Is there any chance the appliances will change? Did you talk to the contractor and designer about this? Find out when your warranty starts.

Also, if the appliances are damaged - and you didn't inspect them - and it's 4 months later - you may have problems.

I would also not buy appliances immediately because there is always a sale or a rebate.

Regarding allowances, in my current remodel I am providing all discretionary items such as appliances, tiles, counters, flooring, fixtures and even cabinets. The GC is supplying labor and the materials necessary to complete the rough where there isn't a question of style but just that it be constructed according to my design specifications and up to Code - i.e. I am not supplying pipes, or wires or waterproofing materials or items such as these.

I do have an allowance for items such as plumbing and electrical because until they opened up the walls, they really didn't have an idea if I would need something completely outside of the scope. For example, I needed a new electrical panel and that was not expected within the original bid/contract. So my total costs for electrical will be whatever it cost to actually do the electrical and the "allowance" was just an estimate. Of course, if they attempted to charge me for items that should have been included, it would be an issue versus items that truly were outside the scope of the contract when we entered into it.

I think builders of homes generally have "allowances" for things like appliances and counters because they make a lot of money by charging exorbitant amounts for upgrades that many people would want.

If you are remodeling (you didn't specify) I would suggest that you not include appliances in the bid but just go out on your own and buy the appliances you want and provide specifications so that that the cabinets can be ordered in appropriate configurations.

I am supplying sinks, faucets, tiles, shower fixtures, wood flooring (GC is supplying all necessary under layers) - I am supplying chandeliers (i.e. decorative lighting) and GC/electrician is supplying the cans for recessed lighting because those were specified in my original design plans by my designer.

If you haven’t even gotten a quote on the kitchen project yet? Wait for Black Friday appliance sales. That should be about right. You still have to go through sticker shock and redesign first. You should be ready to order cabinets in about a month. August and September for them to actually come in. October and November for the work. And if things do t go awry, you should be enjoying Christmas dinner in the new kitchen. But don’t count on Thanksgiving.

"The clock starts ticking on the appliance's warranty upon purchase, not upon delivery. "

Mine started on delivery. Maybe it depends on the manufacturer?

For me, it would depend on the appliances and if they are somehow non-standard sizes. If you now have a floor plan and cabinet layout, and know the size of the range, ovens, fridge, DW, hood, etc, then you could go ahead now and order. Sounds like the dealer is going to hold them?

Do you have a design for your Kitchen? Has it been vetted here (the Kitchens Forum) I'm guessing not since all they've done is take measurements.

I would not order appliances until you have a final layout and know for certain what appliances will fit. You may also change your mind about some of them as you continue to research Kitchens and appliances.

Do you have those measurements or do you know what they are from your own measuring? If so, I suggest posting a blank slate of the space, telling us your needs and wants, etc. We can then start working with you to come up with a design that meets your needs, is functional, and will look nice.

If your GC is doing the design of your Kitchen, you really need help here! Most GCs (and architects and draftsmen) are not very good at kitchen design. Eventually you will need a real Kitchen Designer -- but start working on your design here first.

Kitchens Forum resources:

Kitchen Design Best Practices/Guidelines threads - These threads explain best practices/good design guidelines for items such as work zones, aisles, island/peninsula seating, etc. These threads will help you understand questions/comments you will receive.

Layout Help - FAQ for asking for layout help. It has a sample measured layout as well as a description of the other information we need

Read Me thread - Other, helpful information for using and navigating the Kitchens Forum. Especially useful if you are new to the Kitchens Forum!

Note: The Read Me thread is being updated to reflect the recent changes made by Houzz to the GW side. Quite a bit has changed since this thread was originally written in November 2016!

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New to Kitchens? Read Me First!

• http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4306041/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first

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Layout Help:

How do I ask for Layout Help and what information should I include?

• http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767033/how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-and-what-information-should-i-include

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Kitchen Design Best Practices/Guidelines threads:

Kitchen work zones, what are they?

