If you’ve always lived in rental properties, you’ve probably only had to purchase a washer and dryer for your home. And if you purchased a brand new build, you probably had many of your major appliances included in the package deal. Now you’re faced with purchasing appliances for your home for one reason or another. Maybe something like your water heater is going bad, and you need to replace it before you have to settle for ice-cold showers. Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to upgrade a dishwasher, and now you have some extra money for it.
Before you dash out and purchase on impulse, it’s a better idea to wait until the best time to buy appliances, especially if you have to buy multiple appliances. But when is the best time to buy appliances? Here are some things to consider when purchasing new major appliances and the best times of the year to do so.
What to Consider Before Purchasing Large Appliances
If you’re in the market for new appliances, there are a few things you’ll want to consider before you make your purchase. Remembering these things will help you make the best decision on your next major purchase and even help you find deals.
Size
Whether you’re shopping online or in big box stores for appliances, one factor you’ll need to keep in mind is the size of your appliances relative to your space. You may want a supersized new refrigerator to accommodate your family, especially if you love cooking and entertaining. But can your kitchen space accommodate it? Likewise, you may fall in love with a large washer and dryer, but you may only have room for a small stackable.
Before you start shopping, it is a good idea to know the dimensions of the space for your appliances to ensure they fit.
Costs
Have you checked on the cost to repair your current appliance and discovered that these costs exceed what it would be to replace the item? Then, a significant driving factor for you to shop for a new appliance will be cost-related, and you may not want to wait until a specific time to shop. However, if the item that needs replacing isn’t something you use often, such as a dishwasher, you may want to wait for a time of the year when it’s ideal to purchase it at a reasonable price.
Warranties
If costs are an issue, but you don’t want to wait until the perfect time of the year to shop for your particular appliance because it is a critical need item, you may want to consider using your home warranty to help cover costs.
Home Decor
Does your new appliance look good with your home decor? Sure, you may be in love with red retro refrigerators, but will it look good in your kitchen? And will it look good over the next twelve years that you keep your refrigerator, or will it make your kitchen look dated? Before you decide to invest in a one-of-a-kind appliance, make sure you’re thinking about the long term.
Features
Another factor you’ll want to consider when shopping for appliances is what types of features your appliance has. Many potential buyers want the most basic features. However, others may want products that use less water, make less noise, or have programmed timers. Some may even want appliances with creative features, such as playing music when the product cycle ends instead of buzzer sounds.
Gas or Electric
Did you take a moment to check whether you have a gas or electric appliance? Stoves, dryers, and even HVAC may be gas-powered. So, before you look for a new appliance, make sure you know what type of appliance you already have. Keep in mind that if you have gas-powered items and you want them to run on electricity, you may have to pay additional money for a contractor to make the conversion. You may also have to pay for permits to run the new electrical wiring through the house for the new appliance. This could incur additional costs.
Saving With Rebates and Tax Credits
When shopping for appliances, it is a good idea to know if there are any rebates or tax credits available. Rebates will allow you to get your money back at the point of purchase or after you send certain documents to the manufacturer, such as receipts and barcodes. Tax credits may be available from the state or federal government for purchasing energy-efficient products. You will likely have to take advantage of these savings during the tax season, however. The IRS website provides details about such purchases. You may also be able to get tax incentives on solar panels.
Old Appliances Haul Away
Plenty of big-box retailers may haul your old appliances away for you. This will keep you from having to search for and pay a junk removal company to pick up and haul away your old appliances. Some offer this service as a courtesy, while others may charge a small fee.
Best Time To Buy Appliances
Now that you know the critical factors involved in shopping for a new appliance, here are some tips on the best time of year to buy appliances so that you save money.
Retail Holidays and Other Important Sales Days
The very best time to buy major appliances is during holiday sales. Here are some favorable times to shop for new appliances.
- Black Friday (in November)
- Amazon Prime Day (in July)
- Cyber Monday (Monday after Black Friday)
- President’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day (July 4th)
- Labor Day
- Veteran’s Day
- New Years Day
Seasonal Purchases
If you’re in the market for a new appliance, the best time of the year to purchase will typically be in the fall and winter. Fall is when manufacturers introduce new products. Winter is ideal because you can buy warm-weather appliances at off season prices when most people aren’t thinking about them. Another time to look for deals is in late spring, May in particular. During Maytag month, the appliance brand Maytag runs promotions.
Best Time of the Week
When it comes to purchasing appliances, the best times of the week may be Wednesday or Thursday. Most crowds are looking for deals on weekends, and you may not have the one-on-one time you need to negotiate with salespeople.
Time of the Day
Typically, the best time of the day to purchase appliances is after 3 p.m. Retailers may reduce prices around this time of the day. Also, most appliance purchases tend to happen later in the day than in the morning.
Other Shopping Tips to Save on Appliances
Besides seasonal shopping, there are other ways to save on appliances. Here are five more savvy ways to get great savings.
Shop Proactively
Instead of waiting for your appliances to go bad, it may be a good idea to replace them before significant problems arise. This means that you will have to pay close attention to the lifespan of your appliances. For instance, if you have a refrigerator, the life expectancy for it is about 12 years. So, if you know you’ve had yours for about a decade, then it’s a good idea to budget for one and start looking.
Comparison Shop
Before you go to a local big box store and purchase your new appliance, you may want to do some comparison shopping first. If you find cheaper options online or at another big box retailer, you may be able to use this as a bargaining tool if you want to purchase from your favorite retailer. Each store has various rules regarding lowering prices for comparison shopping. For instance, you may not be able to negotiate online against in-store prices since online may have special promotions. So, it’s a good idea to know the rules when buying your appliance.
Purchase Floor Models
Buying larger appliances can be quite costly. So any savings you get helps. One way you can help cut costs is to consider buying the floor model. The floor model may save you a significant amount, particularly if you can negotiate money off for acceptable damages, such as dings and scratches from it being on the sales floor.
Take Advantage of Credit
Another way you can save is by using one of your major credit cards that offers discounts on certain brands. Some Citi or Chase cards offer this benefit. Also, you may want to consider opening a store credit card to take advantage of any immediate savings and get rewards. Stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot may offer great promotional opportunities for their store credit at the time of purchase.
Buy Last Year’s Model
When manufacturers roll out new inventory for the new year, they may mark older models significantly. This typically happens between September and November before the Christmas rush. Purchasing year old appliance models could help you save more than any time of the year.
FAQs About Buying Home Appliances
Does brand really matter?
The brands you choose are entirely up to you. Keep in mind that some brands have the same parent company. For instance, Whirlpool owns Maytag. Ultimately, you should focus on what you want your appliances to do for you. For instance, many people may want basic functions for their appliances, while others may want smart technology that links to their smartphones.
Another factor to keep in mind when shopping for appliances is style and color. This may be more important than brand if you want your appliances to blend well with your home decor.
How important is it to purchase Energy Star appliances?
For those who are concerned about emitting greenhouse gases into the environment and also concerned about their home budget, it is important to purchase Energy Star appliances. Such appliances are backed by the federal government on their efficiency. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets strict energy criteria on products such as home appliances. These appliances use less energy, so you can expect to save on these products.
Can I install my own appliances?
Yes, if your large appliance only requires you to move it into position and plug it in. On the other hand, you may want to hire a professional for more intricate appliances such as a furnace, water heater, or air conditioner. Also, natural gas products will require professional installation.