Why are they at his house if he didn't pay for them?

Because I'm a way too trusting idiot???

He sent me an email saying he wanted to buy them, and then on day one of demo I got a text saying that the demo guys thought the cabs were Ikea so he might not want them after all and asking what I wanted to do with them.
I was fed up and told him so, but said that it was ok if he didn't want the cabs it was fine, but what about the appliances. He started hemming and hawing and said that he thought he might only want the dishwasher and the stove.

Since then, radio silence.

I felt like I was in a no win position given that demo was in progress and this stuff that he suddenly may not want is all sitting in our living room.

I know it was probably stupid to let him take it away, but I didn't want to hold up the work and I will not settle the last few thousand dollars of my bill until this is resolved.

I think he's kind of hoping that I'll cave and let him have the lot for either nothing or 500 bucks or something.

It annoys me because if he had said something earlier I could have tried to sell them myself. I feel like he's got me by the short and curlies! : )

No, you've got him. You owe them money for the work and he's got your appliances, etc. Honestly, 5 year old appliances aren't worth that much. If you still owe them a few thousand dollars, make it clear that you'll accept that as payment for the stuff he has. If they want their money, have them return the appliances.

Yes, exactly what Weissman said. And then, when you have the appliances back, put ads in Craig's List. I think the $1250 you mentioned for the SZ is reasonable, but the Viking should be lower, since the older Vikings have some rep for not being reliable, so you may not have as much interested buyers. And if they don't sell in a couple of weeks, try a lower price. The ads are free so what the hey.

Donation is good too. You can take the tax deduction, and be done with it, and have done a good deed to boot.

You see, I feel like we were screwed the moment we got the initial text message. We live in a center city row home and had he not said he wanted them I would have been able to put them in CL and show them in full working order.
The whole kitchen was actually quite nice and we could probably have sold the whole thing as a package (which was what he said he wanted).

Now I have no place to put the appliances at all except in our living room and who's going to want to buy an older appliance without seeing that it works first?

My suspicious side feels like he did it on purpose to put us in a position where we have little choice but to give it all to him. My less cynical side really hopes that isn't the case.

He even put in the bid for the work that they wanted to buy our kitchen. It seemed like such a win/ win.

I don't want to beat up our GC about it - he was the facilitator, but it's not his fault that his partner backed out last minute.

Here's what I think I might do. Pay our initial bill (30% of total) but tell our GC that we will need resolution on the kitchen stuff before I pay the next bill. What do you think? Or should I not mention it, wait until everything is done and then ask for resolution before paying the final installment (10%). That way at least they don't walk off the job half way through! : )
not that I really think the GC would do that, he seems very nice so far.

Thoughts?

The way I see it you have a several options...

1. Sell them to the contractor's partner for some value you are at least satisfied (if not happy) with.
2. Get them back and sell them your self through Craigslist.
3. Sell them to an appliance store that resells used appliances.
4. Donate them them. Habitat for Humanity is my favorite charity for things like appliances and building materials.

Now, your best value is probably option two but that also takes the most work. I'd get some pictures and post them. I honestly think if the range is in good condition, they'll easily sell at $500 or a bit more even. The Sub Zero probably more. Don't worry too much about showing them in working order. Most people on CL understand situations like this and won't bat an eye if the appliances aren't installed. Just plug them in somewhere to show them the electrical parts are working if necessary.

Do you have pictures of the appliances when they were still installed in the kitchen?

Either way, definitely don't pay them until you've got the appliances back or they've paid you to buy them.

Good luck.

If you end up with having to take the appliances back, email me. I would be interested in the range:)

Thanks.

Hmm, you see now I wonder if it was me who was unrealistic on pricing.

I had told him between $3500 - $4000 for the whole kitchen including all appliances. Does that sound like I was unreasonable?

I really thought that I was offering him a 'deal', but maybe I was unrealistic?

I do have pics of them installed on my camera, I'll download them later and post to give people an idea.
Maybe I'll just text him and say I've reconsidered on price. Sigh - I just don't want to have to deal with it any more. : (

Sometimes sanity overcomes greed. Not to say you are being greedy but just that sanity and emotional well being is worth something. It sounds like this whole situation is preventing you from really enjoying your new kitchen and that's too bad.

I just threw out a number for the range so it might well be higher. Do some research to see what it's worth. Think of it this way, if you were considering donating or junking them, any amount is money in your pocket. Trying to maximize your sale price will just drive you nuts. If you donate it, it's doubtful that you'll get anything near even a cheap sale price as a net value in your return. It just makes you feel better that you helped somebody in need.

BTW, if your GC put it in the bid, then he is responsible so don't feel bad about not paying him until he either returns the items or gives you cash or revised contract with the amount deducted from the total. If you go this route, make sure he makes two copies of the revision page and have both of you sign both copies in ink. Then he keeps a copy and you keep a copy.

Finally, remember that if you sell it yourself or donate it, you might be asked to deliver the items which is not a small thing. Again, think of your overall sanity.

Agree sanity is important.

Honestly though we ALWAYS intended to sell the items to help pay for the new kitchen.

As it happens I don't yet have a new kitchen to enjoy or not - it's just a gutted shell. So not worried about that aspect yet.

