Should you include appliances when selling your home?

Should you include appliances when selling your home?credit

When you’re hoping to put your home up for sale, there are a number of different questions you may have running through your head. How much is your property worth? When do you want to move? But also, what are you actually going to include in the listing? Although this may seem like quite a simple question, many sellers are thinking the exact same thing. Technically, you can take anything that isn’t permanently attached to the property, which includes your kitchen appliances. Here’s more information about whether you should or shouldn’t include appliances when you’re selling your home or going live with your property listing.

Repair and maintain your appliances before listing

If you’re thinking about listing your home with your kitchen appliances, it is important to maintain and repair them beforehand. Many buyers will lower their offer or completely lose interest in your home if there are broken appliances. Now would be the perfect opportunity to learn how to use dishwasher cleaner and maintain your washing machine effectively so that you can ensure your appliances are all in good working order.

It would also be wise to get a plumber out to check and service any appliances connected to water lines, such as refrigerators with ice makers and dishwashers, to prevent any issues during home inspections. This proactive step can avoid potential roadblocks to selling your home and might even increase its appeal and value to prospective buyers. Repairs and maintenance can be essential in showcasing your home in the best light.

Washers and dryers can stay or go

In general, it is normal for kitchen appliances to come with the property, which is why it’s important to maintain your dishwasher and keep your fridge freezer in excellent condition. However, laundry appliances fall in the middle when it comes to keeping them or taking them with you. Only around half of sellers take their washers and dryers with them so it’s completely up to you whether it’s beneficial to your new property or not. Many people choose to leave their washers and dryers where they are because appliances like this can become damaged during the moving process. More often than not it’s safer to keep them in the property you are selling.

Matching kitchen appliances

Buyers generally look for certain things when they’re looking to invest in a property. One of the high priorities for home buyers is having stylish and matching kitchen appliances. If you’re due to upgrade your kitchen appliances soon before you sell your property, you should always try and purchase matching equipment whenever possible. Choosing the same type of finish and style will help the kitchen to appear more aesthetically pleasing to the buyer. On a similar note, choosing the same brand for all of your appliances such as your fridge, oven, microwave and cooker will also add a level of consistency which is always extremely appealing to buyers on the property market.

With these points in mind, you can make an individual decision that suits your personal circumstances. On the plus side, new and well-maintained appliances can attract buyers to your home, however you can list your home for a more competitive price if you take your appliances with you. All in all, it’s worth asking for some advice from a local estate agent to see what would be expected in the area you’re looking to sell.

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Price Points: Energy efficient kettles

Energy efficient kettles

I don’t think that there’s currently anyone in the country that’s not worrying about their gas and electric bills. We’re all looking at ways we can reduce our energy usage; from switching off lights as we leave a room to lowering the thermostat by a degree.

One of the appliances most of us have in our homes is the electric kettle. Brits are famous the world over for enjoying their cuppas! But how much does it cost each time we brew up?

According to recent workings out by Which:

Based on the average capped energy price as of April 2022 (28p/kWh for electricity and 7p/kWh for gas), we’ve estimated that your kettle could cost you around £32 per year (based on boiling a litre of water three times per day). This is going to be a lot more than charging a phone or tablet, but slightly less than using your oven regularly or running an American-style fridge freezer.

A top tip you’ve probably already heard is to only boil as much water as you need. However, if you have a feeble old kettle whose element is caked in limescale, it will still cost you more than needed. Using one of these energy efficient kettles that we’ve featured will be quicker and cheaper in the long run.

I especially like the hot water dispenser (not strictly a kettle, I know). It’s like having one of those instant boiling water taps in your kitchen… without the hundreds or even thousand pound price tag! Plus, I’ve read lots of buyer reviews from people who can’t lift heavy objects calling it a godsend.

  1. Breville HotCup VKT124 8-cup hot water dispenser – black: £39.99, Currys

    Patented design for super-quick heating
    Large 1.7 litre capacity makes 6-8 cups
    Ideal if you don’t want to lift a heavy kettle, the HotCup has one-touch operation and a hinged lid. Manual stop function gives you more control with different cup sizes – just press the button when you’ve topped up your cup or mug to the desired level

  2. Dusk kettle ZJP30 slate grey: £54.99, Kenwood

    With 3KW of power, you’ll enjoy a rapid boil and your hot water in a hurry.
    The 1.7L capacity is perfect for larger households, although with the clear water window it’s just as easy to heat water for a singular cup, meaning you only boil the water you need, saving time and energy.

