Used appliances or new ones?

Used appliances or new ones?

Rental Property Investor · Montreal, QC · Member since 2018 · 22 posts · 5 votes

Hello,

My wife and I just purchased our first single family to rent and we were wondering if we should by used appliances or new ones?

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Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
7y

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. 

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  • Investor · Akron, OH · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    7y

    Do you have a way to haul used appliances? Many times I get closeout or scratch and dent deals on new stuff.

  • Rental Property Investor · St. Petersburg, FL · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    7y

    @David Simard I buy used on Facebook marketplace. As long as they are clean and all functions work, I'm in!

  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    7y

    If you have a way to get it there, go for gently used or a scratch and dent sale.

  • Richmond, VA · Member since 2017 · 21 posts · 11 votes
    7y

    @David Simard

    I usually get used for the most part,

    however if I plan I refinancing the property is get nice looking new ones, that way it typically appraised for more and I can pull more money out

  • Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    7y

    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. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Montreal, QC · Member since 2018 · 22 posts · 5 votes
    7y

    @Jill F. Yea that is an issue, I would need to find a friend with a truck to transport them. Thank you for your advice! :)

  • Rental Property Investor · Montreal, QC · Member since 2018 · 22 posts · 5 votes
    7y

    @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 ! :)

  • Rental Property Investor · Montreal, QC · Member since 2018 · 22 posts · 5 votes
    7y

    @Theresa Harris thank you! We will probably do that! :)

  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    7y

    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.

  • Rental Property Investor · Montreal, QC · Member since 2018 · 22 posts · 5 votes
    7y

    @Dillon Dull thanks for the advice! :) We found some like new deals on facebook that we might go with

  • Rental Property Investor · Montreal, QC · Member since 2018 · 22 posts · 5 votes
    7y

    @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

  • Rental Property Investor · Montreal, QC · Member since 2018 · 22 posts · 5 votes
    7y

    @Theresa Harris makes sense. Thank you Theresa! :)

  • Contractor · Nashville, TN · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    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.

  • Rental Property Investor · Grapevine, TX · Member since 2018 · 33 posts · 17 votes
    7y

    @David Simard

    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.

  • Durham, NC · Member since 2013 · 502 posts · 215 votes
    7y

    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. 

  • Rental Property Investor · San Jose, CA · Member since 2018 · 42 posts · 22 votes
    7y

    @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 .

  • Riverview, FL · Member since 2016 · 53 posts · 18 votes
    7y

    @David Simard or no appliances. One more thing for you to fix and take away from your bottom line.

  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
    Moderator
    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    7y

    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. 

  • Real Estate Agent · Southington, CT · Member since 2008 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    7y

    The delivery and installation charges the used appliance companies charge in my market kind of make it prohibitive to use them in most cases. 

  • Member since 2019 · 13 posts · 1 vote
    7y

    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.

  • Investor · Taylor Mill, KY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 964 votes
    7y

    @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.

  • Member since 2018 · 27 posts · 19 votes
    7y

    @David Simard

    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.

  • Rental Property Investor · Beaumont, TX · Member since 2018 · 16 posts · 17 votes
    7y

    David,

    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.    

  • Rental Property Investor · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2017 · 257 posts · 130 votes
    7y

    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. 

  • Real Estate Broker · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2017 · 229 posts · 145 votes
    7y

    @David Simard For nicer units, I get Samsung stainless steel appliances from Costco, installed, with haul away for <$3,000.

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