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Kitchen Appliance Buying Guide New space-aged appliances have the American kitchen looking more and more like the bridge of a science-fiction spaceship. High tech innovations, upgrades to energy efficiency, sleek style enhancements and lowering prices all make new kitchen appliances appealing to a number of different types of consumers. Home owners: Revitalizing your kitchen doesn't necessarily require an expensive, full-scale remodeling project. Upgrading individual kitchen appliances can help refresh the style of the entire room while also enhancing your cooking experience. Obtaining financing on individual appliances is also easier than getting a home equity line of credit or other loan for a full-on remodeling project.
Sellers: In a slower housing market, making cost-conscious home improvements increases the likelihood of selling at or near your asking price. Which appliance is oldest or showing its age the most? Are there any common appliances that your kitchen lacks, such as a dishwasher? By focusing your spending on one major item of need, your home just might appeal to a wider range of buyers. Buyers: When considering two otherwise comparable homes, typically the one with new kitchen appliances and furnishings will carry the higher asking price. You can certainly choose the newer kitchen, but you will essentially be paying part or all of the cost of that remodel, a remodel that may include stylistic touches you don't care for and furnishings or appliances that are now available at cheaper market prices. As an alternative, buyers should consider the possibility of buying an older kitchen and upgrading some or all of the kitchen appliances with brand new models. Whether you're looking to upgrade one appliance or re-do a whole kitchen's worth of equipment, this buying guide will serve as an excellent primer. Dishwashers Style/Capacity: Dishwashers come in a number of different alignments and capacities. The right dishwasher for your kitchen will depend on the space you have available, the load needs for your household and the individual style of your kitchen.
Energy efficiency: The overall efficiency of dishwashers has been greatly improved over the last decade. New dishwashers use less energy and water, saving you money in the long run. Models with the ENERGY STAR label exceed federal energy standards by 25% or more. Stationary vs. adjustable racks: While most dishwashers have preset rack spaces, those with adjustable configurations allow provide greater flexibility when loading large or irregularly shaped dishes. Delayed start: Many models allow you to set a delay on the load start time. By running the dishwasher during off-peak hours, you can take advantage of cheaper utility periods. Such units also allow you to maintain a quieter kitchen during the day. Noise insulation: More insulation around the tub will reduce dishwasher noise, so check for units with thicker insulation. Built-in food disposers: Many newer models feature food disposers that grind up food particles and flush them out with waste water, preventing food specks from being re-deposited on your dishes. Cleaning Capabilities: Wash arms with smaller spray holes provide more scrubbing power. In addition, many dishwashers are equipped with multiple tiers and washer arms to better dislodge caked-on food. Cycle types: in addition to regular wash cycles, many dishwashers allow specialty cycles designed to tackle specific dishes such as pots and pans, crystal, and fine china. Finish and style: Dishwashers now come in a wide variety of materials, colors and finishes to better match your kitchen décor. Some unites come with fitted wood paneling to perfectly match your cabinetry, while others accommodate fully customizable front panels for an even more unique look. Ranges and Ovens Installation Type: Three basic styles of ranges are available. The range that best suits your kitchen will depend both on the kitchen design and the space/location available for the range unit itself.
Power Source: Aside from some exotic specialty models, most range and oven combo units fall into one of three power sources:
Cooking Surface: Both gas and electric range tops are available in a variety of cooking surfaces, including:
Electric Range Features:
Gas Range Features:
Ventilation options: Most ranges come equipped with standard overhead or "hood" ventilation, but some units utilize downdraft exhaust, eliminating the need for overhead ventilation equipment. Oven Heating Type: New innovative heating systems have dramatically changed the cooking options available to consumers.
Oven Features: Some of the most popular oven features available today include
Refrigerators Capacity/Size: Full-size refrigerators come in a wide variety of capacities. Large, family-sized units can feature upwards of 26 cubic feet of space. Two people generally need eight to ten cubic feet of fresh food storage. For each additional member of the household, add an extra foot to foot and a half of storage space Configuration: Several different refrigerator designs are available, each of which offer their own advantages.
Energy efficiency: Refrigerator units manufactured in the last few years are vastly more efficient than older models. Energy-efficient models help reduce utility bills. Models with electronic controls and digital displays make setting precise temperatures even easier, and many refrigerators feature advanced temperature regulation systems. Adjustable shelves: The adjustability of shelving varies from model to model. Some allow you to move shelves up or down without being removed, while others provide the flexibility to adjust both the height and depth of any shelf. Icemakers/ water dispensers: Icemakers have become a common feature, and the best are those that are integral to the door, leaving more space in the main freezer compartment for food. Many water dispensers also incorporate a water filtration unit. Individual storage bins/crispers controls: Many fridges now allow you to customize the humidity and temperature settings for each storage and crisper bin, ideal for those who purchase a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Reversible doors: Refrigerators with reversible doors allow customization for right-or-left handed access. These can also be useful for kitchens where the fridge area is tight against a wall or cabinet. Style and finish: Ideally your refrigerator will be with you for many years, so it is important to pick a style that will match your kitchen design and compliment your changing tastes. Stainless-steel finishes are very popular, albeit slightly more expensive. Black, white, and bisque are the most common refrigerator colors, and trim kits are available that can make a freestanding unit appear more like a built-in model. Microwave Ovens If you use your microwave for more than just preheating or thawing, it might be time to upgrade your current model. Today's latest versions come with a wide variety of settings and features that can let you cook entire meals in mere minutes. Size: Microwaves now come in a variety of sizes and power levels. Choose a size that best fits both your counter/cabinet space and the sizes of cookware that you typically use in the microwave.
Built-in microwave spaces: Over-the range models are full size ovens designed to be placed above the stovetop, including a vent feature. These microwaves free up counter space and place the microwave at a convenient eye level. If your kitchen features a built-in microwave area for, make sure to accurately measure the space when comparing models, including some buffer room. Convection: New combination microwave/convection ovens let you cook in either microwave only, convection only, or combination convection/microwave mode. The convection feature crisps and browns foods in ways that microwave cooking alone cannot. Turntable: Turntables rotate food for more even cooking, and can be removed for easy cleanup. Noise: If possible, test out the noise output of several models. Some powerful models can be fairly loud. |
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One area you do not want to skimp on is homeowners insurance. Just because property values may have dropped, it does not automatically mean you need less property insurance!
Even if your home value has decreased, that doesn't mean you want to lower the amount of coverage. Chances are it will still be more expensive to rebuild your home now than when you first bought it.
So it's important that your homeowners insurance keeps pace with rebuilding costs, rather than the market value of your home. This is particularly true for homes at the Jersey Shore which face hurricanes, pinelands brush fires and the dreaded winter nor'easter!
Make sure you know how your home will be replaced. Sometimes insurance policy language can be tricky. Get verification in writing that your insurance company will pick up the entire cost of replacing your property with new versions of your current home and possessions in the event of a loss.
Too many times consumers believe that's what they've purchased but find themselves getting an insurance check for pennies on the dollar. That's because the policy covers "fair market value," which is what your property would bring if you sold it today.
One way you might be able to save on property insurance for homes in Manahawkin's Ocean Acres section is to report to your insurance company as soon as your street is hooked up to the municipal water service.
With municipal water service, we now have fire hydrants every block so adjustments to your your policy should be made and with that possibly a premium reduction!
If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Manahawkin or anywhere in southern Ocean County, contact me.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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