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Braided Stainless-Steel Washing Machine Hoses - Best Update You Can Do

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage SA678905000

Stainless-Steel Washing Machine Hoses - Best Update You Can Do!Braided Stainless-Steel Washing Machine Hoses - Best Update You Can Do!

Whenever an inspector sees rubber hoses supplying water to a washing machine, particularly on an upper floor, they recommend to the buyer that they upgrade those supply lines to Braided Stainless-Steel Washing Machine Hoses.  When I first heard this (years ago), of course I went home and changed out my lines to my lower level washing machine.  After all, who wants a flooded basement? 

A few weeks ago I saw first hand the reason that spending about $35 or less can be the best update to stainless steel that a seller or buyer could possibly do.  I arrived at a home that I was showing, and we walked the yard before going inside.  The family I was touring really liked the neighborhood and the yard, plus the outside looked great.  Let's just hope the inside would measure up!

I opened up the lockbox and opened the front door--anticipation was high.  Unfortunately, it looked like Niagra Falls had decided to take up residence in this lovely home.  Water was almost to the front door.  I immediately called the listing agent who told me where the water main could be located.  I waded through the house (literally) and shut down the water and the hot water heater as it was going nonstop.  I then did a little investigation.  The second floor laundry room washing machine hoses had burst.  The second floor was flooded.  The first floor was flooded.  The basement was flooded.  $35 worth of Stainless-Steel Washing Machine Hoses could have saved this house.

We locked up the house and headed off to our next showing.  Later that day I got a call from the listing agent thanking me profusely for notifying her and stopping the water flow as quickly as I did.  She had already called in a water emergency repair company, and they were getting right to work.  She said there was $7,000 worth of damage.  $35 worth of Stainless-Steel Washing Machine Hoses could have saved the homeowners $7,000.

 

Posted by

 

Chris K. Canfield

REALTOR®, ABR, CRS, e-PRO, GREEN, MRP, SRES 

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

2890 E. Skyline Drive, #250

Tucson, Arizona  85718

 

 

Mary-kay Canfield and Chris Canfield ActiveRain ProfileE-mail Chris and Mary-kay Canfield

 

 

Comments(14)

Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

Chris, what an experience. The cost of stainless steel hoses is minimal compared to water damage. I'm surprised the cost to repair is only $7,000.

Mar 03, 2013 06:19 AM
Chris Canfield
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Tucson, AZ
Homes for Sale in Oro Valley and Tucson, Arizona

Hi Pamela,

I have to admit that I thought the $7,000 repair was a rather low one after what I saw, but I guess that cleanup crew was able to get to it very quickly because I reported it so soon after it happened.  I hope, for the owner's sake, that it was just $7,000!

Mar 03, 2013 06:53 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good advice for home owners.  A small cost can save thousands of dollars of risk.

Mar 03, 2013 07:26 AM
Deborah Byron Leffler BzyBee Real Estate Lady!
Keller Williams Realty Boise - Nampa, ID

Yikes....now I need to go and check my hoses....hmmmm   that would be awful to walk into...glad you stopped the water as fast as you did!

Mar 03, 2013 09:24 AM
Chris Canfield
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Tucson, AZ
Homes for Sale in Oro Valley and Tucson, Arizona

Hi Roy - Thanks for stopping by!

Hi Deborah - It was an awful thing to see.  I hope I never have to experience anything like it again. 

Mar 03, 2013 11:04 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Chris, this is certainly a cautionary tale!  Tomorrow is Home Depot day for me!

Mar 07, 2013 12:58 PM
Chris Canfield
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Tucson, AZ
Homes for Sale in Oro Valley and Tucson, Arizona

Hi Pat,  Thanks for stopping by!  By the way, I heard that the price tag for the repairs turned out to be a bit higher than the proposed $7,000.  Quite a bit higher.  I think you will appreciate your new braided stainless steel washing machine hoses as the best (and least expensive) insurance policy you ever purchased.

Mar 09, 2013 11:53 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

That is a costly mistake to the homeowner - thank God CHRIS CANFIELD was there to the rescue!

I recently replaced my washing machine and of course the new braided stainless steel washing machine hoses weren't included in the price along with some other charges. I sighed and rolled my eyes. The astute salesman looked at me and said, old hoses don't last forever and when they fail, and they will fail, you'll be glad you did the right thing.

Chris, your story, along with your exemplary services of going above and beyond deserves high praises. If more people did the right thing, like you did, the world would be a better place. This is a great testimonial as to your character.

Mar 10, 2013 12:28 AM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Hi Chris, Thank you for the tip on this money saver!  Wow what a mess you got into, but so lucky you came along when you did or there could have been much more damage.

Good to see you back here on AR.

Hope all is well on your end.

Gloria

Mar 10, 2013 06:20 AM
Mark Loewenberg
KW of the Palm Beaches - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
KW 561-214-0370

great education for us to learn more about this, I like the idea of being proactive like you mention!

Mar 10, 2013 07:03 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Thanks to Mark for the reblog.

You made your point quite well. Braided stainless steel sounds like a must have!

Mar 11, 2013 01:58 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Chris,

This is indeed a valuable tip...we hear the same thing and when we bought our new washer and dryer a few years back had the stainless steel hoses installed in our utility on the main floor!

Apr 02, 2014 08:54 PM
Alicia Utz
EXIT Realty Associates - Lorton, VA
REALTOR & Military Relocation Professional in NOVA

Great information.  We upgraded on our personal washing machine many years ago.  Water can create so much damage in such a short amount of time.  Why risk it?  Thanks for sharing!

Apr 02, 2014 09:26 PM
Chris Canfield
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Tucson, AZ
Homes for Sale in Oro Valley and Tucson, Arizona

Hi Dorie and Alicia - Thanks for stopping by!  Glad to hear that you have your homes well protected!

Apr 03, 2014 11:54 AM