7 Appliances You’ll Need in 2020 for Your Rental Property

Investing in proper appliances when you are renting out property plays a huge role in how many renters you are getting. Think about getting quality appliances will help you get more renters in the long run and it will make the renter feel more comfortable and welcome. The rental property that has the best appliances may have the most people that want to rent it because you can use the appliances as the selling point. There is no shame and no reason that you can’t use appliances as the selling point. Therefore, it’s not enough to just go out and buy the appliances, you need to pick the right ones.

 

Should You Get Used or New Appliances

Every time you buy a brand new device, you are getting a guaranteed quality and a manufacturer’s warranty. You are able to pick the color and exact style that you want and something that will fit your preferences. But for some appliances, it is okay to get a used one if you know that you are not going to be using it all the time, and when you are going for a used appliance you need to be aware of how it was treated by the previous owners.

Keep in mind that not all manufacturers provide you with a warranty or they don’t expect the appliance because it’s too damaged or had bad maintenance. But on the other hand, used appliances are much cheaper than getting new ones, and if you get them from a licensed place you can get some form of warranty that the appliance won’t break or explode while you are using it.

 

A Gas Stove or Electric Stove

When you are a landlord you need to think about the long-term costs and all the possible risks that can come with having both kinds of stoves. Here are some things that will help you decide which one to choose.

Gas appliances cost more when you are buying them, but natural gas is much cheaper in the long run. It’s pricey to convert from an electric stove to gas and vice versa. As with any appliance both electric and gas stoves come with some risks. While electric stoves have a fire risk if they are left on or not installed properly, but gas stoves come with a carbon monoxide poisoning risks.

Even though most people will say that there is no difference, most professional chefs have said that a gas stove will perform better than an electric one.

The thing that will probably determine which one you choose is that if you want to go for a gas stove you will need to have a gas line that is running into the house. An electric stove only needs a plugin for the wall with the correct voltage. But keep in mind that converting from electric to gas is costly and it’s not an investment into a rental property.

A Refrigerator

There is nothing wrong with having a plain white refrigerator, but your renters will like seeing that stainless steel refrigerator in the unit they are renting. If you are going to invest in a brand new refrigerator make sure that you measure out everything beforehand so it has enough room to swing open. There is also an option of getting a faux stainless steel refrigerator. Getting a faux steel refrigerator is great if you want something where you won’t see all the stains from fingerprints and things like that. The only catch with it is that sometimes it won’t match with other stainless steel appliances that you might already have.

Another thing that you can also consider is if the refrigerator has an ice maker. If it has one it’s convenient but if you are specifically looking for one that has it, it’s not worth the hassle.

A Dishwasher

Getting a dishwasher will add to the value of your rental property because it is really useful and every tenant will want to have it. But it’s important that you get a good one and that it’s right for the rental.

If the unit has a small kitchen or it’s a studio, opt for a compact dishwasher. But if you are renting out a place that is meant to house multiple tenants, a standard dishwasher will be the best option. Go for a dishwasher that is Energy Star approved, because it will help you save money in the long run. There are even dishwashers that have self-cleaning filters that will remove the food residue as its cleaning the dishes. That is a great option to look for because it will require less maintenance.

A Washer and Dryer

You tenant will appreciate having a washer and dryer in the apartment itself. Because it’s a big hassle to have to carry your dirty laundry somewhere to wash it. If other rentals around yours have a washer and dryer in the units, it is better that you have one too so they don’t pose a threat to you.

It’s important that you know what machine type is the best for a rental. You have to have enough available space because that is the main thing that will dictate which ones you can get. If there is a laundry room or a common area where you can put them you can pick the ones that are lager and put them side by side instead of stacking them on top of each other. But if you have a limited amount of space, you will need to buy stackable ones or even a single combo that both washes and dries the clothes. The thing with front-loading washing machines use less energy and water, but the top-loading ones will typically need less maintenance work.

 

You must pay attention to any modifications that you might be going to have to make in order for the washer and dryer to fit into the unit. Inspect your place to see if you have all the necessary hookups for the machine that you want. There are also two types that you can choose. There are electric and gas-powered ones. Therefore it is important to know what kind of hookups you have so you can buy a proper machine to avoid any added expenses.

As with any appliances, it is better to look at ones that they are Energy Star approved. That is because Energy Star appliances use less energy and water.

 

A Coffee Machine

As we all know most people in 2020 are really passionate coffee drinkers, and there is nothing better than having a coffee machine in your apartment so you can enjoy some coffee whenever your heart desires. Providing your tenants with a coffee machine you are letting them know that you do care and it will bring up your property value. With that extra step, you are helping your tenants save money and time that they would have to spend to go out every day to buy themselves a cup of coffee. There are so many options on the market nowadays, you can make any kind of coffee that you want. All you need to do is provide your tenants with a good coffee maker, and they need to find out which are the best coffee pods out there.

 

A Microwave

Nowadays a microwave is a must-have for most people. This little appliance will make anybody’s life easier because it is so convenient. Here are some reasons why you should provide your pennants with this little yet useful appliance.

Heating food the old-fashioned way on the stove can really be a hassle, you need pots and pans and you need to wait and watch over the food and the most important thing a stove will use a lot more energy than a microwave. With a microwave, you will save water because you won’t have to wash pots and pans and it takes much less time to heat it.

An Electric Kettle

As we all know water at a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit kills almost all the bacteria and pathogens that are in it. Therefore, bottled water is so much safer to drink especially if you don’t have a water filter you can be safe. So if you can’t provide your rental property with a water filter this is the best second option. Boiled water is safer to drink and it has some additional health benefits to it besides removing the bacteria like cryptosporidium and giardia. Proving your tenants with a nice electric kettle will help you save on your electricity bill in the long run. That is because boiling water in an electric kettle will use significantly less energy than using a microwave or a stove. It has been proven that an electric kettle is 80 percent more energy-efficient than a microwave or a stove.

 

Also, there are many reasons that prove that using an electric kettle is a safer option for your tenants. The first and most important one is that an electric kettle has an automatic switch-off button. Unlike a stovetop, most of the new electric kettles have a mechanism that will stop the boiling process as soon as it reaches the bubbling stage. That means that there won’t be spillage, no worrying about things boiling over and there’s no hot water steaming, therefore, you won’t be able to get burnt by it. Providing them with an electric kettle you are avoiding a chance of forgotten open flames or waste electricity because the stove was left turned on. Most of the electric kettles are made with cool touch technology so you don’t have to worry about your tenants burning themselves.

You shouldn’t high end get appliances for your rental unless your rental is high end. If you spend too much you will reduce your cash flow. Choosing the best appliances for your rental property will most definitely reward you with a return on investment. But keep in mind that choosing the best isn’t always choosing the most expensive appliances. If you think about it like that, good-quality appliances will increase the value of an asset. Because of that, it’s very important that you take some time to talk about which appliances you will buy for your rental property.