How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

Let's say you were looking at 2 similar houses, but one had central air, and one didn't. How much extra would the central air be worth bidding to you?
Asking because DH and I are considering putting it in but also hope to put the house on the market in approximately 3 years so we want to see if it's worth it.

However, a friend would be installing it so the price is almost half of what a company quoted us.

How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

Central air while nice was not a requirement for me when buying a house. It is additional maintenance. I wouldn't bid more just because a house has it. You have to take into consideration the age of the system and additional costs to run it.
If the 2 houses are comparable and you like them both I would consider the cost of putting it in and then I know the history of the system and I feel like I have more value.
Our house does not have it. We have 2 window units in 2 bedrooms and that is it. We invested in putting ceiling fans in all our rooms and only used the window units for about 3 weeks last summer and that was only when sleeping. But this all depends on the style of the house as well.

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

If it's a newer system, maybe 5-8k more or so.

How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

To me this is all dependent on the buyer, like some might feel it makes the house more valuable some might not. Personally we have it and I think it adds value while someone else might go for a comparable house $10k cheaper without central...

How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

hmmm... for me - something like central air would not "make or break" a house for me. I wouldnt bid higher on one house that has it over another. I would just choose the house I like better. Like others said - I personally dont think central air is needed here and while it is a nice feature to have - its also something I could live without or install ourselves if we wanted to. I would do it if you are living there and want it, but I wouldnt install just to bank on people paying more for your house for it.

Message edited 5/14/2014 10:16:51 AM.

How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

Depends on many factors including g the age of the. Entrap air system and whether the house without it already has a duct system (so installation would be a little easier). Regardless, if I liked both houses completely equally and everything else about the two houses was the same, I would probably choose the on with central air but would bid only a couple thousand more at most. But things like updated kitchen or bathrooms would be more important to me so if the house without Air had those things, I'd go for that one

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

Wouldn't the seller factor that into the sale price?

At least that's how I would look at it as a buyer. So I wouldn't bid more because of it.

Message edited 5/14/2014 10:42:23 AM.

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

To me, CAC was really important when we looked at a house. If the house we bought didn't have it, we knew we'd be adding it before we moved in. So, when we saw houses with CAC, we would say that added value to the house, since we wouldn't have to pay for it to be installed. And the newer the unit, the better.

I don't know that I can put a $-value on it, though. It's more about taking multiple features into consideration.

How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

I would not have purchased a house without CAC. If YOU are looking to sell in 3 years, The house is MUCH more valuable with CAC.

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

Way too many variables when comparing homes (as no 2 are identical) that it is a hard question to answer. Selling points are location, floor plan and property taxes.

If you want central air then install for yourself, not a future buyer.

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

I wouldnt, market value is established considering all of the items and features of the home.

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

Never do work on your house based on what you will or won't get back. Install central air because you want it. You will never get all your money back so if you want it do it. If you can live without it don't.


As previously stated, we do want it and would not be putting it in solely for resale value. I was just wondering other people's take on bidding.

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

90% of my buyers want CAC- myself included

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

I don't think I would necessary pay extra. CAC is on my must have list, so any house I'm looking at should have CAC and be within my set budget.

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

It may not increase the monetary value of your house, but it sounds like it would make it stand out against other houses. SO, if 2 houses were similar, ad one had CAC, many people who probably put an offer on that house before the other one.

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?

The last two houses I've lived in had CAC.
I expect CAC.

If the house I was buying was otherwise move in ready, I wouldn't consider the house unless it had CAC.

If it was a gut job (like my current house) then it wouldn't matter but then again, if the house needs to be gutted I'm paying a lot less and accounting for the fact that I have to put it in.

Re: How much extra would you bid on a house with central air?