, they may get a bit of sticker shock seeing our Georgia utility bills. As a realtor, you can help ease their fears by letting them know every home in Georgia has a high utility bill; it is not just that home.
A good realtor will then have prepared a list of ways to reduce the Georgia electric bill for their out-of-state clients. We know you are that excellent realtor. So, we have put together a list of suggestions for your clients experiencing energy sticker shock. This list shows you are concerned and have all the options to make their Georgia house a dream home.
Trust us, your clients will thank you for this added bonus in their realtor package, setting you apart, again, from other realtors in the area. So, be sure to offer a printout of the following list of ways to reduce your HVAC costs to all your clients.
When the homeowner applies all these concepts, they will be ensuring the lowest energy usage for the Georgia AC and heat as they can get.
There is no doubt, our Georgia home’s HVAC units take a beating. And since they work so hard for us, shouldn’t we take good care of them as well. Realtors, you would be a good neighbor to remind your buyers and sellers to get signed up with an experienced HVAC company, like Trust Heating and AC.
So, you are aware, here are the careful steps your technician will take to care of your system or that of your client.
With preventative maintenance, your clients will know they are safe when inspection time comes. And you, as the realtor, have just gained their trust, one step further.
Home inspections will be necessary for buyers before the close of the home. It is better to catch an issue before that inspection than to be informed of a repair needed. It really puts the ball in your court when you are prepared for all of the process’s ups and downs.
Contact the office at Trust Heating and AC today to get a Home Sale/Purchase Inspection scheduled!