Buy or Rent? When to Have and to Hold, When to Use and Return
Wendell T. Webber
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Should You Buy or Rent Major Appliances?
Consider Renting If...
You want to upgrade a temporary living situation. If you are saving to buy your own place or are posted on a short-term work assignment, renting lets you add amenities cheaply. While buying a good washer might cost $1,000 or more, you can rent a washer-dryer combo for about $75 a month.
You want to go all out for a special event. Think Oscar party. Think Super Bowl. Think big-screen TV.
Consider Buying If...
You’re getting it for your
own home, for good
. Major consumer appliances—
stoves, refrigerators, washing machines—are built to last
a long time. Good ones are a pleasure to use and increase the value of your home if you sell down the line
.
Tips and Resources
Rent-A-Center (www.rentacenter.com), with more than 2,800 locations, offers the broadest range of major-appliance rentals nationwide.
Appliance Warehouse of America (www.appliancewhse.com, 800-693-4343) and Azuma (www.azuma.com) also rent appliances. However, in lieu of a cash or credit-card deposit, these outlets may require you to supply employment info and references.
