Write down every model and age
Photograph the model plates: inside the fridge door, under the washer lid, inside the oven door, on the dishwasher edge. Those numbers tell you the age of every machine and make any future service call twice as fast.
Hoses and connections first
Check washer supply hoses for bulges and age cracks, look under the dishwasher and fridge for slow drips, and find every water shutoff before you need it in a hurry.
Run everything, empty, once
A full hot washer cycle, an empty dishwasher cycle, the dryer on high for twenty minutes, and every oven burner and element. Inherited faults announce themselves now instead of during your first dinner party.
The dryer vent question
Ask or check where the dryer vents and whether it has ever been cleaned. In our experience it is the most neglected item in any home sale, and the only one on this list that is a fire risk.
Decide what gets a maintenance visit
If three or more appliances are past ten years old, book one maintenance visit for the set. You get a condition report on everything and a realistic plan instead of surprises one at a time.