Homeowners looking to sell have a wide range of tasks to attend to. In addition to ensuring that a property’s electrical setup and foundation are problem-free, home-sellers also have to consider an assortment of factors pertaining to general aesthetics and curb appeal. However, when getting a home in sellable condition, there’s one thing many sellers tend to overlook: appliances. Essential appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers and laundry machines are generally included in home sales. Needless to say, if your big-ticket appliances are on their last legs, this stands to impact your bargaining position. Whether you’re mulling a big move or actively trying to sell your home, the following measures can help keep your appliances in prime condition. 

Purchase a Home Warranty 

It’s no secret that large-scale appliance repair can cost a small fortune. Depending on the affected device and scope of the issue, repairs stand to leave a gaping hole in your personal finances. However, failing to address appliance problems in a timely manner stands to result in even bigger issues – and ever costlier repairs – in the long run. When an essential appliance goes on the fritz, many homeowners instinctively wonder, “How much is this going to cost me?!” This is where a reliable home warranty is sure to prove useful. Home warranties offer broad coverage for most – or all – of your household’s big-ticket appliances, ensuring that you’ll be able to have any problems addressed posthaste without having to worry about breaking the bank. To sweeten the deal, good home warranty prices are affordable on even the most frugal of budgets.    

Address Newly-Emerged Problems ASAP 

Whenever an appliance begins exhibiting small and/or seemingly inconsequential issues, many homeowners opt to let these problems sort themselves out. While the desire to avoid spending money on repairs is perfectly understandable, hoping for appliance issues to magically fix themselves is simply unrealistic. Furthermore, as noted above, failing to address small issues in an expedient fashion paves the way for them to turn into far more serious problems. By leaving an appliance issue alone, your aim may have been to save money, but your inactivity may ultimately prove far costlier. The larger the issue, the more you can expect to spend repairing it.

With this in mind, make a point of having newly-emerged appliance issues examined and repaired posthaste. Yes, this will require you to spend a small amount of money in the short term, but this is preferable to paying a king’s ransom in repair costs down the line.   

Avoid Misusing Your Appliances 

Consistent misuse is among the leading causes of appliance issues. In many cases, people misuse their household’s most important appliances without even realizing it. For example, many of us don’t think twice before overloading dishwashers or washing machines or allowing our refrigerator coils to become caked in filth. While occasional misuse may not make much of a difference when it comes to certain appliances, habitual misuse can lead to costly repairs and facilitate the need for some devices to be replaced well before living out their expected lifespans. Home-sellers interested in taking proactive measures against such problems are urged to only use major appliances as directed by their respective owner’s manuals.  

Have Your Appliances Checked Out 

To confirm that your major appliances are in good shape and running at peak efficiency, have them thoroughly inspected by seasoned professionals before proceeding to put your home on the market. A full checkup will ensure that any potential problems are caught and remedied before the property is placed on the market. Additionally, a knowledgeable pro will bring any lingering problems to your attention and swap out any appliance components that have become damaged or worn-down with age. 

In addition to helping us fulfill a variety of daily needs, major appliances can directly contribute to the value of our homes. Since large appliances are generally included in home sales, it’s only natural for prospective buyers to consider the condition of these devices when making their decision. If they’re displeased with the condition of certain appliances, many buyers won’t hesitate to request a price adjustment to cover the cost of replacing them. Sellers looking to nip this problem in the bud are urged to put the previously discussed tips to good use.