Think Carefully When Buying Home Appliances: 6 Things To Consider Beforehand

Think Carefully When Buying Home Appliances: 6 Things To Consider Beforehand

Shopping for home appliances can often be a very complicated process. There are things that homeowners should consider carefully as new home appliances are often major financial investments that are expected to last for a considerate amount of time. This means that you need to spend time researching and comparing different options to find the best appliances for your home.

To help you make the right purchasing decisions, here are 6 things that you should consider before buying home appliances. 

1. Be Aware of Hidden Costs

Sophisticated consumers do not just compare price tags when they make major purchases. There are hidden costs that need to be taken into consideration as well. For instance, the cost of common dishwasher repairs or washing machine parts, the ongoing running costs, and various other expenses need to be taken into account. In terms of repairs, you can manage the unexpected costs better with a long-term warranty so make sure you check what is offered by the manufacturer and the retailer. Keep in mind that high-tech appliances have more that can go wrong with them so sometimes require repairs than basic models, and can also be more expensive to repair as they may need a specialist.

2. Distinguish Between What You Need and What You Want

The first you need to do when buying home appliances is to identify what you actually need. It can be very easy to just go out and buy the latest, coolest gadget (attention all air-fryer owners!) but will you actually use it? Another easy mistake is to choose the best looking appliance rather than the one which will offer the best performance or value for money. Paying that little bit extra for a stylish or multi-featured appliance is fine, but only if you get enough use out of it to justify the price. 

3. Set a Strict Budget

Speaking of value for money, it is very important that you set a strict budget before you start purchasing your home appliances. This is particularly important if you are furnishing your home from scratch and need to buy everything. The last thing you want to do is to spend all of your money on a Dyson vacuum cleaner and a top of the range dishwasher, only to find that you have no money left over for an oven. 

One excellent way to save money is to wait for the sales. Typically, manufacturers and retail stores tend to put major discounts on home appliances during major retail events like Black Friday. If you are planning to replace an old appliance, it is therefore worth doing during the sale, even before it has completely broken down. There is no point waiting for it to die only to end up having to pay full price for a replacement just a few months after you could have got it for far cheaper. 

4. Compare Different Options 

Shoppers who don’t do their research, often end up with bad deals. Before deciding to buy any appliance, you should always check out the other products, brands, and retailers to make sure you choose the best option. Depending on your budget and your needs, you can compare similar items from different retailers who may provide different warranty options or sell the appliances at markedly different prices. You may even want to consider buying a gently used appliance instead of a completely new one. Choose the benefits you want most instead of buying a new gadget because the latest product is available now. The Walmart discount big sales have many advantages and benefits to your home.

The lowest price might seem like the best deal but this is not always the case. When doing your research, pay attention to warranty policies and reviews from other consumers. You should be able to find all this information online, so make sure you take advantage of all these resources so that you can make well-informed decisions when shopping for high-priced goods such as home appliances.

 

5. Accurately Measure your Space  

Buying an appliance without correctly measuring the available space in a home is a common mistake that many inexperienced shoppers make. A large appliance such as an oven or a fridge needs a lot of space and also needs to be put in the right position for access to a power source. When measuring, it is important that you not only take note of the space your appliance will need to be opened such as refrigerator or oven doors. Make sure it is not too bulky for your small kitchen and that you have the space to use it properly. Measure all the dimensions and if in doubt, talk to someone at the store about how much space is actually needed for any appliance that you are considering. 

6. Consider the Environment

There are some appliances such as refrigerators that are switched on all day and others like dishwashers that we use at least once a day. It is very important that all homeowners understand the long-term benefits of investing in energy efficient appliances. This can lead to high energy bills, and high household carbon emissions. As a conscious consumer, simply choosing energy-saving appliances is the first step to practicing green living.

How can you know which appliances are energy efficient? The best way is to look at its Energy Star rating as this can help you save a lot on energy bills in the long-run and also protect the environment. Make sure that you understand energy labels and what they mean in terms of kilowatts per month and potential energy costs. Appliances are usually given a rating of between 1 and 6 stars, with 6 star appliances being the most energy efficient and 1 stars being the least. In some countries the energy consumption number will also be provided so you will be able to calculate exactly how much it will take to run an appliance before you buy it. 

Shopping for home appliances can be a long and stressful process at times. However, with the right research and these practical tips, you can make the process a whole lot easier. Before you buy an appliance, simply consider these 6 things first to make the most out of your investment and choose the appliance that will make your life easier and is also cost- and energy-efficient.

Author

Eric is the creator of At Home in the Future and has been a passionate fan of the future since he was seven. He's a web developer by trade, and serves as the Director of Communication and Technology for a large church in Nashville, TN (where he and his family are building a high tech home in the woods).