Guide
Setting up your home
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Welcome
C
ongratulations! You’re moving into your first house. But now what? How do you begin to turn those empty rooms into your home? This guide steers you through the essentials of setting up a new home – the
things you need to know, room by room, inside and out, that make your home modern, comfortable and low maintenance. We outline how CHOICE can help you save money, heartbreak and frustration with our uniquely unbiased, independent advice and helpful services. Setting up your home for the first time doesn’t have to be a daunting task. We take out some of the risk and guesswork, whether it’s knowing which washing machine has the lowest running cost or choosing the right home and contents insurance policy. We want you to create and enjoy your personal space with peace of mind.
matt Steen Matthew Steen Team Leader, Whitegoods
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Contents call us today
How CHOICE helps
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The advice and services we offer makes the difference 1300 360 655
between a good home and an amazing home
Services & insurance 7
In the living room 14
Knowing your home is effectively powered, networked
How to watch and record your favourite shows
and insured is essential for peace of mind
effortlessly, in the comfort of a clean, climatecontrolled space
In the kitchen
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In the study
16
Fridges, dishwashers and ovens – oh my! What you
Enjoy playing around with all your gadgets without
need to know about the room that will be the heart
getting bogged down by all the technical jargon
of your home
In the laundry 4
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Around the home
18
Can you save money over time by buying a more
What about the stuff on your roof, down the side of
expensive washing machine up-front?
your home and in your backyard?
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How CHOICE helps
Services & insurance
Reliability survey CHOICE lab testing always
recommended that product to
rates performance and ease
buy in CHOICE magazine or
of use for new products, but
on choice.com.au based
we usually cannot test their
on our rigorous schedule
longevity. This is where
of testing.
our members come in – do products in our What to Buy
Shop till you drop
list perform better in the long
As a CHOICE member you get free
run? Could a Best Buy mean
access to our CHOICE Shopper
savings years down the track?
service. You select the $100+
And could a bigger purchase
product you wish to purchase and
price save on repairs in the
obtain a price from a retailer.
long run? This is why we
Then, call CHOICE Shopper on
Before you start filling up rooms with furniture, you’ll want
regularly survey members
1300 360 655 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
to ensure it’s properly powered, networked and insured.
asking them to share their
to tell them your member number,
experience of reliability for
the brand you’re after, model
Energy
Phone
a number of products.
number and price to beat. CHOICE
Before contacting a provider,
Thinking of ditching your
Shopper calls back to advise you
take a look at your overall
landline? Before you do,
CHOICE Recommended
of the best price they’ve been able
energy use and see whether
consider where you live,
CHOICE’s endorsement
to find. If you’re happy with that
you can become more energy
how many calls you make
scheme allows eligible
price,
efficient to reduce your bills.
and where you call. If you’re
manufacturers to use
CHOICE
CHOICE’s 10% Challenge
a fairly heavy user of your
the exclusive CHOICE
Shopper
(10percentchallenge.com.au/)
home phone and internet –
Recommended logo. Where
places the
is all about simple tips that
and reliability is important
you see one in shops,
order for
will save you lots of money and
– keeping your landline can
you can be assured we’ve
you.
let you help the environment.
make good sense.
6
call us today
1300 360 655
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Services & insurance
80%
The assurance of insurance
Internet If you’re picking an ISP for the first time:
• Compare speed, download limit and monthly costs for
flame,
to 80% of Australian homes are
so you
underinsured. This could mean
may not be
you’re out of pocket by tens of
covered if your
thousands of dollars or more
iron scorches your shirt or a hot
should your house burn down and
pot scorches the benchtop. For
you need to rebuild. Make sure
contents insurance, go through
you always read all parts of your
every room of your home and
policy document and be clear
estimate how much it would cost
about what you’re covered for.
to replace each item. Include
What you believe is covered in one
everything: commonly overlooked
a modem you purchase
section of the document may be
contents include crockery
yourself.
explicitly excluded in another
and cutlery, bed linen, books,
• Find out the cost for equipment such as a modem.
• Ask if the ISP will support
of Australian homes are underinsured
a few plans on comparison
• Ask about billing cycles and
section. For example, fire damage
CDs, clothing and footwear.
sites such as phonechoice.
if you’re billed in advance.
is usually only paid for if there is a
And shop around. We found the
com.au or whirlpool.net.au.
