{"id":23917,"date":"2021-05-20T11:33:38","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T18:33:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=23917"},"modified":"2026-04-07T00:02:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T07:02:55","slug":"buyer-home-appliance-shortage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-home-appliance-shortage\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying a House in 2021? Ask the Sellers to Leave the Appliances \u2014 Here\u2019s Why"},"content":{"rendered":"

This past year has been a lot<\/i>. But in the midst of COVID-related challenges and a red-hot housing market, you worked with your agent to write the best offer<\/a> in a crowded field and were able to get a house under contract<\/a> at last. You\u2019re finally starting to exhale with many of the hurdles behind you.<\/p>\n

But now, the seller is asking to take certain appliances with them. Is that small-seeming thing really an issue that stands to tank your deal?<\/p>\n

Normally, no \u2014 more likely, it would barely register among high priorities. But these are unusual times all around. And low inventory<\/a> isn\u2019t just an issue when it comes to available homes these days, but to home appliances as well. There\u2019s just less stock ready to ship, it takes longer to get it, and what you can<\/i> get your hands on will likely cost you more.<\/p>\n

So now more than ever, you\u2019ll want to try to get those essentials included in your home purchase if possible. And if you can\u2019t, then knowing your options and creating a strategy for getting the major appliances you need is your next-best move.<\/p>\n

For guidance, here\u2019s an expert-backed deep dive into the reasons for the home appliance shortage<\/a> and what it means for homebuyers.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
<\/a> Source: (Kari Shea \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s causing the home appliance shortage?<\/h2>\n

A National Association of Home Builders survey polling single-family homebuilders in February found that nearly 90% had experienced difficulty securing appliances<\/a> \u2014\u00a051% to a major extent, and 38% to a minor extent. Let\u2019s go through the reasons why it\u2019s happening.<\/p>\n

Demand is up<\/h3>\n

First, there\u2019s more demand for home appliances right now. The real estate market is ultra-hot, and home sales have been high, driving up the demand for appliances.<\/p>\n

\u201cArchitecture companies are reporting twice the demand they had before the pandemic, and we’re seeing unprecedented approvals for licenses for new home construction,\u201d explains Thomas Jepsen, CEO of the residential house planning company Passion Plans<\/a>. \u201cThis unusual demand is vastly pushing up the consumption of home appliances, as well as their prices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even homeowners staying put have been remodeling<\/a> in large numbers, further contributing to a major drain on inventory.<\/p>\n

Heavier pandemic use wears appliances out faster<\/h3>\n

Beyond that, COVID forced more people to work from home, do their schooling at home, work out at home\u2026 and generally spend way<\/i> more time at home than would otherwise be typical.<\/p>\n

That much more time at home means more wear and tear on the house itself, and appliances under greater usage demands are simply wearing out faster. (Remember all that sourdough bread in your Instagram feed? The nation\u2019s ovens were working overtime behind the scenes!)<\/p>\n

Local markets are starting to feel the pinch<\/h3>\n

\u201cThe trend toward new appliance shortages national and international news has covered is starting to manifest in my local markets,\u201d explains Paul Berry, owner of Mr. Appliance<\/a> of San Antonio and Corpus Christi.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast week, a homebuilder in my neighborhood told me that finishing their construction was being held up because the appliances needed were so backlogged.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He says his team is \u201cbusier than ever,\u201d addressing a huge increase in calls for \u201cthe whole gambit of appliances [that are] working overtime with so many people spending more time at home due to COVID-19 closures.\u201d<\/p>\n

A supply miscalculation<\/h3>\n

To make a perfect storm even more acute, then there are the shortages on the supply side.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re operating a car, a PlayStation 5, a washing machine, or a smart refrigerator, you need microchips to power your technology. But there are not enough microchips<\/a> to go around right now. (You aren\u2019t imagining things: the wait for that specific gaming system really is<\/i> worse than others.)<\/p>\n

The shortfall, which began in December, happened in part because manufacturers thought that demand for microchips would fall in a pandemic-driven economic depression, and they initially scaled back production accordingly. Instead, we know now that demand skyrocketed \u2014\u00a0and so did consumer spending on electronics.<\/p>\n

Pandemic production challenges<\/h3>\n

Another factor: COVID ran rampant through factories last year, straining or altogether stalling production.<\/p>\n

\u201cSmart appliances have been the standard for several years now,\u201d explains Gadget Review<\/a> CEO Rex Freiberger. \u201cWithout the processing power, the crucial functions of these appliances just don’t work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Compounding the problem, microchips aren\u2019t the only material that\u2019s required to make these products but is in short supply right now: Stainless steel and other raw materials are both sparse and expensive<\/a> under current market conditions.<\/p>\n

Another issue that can affect appliance delivery and installation is a labor shortage, explains James Strum<\/a>, a Richmond-based agent who works with 86% more single-family homes and sells properties 16% faster than the average agent in the Richmond, Virginia area.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem that we’re running into is that the tradespeople don’t show up \u2014 they\u2019re overworked and they\u2019re missing deadlines,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe trades are just so backed up because of the volume of work out there, and they can be a lot more selective in the jobs they want right now. It\u2019s not necessarily the goods, but it\u2019s the labor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Tools<\/a>
<\/a> Source: (Matt Artz \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So what should you do about the appliance shortage as a buyer?<\/h2>\n

