Adding value - central heating

Rebob

Hi

We are going to be selling our house in the near future. How much difference to the asking price will it make, us adding gas cental heating? We currently have storage heaters. :rolleyes: Estate agents we have spoken to just say it would be more with central heating. We have limited funds to complete the house so are working out what would be the best value to increase saleability and value of the probperty. BTW we live in south yorkshire.

Thanks in advance:beer:

Jorgan_2

Gas radiator central heating makes a property more saleable, do not confuse this with profitable.

You need to find out how much it will cost to put in the central heating, redecoration afterwards etc. Then way this up with what the envisaged extra sale price would be.

You may be better of spending your limited budget on anothr part of the house & make sure the market price refelects the storage heaters.

cattie

Jorgan is right, it will not so much add value as make the house more appealing to buyers.

I would never consider a property withe storage heaters & even a lower price wouldn't tempt me.

Get a few quotes for the heating to be installed, definitely not from British Gas as they charge at least double what everybody else does. If you don't go for a top of the range boiler you may find it isn't so expensive for you.

missk_ensington

If a house didn;t have modern gas central heating, the first thing I would do is phone the Estate Agents and knock of £4,000 from the asking price based on what it could cost to install it. The buyer will knock off the work-price at its hightest estimate, you could get the work done for £1,500 or lower (Mine was £1100).

In this day and age Gas central heating is on a par with running water and an inside toilet.

Buy a boiler from B&Q (£399) and get a CORGI gas fitter to quote for labour only. (You may need to go and buy a few other things like a filling loop (£20) and other odds and sods.

You should be able to negotiate them to do it for under £1000 (total price £1399) Work on the principal £100-150 per day, per man on the job. It should take 2 days for 2 men.

Jorgan_2

missk_ensington wrote:

If a house didn;t have modern gas central heating, the first thing I would do is phone the Estate Agents and knock of £4,000 from the asking price based on what it could cost to install it. The buyer will knock off the work-price at its hightest estimate, you could get the work done for £1,500 or lower (Mine was £1100).

So if its been priced correctly, i.e. £4k less than a property with gas C/H you'd still expect £4k off the asking price?

housebuyer_3

The money off asking price is to cover the effort of getting it done -v- a house ready to move into. Even a DIY'er would ask for a greater discount than it would cost them.

Unfortunately it's an expense that you will need to bear, be it now or later...

If it makes the decision any easier - you will get the comfort of central heating now, even if you don't sell for the next few years AND have a more saleable property.

RHemmings

Jorgan wrote:

Gas radiator central heating makes a property more saleable, do not confuse this with profitable.

You need to find out how much it will cost to put in the central heating, redecoration afterwards etc. Then way this up with what the envisaged extra sale price would be.

You may be better of spending your limited budget on anothr part of the house & make sure the market price refelects the storage heaters.

I would like to own a property that had very "green" heating. Good insulation. Water heater on the roof. Ground-heat exchange pump even. But it wouldn't be worth your while financially to do all that as I would do my sums and wouldn't be prepared pay a larger premium than it would have cost to put it all in myself. I would also be attracted to a property with old fashioned heating providing that this was reflected in the price. If I have to pay to have the heating upgraded anyhow, I can implement my "green dreams". And the as-is but cheaper version of the house would allow me to do this at a lower total cost than if you put new gas central heating in, bumping the price up, and I replaced the central heating again.

Different potential buyers may think differently. Particularly the 'money rich time poor'. But there might be others for whom the slightly cheaper unmodified house might be more attractive.

Rebob

Thanks for your replies!

I really needed to hear other opinions other than mine and DH. Since buying the house 3 years ago we have replumbed the house (removed lead piping), repaired roof, new damp proof course, fitted a new bathroom and kitchen and much more. The heating was the most expensive single job so has kept being shelved. Looks like we are going to have to bite the bullet and do it prior to moving.

Thanks

OverlandLandy

Jorgan

Remember that buyers will also factor in the hassle/mess/re-decorating/re-flooring/re-carpeting costs etc...........

This is something that you need to factor in as 'hidden costs'. Very few plumbing jobs ever leave your house in the same state following a CH installation (will the plumbers even take off their boots at the front door....or care if they burn anything when the solder up the copper pipes!)

If you price your property and note it requires CH 'this that is why it is £1500 less than next door sold for 2 weeks ago......type thing' it will 'set the expectation in any buyers mind as to the price...it also may distract from the Hassle/Mess etc.... and they may feel that they are getting a 'bargain'! Its all about 'mind games'!

Good Luck

Gorgeous_George

I wouldn't do it.

Some people prefer electric storage heaters. The modern ones are much better than ancient versions.

Using GAS to heat WATER and then employing ELECTRICITY to control and pump it around the house is barking IMHO.

New electric storage heaters if anything. Better still, just spray paint the old ones and spend your money on your new house. Do it as soon as you move in to gain maximum benefit from the investment.



GG

PoorDave

Simple really.

Ask Estate agent for price with and without new GCH. If the latter is less than the former by more than it would cost to install plus a few £100 for your inconvenience don't bother.

Do ALL other houses of your type have it in your local market?

We were in the same position when we sold our last house, but we figured if we bought the house, someone else will. We sold within a few days for a few £1000 less than those in same area with GCH.