Cooker/Oven/Hob/Hood

[CheekyB]

Hi,

I’m about to start the process of a first time house hunt. I’ve asked questions in here before regarding fridge freezers and washing machines and received handy advice regarding budgets and makes. This has allowed me to plan ahead and be informed when visiting houses, comparing properties and deciding whether to request the inclusion of existing appliances in any offer, or whether I want to source my own and include those costs in any budgeting.

Now, based on that experience, I would like to request further advice – this time regarding freestanding cookers, integrated ovens and hobs and extractor hoods. Of the properties I have looked at thus far, some have freestanding cookers and some have integrated ovens and hobs (all with an array of different style of hoods). The potential cost to replace any existing (or indeed judging the merit of those already installed) appliances would be one of the contributing factors in deciding which property to go for and whether to request including those appliances in any offer.

So, what I would like to ask is, if I wanted to replace each, what the minimum amount I should be budgeting for each, and which makes/brands should I be looking at?

I’ve seen that Siemens/Bosch/Neff seem to be generally praised for hobs and ovens, but are there any others to warrant consideration? For the freestanding cookers or hood, I’m my hunt for existing information I’ve not seen much in the way of recommended makes.

In terms of qualities I would be looking for, I would prefer electric for each, as that is what I am used to, though I am open to an induction hob if the benefits are worth the extra it would cost over and above a ceramic hob. The cooker or oven are most likely to be single and a standard size for the hob. I would like them to be of a good quality which should last – style would be a ‘nice to have’ rather than essential.

Any info or advice you could provide would be appreciated. Thanks! 😀

[gandh1]

Re: Cooker/Oven/Hob/Hood

separate oven/hob combos will always be more expensive than an all in one cooker. plus an all in one cooker wont look odd if you take it with you, wheras holes in units cos u took hob and oven will.

tbh the variance in price between the 2 types, brand for brand, is about £250 depending on spec. to choose a property on appliances, is silly, as engineering/construction issues will cause way more expense. in the grand scheme of buying places £250 can be lost or gained a lot easier elsewhere…

[CheekyB]

Re: Cooker/Oven/Hob/Hood

gandh1,

I understand that separate built in will be more expensive than an all in one cooker, and it is only a very minor factor in choosing betwene properties.

However, if I were to need to look for replacements for a freestanding cooker, ceramic/induction hob, built in oven and extractor, what are the brands and budget I should be looking at for each, considering I would like them to be of a good quality and to last?

[gandh1]

Re: Cooker/Oven/Hob/Hood

firstly theres little out there that will last a long time i.e 10yrs + without any repair work, barring maybe specialist brands. even miele arent immune to faults which is why a lot of their kit is only warrantied for 2 or 5 yrs now.

You also need to work out how much of a professional result you want from your cooking, at the bottom end of the scale you have the ready meal eater who only needs it to heat food up, right through to trained chefs, and whereabouts you are in that scale will dictate what price point you should buy. there is absolutely no point getting a miele if all you do is a few pies, roasties, and pork chops, as the upkeep of it when something goes wrong costs an arm and a leg, yet, you could be a budding wannabe jamie oliver and feel liek youve wasted your money because the half price fan assisted indesit youve just bought wont be able to provide the right results you expect. just like buying a car, you dont buy a ferrari to do the school run for your 4 kids, because its totally inpractical. and because they need servicing every 6000 miles it costs you an arm and a leg. the only way you can really pay for reliability is by paying through the nose for extended warranties and service cover. its just not in the manufacturers interests nowadays to make something last over 10 years, fault free…

Single ovens can be bought from about £130 for the cheapest spec, right up to £1200.

60cm ceramic hobs are anywhere from £170 up to £700+

60cm induction hobs are from £250ish up to £1000+

60cm single oven cooker, will be poor quality as they are lawer end of the market(except bosch ones) so you need to look for a double+ceramic which could be from £320 up to £1000+

extractors vary from type to type, visor hoods are cheapest, and chimney the most common, the quality is less variable as most of the manufacturers outsource the products, so spec and quality is either low, or high, and the rest of the price variance is based on styling, and brand desirability. take a smeg hood for example. it will be of the better spec, so high extraction rate etc, but it will cost twice as much as say a luxair. even tho under the label and styling the motors could be identical with identical performance.

then you get onto integrated, canopy etc.

your best bet is to pick up a couple of kitchen appliance catalogues the sheds have, b&q and homebase do them (i have copies myself as price references) and take it with you when viewing a house, that way you ascertain what kinda level of kit is provided.

[CheekyB]

Re: Cooker/Oven/Hob/Hood

Thanks for that gandh1.

Looking at their sites, it seems none of Bosch, Neff, Siemens or Miele manufacture standalone cookers. From peoples’ experienc, are there any recommended companies who make these to a good quality?

[gandh1]

Re: Cooker/Oven/Hob/Hood

exactly, bosch do the freestanding single oven cookers, but thats it.

as i said your looking at about £450-750 for similar quality, different spec level hotpoints/cannons, bellings/stoves, zanussis/electrolux or leisures. quality is pretty indiffernt between them, with HP/cannon timers fairly fragile, stoves bellign parts are expensive, and the build is a bit flimsy, and elux seem to be prone to random acts of glass shattering, or dodgy wiring up.

its jsut not in a manufacturers interests to build something that lasts a decent length of time (trouble free) because the retail price will be so sky high itll be too unattractive to be viable. thats why all the aforementioned brands are under a parent ownership, just like cars are now

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