It’s hard to beat new, I don’t even go with scratch and dent any more. If you give someone a place to live with a dented appliance you’re setting a tone. This place has been beat on and I expect it to continue to be beat on. Anything short of a fridge can be bought new in stainless for $400. Go to a place like rc wiley that charges $60 for delivery for the year. When you’re buying 4-6 appliances a year it’s $10-$15 each. If the new one lasts only twice as long you have to get used ones for less than $200 with free delivery and setup or you’re paying more for used than new.
Maybe if you’re doing low end/entry level sub $1000/mo people expect used/dented appliances, maybe. But then maybe yours will rent faster and people will stay longer because you spend an extra $200.
It’s hard to beat new, I don’t even go with scratch and dent any more. If you give someone a place to live with a dented appliance you’re setting a tone. This place has been beat on and I expect it to continue to be beat on. Anything short of a fridge can be bought new in stainless for $400. Go to a place like rc wiley that charges $60 for delivery for the year. When you’re buying 4-6 appliances a year it’s $10-$15 each. If the new one lasts only twice as long you have to get used ones for less than $200 with free delivery and setup or you’re paying more for used than new.
Maybe if you’re doing low end/entry level sub $1000/mo people expect used/dented appliances, maybe. But then maybe yours will rent faster and people will stay longer because you spend an extra $200.
@Jason D. Thank you! We are finding some good deals on facebook and might get it there. We just need to find a friend with a truck! Thanks again for the advice ! :)
If you can't transport them yourself or get them to deliver them for a small fee, get new ones. For scratch and dent, it depends on where the scratches and dents are-often they are on the side and that is hidden by cabinets.
@Bill Brandt thank you very much for the info! It makes sense to go with new. We are going to compare both prices and maybe if we buy all 5 appliances at the same dealer we might get a good enough deal
Assuming nice new appliances aren't needed to woo a tenant, you pay less per year over lifetime of appliance for used appliances. HOWEVER, because moving appliances and installing will cost 200 - 300, I now buy new! Retailers deliver and install for free.
Depends on how long you think you’re going to have the property for. You’re really only saving a few hundred dollars With used appliances and if oneOf the appliances goes out you’re basically eating your savings there. Those are my thoughts I bought new appliances on sale for my current house-hack.
It depends on the appliance. New dishwashers are cheap. Not much to save by going used, but high risk for repairs and unnoticed leaks. Refrigerators are expensive. You can get good looking, clean, large fridges for $200 on Craigslist. An equivalent new one is $1200. Stoves are in between. I went for used once because it was clean and electrical stoves last forever. In many areas there are used appliance stores that deliver for a reasonable fee.
@David Simard I am out of state investor and I have found BestBuy geek squad membership ($199/yr) to be quite useful. I actually got it for my personal use when I had items to be installed at my own residence. However, when I was looking to have appliances installed at my rentals, I was surprised to know that they can do it for me all over the US too through same membership. I just bought appliances for my new AL rental from bestbuy and they installed all of them at a nominal price e.g dishwasher and above-range MW for just $49 each which usually would have cost me at least $100-$150 plus each. They also hauled away older non-functional appliances for free .
I used to buy used, haul them myself, etc. Starting out it was a way to save money but I ended up with crappy looking mismatched appliances and spent a ton of time. Those were C class properties so tenants accepted it.
Now that I own B class properties, it all new. I have a guy at a local appliance store and I am setup with contractor discount. I do a phone order with credit card and they are delivered a week later. Install guys let themselves in if it is vacant using key from the lock box. They haul away the old junk and the new ones have a warranty. It costs about one months rent for a set. The best part is advertising NEW stainless appliances. Looks great and gives an upscale feel for very little extra money. Most landlords buy cheap white appliances, so it makes me stand out.
Whether you should buy new or used also depends on where you need to put the appliance. If you are going to need to get a fridge into a basement apartment it may be worth getting new as it can be very difficult to get appliances down narrow stairs to a basement.
@David Simard If you're hauling and installing, go with nice used or scratch and dent. If you're paying someone to deliver and install, might as well get new most of the time.
This is one of those questions I feel is a personal option. I personally just got a used washer and dryer off Craigslist that were in fantastic condition for $120 for my current house hack. Glad I did it that way and didn’t get new appliances.
My business partner owns a remodeling company. It would boggle your mind what people view as needing replaced. As long as it is functional and clean we have used appliances, sinks, toilets you name it. We are always mindful that profitability and fairness can always go hand in hand.
I only buy used ones for very cheap unless I can get scratch and dents at an auction. Be wary of buying these returned ones at lowes as they are often ones with problems that the employees cannot simulate in store. Then with new tenants I give 6 month warranty on them...after that it's their own responsibility. Unless they are great tenants and know I have a garage full of them and ask very nicely lol. I do it this way to (1) avoid unnecessary appliance moving at move in and move out time and tenants can just move in and out seamlessly and not bust up my walls and tear up my floors as much (2) to avoid becoming an appliance repair man after 6 months, and hauling new ones in and out all the time myself.