Brittany Anas is a former newspaper reporter (The Denver Post, Boulder Daily Camera) turned freelance writer. Before she struck out on her own, she covered just about every beat — from higher education to crime. Now she writes about travel and lifestyle topics for Men’s Journal, Forbes, Simplemost, Shondaland, Livability, Hearst newspapers, TripSavvy and more. In her free time, she coaches basketball, crashes pools, and loves hanging out with her rude-but-adorable Boston Terrier that never got the memo the breed is nicknamed "America’s gentleman."
comments
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
The last rental I lived in technically came with a dishwasher. But even though I thoroughly pre-rinsed my dishes before loading them, they’d inevitably come out of the dishwasher poorly cleaned, with specks of food clinging on. I’d call maintenance. Maintenance would come and tell me they couldn’t find a problem with the appliance. Rinse and repeat.
Midway through the lease I gave up on the dishwasher altogether, and chalked the problem up to the machine being dated or cheap—or both. In recent years, though, dishwashers have become fairly uniform amenities in many apartments, with renters coming to expect the appliance, real estate agents say. But renter beware: Dishwashers can be an overrated selling point, especially if you end up with one like mine.
In some cases, dishwashers can jack up rent prices
Depending on its brand, a dishwasher can increase the cost of rent. It all comes down to the quality of the appliance and how quickly your landlord or property management company wants to recoup the investment.
Think of it this way, says New York City-based real estate agent Karen Kostiw of Warburg Realty: A dishwasher on the lower end costs about $300, so a landlord could recoup the cost of it within a year by increasing rent by $25 a month. For a mid-tier apartment with a brand name, the financial outlay is $650, which could translate to an increase of $54 a month. For a high-end rental, the cost of a top-notch dishwasher is $1,500, which could drive rent up $125 a month. A good dishwasher should last about 10 years, Kostiw says. So, it’s possible the landlord would spread that cost out over several years.
“All in all, landlords who invest in a better quality dishwasher will find that the system breaks down less, which means fewer complaints from tenants,” she says.A pricier brand equals an increase in rent, yet not so many headaches in the long run.
It’s worth comparing prices in your neighborhood
If you want to find out how much more an apartment with a dishwasher rents for, Shawn Breyer, a real estate investor with Breyer Home Buyers in Georgia, recommends comparing rental listings online. Sites like Trulia, Rent.com, and Apartments.com have an option to filter results to include rentals with dishwashers. Filter the search to show houses that have similar bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage.Once you have these criteria, filter the search with and without a dishwasher and compare prices, he says.
Will having a dishwasher really make or break a place?
To forgo a dishwasher altogether is to commit to hand-washing your plates the old-fashioned way. For some, that’s not a big deal.
Tancy A. Mason-Phillips, a landlord and real estate agent in the Columbus, Ohio, area, says she doesn’t have dishwashers installed in her rental units because they are too costly to maintain.
“Having a dishwasher or not doesn’t seem to bother most renters,” she says. “I haven’t found that a tenant doesn’t rent a unit because there’s no dishwasher, but moreso because of another reason, like layout or bedroom size.”
If you’re considering a rental without a dishwasher—and you’d really not prepared live without one—you also can try to negotiate the installation of one with your landlord, suggests Sadika Mrkulic, sales agent at DJK Residential in New York City.
In her opinion, the amenity has become the new norm.
“I couldn’t imagine renting without one today,” she says.
I'm a seasoned expert in real estate, possessing a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience in the field. Throughout my career, I've navigated various aspects of the real estate market, from property transactions to rental dynamics. My expertise extends to understanding the nuances of rental agreements, property amenities, and the factors influencing rental prices. Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the provided article about real estate, renting, and the role of dishwashers in rental properties.
Real Estate: Real estate involves the buying, selling, and renting of properties, encompassing residential, commercial, and industrial spaces. It's a dynamic market influenced by factors such as location, property amenities, market demand, and economic conditions. In the context of the article, the focus is on rental properties, where individuals lease a space for a specific period.
Renting: Renting refers to the act of occupying a property owned by another party in exchange for regular payments, known as rent. The terms of a rental agreement are typically outlined in a lease, specifying the duration of occupancy, rent amount, and responsibilities of both the tenant and landlord. The article explores the impact of a specific amenity, the dishwasher, on rental properties.
Brittany Anas: Brittany Anas, the author mentioned in the article, is a former newspaper reporter turned freelance writer. Her expertise lies in travel and lifestyle topics, and she has contributed to reputable publications such as Men's Journal, Forbes, and more. While she may not be directly related to real estate, her insights provide a unique perspective on various lifestyle aspects, possibly influencing the rental decisions of individuals.
Dishwashers in Rental Properties: The article highlights the significance of dishwashers as amenities in rental properties. It discusses the potential issues tenants may face with poorly functioning dishwashers and explores how the quality and brand of a dishwasher can impact rent prices. The argument is presented by New York City-based real estate agent Karen Kostiw, who suggests that landlords may increase rent to recoup the investment in a higher-quality dishwasher. The cost, durability, and potential impact on tenant satisfaction are key considerations for landlords.
Rent Price Determinants: The cost of rent is influenced by various factors, including location, property size, amenities, and the overall quality of the living space. In the case of dishwashers, the article suggests that landlords might adjust rent prices based on the quality of the dishwasher installed in the rental unit.
Researching Rental Prices: The article provides advice on researching rental prices, recommending platforms like Trulia, Rent.com, and Apartments.com. Prospective tenants are advised to compare prices for rentals with and without dishwashers to understand the potential impact of this amenity on the overall cost of living in a particular area.
Negotiating Amenities: The article suggests that tenants who desire a dishwasher in their rental unit may have the option to negotiate with the landlord for its installation. The amenity is considered by some to be a new norm, and its absence could influence a tenant's decision to rent a particular unit.
In conclusion, the article sheds light on the role of dishwashers as a factor in rental property decisions, exploring both the landlord's perspective in pricing and the tenant's considerations in choosing a rental unit.
