Appliances to use in Rental Properties-Is Magic Chef any good?

[exploder321]

Does any one know anything about the newer magic chef appliances?

As some of you know I manage ental properties, roughly 62 in total (i have 2 "helpers", but i do alot of the work)...

As the Holidays near, usualy things seem to break...

I have one complex (a quad unit) that has Modern Maid appliances and GE washer/dryers (not vintage, one of the last ever made) and they always seem to have some problem (with the exception of the microwaves)..After a meeting tonight, it was decided to "upgrade" there units with newer appliances...

I have been going to lowes, but i am just fed up with them at this moment in life..After shopping some mom and pop stores i have found a guy who sells magic chef, made by maytag..Are these any good, or would Hotpoint be any better? I know Hotpoint washer/dryers are probably trash, so i might buy the Magic Chef washer.dryers to give the other guy a little busniess...

The second place also sells Frigidaire, but there Dishwashers either last forever or die within 6 mths... Would this be wise?

The First Place sells Roper and this is what I usualy use, but his roper stuff is higher priced... Roper seems to hold up well enough for abusive tennents

Looking for ideas and answers...Thanks

BTW-We don't buy used appliances..The owner is not a tight wad and prefers new stuff...

 

[maytagbear]

I have been a renter for 10 years now--

I take good care of the appliances that come with the unit.

I don't abuse them.

For ranges, the ones I've had in the 4 apartments I've lived in, the best were Hotpoints. These were electrics (which I don't like, but am resigned to) with windows and self-cleaning ovens. I think they were a little less than 300. each.

The stove at this apartment is an 80s electric Tappan. Cooktop was shot when I got it, oven is decent, if not self-cleaning. I hate hate hate a non self-cleaning electric oven. I've never asked, but I think it used to be in another property of my landlord's.

Refrigerators, I liked the Hotpoints. I currently have a Maytag built Magic Chef refrigerator, and it's all right. It's an early one, so it's now a bit noisy, but no other problems.

This place did not have a dishwasher when I moved in, but since I pay for water-sewer and for gas, my landlord had no objection to me getting a portable. Friends gave me a nearly new GE portable ("Nautilus,") and I like it.

The previous three apartments had a BOL Whirlpool (first), and then BOL GE's. When enzyme detergents came out, I liked them.

NONE of my apartments came with washers or dryers, and only the middle two had hookups. Management for the first building refused to add hookups.

I got the landlord of this building to add hookups by outright bribery (100.00). However, the nearest "coin-op laundry store" is almost 3 miles away (one way), and I don't currently have a car, hookups were close to essential.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[toggleswitch]

If you throw out the appliances between tenants it would not matter, I'd say.

As a Landlord the only thing I can suggest is get a self-cleaning oven with a smooth-top. if electric and a slef vleaner with sealed burners if gas. I would guess these can be salvaged between tenants.

For all else I'd go for price. Actually I'd think the Roper (by Whirlpool), the Hoptpoint (by GE) and the Tragic Chef (by Maytag/Whirlpool) give a great deal of reliability and reputation for the money.

Try this helful hint also:
Take a refundable $200 cleaning deposit and give them pics of condition in which they rented the apt. Should ANYTHING Be dirty/greasy they forfit the $. You can then use it to get a professional service to degunk. Maybe this can save you some appliance $ too. Logic: I'm not your maid or servant. You found it clean, leave it clean.

 

[exploder321]

Thanks

Just the kinda ideas i need... Hotpoint seems to be a popular to use... The lady who i work for has units ranging from basic 2 bedroom apartments to 3 3,500-5,000 sq foot houses that i have to treat with care (they pay, gulp, upwards of $1350 a month rent)

 

[exploder321]

BTW,

My boss thinks it's cruical for people to have in unit laundry facilites... Plus she said she can charge more rent per month

Also, not all renters behave like you and care for things

 

[oxydolfan1]

You are much better off buying several (half-dozen at a time) and storing them in SEPERATE, LOCKED area of utility storage or basement....this is NOT to mean, when you are advised the oven needs replacement, that you RUN RIGHT DOWN and get a new one, like a pillowcase....your tenants will be requesting them because of one burner burning too low for their taste, demonic possession (yes, true story), etc. Take your time and tell NO one (except maybe trusted super) where they are kept.

Don't just buy one at a time.

In terms of reliability, I LOVE Hotpoints for the money. I love the GE for easy cleanability and large oven dimensions (your tenants will not care)....I've also purchased Galaxy and other off-brand models at discount. Magic Chefs tend to be left a little bit dirtier in the corners...I even see this on the older vintage Magic Chef in my current kitchen! (But I care, and tenants probably will not...)

I'm in agreement with Toggle to go by price, at this price point...however, inspect carefully....my friend and I got what we thought was a FABULOUS deal on "Excellence" refrigerators from South Korea, from a Chinatown discounter....well, they turned out not to be so excellent, when the fridge light bulbs burnt out and were irreplaceable!

I was sharply advised, (imagine Doris Roberts accent here)..."How do you expect me to clean the refrigerator, when I can't even SEE the DIRT!!!"

Indeed.

Are you responsible for painting the apartments, BTW?

 

[oxydolfan1]

Oh, and "AWESOME" spray degreaser at the dollar store is your friend.

 

[exploder321]

Thanks for the ideas..

There are several apartments (about half), but the rest are houses..

Steve, never thought of the picture idea, b4 but this would be smashing... We had some one move ou and left it trashed..They claim it was left that way.. Uh-huh..

We take first months rent and a $500 deposit for anything rented under $650, $625 deposit for anything over $650 but under $1000 and a $1000 deposit for anything renting over $1000... BTW, the expensive rentals are usualy rented by large companys for familys who move often... They never usualy take care of a place... Its not theres, they don't care..They just do what ever..

