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Buying new appliances for your home or remodeling project is exciting! You want the perfect color and style for your space, plus all the latest features and technology.
However, appliances are expensive so you want your new purchases to last as long as possible and give you the highest return on investment. For these reasons, it’s wise to consider the more practical parts of the decision, like brand reputation and measurements for your space. Here are seven key things to consider before buying new appliances.
1. Research Your Top Brands
Start your shopping process by researching the most reliable brands for the appliances you need. Choosing a reputable brand will likely prevent headaches and frustration down the road.
When doing your research, check out each brand’s online reviews. You can use online review sites where professionals have tested and reviewed the products, and you can also search sites for customer feedback about the appliance’s longevity and performance.
Additionally, you may want to talk to family and friends to see what kind of appliances they recommend. Be careful though, websites that rank different appliances may have some bias, especially if certain brands spend advertising dollars with them. Use a neutral site such as Consumer Reports to see more accurate brand testing and rankings.
2. Research Appliance Features
Appliances such as dishwashers, ovens, refrigerators, and ranges should make life easier and more convenient. When buying new appliances, it’s important to understand all of the available options and to consider how you will use the appliance.
Head to your favorite appliance retail outlet and take a look at all of the various features available to you, or research features and benefits online. Think about how you could use each of them within your home.
If you have a large family, you may want a refrigerator that is much larger than the standard model to store family-sized meals and ingredients. You should also consider an extra-large capacity washer and dryer for the mountains of laundry you face each week.
Gourmet cooks and bakers may appreciate high-end or professional style appliances such as ranges with multiple burners and double ovens. For those who love technology, there are smart refrigerators that can scan the contents of your fridge and build your shopping list for you, and smart ovens that will turn themselves on when it’s time to make dinner.
3. Understand What You Do and Do Not Need
All of the bells and whistles included in appliances have a price tag attached. A smart refrigerator can cost several thousand dollars more than a standard one!
So, after you’ve researched all of your options, it’s time to decide what you will actually need and what is worth the extra cost. The water dispenser in the fridge might be worth the additional cost if it will help your family drink more water during the day, but the touch-screen computer on the door might turn out to be more elaborate than you need.
Perhaps you’ve always wanted a double oven, but a convection oven can cook large meals quickly and take up far less space in your kitchen. Separating your list between “like to have” versus a “need to have” can help you quickly narrow down your choices.
4. Set Your Budget
After you’ve decided what your must-have features are, it’s time for more research. Compare different manufacturers, determine which models include your desired features, and figure out the cost.
Next you should consider your budget. What can you afford? Will you pay cash or apply for credit? Often appliance retailers offer interest-free credit deals for qualified borrowers. A monthly payment may make the high price tags easier to afford, particularly if you are buying new appliances all at once.
Additionally, you need to consider the style and value of your home. Homes with upgraded kitchens or with high market value should have higher-end appliances to maintain the value over time.
If you don’t have a lot of room in your appliance budget, that’s okay. Many appliance manufacturers run pricing specials throughout the year, allowing you to get steep discounts if you time your purchase right. Check out sales for Black Friday, Labor Day, and Memorial Day, and watch for specials around other holidays as well.
5. Plan Your Purchase to Fit Your Home’s Design
Your appliance purchases need to reflect the style of your home, your kitchen’s design, and your personal preferences. Ideally, you want to pick the same style and finish for all of your appliances to give you a uniform look.
In a more modern-looking kitchen, you may want to go with stainless steel or matte black appliances. Homes in a country or shabby chic style may look best with white or paneled finishes. Consider your kitchen cabinet style and color before committing to a purchase.
You may also want to consider the energy efficiency of your home. Buying new appliances can have a huge impact on energy usage so you’ll want to choose carefully if that is important to your home’s resale value.
6. Check Your Measurements
This may be the most important tip to keep in mind while appliance shopping. It would be incredibly frustrating to do all your research, choose your favorite brand with all the features you want, and then get it delivered only to find that it does not fit in your space!
Carefully measure your available space. Then measure it again. Then measure one more time just to be sure. Measuring incorrectly is one of the most common do-it-yourself errors in home remodeling.
To avoid a pricey disaster with the wrong measurements, you can also consider finding a contractor to help with this step. Professionals have more experience and skill taking exact measurements and spotting any potential pitfalls with your space and the appliances you want.
If you plan to tackle this project on your own, you’ll need to calculate the height, width, and depth of the area where each appliance will fit. This means measuring each space where your refrigerator, dishwasher, range, oven, and cooktop will go. Make sure the area around the appliance has enough room to get the large item into your space, and that your doors and hallways are wide enough for the appliance to fit through.
7. Find a Contractor Who Specializes in Appliances
The best way to get the most out of your appliance investment is to choose a skilled professional to assist you with your installation. Find a contractor who specializes in appliances and offers personalized guidance for your needs.
Appliance contractors often offer valuable service warranties and service contracts that keep your purchases performing at their best. You may even be able to get yearly service maintenance to help your new purchases run smoothly.
Find a Best Pick Professional Today
Buying new appliances is a big decision that can significantly impact your budget and the value of your home. It is worth the time investment to do the research and consider all of the possibilities before you make a purchase.
Choosing a qualified appliance installation professional from a reputable source like Best Pick Reports to help you install your new appliances can take a lot of stress off of you. With careful planning and informed decision making, your new appliances can bring you joy for years to come. Find a contractor today!