When buying a white goods appliance, the five most important things to think about are the brand’s quality and reputation after the sale, not assuming that past quality will continue, realizing that price does not always mean build quality, checking the warranty’s length and terms, and being as careful when choosing the store as you are when choosing the appliance.
Most guides to buying appliances are based on price and benefits. After years of servicing appliances and living with the repercussions of people’s purchases, these tips are different. At the point of sale, people rarely talk about the things that mean the most at the time of purchase.
Tip 1: Choose the Brand Carefully – It Matters More Than the Features
Brand determines how good the appliance is at first, how easy it is to fix, and if extra parts are reasonable.
good customer care will be if something goes wrong.
At the point of sale, these things are almost never brought up.
Repairability and spare parts
Some brands are built in ways that make common repairs impossible or uneconomical – motors that cannot be serviced, bearings that require full drum replacement, parts that are only available as expensive assemblies. This information is not published at the point of sale but becomes very relevant after the guarantee expires.
Aftersales service structure
After-sales service is usually better from well-known US names that have engineers working directly for them. A lot of the time, newer brands or cheap imports depend on networks of third-party engineers, which can lead to inconsistent quality and longer wait times. Before buying, you should look into this.
The premium option
When it comes to component quality and expected lifespan, LG is still the brand that stands out from the rest if build quality and longevity are important and the budget allows it. Read our LG washing machine guide to learn more about this. If you want to know which brands are good at different price points, check out our guide on which is the best washing machine to buy and our guide on who really makes your washing machine to learn about the companies that own the brands.
Before you buy your new appliances
- Measure and then measure again. I compiled a list of locations’ height, depth, and width before looking at any new ones. Don’t forget to measure your doors either. If you can’t get the furniture into your home, it doesn’t do you any good.
- Get the best deal. Shopping around for new appliances is such an interesting topic that I could write a whole blog post about it. To sum up, you should compare different models, features, and finishes to find the best one for your needs and then find the cheapest one to stick to your budget. You can keep track of everything during your research by making a list or a comparison spreadsheet. Some places will give you cash back, 0% financing, or discounts if you get their in-store credit card. This store credit card might be worth it for you if you just moved into a new place and will be going to the hardware store a lot for other projects. A person who works with appliances at the store I choose also told me that Black Friday and the Fourth of July are often the best times to buy appliances, but deals happen all the time. Also, ask if the store participates in price matching, and if so, do a quick search online to see if you can find lower prices at other retailers.
- Delivery and installation. Installation may be extra for dishwashers and dryers, but delivery may be included. Be sure to include those costs in your comparison spreadsheet.
- Accessories. If you’re not sure what kinds of accessories you’ll need for each appliance, ask. New water line for an icemaker? New gas line for a range or dryer? You’d be surprised how many “extra” parts you need for a hookup or replacement, especially in an older home.
Is an appliance warranty worth it?
Similar to typical product warranties, extended appliance warranties have extensive small language that may enable them to refuse coverage for numerous reasons – and they may even omit various individual components. For instance, a refrigerator’s extended warranty may exclude components such as icemakers, door seals, or lighting. Instead of acquiring warranties, allocate the funds you would spend on one into a high-yield supplementary savings account specifically for appliance repair and replacement.
After you buy your new appliances
- Don’t worry about little things. As an example, I had trouble with the door to my fridge. It may be necessary to make more changes to new high-tech appliances, like how your door opens. What a problem! I never thought about it that way, and the store staff didn’t ask me if I had a preferred door swing, so I got it all wrong. Long story short, switching it was a big pain when I could have simply said what I wanted from the start. I’ll remember that for sure the next time!
- Get your space ready before the delivery. If you’re getting a dishwasher, get rid of everything that’s under your sink. Remove any furniture and inspect every drawer and cupboard for outdated tools. I almost forgot that my pizza stone was in the bottom box of my old range. That would have been terrible. Also, you’ll need to clean out your fridge and freezer. Prepare your bags, but don’t put your food in them until the delivery folks arrive.
- Get old equipment hauled away or recycled. Almost all stores that sell appliances will haul them away for a small fee. You could also look into giving the appliances to charity or reusing them.