My thought with the Smooth Top stoves: Would there glass tops be more apt to break?

I am really leaning twords Hotpoint, they seem to have the best offerings for rentals...

We repaint each unit/house every 3 years or if tennets trash the place... One of my helpers does the painting (and a damn good job at that)

I clean... Boy do i clean..Yes i love the dollar store degreaser..

I am putting together a list together at the moment..

I have almost ruled out tragic chef because i think the fridges are fugly..

I think that Hotpoint Kitchen stuff and Roper washer/dryers will be the best bets...

 

[exploder321]

Here's the fridge:

$599 from Ace Appliance

http://products.geappliances.com/ProdContent/Dispatcher?REQUEST=HPTPRODUCTSELECTORINDEX&prodline=Refrigerators%20%26%20Freezers_Refrigerators&prodline=Refrigerators%20%26%20Freezers_Freezers&MASK=Approved%20Models_SalesNet_CustomerNet_Consumer%20Ready_Ful

 

[exploder321]

Here's The Smoothtop

Here's the stove:
$399.95 at Ace

http://products.geappliances.com/ProdContent/Dispatcher?REQUEST=HPTPRODUCTSELECTORINDEX&prodline=Cooking%20Products_Electric%20Cooking&prodline=Cooking%20Products_Gas%20Cooking&prodline=Ventilation%20Systems&MASK=Approved%20Models_SalesNet_CustomerNet_Con

 

[exploder321]

Here's the Gas Stove

Here is the Gas Stove

http://products.geappliances.com/ProdContent/Dispatcher?REQUEST=HPTPRODUCTSELECTORINDEX&prodline=Cooking%20Products_Electric%20Cooking&prodline=Cooking%20Products_Gas%20Cooking&prodline=Ventilation%20Systems&MASK=Approved%20Models_SalesNet_CustomerNet_Con

 

[exploder321]

And the Microhood

The microwave

$179.95

BTW the Gas Stove is the same price as the smoothtop

http://products.geappliances.com/ProdContent/Dispatcher?REQUEST=HPTPRODUCTSELECTORINDEX&prodline=Cooking%20Products_Microwave%20Ovens&MASK=Approved%20Models_SalesNet_CustomerNet_Consumer%20Ready_Full%20Hotpoint%20Collection_Hotpoint.com

 

[exploder321]

No Hotpoint Dishwashers

Hotpoint only sells 1 dishwasher
$179.95

I think the Roper is a little better choice...

Hotpoint below

http://products.geappliances.com/ProdContent/Dispatcher?REQUEST=HPTPRODUCTSELECTORINDEX&prodline=Dishwashers,%20Compactors%20%26%20Disposers&MASK=Approved%20Models_SalesNet_CustomerNet_Consumer%20Ready_Full%20Hotpoint%20Collection_Hotpoint.com

 

[exploder321]

Here's ropers dishwasher

$189.95 price

also there washer and dryer is $259.95 for the Super Capacity washer and $199.95 for the Ex. Large Cap. Dryer (can't get a washer with both water temp and level controls from roper in the smaller size)

There site is better then hotpoints...

Thanks again guys

Loading…

www.roperappliances.com

 

[maytagbear]

I'm disinclined

to go with smoothtops in a rental setting.

1) Yes, they look good, but the elements cannot be replaced easily. Sometimes, new elements are all that is needed.

2) There are the ceramic slab issues.
If the slab is broken, you just might as well trash the whole stove.
Then, not everyone knows to read the use/care book, and most of the time, the use/care book is missing.
Secondly, if you're not careful...like when doing sugar work, you can pit the glass easily.

Just my .2

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[pturo]

Buy used appliances for rental properties and hope for the best. Sturdy and old. I would never purchase laundry equipment for year long lease tennants to use, too much can go wrong and too much blame to the landlord for and not pay rent till it gets fixed. Different for month to month or resort properties, but in general, if you can get away with renting a flat with NO appliances supplied, the better off you are. I think you will get a better kind of people who will want to live there and supply thier own stuff, and respect it as not just a given in the rent.

 

[exploder321]

I wish i could not provide laundry equipment, thats up to the owner (which i am not) and she is admient on providing the stuff (we will allow tennets to bring there own/use there own if they wish, the same applys to stoves and fridges and I think two people have put there own dishwashers in when the ones we provided broke, will find out soon)

Those where my thoughts Lawernce on the smoothtop... Wonder what others say

 

[panthera]

Rentals are

The norm in Germany - we have less than 10% homeownership here. Of course, our appliances are of vastly better quality than the trash sold at higher prices currently in the US.
Go back to the American ranges, refrigerators, washers of the 1960's. That is roughly the level of quality we have here.

And that is my advice: Either buy the sturdy stuff from back then, pay once to have it renewed and then be rid of the problem for the next 20 years...(I like the picture idea, by the way).

Or just calculate the cheap sh** into the rental price. If they return it in good shape - great, be fair and pay them a bonus on their deposit. Pro-ratio it: Five years is the most you can expect from this trash, anyway.

I have cooked with ceramic tops since the 1980's. I really think they are too care and upkeep intensive for rentals. You can buy a new element for a GE or Whirlpool at the supermarket. To replace one in a glass ceramic, you need a genuine repair-person.

 

[goatfarmer]

Landlords are about 50-60% of my used appliance business. I would agree,buy something 4-5 years old,for way less than half of what new ones cost.
The idea about having a few spare stoves,'fridges,etc,is also a good idea.
My advice is given free,price accordingly....

kennyGF