Dishwashers . . .
Hi all:
I'm settling on 3 units next week (my first deal!) in an older building. It's both sides of a duplex, 1 single and one 2-unit building. I'm wondering if I should try to find a way to get a dishwasher in--at least in the single side. It's a large 3-4 BR house. Maybe this is a local thing, but I'm wondering if I'll get better tenants/higher rents if I find a way to get a dishwasher in. Even a portable one?
Any thoughts???
I had rentals in UTah and I don't think I could charge any more for the ones with a washer but I think they rented more quickly..
[addsig]
What type of tenants are you going to have based on the area, property, etc.
Dishwashers are something nice and may be a factor to people who are "on the fence" but I've never seen them be a deal breaker or maker.
It sounds to me like they'll be out of place once you get em in there.
Personally, I don't like them. They are the highest maintenance appliance. It is just a matter of time before some kind of glass gets broken inside and messes up the pump, or the unit starts leaking underneath and rots out the floor, or the drain plugs up, etc., etc. This is not even counting the most common complaint which is the dishwasher overflowing because many tenants don't know they must use detergent specifically made for dishwashers. I would spend the money on something else that would add a little pizazz to the place and couldn't cause extra maintenance calls.
just remember if it is there, you will be responsible for maintenance. in my opinion, if it is not there, don't add it.
Hey,
I am strongly against most appliances (frig, washer, dryer, etc.) being provided by the landlord. They break or get stolen and are nothing but a big headache.
BUT...
All my houses have dishwashers. Dishwashers are cheap, are built-in (they are hard to steal) and are very dependable. I have never had one break.
Maybe it is the market, but I would never think about not putting in a dishwasher.
I put as many conveniences as possible in my units. The more there are, the more people seem to like the units.
I get around dealing with them by having a clause in my lease that says that the appliances are not included in the rent. If the tenant chooses to use them, they must maintain and repair them and they must be given back in the same working condition as received. Lastly, if the tenant doesn't want to use them they can ask me to remove them (which I will). I've never had a tenant choose not to use them...
Back in the day I moved out of an apartment and into another because I was just tired washing dishes...just an FYI
the dishwasher will not get "better tenants?higher rents" it is good incentive when offering for rent but thats all it will do......kenmax
Does anyone else think this is kind of interesting?
We have people from both coasts, the south, and even one just one county south of myself.
And it seems that with the different territories, comes different opinions.
Where I rent, I've never had to think about one of my appliances getting stolen, but I know someone that has rentals in Kansas City that has to build a metal cage around his air conditioner units so they don't get stolen.
With this said, my opinion is that any added appliance is just additional maintenance. I rent in a college town, where the tenants (mostly college students) will not want/be able to supply their own, so I supply refrigerators and oven/stoves. Dishwashers, washers and dryers, and garbabe disposals, if there when I bought the place, are provided on an as is basis, I have no responsibility to maintain them.
i agree with rentalman about the maint. if i buy aprop. for rental and it has a d/w ok if not i will not install. i will put in a gar/dispo. its a sanitary issue for me....kenmax
Hey,
Lots of ways to skin a cat...
I would never install a garbage disposal in a rental unit. I had one in a house and it was always "breaking" (you had to push the red button to reset or pull out the tree branch the tenant was trying to chip).
It is interesting to see how landlords have all this different approachs.