Furnishing from scratch - appliances - where to spend where to save?

[Ambivalence]

I'm moving house and need to buy EVERYTHING, so figured its a good opportunity to consider whether spending a bit extra now might save me money in the long term

I need to buy new - all freestanding -

washing machine
dishwasher
fridge freezer (only have space 80cm wide X 60cm depth so normal rather than American)

for the rather small kitchen - which has been newly installed so I don't have any flexibility on where to put things. There is a 120cm space in which the dishwasher and washing machine will have to go - because the tumble drier could be elsewhere in the house but the washing machine could only go in the Kitchen (bathroom not big enough)

there is a working cooker so don't need to buy that

I also need to buy a condenser tumble dryer to go under the stairs (which would require running electric to the understairs cupboard)/ in a spare bedroom. In my last home I bought a washer/dryer which took ages to dry things so I think I'd rather have a separate tumble dryer. there's no garage to put it in (that's been converted into a 2nd living room)

I'm planning to stay in the house for 20 years so wondering if its worth paying a bit more for energy efficient appliances.

I've subscribed to which and been avidly reading all the reviews. Previously I've spent about £400 each time on bosch appliances - which have been fine, and was planning on spending a similar amount this time. in the past I've had a cheap fridge freezer which I needed to manually defrost so definitely going for a frost free version now. Any other tips? I was planning to buy everything with child safety locks

It's just me and my one year old daughter, and probably in time a lodger, but no pets etc so don't think we will be giving the appliances the bashing that miele etc would warrant ( and prefer not to spend that much anyway) ..

[Ambivalence]

Teeny kitchen...appliances will go under the breakfast bar bit and fridge freezer to the right ( where old tumble dryer is)

[Ambivalence]

Plan of kitchen...other cupboards are 50 cm so won't fit standard appliances. ..

[Wombat87]

I have a Beko 8kg washing machine. DP had one before that lasted years and years. It was 8+ when it finally died, so we went again. They are considerably cheaper, but we've never had problems with ours (touch wood).

I would take time to research different shops and prices and don't forget to factor different delivery charges. We spent AGES looking at different brands. We went for Bosch oven and hob, by chance ended up with a Bosch dishwasher as it was 'free' with the kitchen when we bought a new one, and a Bosch fridge - which was by chance also as we had a limited space for it and the Bosch one fitted and ticked all our requirements. We weren't being brand loyal, just how it worked out I guess.

Our condensing tumble dryer is under the stairs. We found one that was in John Lewis and on the 'reduced' board. It had previously been given out, then returned so was sold as seconds with a few scuff on it. Because it's not on display we didn't give a rats. It's a hotpoint one.

Just read reviews I guess - use Which.com and have a look for shops selling things that are returns/discounted.

[Ambivalence]

Thanks Wombat...yes spending ages on which reviews and also researching the delivery/ installation charges. ..it all really adds up...

[BluePitchFork]

the longer an appliance is wxpected to live, the lowest should the energy rating be.
i.e. fridge/freezer will be on constantly so go for the best you can afford.

[reallybadidea]

I would recommend a company called elekdirect who sell via their website and on eBay. They are the 'seconds' arm of AO.com and so their stuff is all brand new, with the correct warranties etc. They're very clear about the damage so you can decide for yourself whether you're happy or whether it's too scuffed.

To give you an idea, I got a brand new washing machine rrp of £550 for £350 including delivery. The only damage was on the sides meaning you can't see it at all! They were very pleasant to deal with too. Obviously it depends on what they've got in stock but worth a look IMO.

[PigletJohn]

if you do a lot of tumble drying, a heat-pump condenser saves a lot of electricity.

However it also costs a lot to buy. When I did the sums the heat-pump machines were about a £thou, so the saving would not cover the cost.

With an expensive and complex appliance, you have to consider that it might need an expensive repair, so ask yourself if it will repay the cost within the guarantee period (you might get 5 years at extra cost from John Lewis).

I have been very pleased with Bosch and Siemens appliances (the two companies jointly own the Appliance company, so quality and reliability are about the same; very good).

I don't like integrated appliances, they are a lot more work to put in, take out, repair, or even get behind to clean up a leak, spilled milk or a dead mouse.

[Ambivalence]

Blue...very good point about the fridge freezer being the only appliance that will be switched on all the time. .

Pigletjohn - hoped you would comment. The heat pump tumble dryers are still pretty expensive so don't think I'd save enough to cover the extra expense. .

I'm wondering about just buying another washer dryer instead to save space...my last one was a Bosch washer dryer and worked fine...took about an hour to dry a load which seems pretty standard. Everything I've read online though says to get 2 separate machines...

[Ambivalence]

It is rather annoying that in my 4 bed " forever home" the kitchen is actually smaller than my teeny one bed London flat to the point that I'm thinking of compromising and getting a washer dryer..it's ridiculous but as I won't have a garage think I'm going to need the under stairs storage for the push chair and then the inevitable scooters etc. ..

