HUGE DEMO - Can I use those existing fixtures for another house?

Question

Hi All, I am doing huge demo and remodel on my house and we are replacing everything. From the kitchen cabinets, windows, toilets, faucets, appliances, lights, ceiling fans, marble counter-tops, doors etc. I had an idea of buying a real fixer-upper that would need most of those items installed, updated or replaced.

My question is how hard would it be to remove and install the items. Would it be worth the hassle. My contractor said he does not want to be in liable for damaging the items during Demo which is fair but I can hire someone to safely remove those items. However, is it worth it so install in another house? I am not looking to flip the house, just make it livable for rent. The fixtures are from the 2000's-2010's, and the house likely will be in a rougher part of the bay area, where rents should fetch about $2,500 for a 3/1 for a basic non upgraded house.

Any thoughts, has anyone tried this, or am I crazy? Most of the appliances are still pretty new and stainless steel.

Aaron K. · Answer

@Suzanne Chan light fixtures are doable, doors should be doable but can be finicky if one house or the other isn't perfectly square and the door rubs, with solid doors this can be corrected with most interior doors it can't.  Toilets aren't worth it, because they are like $100 new and the effort to remove the toilet from the wax ring without breaking it and then cleaning off the wax ring to get a good seal when reinstalled just isn't worth the effort.  Windows also have to be the same size to work well.  I don't understand why you're demoing things in the first place it looks pretty updated to me.

Tyler Bobo · Answer

Holly crap, are you removing that kitchen and bath?  They look pretty fantastic to me?  Maybe I’m low maintenance but I’d be afraid of owning a kitchen that nice😂.

I used to save a lot of stuff, and still have a lot of it in a storage container in my back yard. We started with really low end properties and mobile homes so if it wasn’t broken we would save it and reinstall. At this point though I’m tired of storing junk and it’s so much easier to install new and matching things, especially when the property values are higher. So my answer is, if it’s qualify enough that it’s worth the time to reinstall somewhere then yeah, keep it, but like the other fellow said about the toilets, too cheap and so much over to install a new one that I wouldn’t save a used toilet.

Jonathan G. · Answer

@Suzanne Chan

Gauge the prices for what similar items sell for on FB and then sell it all on your local marketplace . If you need any similar items later, repurchase.

Theresa Harris · Answer

I would re use what you can or sell them.  if the appliances are newer, keep them and put them back in once the renos are done. Light fixtures and faucets, hardware are all easy to take off and put back.  I agree with the others, the photos look really good. I would leave things as they are.

Miriam Seidel · Answer

If it were me, the cabinets are shaker, (which is still in style), I would sand and paint cabinets white or light gray. And add modern hardware.

Suzanne Chan · Answer

Thank you all for your help and advice. I think I was being a little too ambitious just such a waste to toss pretty good quality products. Also, having to transport it with damaging was a bit of an issue as well. Thank you BP community again for your help!

Jade S. · Answer

There are alot of things you probably need to weigh up. Even though you are removing fixtures and fittings and reinstating them (if need be), you need to ensure that the lifespan remaining on those items are justified. Ie.... If you were to remove your cooktop, install new kitchen cabinetry and reinstall your old cook top and 3 months later it dies, there is no warrenty left on that product. Therefore you will need to get a electrician out to reinstall a new cooktop (at min call out fee). Ultimately you have paid for an electrician to install a cooktop twice, when you can purchase a decent cooktop for $500.

Labour can be costly.

I hope this helps.

Pat L. · Answer

That's a beautiful property.

Over the years I've tried to salvage 'stuff' only to end up frustrated & wasting a lot of time & I have a barn full of the 'stuff'. BUT we often update appliances in our own homes & move them to rentals. In a couple of cases I took out the old  kitchen cabinets from SFH rehabs & moved them to a multi we were rehabbing & got an extra $200-$250/month in rents after the kitchen & bath rehab.

In 2005 I had one investor friend take a 1980's low efficiency furnace & is still using it in one of his rental. He also took all the carpets from the same SFH we gutted & they are still installed in a C-class rental he owns.

Mark H. · Answer

I think the other thing you need to look at is how much will you be paying this person you're planning to hire?  That could make it not worth it as well.

Suzanne Chan · Answer

@Aaron K. Thanks for the feedback, what do you think of light fixtures, doors, toilets or windows. Here are some of the photos, right now the house is just a Airbnb so I will demo it soon, just hate the idea of tossing away practically the whole house since we are basically replacing everything.

HUGE DEMO - Can I use those existing fixtures for another house?

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