The real estate market throughout the country is on the rise, including in Baltimore and throughout the state of Maryland. Many homeowners are putting their properties up for sale to take advantage of the higher values. Getting your home ready to put it up for sale can be challenging, but with the right preparation, you can maximize the value and make your home look much more appealing to buyers. At Griffith Energy, we can help you prepare your home for sale by upgrading and tuning up the HVAC system, whole home generator, and oil tank to add a lot of value to your home.
HVAC & Your Home’s Value
When preparing to sell your Baltimore, MD, home, your home’s HVAC system can be upgraded and improved in a lot of ways:
1. Eliminate Odors and Clean Your Ducts
When potential buyers walk into your home, one of the first things they will notice and remember is how it smells. Some real estate agents use odor-eliminating sprays and concoctions, but these can wear off over time, leaving behind an unpleasant smell that could deter buyers from making an offer. It’s best to completely eliminate odors at the source within the HVAC system. A duct cleaning and sanitizing service can make a major difference in the overall scent of your home.
Your HVAC ducts often contain pollen, dander, dirt, pet hair, and other debris, all of which can start to smell over time. If there is any moisture within the system, you may catch a whiff of mold or mildew as the air flows through the vents. These odors are unpleasant and unappealing, so it’s important to get rid of them before you schedule the open house or put your home up for sale. If you have pets in your home, take them out during showings or set aside a corner of the house where they can rest quietly and stay out of the way.
2. Schedule an HVAC Inspection
Most savvy buyers are going to look at the condition and age of the HVAC system before putting in an offer on a home. Since the heating and air conditioning systems are valuable parts of the home, it’s important to know what condition your system is in before putting the house up for sale.
Many buyers will also request proof of an HVAC inspection performed by an experienced technician. You can beat them to the punch by having one of our technicians at Griffith Energy Services come to your home and perform a full HVAC inspection. Our HVAC inspection includes an assessment of all components within the heating and air conditioning system.
We can look at all types of heating systems, including heat pumps, furnaces, and boilers, as well as central air conditioning systems. If you have a ductless system, we can handle the inspection on this option as well. We’ll give you proof of the inspection along with any recommendations we have to improve the overall function and efficiency of your HVAC system. Should you choose to have those repairs or replacements done, you can share this information with any potential buyers to help them feel more confident about the condition of the HVAC system.
3. Efficiency Upgrades
In today’s world, efficiency is highly sought-after among buyers who want to reduce their impact on the environment. New windows can lower heating and cooling bills since they will reduce drafts and heat transfer. Replacing the weatherstripping on doors can also reduce the cost to heat and cool the home while improving the efficiency. Upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat can also help improve the efficiency of the home. If your HVAC system is more than about 10 years old, you may want to consider upgrading this as well. This investment will typically offer a significant return when you sell the home.
4. Replace the Unit
A new furnace or air conditioner is a major selling point, especially if a buyer is considering a couple of properties. Real estate agents will often emphasize the value of a new, energy-efficient furnace or air conditioner. Not only will the buyer take advantage of immediate benefits, such as improved airflow and comfortable temperatures throughout the changing seasons, but they will also enjoy lower heating and cooling bills. When you replace components of the HVAC system, these modern options will also be much more efficient than older units.
5. Whole Home Generators & Your Home’s Value
Here are a few considerations if your home either has a whole home generator, or if you’re considering installing one to increase your home’s value:
6. Prepare for Natural Disasters
The state of Maryland is third on the list of The Weather Channel’s “Top Tornado States.” In this small state, the concentration of tornadoes is much higher than that of Texas, which is the leading state for tornadoes in the U.S. The risk of natural disasters is high, so it’s important to prepare your home before you put it up for sale.
If a tornado hits, you could lose power for several hours or even several days. Adding a whole-house generator can reduce the stress that comes along with a power outage. If someone in the home relies on medical equipment, a power outage could become a life or death situation. Even if you don’t need power for medical reasons, it’s still a major inconvenience to use flashlights and go without electricity for an indefinite period of time.
A whole-house generator uses natural gas or propane to power the entire home through permanent wires. Unlike a portable generator, you won’t have to use extension cords to provide power to your devices because the generator is built into your home’s electric panel. A whole-home generator typically operates at a much lower volume as well, making it more convenient to operate.
7. Generator Installation and Maintenance
At Griffith Energy Services, we offer installation and maintenance of whole-house standby generators. These devices can supply enough energy to power most critical items in your home for multiple days at a time. We’ll assess the size of the home and determine the correct sizing. The next step in the installation process is placing the fuel tank in a safe space. Adding a standby generator can offer substantial peace of mind to a potential buyer, especially if they have ever experienced a blackout that lasted for more than a few hours.
Our team exclusively sells Generac home backup generators. Generac is one of the best options on the market for residential generators. We have the utmost confidence when installing generators from this top brand for our clients. You can also request a free assessment at your home before you make the decision to add a generator. Our knowledgeable technicians will talk to you about the pros and cons of whole-house generators. We can also discuss whether the addition of one would increase the value of your Maryland property that you plan to sell.
8. Oil Storage Tanks & Your Home’s Value
If your home relies on heating oil, natural gas, or propane, then keep these things in mind:
Oil Storage Tanks
Natural gas is a precious, finite resource that many people rely on to heat and cool their homes. When there is a shortage of natural gas, you could be stuck without a working heater or air conditioner, causing the temperature in your home to feel very uncomfortable. It’s important to have a backup system in place to protect against this problem. If you don’t currently have an oil storage tank at your Maryland home, you may want to consider adding one before you sell the property.
Most tanks are buried underground so they don’t take up any valuable space, but the presence of extra oil can reduce the stress of what would happen in an emergency. You can also choose an above-ground tank, stored either indoors or outdoors. Tank capacities vary between 160 and 400 gallons, although the most common size for a residential property can hold about 275 gallons. These tanks also come in steel, fiberglass, or a combination of the two materials, reducing the risk of an oil spill.
Oil Tank Maintenance
At Griffith Energy Services, our team members can also install and maintain oil storage tanks for Maryland homeowners who are planning to sell their properties. We offer Roth tanks, which include state-of-the-art storage tank science to make them the safest and most reliable options available. Our services also include fuel delivery of propane, motor fuel, and other necessary types of fuel used to heat your home.
We are here to help you prepare your Maryland home for sale. Give us a call at Griffith Energy Services at 888-474-3391 to schedule your air duct cleaning, oil tank or generator installation assessment, or HVAC inspection.
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