The used refrigerator checklist

Measure first, shop second

1. The opening. Width, height and depth of the space, including any tile lip or trim. Leave about an inch of breathing room at the back and top for airflow.
2. Door swing and handles. A French-door unit needs less swing clearance than a single wide door — that matters in the narrow galley kitchens common in older Bellingham houses.
3. The path in. Front door, hallway turns, basement stairs. Plenty of fridges fit the kitchen and not the corridor.
4. Water line. If you want ice or a dispenser, confirm there's a line — and that you have someone to hook it up. We don't do plumbing or gas work.

Every listing on our inventory page shows capacity, so you can rule units out before you drive out.

Check the appliance itself

1. Does it cool? Non-negotiable. Ask to see it plugged in. We run every refrigerator and freezer until we can confirm it cools before it goes on the floor.
2. Gasket. Run a finger round the door seal. Cracked or hardened rubber means condensation and a hard-working compressor.
3. Interior smell. A unit that sat unplugged with food in it can hold that smell permanently. New and open-box stock doesn't have this problem; older used stock often does.
4. Shelves and bins. Count them. Replacement crisper drawers are surprisingly expensive.
5. Where the damage is. A dent in a side panel that ends up against a cabinet is free money. A dent across the front of the door is what you look at every day. Same discount either way — pick the one that hides.
6. Model number. Write it down and search it. You'll find the retail price, the specs and any known issues in two minutes.

Check the paperwork

1. Warranty. Ask who honours it and for how long. Every appliance we sell carries a 1-year warranty through CPS (Consumer Priority Service) — you file with them, not with us.
2. Condition grade in writing. Ours are labelled Brand New – Scratch & Dent or Like New – Scratch & Dent, and what each grade means is spelled out rather than hidden behind "as-is".

Then work out the real total

Add delivery, add haul-away for the old unit, and add anything you need an installer for. Here it's $25 to deliver inside Bellingham and $50 to take the old appliance away — see the town-by-town delivery pricing. Pickup at the warehouse is free if you bring a truck and straps.

Browse current refrigerators and freezers, then book a time to look at the ones you shortlisted.