Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Real Estate
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 12-01-2014, 09:03 PM
 
Location: Somewhere in America
15,479 posts, read 15,535,995 times
Reputation: 28462

Advertisements

Quote:
Originally Posted by MrRational View Post
Don't do ANY of that work.

Focus on CLEAN and functional.
Let the next owner remodel and redecorate.

eta: If the stove is really broken... then fix it.
If items are broken that are visible, then many buyers will run! They will wonder what else is broken and see that the current owner doesn't maintain their property. Who wants that headache?

To the OP, white appliances are fine. It looks best when all appliances are the same color. Unless you're planning on replacing ALL of the appliances, stick to whatever color you have now. Now if you had avocado or harvest gold appliances, I'd be telling you replace everything.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 12-01-2014, 09:39 PM
 
Location: Northeastern U.S.
2,076 posts, read 1,590,812 times
Reputation: 4664
Whoever buys the place will very likely redo the kitchen cabinets. One of the small upper drawers is broken (missing part of the bottom) and my handyman won't fix it without doing major work on all the cabinets.

So, back to the question of getting a new oven/range - I just realized that my kitchen sink is not white, it's steel. Would white appliances look better or worse with the rest of the kitchen being old, not updated, and the kitchen itself being quite small? I just think that stainless steel appliances, if I actually end up spending over $1000 on oven, refrigerator, over-the-oven microwave, and dishwasher, would emphasize the age of the kitchen and it's being so out of date, at least a little more than white appliances (including at least two new ones) even if I repaint the walls white (which they currently are, but dingy looking, since the paint job was nearly 10 years ago).

My condominium is a 3-bedroom in a very desirable semi-urban location near Boston and near three hospitals. I inherited it when my mother passed away in 2013. Unfortunately, she had left things in not so great condition, though I plan to put the condo on the market in clean and safe condition. I've already cleared up and cleaned the balcony. I might get the matching white sofa and chair re-upholstered; they look kinda dingy. And I have to get the flooring replaced and the icky ancient carpeting in the two bedrooms removed.

The photos I've seen in online real estate ads for higher-end condominiums and houses for sale in my area often feature stainless steel appliances paired with granite counters in updated kitchens, but there are some nice-looking kitchens with white appliances.

I just thought that spending $700-2000 (eventually) on new kitchen appliances, beginning with the gas range, would present a slightly better appearance in the kitchen than if I didn't do so. (particularly since the oven doesn't work) I can afford that much, though I can't afford to do a complete renovation of the kitchen.

Last edited by Regina14; 12-01-2014 at 09:50 PM..
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-01-2014, 09:48 PM
 
Location: Northeastern U.S.
2,076 posts, read 1,590,812 times
Reputation: 4664
Quote:
Originally Posted by cully View Post
So if you can tell the people moving in are buying vulcans you don't want to bother with replacing the gas oven.

A thought. Have you measured and gone shopping? Sometimes it's difficult to get an appliance to fit the very spaces the older appliances did in the older kitchens.



I have checked out several stores online; and spent an hour at the closest Home Depot. The Home Depot seems to have the best prices (through Wednesday) on the few models that I prefer.

I doubt that the oven I hope to buy will be the exact same measurements as the current one. I can find one with the exact same width, or close enough to fit, but all the ones I've seen will either stick out slightly from the counter (the depth being a bit longer) or the opposite, the edge will be less long or not level to the counters (in terms of depth) - would this be a problem in terms of eventually selling the condo? From what I've seen in online photos of kitchens in homes for sale, the ovens are not always perfectly aligned with the counters. Right now, my old oven does exceed the depth of the counter by about an inch.

I wish the sales were going on for another week, I am finding these decisions difficult.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-01-2014, 10:40 PM
 
5,048 posts, read 9,568,193 times
Reputation: 4179
Quote:
Originally Posted by davebarnes View Post
How is this offensive?


Marko needs to adjust his PC filters.

Another example: N i g g a rdly - 1325-75; Middle English nyggard, equivalent to nig n i gg ard (< Scandinavian; compare dialectal Swedish nygg; akin to Old English hnēaw stingy) + -ard
What about: honky ? As one, I am happy to see it not censored.
I'll have to use the ad pic instead next time.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-01-2014, 10:47 PM
 
5,048 posts, read 9,568,193 times
Reputation: 4179
Quote:
Originally Posted by Regina14 View Post
I have checked out several stores online; and spent an hour at the closest Home Depot. The Home Depot seems to have the best prices (through Wednesday) on the few models that I prefer.

I doubt that the oven I hope to buy will be the exact same measurements as the current one. I can find one with the exact same width, or close enough to fit, but all the ones I've seen will either stick out slightly from the counter (the depth being a bit longer) or the opposite, the edge will be less long or not level to the counters (in terms of depth) - would this be a problem in terms of eventually selling the condo? From what I've seen in online photos of kitchens in homes for sale, the ovens are not always perfectly aligned with the counters. Right now, my old oven does exceed the depth of the counter by about an inch.

I wish the sales were going on for another week, I am finding these decisions difficult.
I don't think sticking out matters.

Similarly, we could not find a refrigerator to fit the space of the old one. We actually felt we required a much bigger one being used to the modern much larger refrigerators. Then we realized we could make one that was smaller than we wanted work. It was still larger than the old one but we noticed in cutting away a lip of molding that extended downward, we could do this, push the fridge in and put up a flush molding on the cut part.

