Rental Property - Provide Appliances?

[Jal Singh]

I have closed on my first SFR and I am prepping it now for city inspection and then the hunt for my first tenant begins. I have a question for my fellow investors in the metro Detroit area... of course I welcome advice from all others too ;)

Do you recommend providing appliances, or do you typically have the tenant provide their own? The reason I am throwing this out there is because I have heard opinions from both sides and I'm on the fence. Would not providing appliances and forcing a potential tenant to get their own be a turnoff? Or is it pretty much standard practice to go this route. Again, this is my first property and I don't know what the expectations are. This property is in the Ferndale area, specifically in Royal Oak Township, if that helps.

I appreciate all advice in advance!

[Tom A.]

I know some landlords that do, and some that don't. Some that do offer appliances (bought used, or that came with the house) put in the lease that they're provided for the tenant's convenience and the landlord isn't responsible for fixing or replacing them if they break. If they break the tenant can have them fixed at their expense or they can replace them. The landlord will remove the old appliance upon request.

It seems that the more experienced, high-volume single-family house landlords try to avoid being in the appliance repair business. You could, however, make appliance rental another line of business for yourself. Tenants without appliances sometimes go to the local rental place to get their appliances. You could provide used (or new) appliances for a monthly fee. I've known landlords that do that and make out OK financially.