[Blankiefan]

If you get a list of what you want, search the Internet for the best prices and note these down.

Then call ao.com and they'll price match everything if you tell them where they are cheapest. It means you get them all from the one place, and ao.com have decent customer service. So you don't have to buy from ropey websites. It can get their prices

The only thing to watch is that ao.com will do a big sell on extended warranties. They're a bit cheeky with assumptive approaches on this but you don't have to buy so just say no and hold your ground.

[RB68]

I would go for the most energy efficient you can afford as the price of energy is only going to go up - unless you are installing solar or similar.

I like the Jlewis guarantee if I am honest but when you don't have that much to play with it is worth looking at the returned items with a bash on the side or out of sight.

[PigletJohn]

if you're short of space, a washer can be put in or near the bathroom (as water and drainage plumbing are handy) and a drier can go anywhere. Near the place you expect to iron is convenient. Some people have the laundry room upstairs, which saves carrying if you do not have a washing line. Vented driers are simple, so cheap to buy and not much to go wrong, and a plumber can make a neat round hole for the duct in an external wall.

Electrical work in bathrooms must be done by a qualified person as rules apply. You will not be allowed sockets, but can have certain appliances.

[Ambivalence]

Thanks for the price matching tip re ao- blankiefan.
RB68 - thanks, I'm not near a john lewis though. .are there guarantees really that good? I couldn't buy in store so would have to be online. Not installing solar or anything so was planning in energy efficient ( and wayer is on a meter so will need to check water efficient too!)

[Ambivalence]

Thanks piglet John. A new bathroom has just been installed downstairs but they've told over the pipework so don't think I'd even be able to fit a washing machine in there

[Ambivalence]

If the washer could go in the bathroom then I could have a vented tumble dryer in the kitchen, but I don't think that is the best use of premium kitchen space. ..

[Ambivalence]

The annoying ledge for the pipework stops getting a tumble dryer flush with that wall...and I think it's too near the bath ( and over bath shower) to be safe...

[Glittershoes22]

I don't know if you can find a Samsung fridge freezer for your space, we bought one off our vendors 5 years ago (it was only a couple of months old at the time) and it is incredible at extending the life of fruit and veg. I regularly eat fruit & veg 2-3 weeks beyond their best before because it keeps them at the perfect temp. Saved us a small fortune in wastage over the years so I would definitely recommend Samsung and will replace with another if/when ours gives up.

[Hufflepuffin]

How regularly do you tumble dry? We had a washer dryer and it was fine - not as good as a real tumbler but better than losing all that space.

[Ambivalence]

That's really useful glittershoes. I will look into that feature and Samsung fridge freezers, thanks

[Ambivalence]

Well Ive never had a washing line before so used to tumble everything! So maybe 3 loads of washing and drying a week ( me and my one year old daughter ).
I've always just had a washer dryer and it was fine. ..a Bosch integrated one. I bough in 2008 for maybe £500..it was never a massive wash so used to just tumble the lot and it would be dry in an hour...but mumsnet seems very anti washer dryers..
I'm not keen on clothes airers and no space for more than one small one in the spare room in this new house ( which is where I'd put a tumble dryer and ironing board ( not that I iron much either), but would like to use the spare room as a guest bedroom rather than a laundry!

[Lonecatwithkitten]

If you gave 80cm for a fridge freezer it is worth looking at 70cm double doomed fridge freezers. I love my Hotpoint.

[Ambivalence]

Thanks lonecat - will check those out. Couldn't see a starting width for double doored ones on the which website so will try some shop sites..

[Hufflepuffin]

I'd get a washer dryer then! And a good airer and dehumidifier for the spare room. Ours dries a full load overnight (meaco 8l or something like that) and then you have the drier for emergencies but can fold the airer away when you want a guest room.

[Ambivalence]

Huffle - that's why I've always tumble dried! Worried about causing damp using am airer in a flat! I will have a garden now so could hang stuff outside but the weather is often not up to it...maybe a washer dryer is the answer rather than being the weirdo with a tumble dryer in the guest bedroom. ..
this house has such a small kitchen there is no place for mop, bucket, hoover etc so another option was a big built in wardrobe in the second living room ( converted from what was the garage) to house those things and put a tumble dryer in a cupboard there...it's a very long and thin (2.4m x 4.9m)and the meters are I'm there anyway so need to access those. I wouldn't use that room much anyway, only if I had guests and wanted to get away from the toys, so I think maybe tumbler would be less in the way there..

[Hufflepuffin]

A dehumidifier collects all the moisture from your clothes and you can pour it down the drain. Sounds like a utility cupboard in the second living room would work well for you though! Got to have somewhere to put the hoover!