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The Lifespan and Cost of Kitchen Appliances When Home Selling
Considering the cost of kitchen appliances, when you are selling a home, sometimes it is less expensive to buy new. Why would you buy new appliances to sell a home? For starters, they might be the wrong color. Yes, color matters. For example, white is not a popular color anymore. That doesn’t mean if your entire kitchen is white that you need to remodel because you do not. Yet, older kitchens with oak cabinets and white appliances and white ceramic counters might get passed over by today’s homebuyers or you may need to lower the price of the home to compensate.
Free-standing ranges tend to take a beating over the years. Often the grates and burners become impossible to clean if regular maintenance is not practiced. Those pieces of a gas range, for example, are very expensive to replace. In many situations, you will find it is far cheaper to buy a brand new gas range than to replace parts.
Now, the cost of kitchen appliances can vary depending on whether you are buying new appliances to use for several years before selling or if you plan on selling immediately. Most homeowners will spend more to get features they desire and value if they plan on personally using the appliances. But when you’re selling, buyers don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the features. They will notice the color, though, and whether it is new.
The cost of kitchen appliances also varies with the color. White is cheapest. For a reason. Nobody really likes white except absentee landladies and landlords. Stainless steel is preferred. Close to first position of stainless steel is black or black on stainless steel.
My husband asked why I was looking at gas ranges one morning, after he rolled out of bed. He could see my monitor from the hallway since it is a 40-inch television screen, heh, heh. Doing research for a seller. I help in any way I can. Just for your own edification, below is the lifespan of kitchen appliances as noted by Consumer Reports:
Lifespan of Kitchen Appliances
- A gas range: 15 years (13 for electric)
- A dishwasher: 9 years
- A microwave: 9 years
- A refrigerator: 13 years
One thing I noticed when we shopped for a new refrigerator a few months back is they are making free-standing refrigerators MUCH wider and MUCH taller. When remodeling, it is probably a good idea to allow for expansion of size in a space for a refrigerator. If you need a 33-inch wide refrigerator, like we did, the selections are greatly reduced.
Since one of my clients is considering replacing the dishwasher, stove and microwave in their home before selling, I decided to look at a few top vendor websites to determine how much it would cost. The cost of the kitchen appliances were fairly close, and I sent links to my sellers. They will get the money back upon resale.
I include the cost of the low-end kitchen appliances here for you, but bear in mind these are low-cost for brand new. They might not be what you would want for your own home. But if you’re selling, it’s only your home until a buyer makes an offer, you accept and it closes.
Cost of Kitchen Appliances
FILCO Superstores cost of kitchen appliances: $891.89
- Amana black gas range: $426
- Whirlpool black dishwasher: $297
- Whirlpool 1.7 over-the-range black microwave: $168.99
RCWiley cost of kitchen appliances: $909.68
- Frigidaire black gas range: $449.99
- Frigidaire black dishwasher: $279.99
- Samsung 1.6 over-the-range black microwave: $179.99
Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores cost of kitchen appliances: $817.99
- Whirlpool black gas range: $419.00
- Frigidaire black dishwasher: $259.00
- Unknown manufacturer 1.6 over-the-range black microwave (uninstalled) $139.99
Prices subject to change. may not include installation or delivery fees.
Check Out This Newer 2014 Home in Hampton Station in South Sacramento
7389 Tisdale Way, Sacramento, CA 95822
Are you looking for a newer home in Hampton Station for sale in south Sacramento? This popular model is more than 2,000 square feet, and was built in 2014. Some of the homes in Hampton Station are near the light rail, but this one is not. No power lines. No train tracks. Close to Edward Kemble Preschool and Edward Kemble Elementary, with Cesar Chavez Intermediate right behind those schools. Many buyers move to Hampton Station because they want a newer home and they like the schools.
A feature you are sure to love are the cherry hardwood floors throughout most of the first level. They are simply beautiful. The flooring matches the cherry wood cabinets in the kitchen. This particular layout offers so much privacy. Much of the home in Hampton Station is sheltered toward the back from any traffic in the street, which makes it very quiet.
You will appreciate the granite counters and black appliances in the kitchen. So much storage. The backsplash features glass tiles in a very pretty pattern. Further, the refrigerator, washer and dryer, although personal items, can remain with the home if you ask for them in the purchase offer.
Further, an added benefit is this home has one of the largest lots in this subdivision. It’s enormous.
All of the four bedrooms are located upstairs, leaving the first level strictly for entertainment and cooking. There is a half bath on the first floor, and a guest bath on the second floor, in addition to a master suite bath. In the master bedroom, you’ll find a sitting area and dual closets. Of course, the laundry is located on the second level so no hauling baskets up and down the stairs for you.
