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Real estate editor Maryann Haggerty and columnist Elizabeth Razzi respond to a question adapted from a recent online chat.
Q: Washington: I don't have any plans to sell my D.C. rowhouse any time soon but probably will someday. I have radiator heat and was considering putting in one of those "high-velocity" air-conditioning systems until I got the estimate of $18,000. Would it be worth it?
A: Elizabeth Razzi: It depends on your answers to two questions. How much is your rowhouse worth, and how much would you enjoy living in an air-conditioned home? You might want to wait until July to answer the second question. Home prices vary so much, especially in the District, that your rowhouse might be worth $1.8 million or $180,000. That $18,000 air-conditioning tab, if it's just 1 percent of the home's value, would be a relatively small, and worthwhile, investment. On the less expensive home, it would constitute 10 percent of the home's value, making it a pretty grand upgrade.
Maryann Haggerty: The longer you live in the house, the longer you get to enjoy your investment. As far as resale, consider what the owners of similar homes have done. If everyone on your block has AC, you could be at a competitive disadvantage come sales time.
E.R.: I do know people who have installed these systems in older homes, and they work well. There are different options, with names like "high-velocity," "ductless" and "mini-duct" systems. Generally, they require running a small hose, about three inches in diameter, from the outside air-conditioning unit to the indoors, where the cool air is distributed. That makes them useful for retrofitting an older home. Because there are a lot of choices, you shop around. You might be able to put a chill on that price tag.
The next Real Estate Live chat will be at 1 p.m. Friday.