  3. Sage The Compact 1L kettle Pure BKE395UK: £76.60, Lakeland

    The kettle’s element is hidden in the base, and can boil as little as a cup and as much as 1L. This lets you save energy by only boiling the amount you need, but means, if needed, there will be plenty to keep you and your friends’ mugs topped up.

shop energy efficient kettles

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Sage The Compact 1L kettle Pure BKE395UK
Sage The Compact 1L kettle Pure BKE395UK
£76.60
Dusk kettle ZJP30 slate grey
Dusk kettle ZJP30 slate grey
£54.99
Breville HotCup VKT124 8-cup hot water dispenser – black
Breville HotCup VKT124 8-cup hot water dispenser – black
£39.99
Sage The Compact 1L kettle Pure BKE395UK
Sage The Compact 1L kettle Pure BKE395UK
£76.60
Dusk kettle ZJP30 slate grey
Dusk kettle ZJP30 slate grey
£54.99
Breville HotCup VKT124 8-cup hot water dispenser – black
Breville HotCup VKT124 8-cup hot water dispenser – black
£39.99
Sage The Compact 1L kettle Pure BKE395UK
Sage The Compact 1L kettle Pure BKE395UK
£76.60
Dusk kettle ZJP30 slate grey
Dusk kettle ZJP30 slate grey
£54.99
Breville HotCup VKT124 8-cup hot water dispenser – black
Breville HotCup VKT124 8-cup hot water dispenser – black
£39.99
Sage The Compact 1L kettle Pure BKE395UK
Sage The Compact 1L kettle Pure BKE395UK
£76.60
Dusk kettle ZJP30 slate grey
Dusk kettle ZJP30 slate grey
£54.99
Breville HotCup VKT124 8-cup hot water dispenser – black
Breville HotCup VKT124 8-cup hot water dispenser – black
£39.99
Sage The Compact 1L kettle Pure BKE395UK
Sage The Compact 1L kettle Pure BKE395UK
£76.60
Dusk kettle ZJP30 slate grey
Dusk kettle ZJP30 slate grey
£54.99
Breville HotCup VKT124 8-cup hot water dispenser – black
Breville HotCup VKT124 8-cup hot water dispenser – black
£39.99

Price Points: Cream stick blenders

Cream stick blenders

One of the most used gadgets in our kitchen is our trusty orange Billy; we’ve had it for years and years. We use him when making batter, soup, sauces, smoothies, calaloo and loads more.

In our previous house, we used to have a bright orange kitchen. Poor, old, orange Billy doesn’t look right in our new cream kitchen – I’d like to trade him in for one of these new cream stick blenders.

Here are three that I’ve found for sale online – in a range of prices. They’re all very attractive; the £26 option would suit me fine.  Much as I love Smeg and KitchenAid appliances, I don’t think I’d use the attachments that come included with the other two cream stick blenders – they’d take up precious storage space that we just don’t have.

  1. Haden stick blender: £26.05, Wayfair
  2. Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53: £109.65, KitchenAid
  3. Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender: £149.00, Currys

shop cream stick blenders

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender
Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender
£149.00
Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53
Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53
£109.65
Haden stick blender
Haden stick blender
£26.05
Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender
Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender
£149.00
Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53
Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53
£109.65
Haden stick blender
Haden stick blender
£26.05
Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender
Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender
£149.00
Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53
Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53
£109.65
Haden stick blender
Haden stick blender
£26.05
Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender
Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender
£149.00
Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53
Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53
£109.65
Haden stick blender
Haden stick blender
£26.05
Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender
Smeg 50s retro style HBF02CRUK hand blender
£149.00
Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53
Cordless hand blender 5KHBBV53
£109.65
Haden stick blender
Haden stick blender
£26.05

Everything to know about freezer repair technicians

Everything about freezer repair technicianscredit

Refrigerators work day in day out, and sometimes they can fall into disrepair. Like any household appliance, wear & tear is to be expected and freezer repair technicians are on call in many areas to respond to such emergencies. It’s easy to tell if your fridge-freezer is malfunctioning simply by checking whether its function of keeping food cold is still intact.

The first step in repairing a refrigerator or freezer is by identifying whether the problem has arisen due to issues in the compressor, air circulation or defrost mode. If both the fridge and the freezer are warm, the problem is likely to be a compressor or thermostat issue. A qualified and competent freezer repair technician is best placed to conduct this diagnosis.

