Appliances for a New House: What to Buy and Which One
The appliances new owners most often end up buying: the ones sellers take with them, the ones that die in the first year, and the ones that make the house comfortable. 9 items.
Choosing replacement appliances. Owners say to buy standard white or stainless (a discontinued trendy color leaves a mismatched kitchen), check that parts are sold before you buy, and prefer appliance makers over electronics brands. Watch for fridges that take chipped water filters, which lock you into the brand's roughly $50 filter. Owners split on front-load washers: some fight mold, one has had no trouble in 12 years. (Reddit)
First week
The first normal week of living there
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Confirm whether the sale includes them, and if not, measure the space, doors and stairs and check whether the dryer hookup is gas or electric.
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Many sellers take the countertop microwave with them; check before the first night of leftovers.
First month
Once you’re settled
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Basements above about 50 percent humidity grow mold and smell musty, and a model with a drain hose runs without emptying.
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Dust from the move, a previous owner's pets and smoke days: a HEPA purifier in the bedroom helps when it matters most, while you sleep.
Later
Upgrades and nice-to-haves
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Keeps one floor clean daily, but check that it handles your rugs and door thresholds.
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Cools one room for a fraction of what central air costs to run, and is the fix for the one bedroom that never gets cold.
Our pick: Hisense 8,000 BTU Smart Inverter Window Air Conditioner with Easy Install Bracket -
For rooms whose windows can't take a window unit (casements, sliders, HOA rules). Louder and less efficient than a window unit.
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Only if the old one leaks, rattles or doesn't clean. A quiet one (about 47 dBA or less) matters in an open kitchen.
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Old disposals jam and leak from the bottom. A 3/4 hp unit handles everyday scraps without clogging.