Whereas appliances might once have been an afterthought as part of a new home purchase, now is a time to be proactive and think strategically.<\/p>\n

Freezers and fridges are in the highest demand right now \u2014 and you\u2019re unlikely to want to live without one for even a day \u2014 so prioritize securing those first if you can. Request that the sellers leave as many appliances in the home as possible.<\/p>\n

Some good news: This is highly common practice, anyway.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very typical for the appliances to stay,\u201d Strum says. \u201cIf a seller has just bought a brand new washer and dryer, and they’re very partial to it, that might be a bit of a different story \u2014\u00a0but generally in our market, the kitchen appliances usually stay every time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plus, he says, in such a hot market, the appliances might just not mean that much to a seller in the bigger picture \u2014 so they\u2019ll be happy enough to just let them go.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the offers are having to go well over the asking price<\/a>, waiving contingencies<\/a>, so the sellers are getting 5, 6, 7, 8 or even 10% over the asking price \u2014 they have a strong deal and couldn\u2019t care less about the appliances at that point,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t<\/i> get appliances in the deal with your new home, plan to take your own appliances with you if that\u2019s possible. (Even if they\u2019re dated or you don\u2019t love them, they\u2019ll help you bridge the gap until you can secure new ones.)<\/p>\n

Repair, don\u2019t replace<\/h3>\n

Whether you\u2019re getting the appliances with your new home or bringing them with you, plan to keep them around longer than you might have otherwise while inventory issues sort out: If you can repair a problem with an aging or malfunctioning appliance, do that first rather than try to replace it right away.<\/p>\n

And many people are following the same advice: The total number of repairs completed on ovens during March 2021 was up by more than 66%<\/a> from the total completed during the same month of the previous year. That\u2019s 57%, 30%, and 33% for stove ranges, refrigerators, and washing machines, respectively, according to Mr. Appliance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard customer anecdotes of trying to buy a new refrigerator, or washing machine, and being told it will not be available for delivery for six to eight weeks, or longer,\u201d Berry says. \u201cFamilies do not want to go that long without a working appliance, so they are choosing to look at repair versus replace.\u201d<\/p>\n

When weighing the options of going this route, consult this Mr. Appliance guide on deciding whether repairing or replacing is the most cost-effective<\/a> option, based on the type and age of the appliance.<\/p>\n

The \u201c50% rule\u201d is a simple rule of thumb for guidance in the presence of both options: If the cost of the appliance repair is more than half of the value of buying a new one, think about replacing it. Otherwise, opting for the repair makes sense.<\/p>\n

Finding needles in haystacks<\/h3>\n

If you are shopping for new appliances and encountering obstacles, think creatively: Ask for floor models, which retailers might make available for sale even when (or especially<\/i> when) there\u2019s no inventory in the stock room. (And this approach might help you score a good deal, too!)<\/p>\n

You can also try shopping for used appliances. If you\u2019re going this route, Consumer Reports recommends buying from a used-appliance store or local repair shop<\/a> instead of online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist \u2014 or even from neighborhood yard sales. You\u2019ll likely find lower prices this way, but more importantly, you\u2019re also likelier to get a warranty to protect your purchase.<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t forget to use your own friends and family as a resource: Ask if they might want to unload any appliances that they no longer need. (You might even be doing them a favor if you arrange the hauling on your end.) Do make sure you ask for the service and repair history so you have context on your hand-me-down appliance.<\/p>\n

And while you might not be getting much for your money when you buy a pair of designer jeans, seeking a name brand can be useful in sourcing major appliances. Even if you have to pay more for a more reliable brand, you\u2019ll likely find your investment pays off with a dependable device over the long term.<\/p>\n

But even well-established, longstanding brands do offer models that are clunkers sometimes: Before making your purchase, do some research online on how often the model you\u2019re eying breaks, and how easy it is to repair when that happens. Trusted consumer review sources and buying advice guides like Wirecutter<\/a> and Consumer Reports<\/a> are good places to start.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
<\/a> Source: (Tim Mossholder \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Home appliance shortage sound scary? Don\u2019t panic.<\/h2>\n

All this news of a home appliance shortage may seem daunting \u2014 even downright nerve-racking \u2014 to a buyer amid so much other uncertainty. But there\u2019s really no cause for panic, Strum says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s still availability,\u201d Strum notes. \u201cYou can still go to a store like Home Depot and find appliances readily.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s aware of some delays in the marketplace but generally finds the threat overblown, comparing it to the run on gas stations due to a regional pipeline disruption in spring 2021<\/a> that resolved quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe work with several builders, and we have seen prices go up for sure,\u201d he says. \u201cBut I do think you’re getting a lot of fear and panic across the board.\u201d<\/p>\n

He recently worked on a flip<\/a> requiring an order for a suite of all-new appliances \u2014 and learned he could get everything he needed right to the door in a reasonable three-and-a-half weeks.<\/p>\n

His overall advice? Keep calm, have a strategy\u2026 and you\u2019ll probably get the appliances with the deal, anyway.<\/p>\n

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