Buying a Home? What to Consider About Appliances

When you purchase a home, you're buying much more than just the home itself and the land that it sits on. You're also purchasing all of the appliances inside the home. That's why it's important to consider the following three things when it comes to the home's appliances.

1. The Age

The age of your appliances will give you a general idea of how long it has been since they were last replaced and if they are approaching their average lifespan. For example, a traditional hot water heater will last between 8–12 years before it needs to be replaced, and a furnace will last between 16–20 years. If there are appliances in the home that have exceeded their life expectancies, this may be a reason to be concerned. 

2. The Condition

Of course, you can't base everything off of the age of the appliances in the home. It is possible that the previous owner has taken really good care of them and they are actually in great condition. Your home inspector will let you know how these appliances look for their age and if you have a reason to be concerned.

While that hot water heater has a relatively short lifespan, it may be in great shape due to the previous owners draining sediment from the tank and using a municipal water source that has very clean water. A furnace may be old, but if it did not get used much due to the climate that the home is in, it could be fine.

3. The Home Warranty

If you do have appliances that look like they are on the verge of needing replacement, consider asking the owners for a home warranty. A home warranty is like an insurance policy for the appliances within the home and will help cover the repair or replacement cost if anything were to break down.

It is common for home warranties to last for the first year that you are in the home. This will give you some peace of mind since you'll know that you won't have a big expense if an appliance were to break down unexpectedly right after you move into the home.

Ask your real estate agent for more information about what to look for with home appliances, since they can give you advice about what else to look for. For example, they could help you decide whether to repair the current appliances or replace them with upgrades.