• Check the length of any
• Find out the monthly
average differences between
data limit and if there are
premiums across Australia were
contract and whether there
separate peak and off-peak
$600 for home defined events
are any charges if you
limits.
policies, $830 for home accidental
terminate before it expires.
• Check the terms and
conditions for minimum charges during the contract.
• Enquire about any set-up or establishment fee.
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Estimates vary, but some say up
• Check for peak and off-peak
damage policies, $270 for
usage times and any excess
contents defined events
usage charges.
policies and $400 for
• Find out if your service is shaped, or slowed, if you
contents accidental damage policies.
go over your data limit.
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In the kitchen The kitchen is increasingly
SMALL WONDERS
the centrepiece of many people’s homes, so it’s
Through our rigorous testing, we
important to get it right
reveal which espresso machines
from the start.
have the best temperature performance, are the easiest to use
Fridges
and program and, most importantly, make the
A good rule of thumb is that
best-tasting coffee. We also test juicers, centrifugal and non-centrifugal,
two people need between
and find the latter in particular tend to perform well. And if you’re
250-285L of space in a fridge,
interested in a food processor, we’ve found that whether you choose a
and you should add 28.5
standalone processor or combination processor/blender will depend on
litres for each additional
how much storage space you have and what you want to use it for.
household member after that. Add freezer space on top of that. The bigger the
Dishwashers
Ovens
fridge, the more features,
If you’re limited by space or
Your new oven should be
the better the efficiency
renting, consider a slimline
reliable, easy to use and clean
per litre and the better
or a compact model. Slimline
and last through endless
performance. If in doubt,
machines are narrower than
hours of food preparation.
get the bigger fridge.Keep
a normal dishwasher and can
Most electric ovens these days
in mind that very large
be built-in or freestanding.
are multifunction, meaning
fridges of all kinds can be
Compacts are usually half
you can use a combination
difficult to get into the house.
the height of a standard
of top, bottom, grill and
Check the measurements of
dishwasher and they can be
sometimes rear elements plus
bottlenecks such as doorways,
placed on a bench or built in.
a fan to optimise different
hallways, staircases and lifts
There’s also a drawer option
cooking, baking and grilling
before you buy.
in the compact type.
needs.
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22c
In the laundry
The per kilowatt figure we use to calculate 10-year running costs
Our 10-year running cost f igure is an estimate of how much it’ll cost you over 10 years for water and electricity Once you’ve set up your dryer:
• Ensure there’s adequate
248 words on this page + quotation
Top or front loader?
loaders often have fast-wash
Front loaders work by gently
cycles or options.
turning the washing over and
Deal of the decade Buying big-ticket items such as
ventilation or have it
washing machines is about
ducted outside. Humid
more than just the purchase
air circulating around it
cost. Our 10-year running cost
increases drying time and
figure is an estimate of how
energy costs.
much it’ll cost you over 10 years
• Only dry full loads. • Separate loads into heavy
for water and electricity if you wash the equivalent of one load
and lightweight – lighter
every day using a normal cycle.
clothes will take less time
The calculations are based
to dry.
on 22c / kWh for electricity and
over in a tumbling action, a
Dryers
process that is quite gentle
We purchase the most
on clothes. This cleaning
popular clothes dryers on
use less energy because the
exclude depreciation and interest
action uses less energy (when
the market, bring them back
dryer is already heated, even
costs, as well as the cost of
washing in warm water) and
to our laboratories and test
if it has a cool-down phase at
detergent – people use different
water than a top loader and
them for six weeks. Models
the end of each cycle.
amounts and the price varies
can be more adept at handling
tested include electric
unbalanced loads. However,
vented, heat pump condenser,
each use to maintain full
also calculate 10-year running
often the wash cycle takes
condenser and gas-powered
airflow and maximise
costs for dishwashers, fridges
longer, though many front
clothes dryers.
drying efficiency.
and other big appliances.