Another note. Be sure to be aware of the requirements for a gas range and any microwave above it, if you have one. The burners can be different heights. Not positive but I've been told one measures from the top of the burner. Seems reasonable. 18". We have to work on that one ourselves. Electric would work fine but we prefer gas.

By the way, if you know someone with a disabled vet card, they can get a discount at Home Depot (I think it's 10%) and also Lowe's with restrictions. It adds up.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-01-2014, 11:36 PM
 
Location: Tucson for awhile longer
8,869 posts, read 16,259,832 times
Reputation: 29229
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrrational View Post
buy a used or very basic one.
Only has to last until after the sale.
that ^^^
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-02-2014, 03:21 AM
 
Location: Northeastern U.S.
2,076 posts, read 1,590,812 times
Reputation: 4664
Looking again at several realtors' online ads for homes (condos and houses) in my town, almost every single one has the steel-colored or actual stainless steel kitchen appliances. Maybe I should go for the steel and replace all three (oven, fridge and dishwasher) though today/tomorrow I'll just get the oven.

Wish I had more time before the prices revert to pre-sale...
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-02-2014, 08:16 AM
 
Location: North
858 posts, read 1,798,798 times
Reputation: 1102
I personally don't like the stainless ones. I'm with others in suggesting to get used appliances in white. Let the new buyers be the ones to decide if they want stainless and what level they want if/when they redo the kitchen. Just now, you need a working oven. Use the $700-2000 in other areas of the house. When people redo kitchens, they usually pick new appliances and it doesn't matter if the ones there are 1 year or 10 years old.

You can check craigslist, dented outlets or a place like this one: http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/ppd/4786553481.html

If you were going to stay there longer, I'd go for the new appliances, but since you'd be selling soon it's not worth it IMHO.

Last edited by Merjolie8; 12-02-2014 at 08:20 AM.. Reason: info
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-02-2014, 08:35 AM
 
Location: So Ca
26,626 posts, read 26,540,124 times
Reputation: 24631
Quote:
Originally Posted by Regina14 View Post
I just thought that spending $700-2000 (eventually) on new kitchen appliances, beginning with the gas range, would present a slightly better appearance in the kitchen than if I didn't do so. (particularly since the oven doesn't work).
Replace the oven only, especially if you want to use it until the condo sells. White is fine, especially since you don't want it to stand out from your white dishwasher, as you said. Leave the rest of the other appliances.

Once you get an offer, if during the inspection, it's found that one of your remaining appliances isn't working correctly, you can offer the buyer $. Let them replace/repair it themselves.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-02-2014, 08:40 AM
 
Location: Denver CO
24,204 posts, read 19,072,359 times
Reputation: 38266
Quote:
Originally Posted by Regina14 View Post
Whoever buys the place will very likely redo the kitchen cabinets. One of the small upper drawers is broken (missing part of the bottom) and my handyman won't fix it without doing major work on all the cabinets.

So, back to the question of getting a new oven/range - I just realized that my kitchen sink is not white, it's steel. Would white appliances look better or worse with the rest of the kitchen being old, not updated, and the kitchen itself being quite small? I just think that stainless steel appliances, if I actually end up spending over $1000 on oven, refrigerator, over-the-oven microwave, and dishwasher, would emphasize the age of the kitchen and it's being so out of date, at least a little more than white appliances (including at least two new ones) even if I repaint the walls white (which they currently are, but dingy looking, since the paint job was nearly 10 years ago).

My condominium is a 3-bedroom in a very desirable semi-urban location near Boston and near three hospitals. I inherited it when my mother passed away in 2013. Unfortunately, she had left things in not so great condition, though I plan to put the condo on the market in clean and safe condition. I've already cleared up and cleaned the balcony. I might get the matching white sofa and chair re-upholstered; they look kinda dingy. And I have to get the flooring replaced and the icky ancient carpeting in the two bedrooms removed.

The photos I've seen in online real estate ads for higher-end condominiums and houses for sale in my area often feature stainless steel appliances paired with granite counters in updated kitchens, but there are some nice-looking kitchens with white appliances.

I just thought that spending $700-2000 (eventually) on new kitchen appliances, beginning with the gas range, would present a slightly better appearance in the kitchen than if I didn't do so. (particularly since the oven doesn't work) I can afford that much, though I can't afford to do a complete renovation of the kitchen.
I bet I know where you are - is it a complex with a few different tallish buildings, with the initials BH?

In any case, I think buying new stainless appliances to put in a kitchen with broken cabinets and an older, non-stone/solid surface is kind of like putting lipstick on a pig. It's far more likely than not that a buyer would plan to remodel the kitchen, and you are going to have to price accordingly. Putting in inexpensive stainless appliances isn't really going to change that, and I think you'd be spending money with no return because if a buyer is going to spend the money for new cabinets and counters, they are probably going to buy new, higher end appliances too. If I'm right about your location, or even just in the same vicinity, you are looking at a pretty high price point for 3 BR, and those buyers will want high end finishes and appliances.

I would stay with white, buy used and replace only what is not currently functioning. So far, that's the range, although sounds like the fridge may be going as well. Try Craigslist or a discount appliance store for a scratch and dent model. Think clean and functional, period. You are not going to sell your condo on the strength of the kitchen, it's going to be the size and location. Just get it clean, do the painting you mentioned, repair and replace whatever is broken and non-functional, and then get it listed in the Spring, when the real estate market heats back up again.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Real Estate

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top