Hey!! Im in need of serious insight please. I am in contract with a 3 family multi unit property. Its a 2 (1 bedroom) on first floor, and the 2nd and 3rd floor is a townhouse style of 4 -5 bedroom! There is only one HVAC for these 3 units and 3 seperate themostats. Will I be able to get away with not adding 2 additional HVACs? I keep reading that it will be so hard to seperate the costs for each unit. Is this worth the headache or pass on this. Not to mention the inspection came back with SO many issues.
I think you need to ask yourself if the multiple inspection issues is something you want to tackle or not. If not, then the HVAC doesn't matter.
If so, then you do have some considerations. The biggest is going to be whether the HVAC is properly sized for the building. I suspect you have a single family that has been chopped up into units. If so, then HVAC is probably the right size, but you should contact your inspector and ask the question. Next,
3 separate thermostats is a good sign, but you need to ask the inspector how the thermostats are controlling the HVAC. If the units are properly zoned than you are in good shape and I would not let this stop you from buying. Make sure you also ask the inspector how it works in the transition from heating to cooling in the winter and vice versa. Does someone have to physically change a setting on the unit? That's a pain but can be done, though you'll have complaints in Spring and Fall about it being too cold or too hot. It's unlikely that the HVAC is set up to both heat and cool. This is another question to ask your inspector - who may recommend you get an HVAC guy out there. That's worth it to do before buying.
You can always ask for a concession for you to put in the a/c units. It seems as if any buyer is going to have the same issue.
When you say so many issues, find out the cost and see if you can get a credit or reduction in price. It all comes down to the motivation of the seller. If you can get the price to where it makes sense to make these repairs, csh flow, and add value, then you consider doing the deal.
There is no way the units are getting enough air with one unit. You could put in splits, but they are costly