Day-one walkthrough
- Look under every sink and behind every appliance for water stains or active drips.
- Open the refrigerator and freezer — confirm both are cold and the seals are tight.
- Run the dishwasher empty on a normal cycle; watch for leaks.
- Run the washer empty on a normal cycle; check for leaks at the inlet hoses and drain.
- Run the dryer for 5 minutes; confirm hot air, normal sound, and good airflow at the exterior vent.
- Test every burner, the oven bake and broil, and the vent hood fan/lights.
- Confirm the ice maker is producing and the water dispenser flows clean water.
First-week deeper checks
- Replace the refrigerator water filter — you don't know how old the existing one is.
- Pull the refrigerator out and vacuum the condenser coils.
- Schedule a dryer vent cleaning if it hasn't been done in the last year — a clogged vent shortens dryer life and is a fire risk.
- Clean the washer gasket and run a tub-clean cycle.
- Descale the dishwasher and clean the spray arms and filter.
- Note model numbers from every appliance for future parts orders.
Minnesota-specific checks
A few things are worth confirming because they're specifically painful in Twin Cities homes:
- If there's a garage refrigerator or freezer, find out whether it's garage-rated. Standard models will stop cycling correctly once the garage drops below ~55°F.
- Identify washer and refrigerator supply lines that run along exterior walls or through unheated spaces — these are the lines that freeze in January.
- Locate the main water shut-off and the laundry shut-off valves; tag them.
- Confirm the exterior dryer vent cap is clear and the flap moves freely.
- If your home is on a well, plan for hard-water maintenance: dishwasher descale, ice maker filter changes, and periodic washer cleaning.
Watch list — call sooner, not later
Any of these warrant a call rather than waiting for the next breakdown: a refrigerator running constantly without getting cold, ice in the bottom of the freezer, a washer that vibrates hard or leaks even slightly, a dryer that smells hot or takes more than one cycle, an oven that's wildly off temperature against a thermometer, or any gas smell from a range. See refrigerator repair, washer repair, dryer repair, and oven & range repair.
Save these for later
- Photos of every appliance's model and serial label.
- Any user manuals left at the house — or download PDFs from the manufacturer.
- The water filter part number for your refrigerator.
- Any home warranty paperwork that covers appliances.
Frequently asked questions
Should I get an appliance inspection in addition to a home inspection?
Home inspections cover basic operation but rarely diagnose appliance performance. If a unit is high-end, built-in, older, leaking, noisy, or showing warning signs, a separate appliance check before close (or right after) can save real money.
Do you offer move-in appliance inspections?
Yes — we can walk through your major appliances, check operation, look for leaks and airflow issues, and give you a written summary of anything that needs attention.
Is it worth replacing the refrigerator water filter right away?
Yes. Filters are inexpensive and you have no idea how old the previous one is. A fresh filter is the cleanest baseline going forward.
What's the most overlooked move-in check?
Dryer vents. They get ignored for years, hurt dryer performance, and create real fire risk — and they're cheap to clean.
Do you service all Twin Cities suburbs?
We serve Rogers, Dayton, Anoka, Coon Rapids, Blaine, Andover, and surrounding communities across the north and northwest metro. Call to confirm your address.
Need a Twin Cities appliance technician? Book a local repair appointment.