When Hick gave a tour of the Double Hovel flip house(s) to the realtor, she commented on the appliances in both structures.
"We can't list them as NEW APPLIANCES, because they are not the new stainless steel variety."
Of course Hick knew that. Some of the appliances came from the Quick Flip house. Some were things he bought from people listing them on Buy/Sell/Trade, or Facebook. Hick always makes sure they are in working order. He gets some good bargains. Unfortunately, the refrigerator in the main house had quit working on the day Hick had the realtor there. He reached in to get some cold water, and it was dead.
Hick is getting a new (used) refrigerator to put in before the listing is finalized. He had a guy offer him a refrigerator while working at his SUS2 (Storage Unit Store 2) on Friday, but it was "almond, or brownish white. I figure I should wait and get a white one, to match the stove."
That's the thing. We never planned to say these houses had NEW appliances. Only that the appliances were included. That can save people a lot of money, when they've got a down payment to consider, and stuff to make the houses move-in ready. Hick has basic window shades, and the appliances, that will be "good enough" until a buyer can upgrade if they wish.
Anyhoo... people who would buy these properties are not the type to expect brand new appliances. We're not selling the Taj Mahal! Just basic houses, move-in ready. Not a new build. I certainly would not expect brand new appliances in such houses.
Sometimes, a pig does not need lipstick for approval.
It should shows either realtors want owners to do all the work and/or buyers have unrealistic expectations for this sort of house. I'd call it entry level not Taj Mahal as well.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the realtor wanted a higher price for the houses, which new appliances could bring. It's not cost-efficient for us to put in new appliances before selling. We didn't have to include any appliances at all, but figured the used ones would pull in more buyers than they would deter.
DeleteI bought my house with the used appliances and had no problem in using them. Same with many houses around here. Lots of them sell with the appliances that have been in the houses for years.
ReplyDeleteYes. It's not like people who move into apartments get brand new appliances each time. And apartments likely had way more people using those appliances than a house would have.
DeleteEven apartments here you have to bring your own fridge, whether buying or renting. Only the stove is a given.
DeleteThe ones here that I've rented have always had stove and refrigerator. But it's been 40 years since I looked at an apartment for rent!
DeleteFor the last few years I have been hearing about houses needing appliances to sell the house. I am not sure what happened since I last bought a house 50 + years ago. Not one house we ever bought had any appliance except for a built in stove.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was pretty much standard around here that houses came WITHOUT appliances. So anything extra should be a selling point.
DeleteIn some areas of the country I have lived appliances are NOT included in a home sale.
ReplyDeleteBack when I was renting, a lot of those houses came without appliances. Apartments always had them, but not so with the houses.
DeleteMy $17,000 house came with a very old refrigerator. So old, it was almost an ice box. I used it for a little while, until my mom and dad gave Hick and me a refrigerator for our wedding gift.
Buyers will be grateful to have working appliances. If they want to change them out later, that is their call. So many times realtor will convince sellers to change things only to have new owners change everything anyway. As long as the place is clean & move in ready you should not have an issue selling.
ReplyDeleteThat's what WE thought! Fewer items to worry about buying. Just move in, and deal with appliances later if the ones there are not satisfactory. Same with the window shades.
DeleteThe realtor is working for a percentage, so the more ammenities, the higher listing price. Most people just want something that is affordable and that works. We sold a golfcart that had over three owners that we knew of to a camper and he anted a warranty! People expect a lot and want it cheap!
ReplyDeleteI can understand the realtor wanting to make a higher profit. But not on OUR dime! If somebody is wanting to buy a house, they want to move right in, and not deal with the headache of buying appliances first. That's our view.
DeleteI agree, basic appliances are all that's necessary and they don't have to be brand new. Over here when you buy a house the only appliance you can expect is a stove. Unless there is a dishwasher already plumbed in and airconditioning already installed by a previous owner, but that does raise the price a bit. House prices here are insane anyway. I'll never be able to afford a house unless I win lotto.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping you can win the lotto! Yes, we thought having any appliances was better than having none, in regards to attracting a buyer. In our case, it wasn't done to increase the price. We're just going on what we've put into it. Since the appliances (other than the heating/cooling system) didn't cost us much, they haven't affected our asking price much.
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