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RURAL-URBAN RECORD, May 24, 2021 Page 21

Weak air flow Tips for home buyers
An HVAC unit operating at peak capacity produces a He or she also will provide insight into specific neighbor-
strong flow of air through the vents of a home. The experts hoods, amenities and school districts.
at Select Home Warranty note that when the air flow from during a seller’s market · Eliminate certain contingencies from the equation. Con-
the vent is weak, this could be a warning sign of a dam- tingencies are factors that must be met before a sale can
aged AC compressor or blocked or damaged vents. Dam- A combination of factors, including low interest rates and go through, according to the relocation site Moving.com. A
aged vents might be replaceable, but issues with the AC a pandemic-driven decision by many city dwellers to look common contingency is the need to sell one’s current home
unit might require a replacement. That’s especially so if the for houses in the suburbs, has created a housing boom for before closing on another. Asking for extended closing peri-
unit is old. Repairs might be possible, but it might be more much of 2020 and 2021. That boom has created an undeni- ods or certain home repairs are some additional contingen-
cost-effective to replace an aging unit rather than commit to able seller’s market in real estate. cies that can make buyers less attractive to sellers.
costly repairs. Just what is a seller’s market? The financial resource In- · Make it personal. Buyers can offer a personalized note
Excessive moisture around the unit vestopedia defines it as a marketplace in which there are with the offer that may connect with the seller emotionally
Excessive moisture around the unit may indicate that its fewer goods for sale than there are interested buyers, giving and set one them apart from others who have made similar
refrigerant is leaking. In addition, Home Select Warranty sellers the ability to dictate prices. Since mid-2020, there offers.
notes that large pools of water around the unit could con- has been an extremely low inventory of homes for sale but a Buying in a seller’s market can be challenging. But some
tribute to mold growth and floor damage. Homeowners are very high interest among purchasing parties. strategies can set buyers apart from the pack.
urged to contact a qualified HVAC technician immediately Data from the National Association of Realtors indicated
if they notice any leakage or moisture issues around their that, by the end of February 2021, housing inventory fell to How to shop for an
units. a record low of 1.02 million units. These factors have led to
Interior temperature a surge in competition from buyers, including bidding wars insurance policy
If your home is not quite the respite from summer heat on homes and all-cash offers to entice sellers. In Decem-
that it once was, despite the AC being on and running, then ber 2020, the median listing prices for single-family homes Adults need insurance for a variety of reasons. Insurance
this could be indicative of a fading system that may need shot up 13.4 percent from the same time the previous year, provides a safety net when accidents or injuries occur, and
to be replaced. However, the home warranty firm American according to Realtor.com, and it hasn’t slowed down much the right insurance policy can help policy holders make it
Home Shield® notes that hot interior temperatures also may since. Jeffrey Mezger, a 40-year veteran of the real estate through such instances as smoothly as possible.
be indicative of clogged ductwork. Qualified HVAC techni- industry and CEO of KB Home, says it’s the best seller’s Television commercials promoting insurance companies
cians may be able to fix clogged ductwork without replacing housing market he’s seen in his career. often tout low rates, but shopping for the right insurance pol-
the AC unit. If the issue persists even after ducts have been So where does this leave buyers interested in relocating? icy is about more than finding the lowest rates. The following
cleaned and unclogged, then a new unit might be home- Here are some tips. are some tips consumers can consider as they shop for in-
owners’ best bet. · Consider areas with slower overall price growth. Experts surance policies.
Foul odor say the southern and midwestern United States offer the · Research ratings. Various groups rate insurance com-
Sometimes the nose knows best when an AC unit needs best value for home shoppers because of their meager price panies based on everything from the usefulness of their
to be replaced. Unusual odors emanating from the vents growth. ClearCapital, which tracks housing values, says websites to how satisfied their customers are with the claims
when the AC is on suggest that the unit is distributing mold San Antonio, St. Louis and the Dallas/Fort Worth areas ex- process. J.D. Power conducts surveys of customer satisfac-
or mildew throughout the home. The Florida-based heating, perienced the least price appreciation from 2019 into 2020. tion and product quality for various industries, including in-
cooling, plumbing, and electrical experts at Cool Today note · Get preapproval or have your funds ready. Speed is the surance. The results of those surveys can be found at www.
that a moldy or mildew-like smell coming from the vents way to go if a buyer is interested in a property and wants to jdpower.com and can provide valuable insight into insurance
could indicate a host of issues, including a dirty evaporator make an offer. Real estate professionals say buyers should providers, giving prospective policy holders a good idea of
coil, a clogged drain line or leaky air ducts. Each of these be “offer ready,” which means having a mortgage preap- how their interactions with an assortment of agencies may
issues can be fixed, but homeowners must weigh the cost of proval letter or proof of funds for a down payment ready to go.
fixing them versus the cost of replacing an aging unit. go. Failure to have funds in check can slow down the pro- · Emphasize customer service. Customer service repu-
Come the dog days of summer, homeowners want a re- cess or compel sellers to reject an offer. tation should bear considerable weight when shopping for
liable AC unit to cool their homes. Recognizing signs of a · Work with a real estate agent. These are complicated an insurance policy. Many policy holders want readily avail-
malfunctioning AC unit is a good first step toward ensuring times and it pays for buyers to have a professional working able access to a human being when they have an insurance
homes remain cool, relaxing respites from the heat this in their corner. A real estate agent uses his or her knowledge question or need to submit a claim. When shopping for poli-
summer. to make a timely offer and negotiate on the buyer’s behalf. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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(HP/KW) and other specifications are based on various standards or recommended practices. K1161-04-146158-1