Appliances left by tenants
This is not a question, but a comment on part of an earlier topic (BigWorm). As this has little to do with that topic, and it was already too long, I thought it was best to start a new one.
To recap: A tenant has left some personal property (appliances) behind when they left the home (never mind why they left) and some people were relatively excited by the prospect of now owning these appliances.
So my two points:
1) Anytime a tenant leaves stuff behind (appliances, cars, ancient Ming Dynasty vase, etc.) trust me, IT IS JUNK. That is why it has been left behind. That washing machine, that just needs a good cleaning to be perfect, is going to cause you nothing but headaches if you keep it. After you deduct a fee from their security deposit, throw it all away. If they offer to let you keep some stuff, so they don't have to move it, say "No, thank you" and demand that they move it. If you don't believe me, you will become the proud owner of dozens of broken refrigerators, washing machines, and other garbage.
2) You are NOT in the appliance business; you are in the rental business. Do not provide any appliances with your homes, unless they are built in (i.e. dishwasher and stove). If the tenant wants a refrigerator, let them buy it and then haul it away when they leave. The same for washing machines, dryers, lawn mowers, garden gnomes or any crap they think you should provide. DO NOT think that by providing these appliances that your house will rent faster or you can get more for it, it is NOT true (read that again and again, until it sinks in). People that can afford to make the rent payment each month can afford to buy the appliance they need.
Hopefully, this will help someone avoid this trap. I just wish someone had told me this five years ago. Hey, does anyone need a good quality used refrigerator; it only needs a little elbow grease to be perfect?
[ Edited by Bruce on Date 06/05/2003 ][ Edited by Bruce on Date 06/05/2003 ]
You have a good point. In our area, we do not provide a washer and dryer or microwave.
We do however provide refrig, stove and dishwasher.
I am looking to get rid of a washer and dryer right now and am dreading pulling those out. (Sheesh)
I would think that it would largely depend upon the prevailing practice in your area. I can NOT get the same rent as my competition if I provide fewer amenities for the same unit. Furthermore, my vacancies will be longer.
In general, I agree with the first post. I'm already nervous about keeping those appliances even though I have a written note saying that the appliances were being left to me. However, there is no way in the world that I will rent out my unit with those appliances because I don't want to be responsible for their upkeep. From what I can tell though, the appliances were in working condition because they are what the old lady was using right up to her final days. Nonetheless, her family is fairly well off financially, and they were rushing themselves (with no pressure from me, of course) to move all of her stuff of, so for them, moving old appliances that they had no use for and would probably have to sell themselves or junk, just wasn't worth the trouble of finding a truck to moe the stuff. So, since I have plenty of storage place on the property, I'll probably keep the appliances for a few months before I sell them all for less than $300.
Signing off...
Mortuary Maxx a.k.a. Mr. Poof Dust, owner of a building where "tenants are dying to get out..."
(That was all courtesy of JohnLocke)