New Appliances, Air-conditioning top buyer wish lists

In the midst of the third official heat wave this summer in New England, it comes as no surprise that home buyers say they are willing to pay extra to have air-conditioning in the home. A survey by the National Association of REALTORS reveals AC and new appliances are the two items for which homebuyers will pony up some extra cash. 

67-percent of buyers surveyed who did not purchase a home with air conditioning said they’d be willing to pay extra for it — on average, an extra $2,250 in order to have it, the survey found.

Home shoppers say having a home with new kitchen appliances is worth paying about $1,840 extra to have a home with it.

While air conditioning and new appliances were the most common responses that home shoppers said they’d be willing to pay extra for, some home shoppers showed willingness to pay higher amounts for a home with other features. For example, 42 percent of buyers said they’d be willing to pay an extra $5,020 for a home that was less than five years old. Thirty-two percent of buyers said they’d be willing to pay $5,420 extra for a home that was on the waterfront.

Buyers who did not purchase a home with a laundry room or a den/study/home office said they’d be willing to pay extra to have these: $1,590 and $1,920 extra, respectively.

And buyers said they’d also be willing to pay extra for a home with a basement and an in-law suite. Buyers said they’d be willing to pay an extra $3,200 for a home with a basement, and an average of $2,920 for a home with an in-law suite, according to the survey.