Buying new appliances is driving me insane

[razz]

I have sold my farm as is with all my old appliances included. My new house requires new appliances - fridge, stove, over the stove microwave, dishwasher, laundry washer and dryer. I am going nuts trying to figure which to buy.
I have finally chosen an induction stove by Kenmore which has the only white induction stove and it is on sale this week for $700 off. I also am getting a Panasonic microwave as I really like them and the warranty is good as I have occasion to use it.
After that I am struggling to decide.

Whirlpool makes so many makes and there are so many choices within that range of manufacture. Electrolux and Frigidaire have their selections as well.
I want all white appliances as I don't like stainless at all.

How does one make the right choice from all these options? Any advice or experience would be much appreciated.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Consumer Reports reviews. Might be at the library. They are online (all their old reviews) as well but you need a subscription (unless you can find someone who has a subscription and ask them to share their login).

[iris lilies]

razz, it's tough to buy them all at once! I often send DH to buy them since I just am not picky.

For me, and this is me only: I don't like bells, whistles, high end features. And we always get white, too. I try to identify the few features that I really DO want but I don't sweat it if I really do not care. So I look at products in low to mid range of price.

For a dishwasher, because our last one sucked so much, I took time to find a mid range price/highly recommended one from Consumer Reports.

For a refrigerator--I really don't care.
Stove: low low end, but it's got to have front controls because that's how the space is configured--otherwise I don't care
For a dryer--I don't care
For a washing machine--I don't trust front loaders. So, Ill go with a top loader and I want to be able to set water temps and waters heights independently.

It sounds like you identified the appliance features that you want. You may not care about other features (other than color white) and that is perfectly o.k.! There is no one right choice.

If you have lots of time, find the products highly rated by Consumer Reports in your price range and choose those. Keep in mind that even if a store may not carry that particular model, they likely can order it for you if they carry the brand. If you don't have lots of time, just buy a white mid-range priced product and forget it. Between you and me I think it's all a crapshoot anyway if the things work.

[awakenedsoul]

I have a Big Chill fridge, which is a Whirlpool with a retro cover. I really like it. I wanted the Smeg, but the on line reviews were so terrible, I decided on The Big Chill. My last fridge was a Kenmore, (really a Frigidaire.) It was only about $400. (new,) and it lasted for 20 years. My washer and dryer are old, white, sturdy Kenmores. I've had them for almost twenty years. I grew up with my mom doing laundry in those, and I love them. I found them for a great price, used, through The Penny Saver.

I love vintage appliances, so when I found an O'Keefe Merritt stove for a great price, I had it brought up to code. I had to find a Russian guy to work on it. He said that it will last forever. It's really well made.

If you had good luck with your old appliances, you might want to go with those brands. I read a lot on line reviews. That's how I picked my vacuum, and it's excellent. Congratulations on selling the farm! It sounds like this is an exciting time for you. Let us know what you decide...

[Marion]

I also buy my appliances after reading the consumer reports and sometimes online reviews. I have mostly Miele, Bosch and Lieberh (sp?).

[CathyA]

I usually ask an appliance repair person which appliance might be good. He knows which ones have needed all the repairs.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I usually ask an appliance repair person which appliance might be good. He knows which ones have needed all the repairs.

Good idea, Cathy! I never would have thought of that - good idea.

Over to this casa we buy our appliances secondhand and have had pretty good luck in doing so. Back in 2005 for example we bought a washer and dryer at the Salvation Army that used to be down the street - $125 for the pair - and the washer lasted until 2012 and the dryer is still going. I also bought a gas stove back in 2006 at this same place for $25 and it is still going strong. Washer/dryer are Maytag, stove is Kenmore I believe. Rob

[iris lily]

Good idea, Cathy! I never would have thought of that - good idea.

Over to this casa we buy our appliances secondhand and have had pretty good luck in doing so. Back in 2005 for example we bought a washer and dryer at the Salvation Army that used to be down the street - $125 for the pair - and the washer lasted until 2012 and the dryer is still doing. I also bought a gas stove back in 2006 at this same place for $25 and it is still going strong. Washer/dryer are Maytag, stove is Kenmore I believe. Rob

Your 2005 appliances are likely better than any new one I can buy.

I won' launch into my periodic rant about the quality of new appliances, I'm sick of it and so is everyone else.

[Tenngal]

I usually buy the basic models, only need water level and water temp controls on washer, only temp settings on the dryer, etc.
I bought a new frig a couple of years ago and got one of the bottom freezer models from Whirlpool. It does have some things I like, a huge flat drawer that I store pizza, breads, etc. very adustable shelving. At the time I think I paid $1397 which was really too much. Happy shopping.

[awakenedsoul]

Like some of you, I like the older appliances, too. My mom bought a Kitchen Aid oven and she told me that it keeps breaking. All of her appliances are new, and high end. She can afford the "best" and so she spends the money. Mine have lasted all this time. I just service them now and then. Last time I visited I showed her photos of the vintage stove and she told me that she wishes she had an old stove like my O'Keefe Merritt.