All Forum Posts by: Scott F.

Appliances – new or used, it’s a question I’ve asked myself for 25 years.

We purchase both quite frankly. In most cases I opt for new always from Home Depot; I live there. I buy the same stoves and refrigerators – generally about $800.00 per set delivered and the stove hooked up. They keep the old appliances, I don’t have to scrap them or deal with them. I try to limit my efforts to higher level tasks, not entry level tasks.

We’ve had great luck with new and used, I’ve had grief with both also. But the one thing I have learned is with stoves I only buy GAS “5 knob” stoves – those that have 4 knobs for burners and one for the oven. I just replaced a 2 year old (purchased new) stove that had the pretty plastic press style screen on the back of the stove top. The oven button cracked and only cost $450.00 for the replacement part!

As far as a refrigerator, the new / used debate is the same but in either case I try to avoid glass shelves – they scratch. So we look for wire shelving and perhaps one glass shelf on the crisper drawers.

We have a local used appliance store I’ve been working with my entire Landlording career - Lee’s Appliances. They have good prices, deliver, install and remove the old ones. Depending on the property and situation I will sometimes still purchase used but I always lean towards new. Used will run as just described about $500.00 (per set), so it’s a $300.00 + difference and as you know those dollars aren’t always available on each project.

It's a problem all Landlords will have, deciding on where to place the dollars but I always lean towards new. 

I agree with Greg S. no to extended warranties.

Scott

Refrigerator: http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-15-5-cu-ft-Top-Freezer-Refrigerator-in-White-GTS16DTHWW/205092873

Stove: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hotpoint-4-8-cu-ft-Gas-Range-in-White-RGB526DEHWW/205171223

Brandon,

Congratulations – if it was easy everyone would be doing it!

My first two family purchase was in 1978 – that was scary and very troubling. Today over 100 units later, each purchase is exciting and rewarding, not scary at all.

As you said don’t listen to your friends that are afraid of your success – that would mean they need to get off the couch and actually start paying attention, very tough for some people.

Scott