The appliance may have passed your workshop test and still fail as a sale if the buyer expects a different size, a power cord that was not included, installation you did not quote, or a warranty that no one wrote down. Heavy products make misunderstandings expensive. A failed delivery can cost a crew, fuel, another appointment, and a second move that damages the unit. A clear listing and written order should make the exact product and service easy to understand before money changes hands.
Present three promises separately: the unit’s documented condition, the delivery or installation service, and the remedy if something goes wrong. The preparation guide produces the test record and photos; this fifth article in the Appliance Flipping Guide turns them into an accurate offer and completed handoff. Exact warranty, tax, installation, and consumer rights depend on state law and your business model. Check current local rules and have qualified advice review the terms you use repeatedly.
Write the listing from the unit file
Identify the brand, exact model, verified dimensions, connection or fuel type, included accessories, price, location, and the work you actually completed. Link the functional claim to a test: “full wash and spin cycle completed on September 27 with no leak observed” tells a buyer more than “works perfectly.” If a refrigerator was observed holding temperature over a defined period, state the period and measurement rather than guaranteeing a specific future bill or years of service. If a feature was not tested, say so. The FTC’s advertising guidance explains that product claims should be truthful and evidence-based before they are published.
Show photographs of the exact unit after cleaning and final testing. Include the model label, interior, controls, connections, accessories, and material flaws. A stock image can suggest shelves, knobs, or a finish the buyer will not receive. A close-up of a dent does not need to dominate the first photo, but it should be visible and described. State if a shelf, hose, cord, vent kit, or mounting hardware is missing. A buyer can often source an accessory, but the cost and effort belong in the purchase decision.
If the appliance has a completed recall remedy, describe it accurately and retain the manufacturer’s or service record. If a recall remains open, do not offer the unit for sale. CPSC’s reseller FAQ states that sale of recalled products is unlawful until the remedy is applied. A general “fully checked” phrase is not a substitute for matching the specific model and serial number to the recall notice. Recheck status near listing if the unit sat in storage for a long period.
State the full offer, including service boundaries
Separate the appliance price from optional services and explain what each includes. Does delivery mean curbside drop-off, threshold placement, moving the unit into the room, connection, leveling, function check, removal of an old appliance, or recycling? These are different jobs with different costs and qualifications. If delivery is included in the advertised price for every buyer in a stated area, make that area clear. If stairs, long travel, or difficult access change the quote, tell the buyer before accepting the order. Do not wait for the crew to discover the problem at the driveway.
Ask buyers to verify dimensions and hookups against the model information and their home. Request the width of narrow doors, stair turns, elevator capacity, and space for ventilation where relevant. The buyer may need a licensed installer for gas or electrical work. If your business does not provide it, write that limitation into the order. If you do provide installation, define who is qualified, which connections are included, what existing-site conditions can stop the work, and what happens then. A “plug and play” promise is unsafe for a unit that requires fuel, venting, or special electrical service.
Provide the total amount due, deposit terms, payment method, and expected handoff date in writing. A buyer should not have to discover mandatory labor, hose, or removal charges after the unit arrives. If you offer an optional old-unit pickup, quote it separately and explain disposal. EPA’s appliance disposal guidance describes refrigerant recovery and local acceptance for cooling equipment. A seller who promises to “haul away anything” without knowing what the recycler accepts may face an unexpected cost or an improper disposal decision.
Use a short preflight conversation before taking a deposit. Ask the buyer to confirm the intended location, opening and path measurements, connection type, whether an existing appliance must be moved, and who will perform installation. Repeat the model and dimensions from the manufacturer’s information and your actual measurements. The buyer remains responsible for confirming the home is suitable, but the seller should not conceal a known mismatch. If the buyer describes a gas hookup and your unit is electric, pause instead of hoping an adapter will solve it. Record the answer and revisit the quote if the access or service scope changes.
Explain cancellation before the crew is dispatched. A buyer might discover a doorway is too narrow or a landlord will not permit installation. State what happens to a deposit, whether a delivery fee is refundable, and who pays for a return trip, subject to applicable law and marketplace rules. Make a different plan for a unit that arrives damaged or materially unlike the listing. A policy that treats every failed delivery as the buyer’s fault will not fit every case and can lead to disputes. The written terms should be understandable without a salesperson translating them after a problem occurs.
Make the warranty readable before purchase
The FTC’s consumer warranty guide says a written warranty should be available before a buyer pays, whether online or in person. State who gives the warranty, which unit it covers, its duration, covered parts and labor, exclusions, how to request service, who pays for transport, and what remedy the business will provide. A shop invoice warranty on a replaced part, a remaining manufacturer warranty, and your resale warranty are different promises. Verify whether any manufacturer’s warranty transfers to a subsequent owner before suggesting that it does.
