Do you provide microwave or dishwasher in units?

Question

Do you provide a microwave and/or dishwasher in your units? We will be gutting the current kitchen and we are trying to decide if we should add a microwave mount over the stove and a spot for a dishwasher. It's between a B- and C+ class and is a duplex.

Jim Adrian · Answer

@Lauren M.

I would provide a dishwasher for sure.  Only provide a microwave if you are doing a built-in unit above the stove.  I like this option as it frees up counter space.  I would not provide a microwave that would sit on the counter.  They are cheap enough that tenants can pick out what they want and take care of it.

Robert P. · Answer

Agree with everyone saying don't add them to the unit if they are not there already. But if they are there, I would keep it. A mounted microwave is definitely a selling point and not all that expensive to maintain.

The house I bought had one there already in a unit and it lasted a year, so I had to replace it (it was from 2007, so I would say that is pretty good!) It cost me just over $100 to replace with a brand new one.

Kelly N. · Answer

We have a few apartments that had dishwashers when we purchased them, none of our units have microwaves though I lobbied pretty hard to put one in during our last kitchen renovation, and we'll probably add it as an upgrade at some point for that and other units.

I think adding a dishwasher during a remod makes sense in a larger kitchen, and with larger apartments due to there being more people.  Most of our tenant base doesn't seem to care about not having a dishwasher, and I do not feel that it detracts from my ability to rent them out.

Chuy Gonzalez · Answer

No microwaves...most units have dishwashers. Going forward I'm not even going to have stoves...Im tired of cleaning them. I've had people leave refrigerators in a unit...and you wouldn't believe how badly they will treat their own property....let alone property that isn't their's.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

If they are not already in the unit, I would not add them. One more thing to maintain, one more thing for them to abuse.

Jan H. · Answer

Agreed with @Tobey Porter 100%. Why would you want the headache and cost of repair/replacement of appliances?

I must add. that it also depends on the clientele. In A-class neighborhoods you almost have to include appliances to get the unit rented. If that's the case, I would pay for a home warranty and make the tenant pick up the deductible every time there is a service call for an appliance.

Shannon Slade · Answer

What @Jim Adrian said!!!

Tobey Porter · Answer

My property manger summed it up best for us...those are just a few more things you are responsible for repairing/replacing if you don't word it correctly in your lease.

Ray Harrell · Answer

In my properties I am sorry I provide either! When I purchased the property in a C neighborhood, it had stainless appliances, built in microwaves and "in unit" laundry (literally a stackable placed along the wall in a kitchen).

When I did the lease for the new tenant moving in I stipulated that the microwave and stackable were being provided as a convenience to them and will not be replaced if they break. Tenants can have the units repaired at their cost or we can remove them.

Any other appliance replacements are replaced with Black, not stainless! I'm almost inclined to go to white appliances!

Anthony Hurlburt · Answer

I think @Jim Adrian nailed it.

Do you provide microwave or dishwasher in units?

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