• http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638270/faq-kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they

Aisle widths, walkways, seating overhangs, work and landing space, and others

• http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638304/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc

How do I plan for storage? Types of Storage? What to Store Where?

• http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638376/faq-how-do-i-plan-for-storage

Ice. Water. Stone. Fire (Looking for layout help? Memorize this first)

• http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first

I stalked the dent and ding sections and got GREAT deals on a 48" frig, 48" range, and Miele dishwasher. I got my range hood on Ebay and my sinks and faucets at various online sellers. I saved a bunch! This was all before I worked out the cabinets with my cabinet guy.

Your mileage may vary and I sort of GC'd my kitchen, but it worked for me quite well.

But then you're forced to work around what you've purchased...so making do and extra compromises may be necessary. If you wait, there are fewer constraints that will limit your options.

"Do you have a design for your Kitchen? Has it been vetted here (the Kitchens Forum)"

Oh pleeeze! You act like doing it the Kitchens Forum way is the only way to get something the person will like (eye roll). No one NEEDS a kitchen designer, but they do make things a lot easier and save a lot of headaches (I am very pleased with the work of mine, but I've also known a few people who've not been as happy). No one NEEDS to get approval from anyone here, and sometimes what a Houzz poster gets is nothing but egotistical ridicule with comments that seem totally unrelated to the poster's position. Not everyone needs a "gold standard" design in order to be happy with their kitchen and use it well for decades to come.

My kitchen plan was mocked and belittled when I posted it, even though I had never even asked for opinions or advice from Houzz posters on the plan (like this poster). But, on the flip side, I've gotten a lot of good advice and interesting ideas on many other subjects --- but I would never recommend anyone post layout or design device here. Answers virtually always ignore a poster's preferences and lifestyle. I certainly wouldn't ever suggest that without letting us in on their plan that they must be up a creek without a paddle.

I had my appliances all picked out. However, when the KD tried to incorporate these appliances, she told me, that because of door clearances, and other such details, I would lose about 24 inches of counter space and bottom cabinets, I changed my appliance picks. I'm still disappointed that I couldn't get the Bosch Side opening wall oven, but it needed more clearance than I could spare.

As I wrote I specifically excluded appliances from my contracts because I was planning to research and negotiate and there wasn't any value added - aside from my being able to order for less than with the designer's markup.

You just need to supply specs to the designer and/or GC to make sure that everything works together.

Helen, yes, that is what I’m thinking. The designer already has the installation spec sheets for all the appliances. It sounds petty, but if I tell them that I’m excluding them before I see the numbers, will the GC just pad that markup into something else? I’m expecting to have to slice and dice to keep this in my budget as is. I probably should see what I get from them rather than second guessing at this point.

In 2012 I waited a year after accepting a bid for my contractor to become available. And that was when building was down. They good ones will be booked well out to the future.

That being said, I did buy appliances early - not at a "summer sale", but at Sears Outlet for almost 70% off. I purchased the fridge first and we used it in the old kitchen. I purchased the range and dishwasher several months before he started and after watching Sears mark them down consistently for about three months. We purchased about $10k in appliances for about $3,500. For that, it was worth the chance. We did purchase an extended warranty on the range because, at the original price, we couldn't afford to buy a new one.

In your case, I would definitely wait.

I hope not a year! But I agree the right person later is better than the wrong person sooner. In the spring, they thought a late summer start was possible, but it is what it is. Great score on appliances! I actually did already buy the fridge on sale from Costco, “while supplies last”, but that I can put in place and use now (I measured). 90 day return if I change my mind (they pick up for free). 4 year warranty included. I think we still have a Sears Outlet here. I should take a look. It’s been years since I’ve been in the market and been there. We lived overseas for 20 years, so the last kitchen appliance I needed to purchase was 25 years ago, a SubZero fridge to replace the 40 year old one in our house that was rented out. I never got to use it myself. Ouch.