Why not come to our open house on Sunday, February 25th, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and see this home in Hampton Station for yourself? 7389 Tisdale Way, Sacramento, CA 95822 is offered exclusively by Elizabeth Weintraub and Lyon Real Estate at $345K. You can also view the virtual tour here.
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The Story of Closing Woodside Oaks Condo in Sacramento
Sometime last April the seller of a Woodside Oaks condo in Sacramento called to say he read my blog about closing the last Woodside Oaks condo in Alicante Villas. He asked me to come over and check out his condo for a pre-inspection appointment. That way I could tell him what he needed to do to get it ready for the market. Coincidinky, the seller had already read a bunch of my blogs, looked up my production online so he knew how many sales I do every year. My four decades of experience in real estate impressed him. He wanted to hire me.
I love working with sellers who know exactly whom they wish to hire. You betcha.
He wasn’t sure when he would be ready to list, but that’s OK. I went over to do my agent visual inspection. I wasn’t prepared for the super bright wall colors and suggested he repaint them a more neutral color. It’s surprising, I think, how many people make the mistake of thinking the buyer will be excited to paint the walls. Buyers do not want to paint. Sellers often say things like, “Then the buyer can paint the walls any color they want!”
This seller didn’t say that, btw. He was smarter than that. A millennial.
There was a great dining space off the kitchen but the ceiling fan was very dated, and there was no dining room table. Ha, they probably use TV trays like my husband and I do and watch TV, LOL. Probably not. They are probably more civilized and actually go out for dinner. Hang out with friends. Millennials don’t watch a lot of television. But that doesn’t mean the space could not use a dining room table. Can’t leave it to a buyer’s imagination. Gotta show.
Lots of time went by. I didn’t hear back from the seller until early January, when I was in Hawaii. It’s OK, I sell a lot of Sacramento real estate from Hawaii, and at least I had already seen this particular property. Which is more than I can say about some of my listings that I sell. One of my team members attached a lockbox. Gave me a thumbs up on the painting and new ceiling fan. I sent over a photographer, uploaded the docs and photos, and we went on the market January 12th.
We held an open house on January 15th and received an offer. The offer was not list price, it was $5,000 lower. The earnest money deposit was fairly low as well. I suggested the seller counter the buyer to raise the offer to list price. Yes, we were higher than the last sale, and I didn’t know if it would appraise, but I had a gut feeling about it. Sure enough, the buyer grabbed that counter offer, increased her earnest money and we went into escrow. It appraised.
We closed escrow on this Woodside Oaks condo without any repairs or credits on Valentine’s Day at $235,000. You might think that’s a low price point for the amount of work performed by a top Sacramento listing agent. However, nothing is too much work. My sellers get the same due diligence from me and expert advice regardless of price. And now this Woodside Oaks condo closing has led to another listing in that complex. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Week of Highlights for a Sacramento Realtor
What a busy week of highlights for a Sacramento Realtor. Have you ever wondered what a top producer does all week? Well, I managed to take two new listings and sell them, with all that entails. Fast strategies, professional photos, tweaking, uploading, writing, managing and publishing last Wednesday. That included promoting both listings at my midtown Lyon Real Estate office meeting and obtaining preview comments from touring agents. Which of course I passed on to my respective sellers.
There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes for a listing agent. Answering buyer calls, calling buyer’s agents, discussing the property, details, providing suggestions for offers. On Wednesday, for example, I worked from 7 AM to 8 PM; until taking off for Ella Dining Room and Bar for Valentine’s Day with my husband. Our main course arrived on plates reeking of bleach. The bleach smell was enormous. We both noticed it. When we brought this to the attention of the waiter, we were told perhaps we were unaccustomed to the smell of truffles.
Geez, Louise. Fairly insulting on so many levels. Makes ya wanna smack ’em. Ella servers should have just apologized, removed the offensive plates and apologized again. Instead we were drilled. Told we were wrong. I was unhappy with the service and vocal but my husband was less upset. Well, he is from Chicago. I would never treat any of my real estate clients that way by arguing over such nonsense.
Earlier in the day I visited a home in Carmichael to assess value and figure out why the public records do not match the configuration. The highlights for a Sacramento Realtor week always include listing appointments. The Carmichael property contains a duplex and a single family home on one lot. I also visited another home in Natomas on Thursday to assess that particular situation. Parking was at a premium when I pulled up, so I left my car at an angle in the driveway. Blocking a car that wasn’t going anywhere anyway.
