If you think that buying or renting a home is a major expense, wait until you start tacking on the monthly expenses of utilities, maintenance, not to mention the price of purchasing furniture and finally, major appliances. Washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, furnaces, and more don’t just cost a fortune to buy, they can be a hassle to repair and eventually replace once they reach the end of their lifecycle. However, when we are smart with purchasing and maintaining our appliances, we can stretch out our cash and use it towards other purchases.
- Buy on Sale
If you are sensing that your appliances are coming towards the end of their lives or you are purchasing your first set, you might want to start shopping around a bit earlier than when you plan on buying. This will let you compare features and prices without feeling the pressure to purchase right away. Wait for seasonal sales, special store events, or clearance stock that will address all your needs while fitting your established budget. You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by doing your research, being patient, and price matching if needed.
- Look for Energy Efficient Standards
While the initial purchase of your appliances can be a huge expense, remember to always factor in the lifetime cost of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or fridge you are buying. These appliances use up a lot of utilities and the cost of operating them can vary greatly from one model to the other. In these cases you’ll want to compare water and electricity usage, with most people relying on energy saving and eco standards to make their final decisions.
- Consider Warranties
Each type of appliance has an average lifespan and these are something that you should have on hand when looking at investing in major appliances. Some warranties come included with the purchase of the item, while others are an added expense. Calculate what price makes sense for the type of coverage you would be getting, factoring in the price of repairs, reliability of the appliance, and the average lifespan. While buying additional insurance or warranties might be the smart thing to do, in other cases it is just another way for the seller to make some money.
- Maintain Regularly
“If you take care of your things, they will take care of you” is a popular mantra that we hear all the time. This extends to your major appliances as well, in most cases. If you take the time and effort to service them regularly, they will function better and last you longer. Read more about your specific appliance and the recommended maintenance, whether that means cleaning, replacing filters, or more.
- Hire Professional Service when Needed
Sometimes we think that if something isn’t working properly, we should dispose of it. However, when the item is a major appliance, you might want to think twice before automatically kicking it to the curb. Keep the contact information of a company offering professional repair and installation services for all major appliances including washers. Not only will they be able to salvage your appliance and make it functional again, they often add a guarantee on the service and parts that they used, meaning that if it’s a repeating issue, they will be back to fix it until the problem is resolved. Professional repair is usually a condition on an extended warranty if you have one.
Major appliances don’t have to be a frequent and reoccurring expense if you manage their purchase and maintenance properly. Instead of looking at them as a money sink, consider them as long-term investments which require proper research and care.