MARC’S TECHNOLOGY BLOGS – GADGETS II – FOR THE HOME!
MARC’S TECHNOLOGY BLOGS – GADGETS II – FOR THE HOME!
FROM MARC A COUPLE OF GADGETS FOR THE HOME – YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT!
I’ve got a couple of more gadgets I want to tell you about. They are not NEW gadget exactly I’ve seen them a time or two but both seem to have answered some questions I had about them.
The EdgeStar Counter top Dishwasher. Cool eh? It’s a little bit bigger than your microwave oven it fits up to four place settings only uses about three gallons of water and less than three tablespoons of detergent!! These new Edge Star models have an internal water heater an real drying cycle and can be mounted under your sink to drain into your garbage disposal or kitchen drain.
There are three different versions available from EdgeStar. The Platinum and the Black are new models the White is the previous generation. They all cost less than $200 and they all fit on the counter top!
The functionality of a countertop dishwasher is obvious. However I think the greater advantage is the value-added benefit it gives home buyers.
Right now in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago home of Dean’s Team World Headquarters there are 19 one bedroom condominiums for sale that DO NOT have a dishwasher. The average price of those units about $187000. The average price for 1 bedroom units WITH dishwashers is about $204000. If you are a home buyer who wants some the features offered by higher priced properties but can’t swing the mortgage cost a $200 gadget like this could get you a step closer to a home of your own.
A natural extension of the idea of the countertop dishwasher is the Space-Saving Washer/Dryer combo. This clever item not only saves space but also opens up options for the budget home buyer.
If you are in the market for a washer/dryer combo there are a few things you should keep in mind. First you are going to have to give up some space to save some space. Washer/dryer combos have to be installed I see them most frequently in already crowded kitchens and bathrooms somewhere near a water supply and drain. They are about the size of traditional dishwashers so we’re talking about a sizable gadget.
Another thing to note is while they are larger appliances the washing basin isn’t especially big. You could wash two pairs of jeans or a weeks worth of socks and underwear just not at the same time. They also cost around $1500 and more. In Lincoln Square a one bedroom with a washer & dryer costs on average $222482 (11 units) one without is $196215 (33 units). Now if one of those 33 units has a larger bedroom closet that backs up to a bathroom or kitchen wall so you still have a drain nearby then you MIGHT be able to keep it out of the prime locations in your home; that alone would improve the value of the washer/dryer combo exponentially. And if you don’t mind doing small loads of laundry than a washer/dryer combo might be a good option for you.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER GADGETS IN YOUR LIFE YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT? Or perhaps gadgets you feel might add value to your home for a prospective buyer? Please let me know!
DEAN’S TEAM TECH EDITOR
MARC MILBAUER
