Buying this "service deal" can be expensive but if you feel happier knowing that you are protected from breakdown for a few years, shop around insurance brokers to see how prices compare.

Ease of cleaning is well worth considering at the outset. Stay clean liners resist dirt build-up but pyrolitic cleaning is the ultimate. It burns off all baked-on debris at 500°C so that all you have to do is sweep out the resulting ash. Look out for ovens with a steam cleaning facility, too, and remember that some ovens have removable inner doors that are easy to clean.

Choose a good quality sink to avoid problems later. Buy cheap and you will discover that stainless steel can stain and even rust! Mild acids such as vinegar will promote rust in stainless steel where the nickel content is low. Stronger acids such as those used by photo processors will have a detrimental effect on all stainless steels.