2012 Home Appliance Gift Giving Guide

So the holidays are here, and you’ve decided to really knock the socks off someone special. Maybe mom’s been hinting that the old range is just too much trouble to clean. Maybe the hints have been the regular screaming of the smoke detector suspiciously close to dinner time. Whatever the reason, and whoever the cook, here are some quick tips to help you find the perfect gift.

1. Size matters. The last thing you want is to have “Santa” and his helpers haul a brand new range into the house while mom is “asleep” and then, after the squeals of delight on Christmas morning, find yourself swearing on Christmas afternoon when that shiny new range is one half inch too wide. Santa’s little helpers aren’t going to be as inclined to make two more visits (haul away the old, bring in the new), and you’d better hope that dog house has heated blankets.

2. Check the fuel source. Getting in a new gas range because your electric stove made you miss the conveniences of gas cooking is wonderful. Realizing that the furnace is the only appliance hooked up to gas in your home is not so wonderful. On the flip side, getting a beautiful new washer and dryer set is a great feeling, until you realize that there’s no plugin for your new electric dryer that’s replacing your old gas dryer.

3. Prepare for the options. Getting a new refrigerator with a built in ice maker and water dispenser? Forget that an ice maker and water dispenser requires a water line? Oops.

4. Verify stock and delivery. This is primarily applicable to the surprise gifts. Check with the retailer for expected delivery windows. Local retailers that keep stock might give you a specific day and even let you pick a time window. Most retailers can give you an approximate window of several days, until the product ships and they are able to provide a more specific timeframe. If timing isn’t as much of a factor, this becomes a low priority.

5. Ask them. It may ruin a surprise, but if you really want to get the right gift, involve the recipient. Make the entire purchase process your gift to them. You could include a picture of a showroom kitchen, a homemade coupon book with “Shop for a new kitchen” as one of the coupons (put it between “10 minute foot rub” and “1 bad movie night” for the best impact).

Home appliances aren’t exactly your normal holiday gift, but they can definitely be among the more memorable. If you’re fortunate enough to give such a gift this holiday season, these quick tips can help keep your holiday bright.

About the author: Rich is a writer for Goedeker's, an online retailer of discount home appliances.