I have a coworker that got me started in repairing appliances for resale. I started a couple years ago mainly fixing up electric dryers. I would get them by posting ads on CL to pickup scrap appliances and such. Some of the appliances I picked up were in good shape so I started listing them on CL and they would sell. Since metal prices have tanked, I quit posting ads to pick up scrap a long time ago plus, I was getting tired of picking up other peoples junk. I have done well reselling appliances so I have concentrated on finding free or cheap dryers to repair and resell. I look for units that are no more than ten years old. I don't bother with any older units cause they don't sell on CL around here and I don't want to sell older stuff that could have problems and have to deal with people wanting to get their money back.
Just in the past couple months I have bought 6 or 7 dryers that were listed on CL but needed repair. I have only had to pay $20-$30 for each dryer. I don't want to pay much more than that so I can make a profit after buying replacement parts. I have gotten a couple working appliances for free from friends and were able to clean them up and sell them. Back in the spring my own washer quit running. I found a washer and dryer set on CL only 3 or 4 years old for $150. They were the low end models but it what I needed. Of course, I didn't need the dryer but I bought them both. I replaced the dead washer in my house. I cleaned up the dryer a little and listed on CL. A couple days later it sold for $150. I am pretty happy with the free washer I have. It's a little noisy but it runs like a champ.
Just the other day, I bought the dryer on the left for $30. The guy had recently replaced the heating element and thermostat. Then it quit working. The guy initially wanted $75 for the dead dryer. Worst case, at least I could part it out and make my money back selling parts. I waited for a couple weeks and as I had figured, nobody wanted it. I new it could be an easy fix and it was. These newer digital dryers have a problem with the start relays blowing the traces off the circuit board causing an open circuit. Well, this was exactly the case with this dryer. So, I soldered a new trace on the board and now it works again. I will list it on CL and more than double my investment. The dryer on the right, I picked up for $25. It only needs a heating element which I can pick up online for $20-$30 dollars. I will repair and more than double my investment on that one as well.
Sorry, I got a little long winded there. I just enjoy giving you guys some info on this forum. Thanks
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