Tenant Requesting Air Con

Hi All,

Local sparkie is offering me 2 choices:

1. Mitsubishi 2.5kw $1490 + gst after energex $100 peak smart rebate MSZ-EF25VE-KIT
2. Kelvinater 2.5 kw $1300 + gst after energex $100 peak smart rebate KSD25HRG

Reviews on the Kelvinator seem good; retailing for $659.
Looks like Mitsubishi is around $990 so it would appear his margin is better on the Kelvinator.

Appreciate any opinions one way or another.

 

Mitsubishi's last longer in my experience

 

Mitsubishi, Kelvinator aren't Kelvinator any more they are only LG crap named Kelvinator so people will buy them. Have a few of them some only last as long as the warrantee, some have lasted a while. Gas leaks, out and the fan blades come of but you can araldite them back on.

 

One of my tenants requested one and I said no. A few weeks later I got the inspection report and it was pristine. Like a show home. I then agreed to install one after that. I like to reward good tenants.

 

I would think that most people would want a reverse cycle air con of some description as it is either heating or cooling is required in most parts of Australia except if you lived in the underground accommodation of Cooper Pedy

 

My suggestion is a system that has a remote app - That way you dont leave the remote there. The next tenant will insist on it and the cost three times the price of gold. Labelmaker login details to the unit and change password each tenant. Mitsubishi's seem to be readily available on the cheap and most have app support.

 

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and opinions.
Looks like I will go with Mitsubishi once tenant signs the lease

 

Mitsubishi arent like that. I do agree Kelvinator and other no name brands perhaps best avoided. These units are typically 100% disposable so a 5 year warranty supported by a local office eg Mitsubishi do !! is preferred to a no name at Bunnings. Nearly all buy the major components and are generic named. Even Actron has been sold to a Japanese air company. Their splits are imports.

 

The other option given to me (which I failed to mention) was Carrier 42/38QHC020 2.1kw $1300+GST.

I'd never heard of this brand previously but PM did mention a few electrician's advised Carrier is the way to go due to having a local warranty services warehouse and being easy to deal with.

I suspect it has more to do with their margins as a quick google search shows the unit can be purchased for around $650.

 

Carrier is cheap and doesn't have an especially good name.

I love the idea of a unit that has an app, but what happens if you get an old tenant who doesn't have or know how to use a smart phone- I think you really need to have the remote as well. If you ever lose it, check eBay, hasn't failed me yet- most recently $20 for a Panasonic remote.

 

Carrier used to have a big name a long long time ago when things got made here (and USA where they started). They invented A/C.....A long time back. Now they are asian imports. Often same product different badges. Ironically it was Carrier who gave Samsung one of their first products in the 1930s.....And to this date South Korea is where most AC unit production occurs.

 

When we were living in Sydney (just a few months ago), I was very surprised by the lack of air conditioning in rental properties and also by the very few people who had it in their own home. I think in my whole team at work, only two people had air conditioning and almost everyone was living in pretty desireable areas - inner city and eastern suburbs. I think I know more people with it in Canberra and Melbourne which seems weird

 

I agree with this. I've been a "rentvestor" long before it became a thing (I am a nomad after all) I've owned houses with aircon / dishwasher but never lived in any. I prefer older places with character and in Sydney's inner west / east I suppose I've been lucky with orientation not to need it.

Except our last house which besides 6wks in Spring & 6wks in Autumn it was comfortable. The rest of the year it was either too hot or too cold. Beautiful house. The owner has owned it since the 1990's so raking in the cash. Too tight to install aircon. We left when our 12 months was up. Crazy really as the neighbours said since it was renovated there has been a steady stream of tenants.