Appliances are expensive. There’s no getting around the fact that they cost a lot of money. The trade-off is that they make our lives easier. Instead of spending an hour washing dishes by hand, you can spend 10 minutes loading and unloading the dishwasher.
The problem is putting a price on the labor they save. Shopping for new appliances can be extremely daunting. Not only is the high costs a factor, but you also have to consider the quality of the appliance you’re buying. How long will it last? Does the model I’m intending to buy often need repairs? How long does the manufacturer guarantee that your appliance will work?
Probably the most important question you’ll face when considering appliance purchases is when do you buy?
For most of us it’s tough to know when we’ll need new appliances until they stop operating. Sure your washer may not be getting things quite as clean, but spending $500-$1,000 when you have one that operates is hardly motivation to get a new washer. Besides, you may be able to fix it, right?
Then there’s lifespan of a machine. You might think your dishwasher will last ten years, but since you have a ‘builder’s grade’ model it really only lasts five. Possibly it’s a sign of the time that cheap appliances are built to last only a few years.
So where to start?
First of all, let’s define appliances. I’m not talking about your coffeemaker. Though one could argue it is essential, I’m talking about the workhorses of your home. The washer and dryer, the fridge, the oven, range, or cooktop, and the dishwasher. The appliances you depend on to help run your household.
Recently we replaced our dishwasher that was installed the day we moved into out home about 5 years ago with a new dishwasher. Over time the dishwasher wasn’t cleaning as well, and eventually it made dishes come out dirtier than when they went in! So I put together some thoughts on replacing appliances since we have been through this a few times. 
Here are the first steps we tried before replacing our dishwasher.
3 Steps to Take Before Replacing your Appliances
1. Improve Efficiency or Repair Yourself:
- Will running a ‘clean’ cycle help?
- Have you cleaned all the filters?
- Are all the connections still in place?
- Can you reset the machine?
- Can you fix it yourself? Google around for the issue and you may find answers. Check sites like HandyGuys Podcast for info.
Our dishwasher worked better for a bit using a different brand of detergent and running a clean cycle, but it steadily got worse. Eventually it was little more than a giant drying rack!
2. Check Warranties & Guarantees:
- Is it under warranty?
- Did you purchase an extended warranty?
- Did you use a credit card that will help with problems (AMEX for instance), or from a store that has a guarantee?
If your appliance is not under warranty it’s time to evaluate if it’s worth paying a repair person to take a look.
At 5 years old our dishwasher was out of warranty, and wasn’t covered under any extended warranty or guarantees.
3. Find an Appliance Repair Person:
- Check online, or call around and get details on pricing.In many cases there is an upfront fee just for looking at the appliance which can range from $50 and up.
- Check that against the cost of new appliances to give yourself an idea if it’s worth spending money on fixing your issue.
- To find a reputable appliance repair person ask friends and neighbors for recommendations, check Angie’s List and/or the BBB to verify their service record.
In our case the price was around $129 for the service call. Way too expensive since it was unlikely to fix the problem based on the information we had, and that much could go a long way to a new dishwasher.
Tips To Buy a New Appliance:
In the continuing tale of our dishwasher it was time to look at purchasing. I already had an idea of what they cost based on my earlier repair decisions. The steps below helped us buy our new dishwasher.
Set a Budget: The first step is setting a budget. But beyond that what should you do? Research, research, research.
Size makes a difference. Know what size you need and how it fits into your space. The worst thing you can do is buy something, have it delivered and the installer can’t fit it in the available space. Most dishwashers are a standard size, but measuring will take a few minutes and ensure you’re good to go.
Looks are important. If you’re purchasing one appliance you’ll want to match the look of your other appliances. If you know you’ll be replacing them all in the near future (say buying a washer now, and a dryer later) let your personal taste dictate the decision. While we were shopping for a new dishwasher I considered stainless steel, but the $150 price difference didn’t make sense for me. Black and white are now making a comeback in kitchen trends. If you’re planning for resale check current or recent listings in your neighborhood. It will help inform you what expectations are for upgrades. In the end you should purchase based on what you like, and the features you want.
Value is more important than price. Cheap isn’t always better, so look for a product that is going to last. For instance, quality product that costs $100 more but lasts twice as long is definitely a value over the cheaper model.
Check ratings and reviews online. It’s easy enough to find reviews from owners online, but don’t discount ratings by credible sources like Consumer Reports. This will help you avoid common pitfalls, and choose between options.
Talk to people. Gather information and opinions. Talk to the neighbors, the other parents in car pool pickup, crowdsource on Facebook or twitter, and most importantly talk to appliance salespeople. Yes, they are trying to sell you on something, but they may share some nugget of information you weren’t aware of.
Check out dishwashers in person. Seeing them in real life will help you decide between models based on a few features such as handle design, color, interior materials, and button placement. My grandmother used to take her cookie sheet to the store to make sure it fit.
Finding the Best Value on Your Appliance Purchase
Now you know what you want, or maybe you’ve narrowed it down to a few similar options. This is where finding the best value comes in.
Shop Around: Check prices at stores including appliance outlets where you can find scratch and dent items. Be sure to check delivery or installation prices as well.
Check Prices Online: Check prices online to find the cheapest price on the model you want.
Visit You Local Store: Going into stores in your local area and speak with your local salespeople. They may inform you of upcoming sales, and offer their advice on everything from differences between models and brand reliability.
Look for Upcoming Sales: Especially if there are holidays coming up you may find sales that are worth waiting for.
Hunt for Coupons and Discounts: Search online for coupons, discounts, or even cash back from your credit card.
Shop A Store Where Price Match: Look at price matching, that way you can save on the overall cost, some stores even offer an additional discount on top of the price match.
Our dishwasher purchase:
After using all these ideas we found exactly what we were looking for at our local HHGregg. This Bosch (and most Bosch models) are highly rated by Consumer Reports. HHGregg had the best price and offered a rebate on installation. While we could install it ourselves (we’ve done it before in the past) the rebate made it nearly free. Well worth an extra $25 in my book! We saved our pennies for about a month before we bought.
The Bosch dishwasher we purchased has turned out to be a great buy. It’s fast, efficient, and I love the features it includes. The silverware container has little separators that keep the silverware from bumping into one another which helps get sticky stuff like peanut butter off them. It’s also lovely to have a dishwasher that actually cleans things! I didn’t realize how bad our old one was!
Do you have any tips for purchasing appliances?
Kelly