Many people are wary of someone entering their home to repair bulky appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, washing machines or tumble dryers. Since the practicality of repairs of this nature involve a repairman coming to the property instead of you hauling the freezer to the repair shop, there are some things to consider before engaging a maintenance specialist. These factors include:

Illustration of workman credentialscredit

Ensure the repairman has the right credentials

Freezer repair is a difficult skill that’s also potentially dangerous. The chemicals involved in keeping freezers cold are called refrigerants and they’re quite corrosive – especially on the skin or in the eyes. A qualified repairman has undergone training and taken regular refresher courses on repairing different types of freezers and refrigerators. Like any other kind of equipment, freezer technology consistently updates as time moves on. Therefore, a good technician keeps abreast of all new developments in technology and learns new repair methods.

Illustration of itemised estimate

Transparent pricing

Given the complicated nature of freezer repairs, some repair people are vague about pricing and charge their naive clients excessive fees. A good maintenance specialist should give a honest price estimate even before they begin the repair process. Consider it a red flag if a technician is unwilling to offer a transparent quote. A good technician will also reveal whether they expect the pricing to fluctuate depending on the availability of parts. Their labour and cost of materials need to be itemised and clearly outlined.

Illustration of person standing in front of a tick and cross

Capacity to accept and correct mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes, and technicians are no exception. New models and iterations of freezer technology are occasionally released and a qualified technician may come across a brand they have never interacted with previously. Whereas the underlying technology doesn’t change much, the little changes might cause a technician to make minor errors during the repair process or even wrongly evaluate the damage and possible remedies. A good technician will admit that they’ve made a mistake and take the necessary measures to remedy their error. However, if they cannot correct the fault, they should be gracious enough to consult a more qualified technician who has a better chance of correcting the mistake and repairing the freezer as per the client’s needs.

Illustration showing 4 and 5-star reviews

Possess a solid reputation

As with any other type of engineer, freezer technicians should have positive referrals to work on your refrigerator. A good reputation means that the technician respects the client’s home, their time and money. References are also a great way of sieving through dozens of technicians who all seem to have the exact same skill set based on their advertising material.

You may look for other qualities in your preferred technician, and these qualities depend entirely on the client’s preferences; proximity to their location, whether or not they have a website or the number of 5-star reviews they’ve received.

Some people are very private and would prefer to take their freezers or refrigerators to the repair shop rather than allow a technician to enter their home. For those who are happy to have at-home repairs, a technician should always arrive prepared with all the necessary tools and equipment for the job. If replacement parts need to be purchased, the technician should factor this into the price estimate.

Illustraion of a refrigerator repair man

How to become a freezer repair technician

The most common path to becoming a freezer repair technician is working as a trainee in a freezer repair company or a freezer manufacturing/sales organisation. Most manufacturers conduct in-house training for prospective freezer repair technicians, which equips them with the necessary skills and knowledge to become qualified technicians in repairing various models of refrigerators and freezers. Therefore, a competent freezer technician should be knowledgeable about a range of appliances and this will enable them to quickly identify and solve problems arising in appliances even if they’re seeing the make or model for the first time.

Expertise that’s often underrated is good communication skills. A technician must have competent verbal and written skills because a large part of their work involves dealing with their clients. From the moment a technician starts a project, they must consistently communicate where they are at during the process with the client and ensure they have a record of every transaction they make in their work.

Becoming a freezer repair technician is not an end in itself. A technician should always strive to learn more skills and update their core technical knowledge base to continue to succeed. There are many courses on offer, and choosing the right one may be the difference between being a successful technician and merely an average one. A technician capable of understanding the inner working of new machines is best equipped to handle diverse older models of different appliances.

Icon to illustrate after sales servicecredit

After-sales services for freezer repair technicians

As with many other servicing jobs, a freezer repair technician must keep close communication with the client to ensure the freezer continues to operate seamlessly. After-sales service in freezer repair typically entails checking whether the freezer retains its optimum temperature. A competent maintenance specialist will be honest enough to tell the client whether their appliance needs a new component or whether they should scrap the entire machine and trade it in for a new one. This type of advice may go against the selfish need to make money, but it builds trust with clients, and there’s a greater chance of referrals simply because the technician chose honesty over greed.

Overall, freezer repair technicians need to be competent in customer service and be adept at actual machine repair work. The combination of both skills makes for the best technicians in any field.

Expert commercial refrigeration repair technicians for efficient freezer repair services. Quick diagnostics, skilled repairs, and reliable solutions to keep your business running smoothly. Contact us today for assistance.

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