Refrigerator or no?

[mtemm]

the first home we bought was sold with the fridge (nh). the owners were buying another house (larger) that came with one, and they didn't want to move it. it was a really nice fridge, actually, and when dh got transferred (to upstate ny) a mere 10 months later, we sold our house but kept the fridge. the house we ended up buying sold it with the fridge, so our original fridge became our 2nd fridge (the newest fridge was even nicer than the original).

next house we bought (NY) we took the nicer (2nd) fridge with us and left the 1st houses fridge. the next house we sold w/o the fridge, but now we had 2 fridges since our current house (MA) was leaving the fridge so we left one for the new owners use as a 2nd fridge.

basically for us it was a mix as to who left and who didn't leave it. it worked to our advantage over the long haul. I don't necessarily expect a fridge to be left, but we were always advised by our various realitors to write it into the contract. and when we've sold, we did leave when asked, but weren't always asked for it and didn't automatically include it in the listing.

 

[hopemax]

Where I've lived, it's been hit or miss. My parents left their appliances when they moved to FL from WA, because who wants to lug stuff that far. But they had to buy new when they got there. When we bought our house, there were lots of homes where they were included, but not ours. We tried to get it added on, because as a first-time home buyer, we had so much cash tied into our down payment, that we didn't want to also have to buy new appliances, right then, even though we wanted to buy our own eventually.

But no, it probably wouldn't influence my decision to buy a particular home. The exception would be, if I were buying in a subdivision with nearly identical homes, and nearly identical layouts, and multiple homes were for sale. Then, if I could see why having appliances would be a "leg up." But usually, location and other un-changable factors will influence a decision more than something minor like a fridge.

 

[tlbwriter]

Yes, it would make me reconsider a house if the appliances weren't included. If I like two houses fairly equally and they're the same price, then I'd go for the one that included the appliances.

I may be remembering wrong, but it seems like when we were looking into an FHA loan, the rule was that certain appliances (I think anything other than a stove and under-counter dishwasher) couldn't be considered part of the value of the house. In other words, if a house was worth $100K without the appliances, and $101K *with* the appliances, your loan could only be based on the $100K value, because FHA money couldn't be used to buy appliances. But I don't know if this is still true (or ever was true - I might have misunderstood).

 

[Momvic5]

We have bought 3 homes over the years, and not one of them came with a refrigerator, washer, or dryer. All other appliances were included (dishwasher, stove). Honestly, I don't want another person's refrigerator, washer, or dryer...I will either be moving my own or buying new ones.

I have odd tendencies though (neat freak, I guess)....we did replace the toilets and flooring in our current home. It was due to the way they looked more than a germ phobia.

I don't think anyone from around this area would expect a refrigerator, washer, or dryer to be sold as part of the home. It would be considered a nice bonus or a minor inconvenience depending on the new home owner if those appliances were included in the sale. For me, it would be a minor inconvenience because I would have to have them removed before I moved mine in. However, I am sure that my thinking would be different if we were in need of those appliances and were not in a position to purchase new ones.

 

[Nette]

Just a note to say that I *do* expect the stove and dishwasher to be included... and the microwave too if it is built in. But not the fridge.

Part of the reason I ask is because we are planning on selling a home (that I inherited) and it doesn't currently have a fridge. We've upgraded the other appliances (actually added a dishwasher) to stainless appliances, but will only add the fridge if we have money left over in our fixing up budget.

 

[MomofKatie]

As others have stated, it's a regional thing. Some places consider the fridge and washer/dryer to be part of the sale, some places just include the fridge, and some places don't include either (if you get them, you are considered fortunate).

Every new-built home I've seen has just the stove/oven, dishwasher, and microwave (if built in) included in the sales price. Resale homes- just about anything goes. As they say in the Realtor biz, "Everything is negotiable!"

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Houses where we live all come with refridgerators. Ours did as well.

Just a question though- Op- you think it is gross to use a fridge that others have used (but you can clean) but the toilets and showers are okay? Do you change out the toilet bowls and tubs? To me that is much grosser.

 

[Reddy]

Ewww? Really? Are you planning to replace the toilets when you move? Because that would concern me more than someone's used fridge!

I changed the toilet seat
had to buy new frig, washer/dryer
but dishwasher & stove came with house

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I would not expect one in a house I am buying. Where I am from it's very common for rentals but not purchases.

Here it's not even standard for a rental. If the rent wasn't so cheap I would not have taken this house because we had to buy a fridge.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I voted yes, but only because the two houses we have bought had them included.

It isn't a big deal to me either way, as long as I knew what to expect. I actually like the idea of having an excuse to buy a new one of my choosing!!!! (but not because of a yuck factor - it is just food and a fridge can be cleaned well enough)

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Around here houses come with the kitchen appliances already furnished. Probably because no one wants to deal with the hassle of moving them; moving the rest of the stuff in a house is a PITA as it is.

 

[mamamary]

My house came with all appliances. But it would not be a dealbreaker if it didn't. If I moved I would assume I would just leave the fridge here. Any house we looked at had them.

 

[prncess674]

I live in the Washington DC area in a high rise condo building and every single unit I looked at came with all appliances including washer and dryer. At many units there was also a list of furniture that was for sale and negotiable in the price.

 

[Mickman0_3]

it has to be negotiated.

 

[beaucoup]

Ours only came with a dishwasher because its a built-in item. We had to provide our own microwave (countertop at the time), fridge, stove, washer & dryer.

When we move though, we may include them with the house if we don't want to take them with us.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

From what I understand--a fridge is considered a mobile piece of furniture that doesn't have to convey (like a W/D). Things like stoves and other installed appliances (like dishwasher) are generally expected.

When we bought our FL home originally in 1999, our realtor happened to be the selling agent for the home. Evidently the seller did not want to convey the stove--but was told that stoves are generally expected.

But I wouldn't balk if a home had neither, so long as I had room in my budget to pick one up.

 

[Melmac]

I voted no. I am picky about my appliances and would want to bring my own or buy new. I would not want the price of a house jacked up because they included appliances.

When I was looking for our current house, only about 10% of the houses we looked at included appliances. None included the washer/dryer.

 

[Kathi OD]

Around here, most homes for sale come with all the kitchen appliances. Washer and dryer are usually negotiated. I've also never rented an apartment/house that didn't have a fridge included.

That's been our experience as well.

I know that when we bought our first home, it was a law that the stove stayed. Since it was "hard wired" into the house it was considered part of the structure.