Dishwashers?

[Mark Forest]

We have had bad luck with dishwashers leaking and the tenants not telling us.  Are dishwashers necessary?  I am thinking of pulling all of them when the respective tenants leave. 

[Marcia Maynard]

Depends on your market and what your competitors are offering. Necessary for some higher end rentals. Maybe not for some lower end rentals. We have dishwashers in some of our units and not in others. Some tenants rely on dishwashers. Others use them for strorage. Some prospective tenants wouldn't live without them.

The key is buying new, not used. Making sure your plumber uses new connections when installing them. Making sure they are run at least periodically to keep them running well and fresh (use white vinegar to remove odors). Put a water alarm in the kitchen sink cabinet to warn of leaks from plumbing there. And install a DWIP pan, or the equivalent, so any water that escapes from the dishwasher runs out where you can see it instead of into the cabinetry, floors, and walls. We would not install a dishwasher without one.

See this link about DWIP pans: http://www.dwipco.com/about.html