Start by working out which everyday needs your home doesn’t yet cater for: storing food, cooking or doing the laundry, depending on your circumstances. Before buying an appliance, check that you have room for it and the right connections. If you’re considering a second-hand or refurbished model, check its condition and the seller’s status too. Borrowing or renting may be worth considering for occasional needs, rather than for something you rely on every day.
Identify the functions you need every day and check which appliances are already there before adding anything for convenience. The French ministry responsible for the ecological transition recommends considering whether an appliance is really useful, particularly if you’ll rarely use it.
Before choosing a model, check its dimensions against your access routes and available space. Make sure its doors can open properly and that your home has the required connections.
Check that the appliance being sold works, assess its condition and make sure the accessories are included. The seller’s status as a business or private individual also affects which guarantees apply in France, as the French Ministry of the Economy points out.
When equipping your first home, start by deciding which functions you genuinely need, then check whether the appliances you’re considering can be installed there. Choose how to acquire them afterwards, based on how often you expect to use them.
Worth considering: for a main appliance you’ll use for a long time, especially if you want to compare energy labels and any ratings available for its category.
Bear in mind: this information doesn’t replace checking the appliance’s dimensions and connections.
Worth considering: if you can check the model reference, condition and operation of the appliance on offer.
Bear in mind: in France, the legal guarantee of conformity doesn’t apply to sales between private individuals, according to the French Ministry of the Economy.
Worth considering: if the description relates to the actual item being sold and lets you assess its condition and accessories.
Bear in mind: according to the DGCCRF, refurbishment involves functional testing, but that doesn’t mean the appliance is as good as new.
Worth considering: for infrequent use or while you’re in temporary accommodation.
Bear in mind: confirm the rental period, return conditions and whether the appliance is suitable for your home.
| Criteria | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Essential functions | Make a list of the appliances already there, then separate everyday uses from occasional ones. | If I can’t store food or cook every day, I want to cover that need before adding other appliances. Around 29% of consumers would make a missing everyday function their priority. |
| Space and connections | Measure the space and access routes; check the door clearance and connections required by the model. | In a narrow kitchen or where the connections are uncertain, I need to know whether the appliance will fit and work in its intended spot. Around 29% of consumers would put compatibility with their home first. |
| Condition and guarantees | For second-hand appliances, identify the seller and check the item’s condition, operation and accessories. | If I’m considering a second-hand or refurbished appliance, I want to understand what I’m buying and what recourse is available based on the seller. This purchase protection would be the main concern for around 24% of consumers. |
| How long you’ll use it | Compare how often you’ll use it with a temporary solution; check the energy label or any available rating if relevant to its category. | If I might only use an appliance occasionally, I’d rather decide whether borrowing or renting would be enough. Around 18% of consumers would prioritise how long they’ll use an appliance and whether to buy it or choose a temporary solution. |
An appliance that duplicates a function you already have may simply take up space your home needs for something else. The French ministry responsible for the ecological transition recommends thinking about how you’ll use an appliance before buying it.
List the functions you’re missing and hold off on appliances you’ll rarely use if no everyday activity depends on them.
According to the DGCCRF, a refurbished product must be tested before it’s offered for sale, but the description should relate to the actual item on offer.
Read about its technical and cosmetic condition, the accessories included, and the guarantee and returns terms.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy explains that the legal guarantee of conformity applies to purchases from a professional seller, including second-hand goods, but not to sales between private individuals. Other forms of recourse may depend on the circumstances.
Identify the seller and keep a copy of the listing and your messages. If you’re buying from a private individual, inspect and test the appliance before agreeing to buy it.
In France, the ministry responsible for the ecological transition says that retailers must offer to take back a used appliance when you buy a new one. However, you’ll need to agree the practical arrangements with the seller.
Before placing your order, confirm which appliance will be taken away, when collection will happen, how the delivery team will access your home and what preparation is required.
These appliances cover two possible needs in a first home: storing food and cooking or reheating meals. Choose based on the appliances you already have, the space available and each model’s installation requirements.
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Worth considering if your home needs an appliance for storing fresh and frozen food, provided you have enough space.
Advertised capacity of 467 L; Total No Frost and energy class E are listed in the model title.
Measure the access routes, available space and required clearances, then confirm the delivery and installation arrangements.
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An option for cooking without a built-in hob, provided you have a suitable surface and power supply.
Eight power levels, seven programmes, a timer of up to 3 h and suitable cookware from 12 to 26 cm are listed in the model title.
Before buying, check the full dimensions, your electrical installation and whether your pans are compatible.
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Worth comparing if you want both fridge and freezer storage in a kitchen where width is limited.
153 L fridge and 74 L freezer capacity; advertised width of 54 cm, reversible door, Low Frost and energy class E.
Also check the height, depth, clearances and which way the door can open in your home. Low Frost does not mean No Frost.
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Worth considering if your kitchen has a space designed for a built-in hob and you can confirm the connection requirements.
Four cooking zones and nine power levels are listed in the model title.
Check the cut-out dimensions, ventilation, electrical requirements and whether your pans are compatible. Confirm the installation arrangements before ordering.
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Worth considering for reheating or defrosting food, but don’t assume it will meet all your household’s cooking needs on its own.
Six automatic menus, eleven power levels and a defrost function are listed in the model title.
Before deciding where to put it, check its dimensions and the ventilation clearances specified in the manual.
Start by buying what you need to cover the everyday functions your home is genuinely missing. Check which appliances are already installed, then think about your needs for storing food, cooking and doing the laundry before considering anything you’ll use only rarely.
No. In France, the DGCCRF says a refurbished product must undergo functional tests before it’s sold. You should still read the description of the actual item’s technical and cosmetic condition, and check which accessories are included and what the guarantee covers.
Yes, in France, if you buy the appliance from a professional seller, according to the Ministry of the Economy. It doesn’t apply to sales between private individuals. Depending on the circumstances, other forms of recourse may be available, including in cases involving a hidden defect.
Make sure it can fit through the access routes and into its intended space, with enough clearance and the necessary connections. Then ask the seller exactly what’s included in the delivery and positioning, and in the installation if required.
When you buy a new appliance in France, including online, the retailer must offer to take back a used one on a ‘one for one’ basis, according to the ministry responsible for the ecological transition. Before placing your order, confirm when it will be collected, the access requirements and what preparation is needed.