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Buying Kitchen
Appliances the Smart Way
What to
Consider when Searching Out and Buying Kitchen Appliances
By Mark J. Donovan
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Buying kitchen appliances is all about stainless steel now
days. However, before just going out and buying any stainless steel
kitchen appliance it’s wise to do your homework first. Kitchen appliances
run the gambit when it comes to price, performance, and quality. You can
get away as low as around $1,500 for a new refrigerator, stove, and
dishwasher, however don’t be surprised if you have problems with at least
one of the appliances within 1 to 2 years. On the other hand you can spend
$10,000 or more for the same appliances if you buy “top of the line” from
the who’s who of appliances such as Sub Zero or Viking. |
But again, even with these appliances you could also find yourself paying
for maintenance on them in relatively short order, albeit it may take an extra
year or two.
So when buying high ticket price items such as kitchen appliances it’s wise to
do your homework upfront, both in establishing a budget for the appliances and
for determining what kitchen appliances are reliable and meet your budget. If
you don’t do your upfront homework don’t be surprised if you feel like you’ve
wasted your money down the road on over-rated and over-priced kitchen
appliances.
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As is the case when buying any material for a home remodeling project or room
addition, it is important to do your research on kitchen appliances prior to
buying them. Make sure to read consumer reports and reviews on any of the
kitchen appliances you are considering buying. See how the particular kitchen
appliance holds up against the competition, and the various test and
real-world situations that your appliance will most likely experience in your
home. Also, make sure the particular kitchen appliance model has been around
for at least a couple of years to get a sense on how well the product is
holding up in the field. |
Also study the energy consumption of the kitchen appliances you are
considering to purchase. Any quality kitchen appliance worth its weight will
have an Energy Star rating indicating how well it compares to its competition
in regards to power consumption. Look for appliances that have the highest
Energy Star ratings to ensure low home energy costs. Your kitchen appliances
get used a lot, thus the high Energy Star ratings will translate into major
energy savings over the months and years ahead while operating the appliances
in your home.
| Prior to visiting the kitchen appliance store, always make
sure to accurately and precisely measure the spaces for your kitchen
appliances. Even 1/8th of an inch off could be a problem when the
appliance shows up on the job sight. So make sure to make several width,
depth, and height measurements for each area where you plan to buy and
install a kitchen appliance. Always use the smallest measurement when
ordering an appliance. For example, if you measure 3 width measurements
for your kitchen stove, use the narrowest width when selecting and buying
your new kitchen stove. |
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When buying kitchen appliances make sure to ask about each product’s
warranty. The longer the warranty the more comfortable you should feel about the
appliance. The option to buy extended warranties is very common with kitchen
appliances. I personally do not buy them as I believe they are just a prey type
marketing ploy by appliance manufacturers and retail sellers. My view is if the
product fails within the first five years, I will never buy from that
manufacturer again and I make sure to tell the product reseller that when I
decline the extended warranty policy. I always find it ironic how the sales
person always tells you how wonderful the product is, up until the point that
you actually decided to buy it. Then their messaging decidedly changes to topics
of warnings, risk, and ultimately fear, as they convince you to buy the extended
warranty. I always feel compelled to ask them do they really believe in this
product and manufacturer based upon all of their reasoning on why I should buy
the extended coverage. That usually shuts them up.
Also ask about delivery costs. Don’t be surprised if you’re required to pay a
“nominal” delivery fee for shipping the products to your home. If you get lucky
you may be able to negotiate the deliver fee to zero, if you ask.
With these simple tips buying kitchen appliances should be much easier and lower
risk. In addition, you should end up saving money in the long run on both energy
costs and maintenance costs.
For more
help on remodeling your kitchen, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s
Kitchen
Remodeling Bid Sheet.
The
Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet
will help ensure that your kitchen remodeling project goes smoothly and you get
the finished kitchen you are
looking for. In addition, it will help to ensure that your remodeled kitchen will be accomplished on time and on budget.
How to Finance your Kitchen Remodeling Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related information on Kitchen Remodeling
Additional Kitchen Design Resources
Kitchen Faucets and Appliances from Amazon.com
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