With a new home may come the need for new appliances, but where should you begin? Follow this New Homeowner Checklist and let us help you find what you need.
Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! If this is your first, welcome to the National Association of People Purchasing Everything for Their Residences. That’s Nappers, for short (wink, wink). It’s a lifetime membership, by the way.
One of the major things you will need for your new home is appliances. Unless you are bringing your old appliances with you, or your new home comes with appliances, this is your opportunity to include an appliance checklist on that seemingly never-ending new home checklist. What major appliances are needed for a new home? What are the must-have kitchen items for new homes? And what other new home essentials will you need, including a plan for home appliance repair when things eventually break down? Let’s take a look.
The Kitchen Must-Haves
When it comes to kitchen necessities, you can’t ignore the stove and refrigerator. There are several variables to consider with each, though, depending on your kitchen layout. Let’s start with the refrigerator.
Is your kitchen set up for a built-in refrigerator or a standalone? How much room do you have for the refrigerator and for the door swing? And what are your needs, preferences, and budget? The stand-alone models are available in different widths, heights, and configurations. The freezer can be on the top or the bottom, or the refrigerator and freezer can be side-by-side. The built-in models are enclosed in cabinetry, which can make them disappear into the rest of the kitchen cabinets, but they are usually wider than the standalones and, unfortunately, come with a price tag similar to a late-model used car.
Now, onto the stove. Stoves are a general term. A range is a standalone unit that has both a cooktop and an oven. There are separate cooktops and separate ovens. Then, there are drop-in ranges and slide-in ranges. So you need to know not only the type of cooking unit your new house is set up for, but also if it uses gas or electricity to cook with.
Ventilation is part of the stove puzzle, as well. Normally, there is a vent hood located above the cooktop or range. But sometimes, the duct for the vent is located in the floor. That calls for a downdraft. Vent hoods run the gamut from the old standard version to the combination microwave/vent hoods to modern vents that look like fixtures on a spaceship.
Other Popular Kitchen Appliances
In the built-in kitchen appliance category, there are dishwashers, ice makers, trash compactors, and wine refrigerators. Most of these are available with cabinet panels to match your other cabinets or metal fronts. Some are now available in a drawer configuration, too.
Countertop appliances that shouldn’t be overlooked include coffee makers, coffee grinders, blenders, mixers, food processors, and the microwave. Some kitchens have built-in microwave shelves or cabinets, so size is certainly a factor to consider. Also, there are pop-up shelves that can hold a mixer or blender. And don’t overlook the indispensable can opener!
Laundry Room Essentials
The kitchen isn’t the only room requiring appliance purchases. We can’t forget about the all-important washer and dryer.
Washers and dryers have come a long way. They can now be purchased with a drawer unit below them, which raises the front-loader door up to where you don’t have to bend over to load them. Of course, some smaller homes or condos might be set up for a stacked unit. Also in the laundry or utility room, there might be room for that extra refrigerator or freezer, if you find you need the additional storage. And, speaking of needs, you may want to secure a spot for an ironing board and iron.
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