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Buying New Appliances Usually Costs Less Than Promising New Appliances

By Sharon Tara

Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

July 20, 2012 09:20 PM

Buying New Appliances Usually Costs Less Than Promising New Appliances

I had a Home Staging Consult this week with a client who asked me if she should buy new appliances.

Her appliances are 23 yrs. old and need replacing, but her agent told her that it wasn't necessary... suggesting they tell potential buyers they are willing to purchase new appliances once the house is under agreement.

old appliances

I was hired by the seller.

The seller asked for my professional opinion...what I thought she should do.

I told her if it were my house, I would buy the new appliances prior to listing.

kitchen

The whole kitchen has not been updated in over 20 years, but these appliances and the gold light fixtures are the only telltale signs. It has nice cabinets and tile and a stainless dishwasher. Replacing the old appliances with stainless to match the dishwasher would give the whole room an updated feel.

"New appliances" is a marketing PLUS!

Having old appliances and expecting buyers to ignore them because of a promise of new ones is like

telling the jury to disregard the shocking testimony the judge just threw out.....

jurors can't "unhear" the testimony and buyers can't "unsee" the negative.

If you are going to replace them eventually....

replace them now and let them WORK FOR YOU and help sell the house.

Plus, you'll have complete control over selection and cost. Do you really want to get into negotiations over an appliance allowance with the buyers?

Buying New Appliances Usually Costs Less Than Promising New Appliances

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Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Julia: Absolutely....the cost of the "adjustment" will never match the real cost so it's better to have the improvement made prior to involving the buyer at all! Thank you for the suggest!

Jul 21, 2012 05:11 AM

Anna Dovger

Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX

Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Sharon, first impression is everything. It is so true that buying new appliances are cheaper than offering allowance and as you said they will "work for you and help sell the house".

Jul 21, 2012 07:10 AM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

All sellers and agents should be reading this post -- excellent analogy!! Suggested for sure :-)

Jul 21, 2012 07:57 AM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Good advice Sharon. The kitchen is lovely with the exception of the light fixtures (as you mentioned) and the appliances. You only get one chance at a first impression!

Jul 21, 2012 08:02 AM

Tatyana Makarov

Century 21 All Points Realty - South Windsor, CT

Your Greater Hartford Area Realtor

This is so true, Sharon.

I always suggest my sellers to buy new appls prior listing their home (if appls. are very old).

Tatyana

Jul 21, 2012 08:20 AM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

Staging Professional

Great advice Sharon. Why give the buyer a bargaining chip? Choose the level of appliances you are comfortable with and get some use out of them.

Jul 21, 2012 08:23 AM

Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP

DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX

Selling Homes Changing Lives

Sharon,

Appliances don't last forever. The owner was lucky to get away without having to replace them after all these years. Now it's time to be considerate and replace them if she hopes to sell.

You gave her good advice. It would be terrible to get real close to the closing table only to find out the appliances quit. And you know how things go in three. I wouldn't risk it!

Jul 21, 2012 11:44 AM

Lloyd Binen

Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA

Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

More excellent advice from Ms. Sharon Tara (aka Neena). Ditto to carpet allowance, paint allowance. And how true--you can't unsee it, or undo the original negative impression.

Jul 21, 2012 01:03 PM

Peg Barcelo

Fluff My House! Home Staging Inc. 250.486.6369 - Summerland, BC

The FlufftasticStager from Summerland, BC

Sharon, great post! I suggest new as well, Stainless is what people look for as soon as they enter a kitchen! No need to give them a reason to turn away, especially if the rest of the kitchen is fine... besides, they could sell the old appliances or donate them to Habitat for Humanity and make someone else happy with good 'old' appliances! (hit 'S')

Jul 22, 2012 12:32 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Anna: Perceived value of the house will be established once buyers see those appliances....it's not very high if their impression is a lack of maintenance.

Maureen: I appreciate it, thank you!

Donna: I'm really hoping the light fixtures will be updated. Even if it's only with spray paint. I've painted light fixtures with great results.

Tatyana: Why give buyers reason to lower the price? Involving them in the decision on choosing new appliances is only asking for trouble.

Janice: Exactly! There are so many options out there for impressive looking, cost effective appliances.

Patricia: Plus....the old, worn, dated appliances are going to devalue the house and plant the seed as to what other major items have been neglected.

Lloyd: Just ignore those appliances....I don't think so. They will do more harm to a deal than the promise of new ones could ever compensate for.

Peg: Donating them is a great idea! Thanks for the Suggest!

Jul 22, 2012 09:31 AM

Kathy Burke

Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA

S.F. East Bay Home Staging

Sharon.....in total agreement!! Once buyers see it they have an impression and it will NOT be positive! GREAT topic & post...SUGGESTED!!

Jul 22, 2012 10:25 AM

Karen Gray Plaisted

Design Solutions KGP~ Home Staging and Interior Decor - Warwick, NY

Staging Spaces, Renewing Places, NY

Sharon you are so right, the value that it creates is worth the investment. Updates are important to sell a home and kitchens are an area that sells a house. Great post!

Jul 23, 2012 05:43 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Kathy: You can't "do over" a first impression! Thanks for suggesting!

Karen: Kitchens are so important....and you are right, they do sell a house. Old appliances do not sell a house.

Jul 23, 2012 08:07 AM

Beverly Carlson

Carlson Properties 325-721-2429 - Abilene, TX

Abilene's Staging Realtor

A new shiny appliance is buyer friendly.

Jul 24, 2012 12:13 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Beverly: Absolutely!! Thanks for commenting!

Jul 24, 2012 09:56 PM

Ron Marshall

Marshall Enterprises - Saint Michael, MN

Birdhouse Builder Extraordinaire

Now, I see why you only post three times a week. Your quality is hard to beat. And, your advice is stellar.

Jul 29, 2012 07:01 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Ron: What a nice thing to say, thank you!

Jul 29, 2012 08:18 AM

Carol Faaland-Kronmaier

Weichert, Realtors; Hillsborough - Hillsborough, NJ

PhD, e-PRO, Manville, Hillsborough, Somerset NJ

Sharon, You are right, I feel that if the listing shows needing new appliances the buyers will add more wants onto their possble need before buying list. They may be more critical of other parts of the home also, assuming that nothing was ever updated.

Aug 02, 2012 09:47 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Carol: Just had this coversation again today with a client. Buying the appliances will make the whole process go much smoother. You are just asking for more grief showing dated ones.

Aug 03, 2012 04:41 AM

Bruce Hicks

Best Homes Hawaii - Honolulu, HI

Your Best Hawaii Realtor!

Yesm, I agree, putting in the new appliances is always the best return for the seller. Last year, the exact same thing happened in our transaction. Seller said "tell the buyer we will install new washer dryer stove and fridge." Instead, the buyer negotiated a 7,500 credit.

Aug 05, 2012 05:27 AM