I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a few renters who loved the smart features—especially younger folks. Some even asked for smart ovens or voice assistants. Maybe it depends on your target market? Still, I agree, repairs are a pain.
I’ve swapped out a few “dumb” appliances for smart ones in my rentals, and honestly, it’s a mixed bag. Some tenants are super into the tech—one guy even set up routines for his coffee maker and lights. But when the Wi-Fi goes down or the app glitches, guess who gets the call? I do think it’s generational, but I’m curious—has anyone found a smart oven that actually lasts? I’m on my third one and they all seem to conk out after a couple years. Maybe I’m just unlucky, but the repair bills add up fast...
Smart gadgets in the kitchen: time-saver or just more hassle?
I’ve had a similar experience with smart ovens, and honestly, I’m not convinced they’re built for the long haul yet. I installed a mid-range smart oven in my own place about three years ago, mostly out of curiosity. It worked great at first—remote preheating, notifications when dinner was done, all that jazz. But after about 18 months, the touchscreen started freezing up, and eventually the Wi-Fi module just stopped connecting altogether. Ended up having to replace the control board, which cost almost as much as a basic “dumb” oven.
I get the appeal—especially for rentals where tenants like the bells and whistles—but it does seem like there’s a trade-off between convenience and reliability. The more tech you add, the more things there are to break. I’ve started leaning toward appliances with just a few smart features (like delayed start or simple app controls) rather than fully connected models. Less to go wrong, and tenants still feel like they’re getting something modern.
Maybe it’s just early days for this stuff, but I’m not sure the tech is quite there yet for heavy-use environments like rentals.
Totally get where you’re coming from—tech burnout is real, especially when it comes to stuff that’s supposed to make life easier. I’ve had a few “smart” appliances turn dumb on me too. But honestly, I think you’re onto something with sticking to the basics that actually add value. Sometimes simple is just smarter, especially when tenants are involved. The industry’s moving fast, though… maybe in a couple years these things will finally live up to the hype. For now, I’d rather have reliability over bells and whistles any day.
For now, I’d rather have reliability over bells and whistles any day.
Couldn’t agree more—when you’re managing properties, “set it and forget it” is gold. I’ve had tenants call me about WiFi-connected ovens that just stopped responding... not exactly a time-saver. Maybe in a few years, but for now, basic still wins.