tips for buying appliances

If you’re looking to buy an appliance for your house (especially an expensive one), there are a few things you should consider before making your purchase. Keeping these 10 tips for buying appliances in mind will save you money and frustration in the long run.

1. Listen to the Criticism

Whether it’s your friend who complains about their extremely noisy dryer or online reviews, pay attention to complaints about an appliance before you buy it. Ask your friends what they do and don’t like about their appliances, and even check them out yourself if possible. Also, there are tons of online resources that provide endless opinions from actual consumers. Just make sure that it’s a reputable source, since there are a lot of fake reviews out there too. Consumer Reports is a great resource, but requires a fee.

2. Avoid Impulse Buys

Especially if you dislike shopping for appliances, it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying the first thing that looks good. To avoid disappointment later, it’s best to make an informed decision instead. Go into appliance shopping with a list of features that are a priority for you. This could include qualities such as, “energy efficient,” “quiet,” or “lifetime warranty.” Compare different models, and consider waiting until you find what you want on sale. If you just can’t handle avoiding impulse buys, try bringing a family member or friend who can help you keep a level head!

3. Know What You Need

It might be tempting to get the prettiest appliance or the one that’s on sale, but it’s more important that your appliance suits your individual needs. If you tend to keep a lot of food in the freezer for later, even the most expensive fridge will be disappointing if it doesn’t have enough freezer space. A huge washer/dryer combo is great for certain homes, but if you don’t do large loads of laundry, they would be a waste of money.

4. Read the Fine Print

Before you make a purchase, take a look at the instruction manual. Particularly for high-tech, modern appliances, you can pay a lot of money for complex, precise options. This is great if you know how to work the machine and will use those settings. However, if you only need simpler options, there’s no need to pay extra for settings you won’t use.

5. Take Measurements

It’s an unfortunate truth that sometimes the perfect appliance just won’t fit in your house. Be sure to take measurements of the space where the appliance will sit and compare it to the appliance’s size. Pay attention to all dimensions: width, height, and depth. Also don’t forget to measure the path leading up to the location. It’s a horrible feeling to realize that the new fridge will fit perfectly into the kitchen spot, but won’t go through the door or hallway leading to it! If in doubt, make a map of every important angle and space in the house and bring it to the showroom.

6. Don’t Ignore the Doors

Take the swing of the doors into account when measuring appliances. This includes the doors of the appliance itself for fridges, washers and dryers, and ovens. It also includes the doors inside your home. Will the pantry door conflict with the fridge door? Will the washer door knock into the laundry room door? Many large appliances come with options for door styles and even the ability to swap which way the door swings open. Pay attention to these details to avoid annoyances later.

7. Don’t Fall for Looks Alone

When planning your house, it’s tempting to go for the unit that looks best with the surroundings. Unfortunately, the appliances that will perform the best are not necessarily the ones that will look the best with your décor. Decide what is most important to you, and be prepared to deal with the consequences if you make a purchase based more on looks than efficiency and reliability.

8. Listen to the Machine

If sound levels are important to you or certain noises grate on your nerves, don’t forget to listen to an appliance before purchasing it. An extremely noisy washer and dryer might work in one home but not another. For example, extra noise can become a problem if the laundry room is directly connected to the living room.

9. Don’t Forget the Extras

Some appliances require supplemental equipment to work properly. This includes things like the right kind of exhaust fans and vents for a particular cooktop or dryer. If you purchase a powerful washer for an upstairs laundry room, make sure the floor can handle the stress. It’s also important to include a drain tub for your washing machine, especially for upstairs units where water would cause huge amounts of damage to the floor and rooms below.

10. Prepare to Haggle

Haggling is a tradition as old as currency, and modern technology adds to the arsenal of bargaining techniques. These days, many stores are willing to price-match their items to offers you find from the competition. You might also be able to bundle more than one appliance together for a discount price. Requesting free delivery and installation can also cut down on costs.

Hopefully some of these tips help you out next time you need to purchase a new appliance. Check out Complete Protection’s other blogs to see the best ways to maintain the appliances you already own so you don’t have to make those purchases as often!