Implied warranties can apply to a merchant’s sale of used goods. The FTC’s business guide to federal warranty law explains how merchant sales differ from private sales and how state law affects any attempt to disclaim implied warranties. “As is” does not erase an inaccurate listing or a promise you made elsewhere, and it may not have the effect you expect in every state. Use counsel familiar with your jurisdiction to review repeated forms. The business decision is to choose terms you can actually honor and budget a reserve for them.
Do not advertise a “30-day guarantee” without defining the event that starts the period and the remedy. Does it cover a failed compressor, transport damage, installation error, or a buyer who changes their mind? Will you repair on site, replace the unit, or refund? How quickly will you respond? If the buyer lives outside your service radius, who brings the machine back? A vague guarantee can create a dispute precisely when a customer most needs help. Clear terms support the price and make the cost measurable in the unit ledger.
Keep payment and buyer contact safe
Use a payment method your business can verify directly. The FTC’s online selling scam alert describes fake payment notifications and overpayment requests. Do not hand over a heavy appliance because a buyer shows a screenshot or says a check has cleared. Check the actual account or payment service through its official channel and know when funds can be reversed. Refuse requests to send a portion of an overpayment to a courier or to refund money through a different method.
Collect only the contact and address details necessary to schedule and complete the sale, then protect them. Do not ask buyers to send sensitive information through a public comment thread. Keep order messages in a channel your team can retrieve if delivery terms are later disputed. Confirm the address, access details, contact number, and appointment window before loading. A short written confirmation can prevent a failed trip and gives the buyer a chance to correct a measurement or service expectation.
If the sale occurs through a marketplace, review its current payment and dispute rules. The FTC’s marketplace buying guidance points out that some platforms leave refunds, returns, and delivery entirely to buyer and seller. Do not tell the customer the marketplace “covers everything” unless the exact transaction qualifies. Keep your own record of the listing, messages, payment, and handoff. Platform rules can change; the written agreement should remain understandable if a listing later disappears.
Schedule a delivery you can keep
Before promising a date, confirm the unit is tested and ready, the crew and vehicle are available, the route is feasible, and any parts or accessories are on hand. For internet or telephone orders that fall under the FTC’s Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule, sellers must have a reasonable basis for the shipment timing they promise and follow delay-consent and refund rules when they cannot meet it. Local delivery arrangements can have additional or different obligations; check the rule’s scope and state law for your transaction. The practical principle is to tell the buyer promptly when a date will slip and give the remedy the law and your agreement require.
Load and secure the appliance according to its manufacturer’s handling instructions and the requirements of your vehicle and equipment. Photograph its condition before loading. Use enough people and suitable handling equipment for weight, stairs, and turns; do not improvise a dangerous carry to save an hour of labor. Protect floors and walls, and stop if the path does not fit the dimensions provided. If a connection or installation is outside the agreed scope or crew’s qualifications, do not attempt it. Record why delivery could not be completed and agree on the next step with the buyer rather than leaving the unit in an unsafe location.
At the destination, compare the model and serial number with the order, place the unit according to the written scope, and document visible condition. If your service includes a connection and functional check, have a qualified person perform and record it. If the buyer or their installer will connect it later, note that the shop test was performed before transport and what was observed at handoff. A signature or acknowledgment should confirm delivery details, not waive rights the buyer still has under law or written warranty.
Handle a problem as a documented service case
If a buyer reports a failure, ask for the symptom, time, model, serial number, installation conditions, and any photos or error code. Compare the report with the test log, repair invoice, delivery record, and warranty terms. A machine can fail because of an existing defect, transport damage, installation, power or water supply, or a new event. Do not diagnose from a single text message or blame the buyer before looking. If there is a safety concern, advise the buyer to stop using the unit and arrange a qualified assessment.
Give a specific next step and timeframe. If the written warranty applies, honor it. If the issue is outside a stated warranty but the description was inaccurate, address that under applicable law and fair business practice. Log the cost in the unit’s final profit record. A return should be inspected and photographed on receipt so you can distinguish its current condition from the outgoing record. Do not relist a returned unit until the reported fault is investigated and the recall and safety checks are repeated where necessary.
Ask for reviews only after a real transaction and without buying a particular rating. The FTC’s consumer review rule guidance addresses fake or false reviews and suppression. A candid review may identify a confusing delivery promise or warranty process that needs repair. Respond professionally and protect customer privacy. The best reputation asset is a consistent record of what you sold and how you handled problems, not a perfect-looking rating created by pressure.
The sale is complete when the unit, payment, documents, and service promises have moved to the right people and the remaining obligations are tracked. A clear listing brings a buyer who understands the product. Clear delivery and warranty terms give both sides a plan when reality is less tidy. The final article measures returns and profit by appliance type so each transaction improves the next acquisition decision.