Wow! You have the exciting opportunity to purchase a brand-new home! You\u2019re going to be the first person to live there and you know you will create so many amazing memories. Here comes the fun part \u2014 you get to furnish it however you want and buy the latest and greatest appliances.<\/p>\n
You can already imagine your touchscreen dishwasher, your oven that can be preheated from an app on your phone \u2014 and don\u2019t forget about the fridge. Perhaps, one that has panels to look like your cabinets, or a fancy see-through fridge that requires you to keep its contents organized for nosy house guests.<\/p>\n
Regardless of which appliances you choose, you will want to do a lot of research and see what the builder offers, if anything, to determine what will best suit your needs and your budget.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s dive into some frequently asked questions about buying appliances for new construction homes. There\u2019s a lot of ambiguity around this topic, so we will clarify the details so you can get the best appliances for the best price, and in the least amount of time.<\/p>\n
Most new construction homes come with some appliances, but not all of the appliances you will need. According to Brad Gore<\/a>, who works with 74% more single-family homes than the average agent in Branson, Missouri<\/a>, builders often include standard appliances that you need to function in the home and that may be built-in. If the appliance is built-in, wiring is involved which will need to be installed during the construction phase.<\/p>\n Many new construction homes have dedicated laundry rooms, but builders still consider washing machines and dryers to be luxury features and usually don\u2019t include them in the base package. Gore says that refrigerators are negotiable, but lately more builders have been including them.<\/p>\n Always talk to your builder to see what they offer and find out if the appliances come as a package and what you\u2019re actually paying for them. You should be provided with a detailed list of costs for your new build, so pay close attention to what the appliance package is costing you.<\/p>\n Typical appliances that come standard in new construction homes include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Appliances that are usually not<\/i> included in new construction homes include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Builders typically buy the appliances in bulk, Gore explains, so they\u2019re likely to get a better deal because they\u2019re buying a large quantity of appliances at once and have built a relationship with their supplier. That doesn\u2019t mean that you have to buy the appliances from the builder, but it could save you both time and money if the builder is getting a good deal.<\/p>\n However, there are some other options. When you are working out the details of the purchase contract<\/a>, you can opt to pay the difference between what the builder was going to spend on the appliances, and the price of the ones you really want. This may be applicable if you want to purchase a specific brand, model, or a really high-end appliance that wasn\u2019t going to be included with the house.<\/p>\n You can get discounts on buying appliances for new construction homes in a variety of ways:<\/p>\n If you are purchasing appliances from the builder to be included as a part of the build, this cost can be included in the construction loan. In this case, the appliances will need to be included in the house plans and the builder\u2019s contract<\/a> to be included in the loan. Remember that things like televisions are considered electronics, not appliances, and aren\u2019t usually included in a construction loan.<\/p>\n If appliances are not offered by the builder and you need to purchase them separately, they won\u2019t be included in the construction loan. These will be out-of-pocket costs that you will be responsible for budgeting for.<\/p>\n Appliances are an expensive, but integral part of your home. They often get used daily and make your life much more efficient. On average, buyers can expect to spend around $10,875<\/a> on appliances if the home doesn\u2019t come with any. Higher-end appliances can cost you around $24,400<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to budget for shipping, delivery, or installation costs if you\u2019re purchasing your own appliances. The national average cost to install a new appliance is $125, but most homeowners spend between $120 and $150<\/a>.<\/p>\n You should also prioritize spending more on features that mean the most to you and appliances you use more frequently. If you have a large family, a fridge with extra space may be more important than a washer that can be controlled via Bluetooth.<\/p>\n Choose what\u2019s going to add the most value to your experience. You may even need to consider trimming down on other costs such as higher-end fixtures or furniture to add room to your appliance budget.<\/p>\n Also, check out thrift stores, Costco (if you have a membership), and scratch and dent stores<\/a> for pre-owned models if you\u2019re on a tight budget. There can be downsides to this approach, however. If you buy a pre-owned model, it may be much less expensive upfront, but it could break down sooner, costing you more in the long run. Check with the retailer to see if they will include a warranty or if you can purchase one.<\/p>\n In 2022, there are supply chain issues, shortages of materials, and major shipping delays around the world. This issue, of course, has led to a serious interruption in the appliance market<\/a>. In fact, nearly 90% of home builders<\/a> are reporting having trouble getting appliances for their new homes.