Whether you are a grizzled veteran of the homeowners club or a first-timer deciding to step into the world of the American dream by having your own home, buying kitchen appliances can be an incredibly difficult process. Not only are you trying to decide what appliances you need, you are also trying to figure out what you want the appliances to look like. Then comes the assessment of available functions, and considering the various needs of each family, the options can be overwhelming. You can’t forget the important of energy efficiency because saving money any way you can is always key to home finances.Considering everything on your plate, being able to have a basic, yet effective, cheatsheet to buying kitchen appliances is nice to have stashed in your back pocket. It is important to know from the outset that this ‘cheatsheet’ is more of a basic breakdown of things to keep in mind when starting the appliance purchase process.First off, when should you buy? Leading home furnishing experts vary in their advice, but they do generally advise customers to buy kitchen appliances during the second half of the year. At this point, most appliance manufacturers are either releasing new year models, and distributors are starting to purge older models. This usually equals very good deals for consumers who are looking to be as budget-conscious as possible.Speaking of budget, keep in mind certain concepts when you go out shopping. First of all, do not buy on impulse or because you feel you need to buy something on the spot. Take your time, and stick by your guns when you tell a salesperson you are just browsing. Bring along a measuring tape, open doors, and don’t be afraid of bringing along any items from home (within reason) that may help you find the right model of any appliance.Secondly, wait for sales to be in effect. This is a little tough for consumers that are also trying to avoid the crowds, but those crowds also understand that when prices fall, there are deals to be had (think Black Friday and Cyber Monday). Sales are a way of seeing that pricing on kitchen appliances, or just about any product, has flexibility that favors the consumer. Aside from working with lower prices, keep in mind that sales are often contagious among distributors, which means more savings for you. Stores are often very willing to price match their competitor’s sales if it means you’ll buy from them rather than somewhere else. They may also have other flexibility in their offerings that can help sweeten deals such as free delivery & installation, as well as great maintenance & service agreement pricing.Finally, the one piece of advice that nearly all experts in home furnishings can agree on is understand what you need and buy only those items. Sit down with your family and find out what kitchen appliances you actually need in your home. It can be tempting to buy unnecessary items because they are alluring & you swear you could find a use for them, but in the end, if you don’t need it, don’t buy it.Kitchen appliances are more than just technology in your house — they are an extension of the people who inhabit your home. By being a vigilant consumer, you can take the worry and anxiety of shopping for appliances out of the process & find exactly what you need for you and your family.
