There are many reasons why you may need new major appliances in your home. Perhaps you just bought a new apartment, or your older devices have kicked the bucket. Whatever the case may be, it is now easier than ever to find appliances that suit your needs and preferences.

Other than the traditional brick and mortar stores, homeowners can shop for electronics online. You can now buy anything from brand new audio and video equipment in online stores to used phones and laptops on Craigslist. The options are limitless.

With major appliances, how do you find the most suitable ones for your home? How can you buy them online without ending up with buyer’s remorse? Here are a few tips to help you make the best choices.

Make a list of what you need

Let’s say it’s the summer in Lebanon, and you feel that now is the right time to buy an air conditioning unit for your house. When you try to search for air conditioners in Lebanon online, you find plenty of websites and online shops that offer these appliances. How do you filter the ones with value?

When shopping online, avoid the impulse to get the first item you see or the cheapest one you find. To avoid regretting your purchase later on, it is important to make a list of what you are looking for. Use the list as a guide when going through the items inside the shop.

List the qualities that are most important tor you. In terms of major appliances, consider noise, energy efficiency, and warranty terms. Compare these aspects with several different models that fall within your budget.

Shop sales can become money traps. They entice you to buy or spend on things that you don’t need or don’t fit with your goals. But by having a list of features or qualities that are important for you, you are in better shape to resist buying on impulse.

Measure your space

In apartments and homes with limited space, it is important that you measure the area where you plan to place the appliance. Essential measurements include the width, length, and height. This is to ensure that you have enough free space – you wouldn’t want your new refrigerator hitting the overhead cabinet or the countertop edge.

Also, consider the placement and distance of sockets, water, or gas lines. This is to ensure that the electrical outlet is not far from your refrigerator or the gas line from your stove. In the case of washing machines and air conditioning units, you may also want to ensure that there are safe areas nearby where you can direct the wastewater.

Consider the openings

Besides the free space available in your home, you will also need to consider the layout and distance of the openings. For instance, in some countries, building codes require that stoves be at least a foot away from the nearest window or door. This is to prevent stove fires from jumping to nearby curtains when there’s a strong breeze.

Another aspect to consider is the angle of the opening. Appliances should not obstruct openings or hit other machines while in use. Take note of these minute details to avoid frustration once you start using your appliances.

Think about the features

Some buyers get drawn in, not by the price tag, but by the features. There are people who buy the newest and latest appliances for the brand and specifications, without really considering if these aspects will be of use to them.

With major appliances such as refrigerators, laundry machines, and ovens, the more slick features they have, the pricier they become. There is nothing wrong with picking the newest or state-of-the-art models if you use most, if not all, of the features and settings. However, if your needs are basic, you will end up paying for an expensive yet not-so-practical gadget for your home.

Listen to the critics

Reviews give you a clearer image of how the appliance performs in real life. They give you a better idea of the true value of the device as compared to the item’s current price. With consumers becoming more difficult to please, you should be able to find plenty of blunt reviews, especially with more expensive appliances.

Read reviews from different sources. The aim is to find honest opinions from actual owners. To ensure the reliability of the information, you may need to check the background of the review site as well.

When you look at reviews, whether it is by someone you know or online, pay close attention to the complaints. It is the complaints that give you an idea of the potential issues you will most likely encounter if you own that particular model.

Go beyond the looks

If your home features a specific style or look, it may be more challenging to find appliances that fit the bill. Design styles can be finicky at times. What people may consider trendy now may look obsolete after a few years.

Appliances often come in basic colors of black, white, gray, or silver to make them fit in most contemporary homes. Instead of worrying about having all appliances in a specific color or style, consider the features that you need. This way, you will have an appliance that remains useful for years.

Pay attention to the noise

If you live with people who may be sensitive to noise, you may want to check the sound levels of the appliances that you plan to buy.

Checking the noise levels is more difficult when purchasing items online. There’s limited information on noise levels in product manuals or brochures. For this, you will need to go to a brick and mortar shop and hope they have the model you wish to test.

Even with testing the machine in a physical shop, keep in mind that the noise levels will be different. Shops tend to be noisier, given the number of people inside. You will need to imagine the noise being louder when placed inside your home and determine if the levels are still acceptable.

The key to buying appliances online is to do as much research as you can before adding to your cart. Ask your family, friends, and check reviews from other people to see what they think about the model. Check different models from different brands and always use your needs as the basis to see which one provides the best value.