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• Dry consecutive loads – you’ll
• Clean the lint filter after
$1.50 / 1000L for water. We
widely between brands. We
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In the living room
Before you buy any cooling or heating system, first optimise the energy efficiency of your home
In our first CHOICE Guide we took you through setting up your home entertainment
Keep it clean You can’t go past a vacuum
system – one of many ways
cleaner that’s light, quiet and
we can help you out.
easy to manoeuvre over both carpet and hard surfaces, has
Watching & recording TV
a long cord so you’re not forever
If you prefer to watch shows
changing power points and has
on your computer rather than
a neat compact design for
on a TV, a USB TV tuner
easy storage. Like vacuum cleaners, steam
is a good option. They’re small, relatively inexpensive
mops come in stick and canister
and usually come with an
forms, but they don’t have suction
electronic program guide
power. If you need to clean up
(EPG) and software that
large amounts of spilled liquids,
allows you to program a
you’ll need a conventional mop or
• If you decide on installing
a wet and dry vacuum cleaner.
recording. You can then watch
by insulating the ceiling and
on the computer screen or, if
walls, and draught-proofing
a central cooling or heating
They’re suitable for
you have a TV that connects
windows and doors — and
system, the right size and
most hard floors,
to your network, stream the
then calculate the capacity
design depends on a
including vinyl, tiles
video to the TV.
you need:
range of parameters and
and sealed timber.
should be determined
But are they really
• If you want to cool or heat
Heating & cooling
individual rooms with
by the supplier for your
that much better than
Before you buy any cooling
separate appliances, use
individual situation.
an ordinary mop and
or heating system, first
our cooling and heating
Central systems
bucket? Sign up
optimise the energy efficiency
capacity calculators
shouldn’t be bought
of your home — for example
available at choice.com.au.
off the shelf.
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with CHOICE and find out!
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In the study comes with a screen that’s
consider what features and
clear to read in all lighting
functions you need, and
conditions and does not cause
make sure the model you’re
eye strain. Also check eBook
interested in has them all. Go
stores to see what format the
to a shop and try it out. Check
books you want come in (the
whether you can comfortably
most common form is EPUB).
hold them and reach the main
Also note where the page-
controls (such as the zoom)
turning buttons are located,
at the same time, especially if
We test MFPs for ease of use, print speed, output quality, cost per page and running costs, including power consumption A desktop or laptop computer will likely be the focus of
as this has a big impact on
you’re left-handed — most of
long-term comfort.
the latest models are designed
this space. We regularly review both, but what about all
for right-hand use.
Camcorders
the gadgets that sync with it?
Want to be the next James
Printers
Digital cameras
video output, viewfinders,
Cameron? Think about which
In many cases you’ll pay
Before you buy a no-frills
shutter speed, focusing and
connections to your TV and
a little more up-front for a
compact camera or advanced
image stabilisation.
computer you’ll use, and
colour laser multifunction
make sure the model you’re
(MFP) printer but be much
SLR model, check out our advice on all you need to
eBook readers
interested in has them. Get
better off in the long term
know, including megapixels,
Look for one that’s portable,
all the necessary cables when
once running costs are
memory cards, batteries,
has a long battery life and
buying the camcorder. Then,
factored in.
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Around the home Your home is much more
Our testing has found smaller barbecues give excellent cooking results and can save you hundreds of dollars
than the sum of its furniture, appliances and whitegoods. What goes on outside its four walls is just as important as what goes on inside.
Hot water systems For many people, replacing an old electric hot water system
Barbecues
with a similar model is no
Before you buy a barbecue,
longer an option. Standard
think about the size you
electric systems produce about
really need. A large four
four tonnes of greenhouse
burner looks impressive and
gases per year (on average) – similar to an average-sized
Sucking up the sun
will do the job but it may be need to replace a working
much bigger than you really
car – and about three times
Installing a solar hot water
electric HWS, but if you
need and cost you more.
as much as gas or solar HWS.
system produces carbon-free
own a detached, terrace or
Our testing has found that
Electric HWS can’t be
energy and insulates you from
townhouse, and it currently
smaller barbecues not only
installed in any new detached,
rising coal-fired electricity prices.
has an electric HWS, you need
give excellent cooking results
terrace or townhouse, or any
Solar panels work best when
to consider a gas, solar or
but, depending on the brand,
such existing property where
they’re north facing, pointed
electric heat pump for your
may save consumers hundreds
there is access to piped natural
directly at the sun, at the correct
next replacement. Electric
of dollars as well. Keep your
gas (some exemptions apply).
angle and not blocked by trees
HWS are still available for
barbecue clean by scrubbing
From 2012, this applies to
or shading. The effectiveness
apartments and other homes
the plate and grill with a
all existing detached, terrace
of solar panels also depends on
where gas, solar or heat pump
barbecue brush and water
or townhouses. You don’t
where you live and the weather.
systems aren’t feasible.
while the plate is still warm.
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To find out more or to subscribe visit choice.com.au or call 1800 069 552 Back to cover