Build a ready-to-use total
Start with the appliance, then add delivery tier, required hoses or cords, installation labor, permit or inspection fees, old-unit disconnect, haul-away, recycling fees, pedestal or stacking hardware, trim kits, and taxes. Show rebates separately until their requirements and payment timing are clear.
Retailers divide these services differently. “Free delivery” may mean curbside, threshold, room-of-choice, or ordinary installation only under specific conditions. Read the service description for the exact appliance and postal code, then save it with the order.
| Line item | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|
| Appliance after immediate discount | $____ | $____ |
| Delivery and required accessories | $____ | $____ |
| Installation and permits | $____ | $____ |
| Haul-away or disposal | $____ | $____ |
| Access or cabinet work | $____ | $____ |
| Rebate received later | ($____) | ($____) |
| Ready-to-use total | $____ | $____ |
Measure the route, not only the opening
Measure the final opening, but also exterior doors, hallways, corners, stairs, railings, elevators, counters, islands, and the space needed to tilt or turn the appliance. Confirm whether doors, drawers, handles, or packaging can be removed for delivery and who is allowed to remove them.
At the destination, record floor level, ventilation clearance, door swing, drawer pullout, adjacent trim, counter overhang, water and drain locations, electrical voltage and receptacle, gas connection, shutoff access, and exhaust route. Manufacturer installation documents outrank a retailer thumbnail diagram.
Ask what the installer will refuse
Installation crews may decline unsafe valves, corroded fittings, noncompliant outlets, inaccessible shutoffs, unsupported vents, damaged floors, hardwired connections, custom cabinetry, or work that requires a licensed trade. Refusal rules protect people and property, but they can leave a new appliance in the room without being usable.
Before scheduling, describe the existing connections accurately and ask which new parts are mandatory. Some installers will not reuse old hoses, cords, vents, or gas connectors. Price those parts from the official service list instead of treating them as surprise upsells on delivery day.
- Who disconnects the old appliance?
- Which connection parts must be new?
- Does the service include leveling and a function test?
- Who handles permits or licensed trade work?
- What happens if installation cannot be completed?
Inspect before the crew leaves
Check the model and serial labels against the order. Inspect visible panels, corners, doors, glass, controls, racks, hoses, and cords before packaging disappears. Photograph damage and the surrounding floor or cabinets. Confirm that the unit is level, doors clear adjacent surfaces, and connections show no immediate leak or fault.
Run the permitted basic function test and learn the damaged-on-arrival reporting deadline. Large-appliance return policies can be much shorter or more restrictive than general merchandise rules. I put the retailer, installer, manufacturer, and payment-card contact paths in one note before delivery, because a damaged kitchen is a poor place to start searching.