Building My New Parkwood Home Part 2: Selecting Appliances
Contract is signed – we’re locked in with our 3-story townhome! So excited – but what now? Our first appointment is with the appliance guy. (Keep in mind the process may vary based on who you build with in Stapleton) It may seem odd that the first stop is the appliance stop, but keep in mind that the appliances you choose tend to impact your cabinet configuration and countertops.
(Before I go on…did you miss Part 1 of this series…if so check it out first here to see what this home building series is all about!)
Cooktops and hoods and fridges oh my (check out a virtual tour here)! Yes, the choices can be overwhelming, but if you have an idea of what you want before you visit, you’ll have a much easier time. We (like many others) aimed to stick to the standards, which included a double oven and 5-burner gas cooktop. We changed the exhaust hood to match our more modern style and were pleased to find out this chase was no additional charge. Upgrading your cooktop or range, however, can be quite a bit trickier. The options are vast with prices from $1500 for a 6-burner cooktop to $12,000 for a Viking Professional range. Your appliance rep will be happy to get pricing for anything you might be interested in – just know that when you stray from the standards, you will run into upgrade costs, but you may also have increased cabinet costs as you may be changing the standard configurations.
What may come as a surprise to many buyers is that – although builders will outfit most of your key appliances – you are on your own for the refrigerator and washer/dryer. You can add these items at the appliance appointment, but it certainly isn’t required. Of note – you will likely find that the prices are higher than you would find at Home Depot or the Sears appliance outlet, but by buying through the builder, you have the ability to wrap the appliance cost into your mortgage, and your added appliances will be covered under your builder warranty. That can be quite a lifesaver when you washer goes bonkers and floods your second floor or your fridge leaks and destroys your hardwood (I know this one firsthand!) As for pricing – again, the options are vast, but I found that fridges ranged from about $3000 for a GE Café to $9000+ for a built in Sub-Zero. Washer/Dryer combos started as low as $1800 and went up from there depending on color/style/functions.
So what did we end up with? We decided on a $2200 washer/dryer set and a $3000 GE Café fridge while passing on any other appliance upgrades. In the end, having our washer/dryer and refrigerator covered under the new home warranty was extremely important to us and I’m excited to spend my upgrade budget on floors and countertops!
Remember – you don’t have to go at this alone! Thinking about building your Stapleton dream? I’m happy to chat anytime!
