Speed Queen Washer in a Rental?

Question

Greetings,

Debating here; need a washer/dryer for a class B unit of a duplex. I generally like quality up front, then you don't have to mess with it as much. There are Maytag, Amana, Whirlpool type home-use washer/ dryers (~$1400 for both), then there is the Speed Queen (~ $2600 for both). Everything I've read says Speed Queens have few issues and last forever. Too fancy for a rental or a better idea because it will last and you won't have to mess with it?

Bill B. · Answer

Extra PS. I was reminded by @JD Martin.

I’ve actually had to replace front loaders because tenants didn’t know you had  to prop the door open after usage and let them air out to avoid mold/mildew/horrible smells. Go with the top loader without a doubt.

PPS. The doors are reversible, make sure the installers shift the door to open on the washer side. I literally saw my mom doing laundry with her 4-5 year old “new laundry pair” for the first time last week. The door was backwards and she had to lift the laundry over the door to jam it in. It didn’t take 5 minutes of unskilled labor to swap it. She thought it was magic.

Bill B. · Answer

Are these over $3000/mo rentals?

I put washer/dryer pairs that cost $800-$1,000 delivered with the old ones removed in properties where the rent is $1700-$2300. They usually last 8-12 years so the really cheap extended warranties usually still aren’t worth it.

Check lowes/Home Depot or my favorite RC Wiley (if you have one near you) anything new except scratch and dent is fine. You don’t want to set the expectation that you don’t care about the condition of the property.

Manco Snead · Answer

@ Bill Brandt Good tips, thanks. Top loaders and check the dryer door.

Manco Snead · Answer

@Bill Brandt Thanks for the feedback. The unit is $1000/month. Will probably go for the less expensive appliances.

Bjorn Ahlblad · Answer

My duplexes rent for 2,000/side. 3 beds 2.75 baths-generally pretty nice units. I do the same as Bill Brandt; washer and dryer pairs, delivered for 1000 dollars sometimes less. Must admit I had never heard of Speed Queen!

JD Martin · Answer

This is exactly what I do as well. Lately I've been using the Amana W/D combos. Top loaders, no frills = nothing to go wrong. You want to give them basic appliances with as few moving parts as possible. Frilly extras are the things that always go dead on appliances.

I have a speed queen in one of our rentals, because it had to be a stackable and I got a good deal on a combo unit that was used. It's needed one repair that was pretty simple so far. Definitely a quality machine - heavy as a SOB - but hasn't been any more or less valuable than the regular Lowes ones I put in the other rentals.

FWIW, years ago I didn't provide w/d, only hookups. The market has shifted and I get more rent and better interest by providing everything. I expect that 5 years from now I'll probably be providing internet as well included in the rent. We never used to include lawn care either, but now virtually no renter wants to cut their own grass (and they suck at it anyway) so we just have a contract with a company, up the rent and add some profit, and just make it one-stop.

Speed Queen Washer in a Rental?

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