I am more irritated that he was so sure he wanted it all up until the second it was moved from the kitchen into the living room. It just seems dodgy to me and therefor annoying.

But that was the reason for my OP. Not to moan about how we got screwed (although it's been nice to vent!!), but to try and work out what a fair price would be so we can move forward from this point.

The very last thing I want to do is take possession of them again. We just don't have anywhere for them to be. A garage would be useful in this type of situation! : )
Ah the joys of city living! : )

Here's the kitchen and appliances. Any thoughts on what was reasonable to ask for the lot? He has everything including the Viking hood/ dishwasher/ sink/ countertops (Corian), etc.

$4000 for everything including the kitchen sink? Sounds reasonable to me.

Reminds me that a month or two ago there had been a post on the kitchen forum from a wife of a preacher (of some sort) who was living in a church owned house. Most of the house had been updated but her kitchen was still old and cheap and she was looking for inexpensive suggestions. What a bonus a kitchen like your old one would be. Can't find her post, but I'll bet there's others like her if your builder doesn't come through.

Please email me - I'm a couple tunnels away and stole my wife from 14th and Park.

You could easily get $3000 for the SZ alone on craigslist in ATL.

ANd I'd bet a eBay listing would generate some nice cash for the whole thing.

Riverspots - I thought we were offering a great deal too! Oh well he'll either take it or not I guess!

Iboise - I sent you an email. We're in Philly now though so not quite as close!

They certainly look to be in very good condition and I think everything for $4000 is a great deal but your problem will be finding someone who wants everything who's not bargain hunting. The cabinets and countertop would seem to be hard items to offload given the specific dimensions involved.

Your OP didn't mention the hood but matched hood and range would be a great package deal for someone looking to upgrade. If I were you, I'd put a post up on craigslist specifying each item with picture and price. Then at the bottom, say you'll let it all go for whatever you feel is a fair price for all of it.

BTW, you might want to cruise around CL and ebay to make sure your stuff isn't already posted there. It's unlikely but possible that your GC's buddy is trying to see if he can sell it for a quick profit before committing to buying it from you.

I'd go ahead and place an ad on craigslist for the complete kitchen. Wilmington has a separate craigslist, I think, and is close enough for interested buyers if you're in Delaware or Chester Co. Better to have a buyer than have the GC want to bring back all the old stuff after the work is complete.

I'll bet you get several offers from the Main Line.

Update.

He only wants the subzero and has no use for anything else.

Clearly he was unaware of this fact when he wrote me a bid for the job saying that they would like to make an offer for the whole kitchen.
But he is happy to provide the storage for free.

Lucky me.

Bah humbug!!! : (

I'd still place the ad for the entire kitchen. If someone wants everything but the fridge, great. Otherwise, try to sell in its entirety. Otherwise, you'll get stuck with bits and pieces.

riverspots I know, and it's done!

Up on craigslist - we'll see how we do.

The most value is in the Subzero & the Viking range & hood though, so don't really mind selling those seperately if I need to.
At least we would get SOMETHING to put towards all the expensive toys we've ordered for the new kitchen! : )

Update:

Everything sold. I can't even believe it. I posted the whole kitchen and appliances on craigslist yesterday and someone picked up every single piece of it this morning. Amazing, I would never have thought!

The number of emails I got for the stove especially was astounding (for anyone in this position in the future, I asked $1350 for the range & $500 for the hood or $1600 for both), but it was so much easier for me just to sell it all as a job lot.... AND he went to the contractor's house with his own truck and guys and picked it all up.
I didn't even have to meet him.

I am very happy with how this has turned out, so thanks so much for the encouragement, I was feeling so overwhelmed by it, and now it's done!

Thanks again folks!

Did you sell the subzero with the rest of the kitchen or did you let the contractor have it?

$1350 for a 6 year old stove, you did good. Those are certainly the bad years for Viking quality...but not much better today either. One would have been better off buying a new stove for that money. What one does for the pro look is amazing. But it is money in your pocket, so that is all that matters!!! You should be happy.

She sold it all. I told her I'd buy the SZ if she was stuck with it, but of course no such luck. Truth be told I wasn't looking forward to about 6 hours round trip for a fridge, but it WAS a great deal.

No, I didn't let him have it. You know, the whole thing just left a bad taste in my mouth and this guy was so keen to have everything that I was happy to have him take it all.

Now it's all done and I feel like I don't have it hanging over my head, it's a big relief.

lboise; I got your email.

We are installing a 30' Subzero bottom mount fridge and a 36' Wolf range with matching hood. We're also going for the F&P dishwasher drawers.
I'm excited to get them all!

Thanks again for your help and advice!

mowers - well that was one popular stove - I probably got 15 emails on it in just a few hours! No kidding.
I've taken the ads down yet I am STILL getting emails on it.
Amazing.

I just wanted to say congrats to you, and glad the stress is over. Also, that I just love Craig's List. I sold my OTR MW (6 months old, barely used), and, from a bathroom renovation, a still-in-the-box Robern medicine cabinet and Rohl towel bar. Like you, I was inundated with emails, and everything sold within 2 days. Good luck with your new kitchen. It is certainly starting out auspiciously!

Told ya! Nice not to have that worry any more. Be sure to post pics of the new kitchen when it's complete.