Wow! There’s A LOT of work and some major updates being done before selling a house. . Does it really help sell a house in this ‘hot’ market? AND, more importantly, do you actually recoup the investment both of time and $$? OR…does it just help a realtor sell it faster? In fact, many quick upgrades are so obvious (grey walls, white trim, granite tops, glass tile backsplashes ,inexpensive cabinets, etc.). I know if I were a seller, and needed to change mechanicals or roof, or any large ticket item, I certainly would not put in high quality just to sell. Actually, when we looked for a house, we preferred that it NOT be upgraded just for the sale, as long as priced correctly. That way we can add the quality level and design we wanted.
“Actually, when we looked for a house, we preferred that it NOT be upgraded just for the sale, as long as priced correctly. That way we can add the quality level and design we wanted.”
Agree, and we will be ripping out some of the replacements the sellers apparently put in for the sale… Paint, wood floors extended - OK. Appliances replaced - no, unless they are being replaced with something of similar quality or better.
Speaking of paint, there is a very nice new house we looked at for decorating ideas. Thermador kitchen, nice touches throughout. Everything else around it sold like hotcakes, and this house did not. Most buyers comment negatively about the dark grey indoor paint, the listing agent told us. The builder refused to repaint. So, long story short - do not use dark wall paint.
Question for you… We decided that we need to get a new fridge for the kitchen before putting the house on the market. Even though I am generally against changing appliances, there are several reasons to do so here: (a) - the current fridge is on its last legs; (b) - the fridge is white while the rest of the appliances are all SS and therefore will look like an eyesore in the photos, and © - the fridge is a side-by-side which is what I like but the majority hates. What would you do? What fridge would you recommend? Trying to spend under $3K, and there are space limitations (70" height MAX).
It would depend on the other appliances and how high end your house is. If you’ve got a Viking stove and Bosch dishwasher, I don’t think you should get a Kenmore fridge. How wide is the space? Ideally you’d get a French Door fridge with the freezer on the bottom at about the same level of fanciness as the rest of the kitchen.
What does your realtor recommend? Honestly, I would have loved a credit for a fridge. As it was, the seller took ALL the appliances when we bought the house, so I ended up with all new appliances. Refrigerators are very personal, so hard to know what another would like. We have top freezer fridges but my sibs all have side by side fridges.
It is a Miele kitchen. Unfortunately, Miele does not make fridges that would fit into that space. It is designed for a 36" fridge made in 'murica. 
In this neighborhood, a Wolf or a Miele appliance would not be considered a standard option. More like top of the line KitchenAid deal. Miele was my personal choice, but I am not willing to remodel the space to throw in a builtin (what Miele sells).
Bosch is an possibility, but they do not make their fridges - those are outsourced to some no-name shop in China that sticks a Bosch logo on them and sells at a large premium. Maybe I will buy it just for the brand name…
As long as you match the color and approximate quality of the other appliances, it doesn’t matter the name.
We bought the house brand new. In that area, builders do not include fridges. Those are on the buyers! This is one thing I will disagree with the realtor - I want the house to look and function well. So Kenmore aside, my options are Bosch, Electrolux, or Blomberg. Any idea what is considered good? I am absolutely against Samsung and LG!
I actually like Kenmore fridges. I also hate built in icemakers and water. I know many consider them indispensable.
The Kenmore Elite is a VERY nice and highly rated fridge. I would look at it.
I vote for printing up a sign and putting it on the existing fridge that says, “$2000 buyer’s credit for new refrigerator”.
That way the new owner can buy what they like and it’s been addressed.
I have a Bosch range and dishwasher but a Maytag French door (counter depth) fridge. I don’t think you have to have a top of the line fridge. My Maytag wasn’t cheapo either approx $2k iirc.
I would go that route, dos, but… The new owner will be stuck with the same 10 or so options I was able to find plus the hassle of buying a new fridge. I highly doubt that the new owner will be remodeling the kitchen any time soon - not that common for folks buying houses well under $1m. 
What do you think of this one?
Agree with @emilybee. SS French door. Ice in the door when I looked was an additional $1000. But even having that should still be under $3000.
Thanks, all!!
I am probably the only person on the planet that detests French door fridges, but I am going to buy whatever the trend is.
(The reason - we never put platters in the fridge. We never feed our guests buffet-style. And I like my frozen items on shelves at almost my eye level. ).
Yeah I hate “credit to buyers”-I read that as “I don’t want the hassle so I’m putting it on you”.
Just go to Costco, get one of the mid range ones, and be done with it. Remember, you’re just buying it to sell the house-you don’t have to like it, it just has to look like it works with the house. I know you hate samsung and LG, and that’s cool, but remember-you won’t have to live with it (for long).
Don’t get the goofy fridges with the double double door though-get a classic, well made french door one. Everyone is switching to those in my neighborhood (and I will probably, as well, when we put it on the market next spring). I have a Viking stove and a bosch dishwasher, btw.
Everybody I know loathes their Wolf fridges, so don’t worry too much about a fancy name for a fridge-the GE one that’s in our house now cost a whopping 4300 new (we didn’t buy it, the previous owners did).
https://www.costco.com/refrigerators.html?sortBy=EnglishAverageRating%7C1&identifier=
As someone who sees so many kitchens that aren’t in a style I personally like, show me the $$. I’d happily do the buying I want.
I know, dos. Short of a remodel, there are only 10 or so options that would work for that space. So the buyer has to pick one of those or do a full-blown remodel (which would be a waste). Hence the executive decision to pick one. No, I would never subject my buyers to the horrors of owning a Samsung or LG. Those do not exactly sell well at Costco… I checked. 
Not me! Credit to the buyer screams: pick exactly what you want and I’ll pay!! You could even have them chose one and install it!
But I do think there are a higher number of folks who look only at move in ready, meaning even reepainting one room will be too much work!
Our realtor thinks that the majority of buyers will be in that second category (move in ready). I will let then do the painting. Rainier White is easy to paint over.