Buying a kitchen appliance is one of a homeowner’s most important purchases, whether they’re moving into a brand-new space, renovating their home, or replacing one appliance that’s seen better days. Because a kitchen appliance is so important and often so pricey, with costs ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, care must be taken when buying one. Here are four effective tips for buying a new kitchen appliance.
1. Work Out a Budget
The rule with appliances or any other needful item in the home is for the homeowner to buy the best one they can afford and to understand that added bells and whistles such as the ice maker on a refrigerator raise the cost. This means reading reviews on consumer sites or speaking to appliance repair professionals. Some appliance repair or plumbing companies offer plans where a repair person not only performs scheduled troubleshooting but can give tips on the best appliance for the homeowner’s budget and needs.
2. Shop Around
It’s simply not a good idea for a homeowner to buy the first glittering, state-of-the-art, stainless steel kitchen appliance they see. Though impulse buying may work, there’s too much of a risk that it won’t. The appliance may be too big, too small, use up too much energy, or have other problems that make it not right for the home. It’s simply better to shop around, though shopping around takes time. It means visiting appliance or big box stores in person to searching for the right appliance on the internet to consulting with experts to asking the opinion of friends, neighbors, and family members. However, it’s worth it in the end, especially if the homeowner plans to live with the appliance for a long time.
3. Buy According to the Household’s Needs
It’s important to know what the household’s needs are when it comes to buying an appliance. For example, a homeowner with a private septic system may decide to install a garbage disposal unit when they do their kitchen remodel. Then, they find out too late that garbage disposals aren’t compatible with private septic systems. They may buy a fridge or dishwasher without properly measuring the space where the appliance is to go. This often happens when a homeowner simply eyeballs the old appliance, goes to the store, and buys a new appliance that looks like it’s the same size as the old one. Then when they bring it home, they find out that it isn’t.
It’s also a good idea to buy an appliance that’s energy efficient. These appliances come with an Energy Star sticker. They are often more expensive than less energy-efficient appliances, but they save money in the long run.
4. Read and Understand the Warranty
It is true that warranties make for tedious reading, and it doesn’t help that so many of them are in suspiciously small print. But it’s important that a buyer read and understand the warranty and return policy, especially if they’ve bought an appliance that they discover isn’t quite right for their home and need to return it.
