When a buyer puts home under contract to purchase, they should then have the house inspected by a professional (NOT by a father-in-law, but that’s a different topic).
If any aspect of the HVAC is over 10 years old, most home inspection companies will flag it as “reaching the end of its useful life.” They warn the homeowner that replacement is imminent.
Joan Herlong, Owner/CEO of Herlong Sotheby’s International Realty, takes issue with that: “That boiler plate inspection language drives HVAC experts bonkers,” says Herlong. “The heat pump on the second floor of my home lasted 19 years! Having a maintenance/service contract makes all the difference.”
What about a home warranty? Doesn’t that insure a buyer against the cost of replacing an older furnace or A/C system?
“Read the fine print,” says Herlong. “A home warranty is NOT an insurance policy. Warranty companies are not regulated like the insurance industry.”
“A home warranty is fine,” says Herlong, “but it boils down to timing. When your furnace goes kaput in January, you can expect the warranty to replace it . . . but it might not be in January. Again, read before signing.”