<\/p>\n You may also encounter these delays if you purchase appliances on your own. Buyers looking for refrigerators, freezers, washers, and dryers are experiencing the biggest delays \u2014 sometimes these appliances may be on backorder for months. Generally, you should expect to wait between 2 and 6 weeks<\/a> for large appliances.<\/p>\n During the pandemic, more people were staying at home and using their appliances more, speeding up the wear-and-tear process significantly.<\/p>\n So, to circumvent the delays, start shopping early \u2014 well before your move-in date<\/a>. You don\u2019t want to move all of your belongings, unload your boxes, go grocery shopping, and realize you don\u2019t have a fridge to store everything in \u2014 that would be very inconvenient! Instead, ask how long the retailer expects the appliances to take to be delivered and then factor in some extra time.<\/p>\n You can also inquire about purchasing a floor model or an appliance that is already in stock and ready to be taken home. Additionally, this may serve as a greater reason to negotiate with the builder to include all necessary appliances with the home sale.<\/p>\n There are certain things that are easy to shop for online like shoes, cleaning supplies, and gifts. But when it comes to appliances, shopping in person is usually the best bet. You can start online to get a price range of a particular appliance, but local appliance stores often have better customer service, and you can look in person and get your questions answered.<\/p>\n It can be fun to \u2018try out\u2019 different fridges and see if that dishwasher you saw online looks like a good fit for your kitchen when you see it in person. You may end up preferring a style or model in-store that you didn\u2019t like online. You can also check out the colors in person, try some of the features, and double-check measurements.<\/p>\n Popular places to shop for appliances include:<\/strong><\/p>\n When it comes to appliances, brands matter. This is not because they\u2019re \u2018designer\u2019 or are thought of as \u2018cool\u2019 or \u2018luxurious,\u2019 but because brand reliability can help you avoid the headache and cost of repairs or replacement.<\/p>\n When shopping for different brands of appliances, consider consumer reports, review sites, customer feedback, and lists of rankings. These brand reliability rankings<\/a> can help you avoid the \u2018lemons\u2019 of appliances. They survey consumers to find out how long their appliances have lasted and then use this data to predict how well a certain brand\u2019s appliances will perform over the first five years of use. They will then assign them a quality score that ranges between poor and excellent.<\/p>\n Some of the top-rated brands include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Energy-efficient appliances are better for the environment, can save you money upfront with rebates, and can save you money on your gas, electric, and water bills.<\/p>\n The average family in the U.S. washes about 300 loads of laundry each year<\/a> and Energy Star-certified washing machines use about 25% less energy and 33% less water<\/a> than other washers. This can save you more than $370 in energy costs over the lifetime of the washer.<\/p>\n When you purchase certain energy-efficient appliances, such as heating and cooling systems and water heaters, you may qualify for a state and\/or federal tax credit<\/a> and may claim up to 10% of the cost, subject to a lifetime limit of $500. This, however, is subject to the IRS renewal of this program for years to come.<\/p>\n There are also tax credits for using alternative energy sources to power these appliances, such as solar, wind, or geothermal energy. For specific details on tax credits for energy efficiency, it\u2019s best to speak to your local tax professional.<\/p>\n Some utility companies will also offer you an incentive for purchasing an energy-efficient appliance because you\u2019re reducing your energy consumption. This can be a rebate on your appliance purchase or a credit toward your monthly bill. Check out this database<\/a> to see what programs are offered in your area and make sure you are taking advantage of these major savings opportunities.<\/p>\n While these items aren\u2019t exactly appliances, here are some must-have home essentials that you should think about (and budget for) when buying a new home<\/a>:<\/p>\n Buying appliances for new construction homes requires research, comparison, and communication with your builder. It\u2019s best to know exactly what you\u2019re getting as soon as possible, so you can budget for additional appliances or upgraded models you may want or need. A new build checklist <\/a>can also help keep you on track and organized.<\/p>\n\n
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If offered, should you always purchase appliances from the builder?<\/h3>\n
What discounts can you get on appliances?<\/h3>\n
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Are appliances included in a construction loan?<\/h3>\n
How do I budget for appliances if I am not purchasing from the builder?<\/h3>\n
How long will it take to get appliances if I purchase them myself?<\/h3>\n
Where can I start shopping for appliances?<\/h3>\n
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Which brands are the best?<\/h3>\n
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How about energy efficiency?<\/h3>\n
What not to forget when purchasing a new construction home<\/h3>\n
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The wrap-up<\/h2>\n