When it comes to your home and the appliances inside, there’s nothing worse than buyer’s remorse. You spend a lot of money keeping your place looking nice and making it as functional as possible. Buying the wrong appliances can cause a lot of financial pain. A poor choice of a washer or dryer can make doing laundry a nightmare, and even ruin clothes. You’ll end up spending more money on dry-cleaning, just like you’ll eat out more if your fridge breaks down. That’s money anyone would rather spend on something more fun. Kitchen appliances are the most make or break appliances in the home. They affect how well you can store food, and impact whether cooking’s a lot of fun or reduced to a menial chore. Homeowners need to do whatever they can to make sure they buy the best kitchen appliances possible within their budgets. Here are some great tips on what to look for when shopping for new kitchen appliances.
Always Study Your Purchase Before You Buy
Impulse buying your kid a toy at the supermarket is probably no big deal. Yes, you should always be smart with money, but the big savings come when you take your time with large purchases. Kitchen appliances are expensive enough to warrant serious time studying before you buy. Options like length of warranty coverage, benefits of energy efficiency, and fit and finish all need to be considered. It would be a shame if you opted for a cheaper refrigerator only to have your energy costs go up more than the difference of buying an energy saving fridge. Everything’s online now, so you don’t have to spend a lot of time going from place to place reading manuals. Just look for the best-reviewed products out there and sort through to find what you need.
Buy for Who You Are Now, Not Who You Aspire to Be
If you’re flush with cash and money is no issue, go ahead and buy that expensive Viking stove or Sub-Zero fridge. But don’t buy top-end appliances just based on the fact that you wish you did more cooking or have always dreamt of being a great baker. It’ll just end up as sunk cost. You’ll have more than you need. Don’t buy a sleek minimalist dishwasher if you’re the kind of person who does the dishes once a week. Things will end up a mess and you’ll regret the things you’ve bought. Now, if you’re living in an expensive home, you need to make sure the appliances stay on theme if you can afford it. Cheap kitchen appliances just don’t look right in a luxury kitchen.
Function First, Looks Come Second
Companies are pretty good at influencing consumer behavior. They spend millions on marketing to figure out how to get you to buy what. They know who their target customer is and generally how much money you have in your pocket. So many people have messed up with their kitchen appliances because they bought based solely on how physical appearance. Yes, we get it, stainless steel looks great, and that new matte black fridge would look so killer in your kitchen. What you really need to look for, though, is the best, most functional appliances possible, and then select your favorite style option in the line. Buy appliances that will last and do the best job. There’s no sense buying a beautiful dishwasher if it doesn’t get things clean. Find a microwave that will heat things up evenly and reliably. Get appliances that get the job done, and then worry about fashion points.
Take Exact Measurements
Too many people eyeball stuff in the store and figure it’ll fit. The good thing these days is that stores have to offer generous return policies on kitchen appliances to stay competitive. But buyers need to be sure of policies when they buy, so read the fine print. Use that microwave once and you may not be able to take it back. When shopping for a microwave, take thorough measurements at home before taking a trip to the store. You’ll avoid convincing yourself that a microwave will squeeze in above the stove because you’ll have the numbers. It is important to remember that aesthetics is not the only concern when deciding where you place a microwave, or any other appliance. Bring a measuring tape to the store just to make sure.
Prices Aren’t Always Set in Stone
This may feel a bit awkward, but no one ever died from asking for a discount on a kitchen appliance. You’re spending a lot on that oven, so there’s no harm in asking. Even if they give you a 5-10% discount, that could mean a big difference in your budget. Who knows, with an added discount you may even be able to upgrade to the next nicest appliance option. Always make sure you’re at least doing research online before you pull out your credit card. A lot of stores offer lowest price matching to stay competitive with online retailers. At the very least, see if you can squeeze free delivery out of them if you purchase today. Whatever you do, don’t get caught up in accepting an extended warranty, they’re almost never worth it.
Comprehensive Service Plans
Ok, so you’ve found and bought your dream kitchen appliances. They’ve been installed and you’re loving every minute with them. What happens when something breaks down? How will you respond when the customer service hotline says a replacement part will take a month to deliver, and the repair costs will mean hundreds of dollars? Not every kitchen appliance company is created equal. Before you opt for that expensive imported appliance, make sure they have a domestic service center that can help you out when something goes wrong. Some have better service records than others. Ask about service plans before you buy. Call their customer service hotline to see how fast you can get someone on the line a few times before you take one home. Read online reviews about a company’s customer service record to get a decent idea of what you’re in for.
XOXO
Debbie
This is a collaborative post
