Buying appliances can turn into a real headache rather quickly but if you do your research first you’ll be likely to succeed in your search and buy something that meets your needs and puts a smile on your face.
Search online
First off do your research online before you even walk into a shop. You’ll be more prepared and be able to make a more informed decision than making an on-the-spot decision in the store.
You also don’t have to deal with salespeople bombarding you with facts and figures you may not understand or that may not be relevant to your situation. Have a look through some Appliance Reviews Buyers Guide to help you make a choice and see what is available out there.
It also helps narrow down your search. So for instance when it comes to refrigerators you can decide beforehand what kind of style you want: top freezer, bottom freezer, side by side or French door. Also what color options are available and whether these are in stock at your nearest stores or online shops.
Measure, and measure again!
The worst scenario is buying an appliance and finding out that it doesn’t fit. Also, keep in mind that the delivery team needs to be able to fit it into your house and up any stairs or tricky corners. So, try to measure this all beforehand – you don’t want a beautiful double door refrigerator that doesn’t fit!
Check energy ratings
It’s always a good idea to check the energy ratings on the appliances you are interested in buying. Energy costs add to your overall costs in the long term so bear that in mind when doing your research. The energy rating should be clearly marked on the appliance for ease of reference. If it’s not there ask one of the sales people to assist you with this, as it’s an important aspect of the appliance especially if it’s for heavy use. You can contribute to reducing your carbon footprint at the same time.
Don’t skimp
Buy the best you can afford. Future-proofing yourself when it comes to appliances (and technology) is imperative these days. You want your appliance to last at least 5 to 10 years before you need to replace it. If you’re planning to have a family your needs may be very different from someone who is going into retirement – think carefully about where you are in life. This leads to our next point.
Compare prices with specs
It’s imperative to establish what specifications you require. Someone with a large family will have vastly different needs to a single person. Energy ratings are a good place to start as well as what can fit in your space but there are other factors to consider such as whether the brand is well-known, reviews from others, warranties, the price (i.e. how much you can realistically afford) and wear and tear on the machine.
Read the manual
This may seem obvious but many people don’t read the manuals. It has some useful information about your appliance such as how to maintain it and keep it lasting longer. For example, a dishwasher’s filter needs to be cleaned regularly and the manual will explain how to do this step by step. It’s not the most glamorous task reading the manual but it will have useful information that will help keep your appliances in tip-top shape.
Make a list of what you need in order of priority
If your fridge is on its way out, then replacing this first is an obvious choice as it one of the most necessary appliances for the kitchen. As is a kettle, toaster, and dishwasher.
However, there may be other appliances that are not quite as vital but are on your list anyways. Things like this could include a coffee machine, milk frother, blender, juicer, electric carver, water purifier etc.
All of these are pretty important to have, but if you are a coffee lover, you would rather buy a coffee machine over milk frother, for example. And the fact is that we drink water, every day, which means that a water purifier needs to be towards the top of the list. It is a fact that tap water is not clean and although it will do us no harm in smaller amounts, your body will suffer over the years. That is why you need a good water purifier, and for that, you can check Rocareindia.
If you list these things in order of importance, you will be able to keep track of what you intend to replace and in what priority. Budget-wise this is a good idea if you are not in a position to fully kit out your kitchen in one go.
We hope these tips will help ease you into the journey of appliance buying and set you up for success. Good luck!
