Assessing Appliance Value Before Buying a Home

While not necessarily applicable in all sales, many home purchase situations include at least some of the major appliances that were already present in the house. If included as part of the sale, these items can play a fairly big role in the value of the home and the price you pay.

At Daybreak Living, we’ll help you understand everything you need to know about the appliances in any of our numerous homes for sale. One of the most important areas to consider if you’re buying a home with previous appliances is determining how much life these appliances have left – an element that could play a huge role in defining their value and whether you’re getting a good or bad deal. Here are some basics on the sorts of appliances you’re looking for here, how to determine their age, and some other considerations.

Common Appliances and Lifespans

Determining precise lifespan of a given home appliance will depend on several things, from the quality of the manufacturer to the maintenance and use frequency of the appliance. Some broad average lifespans for major home appliances (according to Consumer Reports) include:

• Refrigerators: 13 years
• Freezers: 11 years
• Washing machines: 10 years
• Dryers: 13 years
• Central AC units: 15 years
• Electric furnaces: 15 years
• Gas furnaces: 18 years
• Electric kitchen ranges: 13 years
• Gas kitchen ranges: 15 years
• Dishwashers: 9 years
• Conventional water heaters: 10-11 years
• Tankless water heaters: 20 or more years

Determining Appliance Age and Quality

Here are a few additional tips for getting a bit more specific and figuring out exactly how old or new the appliances are in a home you’re considering purchasing:

• Ask: Either the seller or their representative should be able to provide you with basic information on when major appliances were last replaced or serviced. With any luck, you’ll be dealing with a diligent seller who can actually provide sales receipts or other documentation for these appliances.
• Home inspection: Nearly all buyers today include inspection clauses in their purchase contracts, and this area is one of the reasons why. Third-party home inspectors can assess any and all issues with the home, including worn-down or broken appliances.
• Disclosure statement: By law, sellers are required to fill out a property disclosure statement that lists any major issues with the home. What exactly must be listed on this statement varies among municipalities and even communities, so ask our pros about
• Serial number: Finally, if you’re taking a home tour and want to be particularly diligent, you can actually check the serial numbers on appliances. This is an area where we highly recommend getting seller approval in advance.

For more on determining the quality and value of appliances in a home you’re considering purchasing, or to learn about any of our realtor services or homes for sale, speak to the staff at Daybreak Living today.