I'm in the market for a new furnace, AC unit, and hot water tank, and I've received three quotes that are all pretty close—within $500 of each other. I'm wondering how much flexibility I might have to negotiate off the initial quote. From your experiences, do HVAC companies generally engage in negotiation, or is it more of a take-it-or-leave-it situation? I'd love to hear about your experiences!
3 Answers
There's no one-size-fits-all answer here. Your quotes are close, which means you have a good grasp of the market's going rate. It might benefit you to ask the company you prefer to match the lowest quote. Additionally, consider asking for something extra, like a few years of free annual tune-ups or even upgrades like a UV light or a smart thermostat.
In my experience, I managed to knock a few hundred off my total just by paying in cash, but the quotes varied a lot—some were thousands apart for different combos. Just be upfront but know that HVAC pros often have fixed pricing, so it might be tough to negotiate more than a few extras. Overall, focus on what works best for you!
Considering all three quotes are pretty similar, I'd suggest picking the one that you feel most comfortable with and going for it. The fact that the prices are close indicates a fair market rate. If you're looking to negotiate, you could ask the chosen company to match the lowest quote, but I wouldn't expect too much wiggle room beyond that.
But wait, aren't there 4.5 ton units? I thought they were common!