The seller had another listing appointment after me, although I told her it’s fine as they will pale in comparison. Ha! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. When I left, I noticed a man and woman walking in circles in the street who suddenly made a beeline toward the house. I guess they noticed my name on my license plate, so that made me chuckle. I’d be worried if I were them. But I’m not them. I hopped in the car and stopped at a store on my way home. A place I had never been in Natomas. It was getting dark. My phone jingled when I got out of the car, so I started reading my emails as I walked toward the store.
Hey, nobody expects a handmade speed bump in the middle of a parking lot but I stumbled directly into it. Just like a cartoon character. Down I went on the pavement, knees first. Still holding my cellphone, the backside of my phone case slammed into the asphalt. Thank goodness I wasn’t wearing heels but flat shoes. Phone saved. My hands will heal. Case is still intact, too. Yay! Can’t be without a cellphone. Not and still have enjoy highlights for a Sacramento Realtor.
Friday morning, time to take our new kitty to the vet for the last of his shots. He has a name now, Ziggy. For Ziggy Stardust. The cat clinic insisted he come for an office visit before I could schedule a neuter appointment. They want to meet him first and charge me for an office visit. However, the appointments to neuter at River City Cat Clinic in Land Park are scheduled out to mid-March. Bradshaw Animal Hospital it is. Whatever happened to: here, neuter this kitten? You kids get offa my lawn.
Walking in the door with Ziggy back at my home office, I received an offer for one of my listings. Later in the day, another offer, followed by another. Working those listings, yeah! Three offers and two listings. One buyer obviously didn’t make it, but I managed to put my two listings from Wednesday into pending status on Friday. Geez, we didn’t even make it to the open house. This is what happens when everything is dialed in and systems are in place.
I also closed two listings this past week. Two condos. One at Woodside Oaks on Wednesday, the Alicante Villas, and another condo at 4800 Westlake Parkway in Natomas on Friday. Definitely need more listings. Good thing I’ve got more appointments set up for this coming week. I would hate to get bored and have to work on my taxes.
The Story of Closing 4800 Westlake Parkway in Natomas
4800 Westlake Parkway #1805 is one of 8 three bedroom units.
People tend to believe that all agents are the same, but the owner of 4800 Westlake Parkway knows better. She bought this condo in Natomas from my team member, Barbara Dow. So when it came time to sell, she listed with Elizabeth Weintraub. That’s because I take the listings for the team. I am a listing specialist. My team members are exclusive buyer’s agents. This is how I predict real estate will be in the future. Agents will pick a specialty and not try to do dual agency nor work both sides of the street.
The seller was a little confused as to why, but she went along with our strategy. Soon enough she figured out why she hired me as her Sacramento listing agent. It became clear early on. Not only do I sell a lot of homes in Sacramento, but I pride myself on producing spectacular results. I am very analytical. No way do I just stick my finger in the air and say, oh, the wind is blowing gently this morning, so the price for this condo at 4800 Westlake Parkway should be XYZ. I consider the comparable sales but I also take into consideration market demand, Bay Area buyer views, price point and more.
When you look at the square footage of this condo, it comps out around $256,000. Yet, I suggested a list price of $269,000, knowing full well there are no comps to support it. Sometimes I say forget the comps. Look at the market. Now, that’s not to say another agent could take that price and run with it, because no other agent markets the way I do. My systems are my own. I always go a few steps beyond what I should do. This is part of what makes me different.
We received an offer that was $4,000 lower, which was too low in my opinion and the seller agreed. The following day, we received another offer at $3,000 over list price, based on conversations with the buyer’s agent. I helped to guide the agent to that number. I also talked with a resident who disclosed an amazing fact. She told me there are only 8 three bedrooms in the entire complex! That statistic alone meant a higher price, in my mind.
After we went into escrow, the buyer asked for repairs. Buyers often do this because they don’t want to listen to their buyer’s agent and they think there is no harm in asking. To help facilitate the transaction, I sent do-it-yourself websites and instructional materials on how to do the repairs the buyer asked for herself. This made the buyer feel comfortable and she backed off the request for repairs.
However, when the appraisal came in, it was $5,000 low. I talked the buyer into splitting the difference in cash, so the seller still sold over list price. It meant that the buyer brought in more money to close. Also, there were no credits, no repairs. We closed escrow yesterday. The seller made a nice profit over the 5 years she rented out the condo and gained $100K+ equity upon resale. We steer our investment clients in the right direction.
I should mention that I listed this condo at 4800 Westlake Parkway while I was in Hawaii last month, and I also sold it from Hawaii. This is now the highest priced sale at 4800 Westlake Parkway. Think about this when you look for your next listing agent. I was able to do all of this without even looking at the property myself, much less being physically in town. Sacramento Realtors are not all the same. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759 and put 40 years of experience to work for you.
