Making a House a Home

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I’m going to let you in on a little secret – not all salespeople are completely honest! OK…maybe that’s too harsh. How about, not all appliance salespeople are completely forthright about the appliances they hope to sell?

Whatever the case, I have learned a lot about major appliances, and I want to share that knowledge with you in a few upcoming posts. Hopefully I can save you a few headaches or even some of your hard earned cash.

First, if you need a new washer/dryer set, be aware that many of the big box stores will urge you to buy a new set when the washer is on sale, but the dryer is not – or vice versa. What they might not tell you, that if you are patient, the matching piece will usually go on sale in a few months. This happened to me when I bought my new washing machine. Thank goodness I decided to hold off on buying the dryer, because by waiting a few months, I saved over $200.00.

Another thing you need to know about washers and dryers is that the fancier the model you choose, the more the chance you will need repairs in the future. Opt for the high tech, computerized models, and you could pay hundreds in repair bills down the road. In contrast, choose the standard versions, and they last for years, and they cost much less to repair.

I do realize that the front loading models are enticing. They look awesome, and they scream “top of the line,” yet have you thought about whether you will really be getting your money’s worth by buying them? What real advantages do they provide, except for lots of timed cycles?

For instance, I asked the salesperson at a large retail chain to give me a run-down of the advantages of the front loading washing machine over the standard top load; he couldn’t give me one good reason why I should fork out almost $500 more for the front loader. In addition, I asked him about the smell that front loaders are known for from accumulated water; he actually denied that was even a possibility!

Next, don’t fall for the extended warranty on your new appliances. Why pay good money for a warranty on an item that should be built to last? And besides, most appliances come with at least a one year warranty, which would cover any “glitch” from the factory. In truth, these extended warranties are usually not needed.

Finally, not all businesses will remove your old washer and dryer when you buy new ones. Check out the store’s delivery and removal services, and compare those to other stores in your area. In my case, I found my washer for the same price at two locations, but one business offered free delivery and removal of the old washer, and the other didn’t. Guess which business I chose?

Check back next month for information on buying and repairing a stove.