Replies

1. 
   DanH | Jul 05, 2007 11:33pm | #1

   Assuming there's a modicum of attic insulation, the powered roof vent won't do much good. Her money would be better spent on an inexpensive window AC for upstairs.

   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
2. 
   Piffin | Jul 05, 2007 11:55pm | #2

   Depending on how the place is sealed or not, and ventilated or not, she could do more harm than good for the house by adding those things. And if there is no make-up soffit vents thaat are clear and working, they will not do much good

    

    

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3. 
   user-201496 | Jul 06, 2007 12:08am | #3

   If she has enough attic vents, then use a whole house fan. It will bring in fresh air from the windows and exhaust the air through the upstairs ceiling into the attic.

4. 
   Dave45 | Jul 06, 2007 12:38am | #4

   Quite frankly, I wouldn't be offering any credits to a buyer to install A/C.  The house is what it is, and the selling price should reflect that.  If it had A/C, the price would be higher, but it doesn't.  A whole house fan would probably be the best solution - if the attic has sufficient venting to allow the hot air to escape.  

   A whole house fan could be run at night with some windows open and the upstairs should cool down pretty well.   Close the windows in the morning and the upstairs should stay reasonably comfortable thru most of the day.

   My parents had a whole house fan in their house in MO and A/C wasn't really necessary until they reached their senior years and the heat bothered them quite a bit.  The fan ran at night with windows open and the place was closed up during the day.  The place seldom got really uncomfortable.

1. 
   sstand | Jul 06, 2007 07:53am | #5

   Thanks Dave, I agree with your opinion on the Ac. For many years she only had a few days in the summer that were bad but it seems like its alot more now. I will sugjest a whole house fan to her.Its a lot less money and mess

1. 
   Dave45 | Jul 06, 2007 05:02pm | #6

   Since '73, I've lived in San Jose, CA and neither of our houses have had A/C.  We get 7-10 days per year of real heat and the rest of the year is pretty nice.  I don't even have a whole house fan.  We have ceiling fans in every room and open the windows at night. 

   Yesterday morning, we were in the low 70's inside and the outside temperature got to the high 90's.  Inside, it peaked in the mid-80's around 4:00 pm.  By 5:00 pm, I was opening the windows on the east side of the house and they were all opened up by sundown.  It's 72* right now and the predicted high for today is low 90's.

1. 
   DanH | Jul 06, 2007 05:48pm | #7

   Of course, 100-odd miles northeast, around Sacramento, you'd be singing a different tune. 107 yesterday, about the same today.
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

1. 
   Dave45 | Jul 06, 2007 06:44pm | #8

   Tell me about it. - lol.  I also heard yesterday that the predicted highs in Las Vegas and Phoenix were over 115*!!  But that's ok cause it's a dry heat, right? - lol

   Of course, if I lived in Sacto - or anywhere further than I am from the SF Bay, I would have A/C.

2. 
   BillHartmann | Jul 06, 2007 07:22pm | #9

   Was yours parents house one or 2 floors.I am in the KC area and have 2 floors.And the heat does rise and the bedrooms will get really hot.But one of the problems that the OP have is what is expected. " The house is what it is, and the selling price should reflect that. If it had A/C, the price would be higher, but it doesn't."Not necessarily.Say the house was in L.V. It just won't sell until the price was low enough for a speculator to buy it, add the AC, and resell - at a profit.Don't know about this area. But often people will look at the listings and if no central AC will not look at the house.I don't know if the MLS listing will allow this or not, but it the list could be marked AC* and then a note saying that the AC is not installed, but an allowance is made for adding AC.Talking with local RE agents will clue the seller in on the local market..
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

1. 
   Dave45 | Jul 06, 2007 07:50pm | #10

   If the OP had forced air heating, offering a credit for an A/C upgrade might be a good selling tactic since it's relatively straightforward.  His (her?) heating, however, isn't forced air so adding A/C (and the necessary ducting) to that house would probably very expensive.

   My suggestion was based on the philosophy of not raising unecessary flags.  List the house as it is at a price that reflects the lack of A/C.  If a prospective buyer just has to have A/C, they probably won't even look at it.  Anyone else can make their own decisions.

   If the house were in Las Vegas, you probably couldn't give it away without A/C, but this house is in MN and that may (or may not) be a big issue there.

    

1. 
   DanH | Jul 06, 2007 07:55pm | #11

   > If the house were in Las Vegas, you probably couldn't give it away without A/C, but this house is in MN and that may (or may not) be a big issue there.Depends on which day you're showing it. And even the time of the day. Some days are just perfect to have the windows open and fresh air blowing through the house. Other days (summer and winter) you seal things up like a space capsule.
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin