Those longing to live off-grid or prepare for the next prominent natural disaster must develop their homestead faster than unexpected circumstances occur. Countless instances could make preppers decide whether to buy new or used equipment. These tips weigh the viewpoint from myriad lifestyle choices, machinery types and personal objectives. Where should homesteaders begin when pondering adding new tech to their outfit?
1. Consider Your Budget
Hardly any factor is more noteworthy than budget. Sometimes, picking between new and used equipment is outside the control of the consumer because finances have locked several options behind a monetary door. Looking at a budget is more than seeing if enough money is available in the present — it concerns how that purchase will impact future financial freedom, too.
Here are questions homesteaders should think critically about apart from if they’re OK with the number on the tag:
- What is the cost-benefit analysis of this piece of equipment?
- Am I buying this because it’s trendy or well-advertised?
- How many and what applications does this item have on my homestead?
- How much emotional, mental and physical strain will this equipment cause for the expense?
- Does the price difference in new and used equipment provide that amount of benefits?
Considering the budget requires a holistic perspective of money versus all aspects of the equipment’s life on the homestead. For example, a homesteader may want to start growing hay but has not begun this process yet. Does buying on-sale, new, or used hay baling and foraging equipment make sense when it has no current function? Off-gridders must realize what purchases have immediate applicability for the price versus an investment in an unfulfilled aspiration.
2. Evaluate Equipment Condition
Not all used homesteading equipment is created equal, and conditions will vary from one water pump or canner to the next. Start by inspecting every item of used equipment against a new version. Does wear and tear on prospective garden beds appear as a few scratches and dents, or does it have developing holes from pests?
If possible, homesteaders must test the item before making a financial commitment to ensure it performs as described despite its appearance. Shoppers should inquire about the same for new products to verify if there are factory faults or defects. If someone’s willing to spend the money for a new asset, it must deliver that degree of performance.
Alternatively or in addition to testing, customers may request a third-party demonstration or inspection from someone not involved in the shop. This ensures bias does not impact decision-making, primarily for commission-based storefronts.
Compare the product’s current condition against market research. What’s its expected durability and life span in best- and worst-case scenarios? Areas to pore through are product documents like manuals and listed specs on online stores. How do reviews match up to the numbers the manufacturer claims? Evaluating equipment condition requires this comparative analysis, and any language or inconsistency causing a question is worth relaying to the manufacturer.
3. Research Product History
Delving into a product’s history leads buyers down multiple avenues. Where should a homesteader start for trustworthy information? Look into the maker’s online presence to validate the quality and reputation of their new and used equipment. Is the company known for refurbishing used products to like-new conditions or posting recalls?
Corporations might treat used products poorly, such as failing to provide replacement parts or not highlighting their value. Behavior like this should raise red flags. Here are a few other places to look for claims, advice, FAQs and more:
- Forums
- Competitor websites
- Social platforms
- Resale sites
- Review platforms
Another consideration for buying something new or used is the equipment’s generation, model, or year. Is the most recent choice expensive or genuinely worth the price gap compared to the previous version? Warranties and insurances shift depending on a product’s age, too. For example, a new water purification system should filter out more contaminants or be significantly more effective than its predecessor — upgrades should be more than cosmetic.
This mindset is most helpful when considering new equipment, as used machinery performance can vary. Homesteaders may also question if the manufacturer made features obsolete from one model to the next. On the one hand, it may signify replacing more advanced tech that resolved a commonly known issue. On the other hand, it could represent a tighter budget, resulting in specification cuts.
4. Consider Maintenance and Repair
Maintenance and repair are among the most nuanced facets of choosing between new and used machinery. Each option invites nearly equal pros and cons.
Used equipment may avoid planned obsolescence, allowing homesteaders to repair their devices independently, which could be cheaper than purchasing new products every few years. However, the availability of parts must be top of mind. If replacements are inaccessible or price-gouged, one must question if buying new is worth avoiding these obstacles.
Homesteaders must also admit if they are willing to invest the resources necessary to learn and perform repairs themselves. Are there enough free assets to obtain the education or is it out of their league? Local organizations may have courses and seminars on basic homesteading repairs and tasks.
New products promise to stay operational with minimal to no repairs for a significant period, reducing stress. It also minimizes the time and money spent fixing constantly breaking used equipment. More digitized devices become obsolete faster, but newer products may have no replacement parts. Manufacturers may lock buyers into purchasing new models instead of having a right to repair or forcing them to go to expensive, branded repair services. Is this cycle worth it to have the shiniest cream separator?
5. Assess Longevity
Off-gridders need resilient equipment to last close to a lifetime. Reviewing the capabilities of current technologies might sway buyers to purchase an item used if new models have designs for shorter shelf lives. Planned obsolescence is a rampant trend for industrial and tech manufacturers, and more recent models are likely to become defunct sooner. Is it worth buying older and used for repairability and longevity, or obtaining the advantages of advanced features?
Organizations love to tout how new integrations and performance enhancements justify higher prices. Consider how the perspective of the battery life on a phone changed once people started watching high-definition videos on it. Translate this thinking to homesteading equipment and question how new functionality alters execution. It may impact energy efficiency, product strength and more.
Assessing available tech requires customers to look outside the new or used equipment they want to buy. Countless machines are compatible with other devices. For example, a tractor should allow numerous attachments for more comprehensive applications. Does the generator or battery storage at the store blend effectively with an off-gridder’s existing rooftop panels? People may need to buy older models for appropriate syncing and optimal output.
Another consideration is the ability to upgrade. Research if there are parts available or trade-in programs to revamp responsibly.
6. Calculate Depreciation
Off-gridders may have considered depreciation and long-term costs when evaluating budgets, but dive even deeper. Homesteading equipment has a temporary life, meaning repurchasing beloved staples, trading or reselling will happen constantly.
Consider how these items currently perform in the aftermarket scene when looking at new and used options. Identify the trends of specific brands that hold or lose their value. Notate the drastic or comparable differences between new and used models. Additionally, compare as-is used equipment versus refurbished or customized options.
Is it worth it to invest in repairs before putting it up for sale? The added profit could go into a better future purchase. Performing this equation depends on several other factors, like the product’s life expectancy and change in the manufacturer’s reputation over time.
7. Seek Expert Advice
Talking to a representative from the manufacturer could provide buyers the information they need to make an informed choice, though they may sway you to purchase something specific. Asking for third-party insights when testing a product is suggested, but who can other experts homesteaders go to for advice?
Local homesteaders, off-grid communities and people preparing for disasters have years of experience to share. They’ve likely had the same debacle of investing in new or used tech many times. Engage in local searches or seek nearby communities online.
Experienced individuals with hands-on involvement will identify more subtleties in the market that may be hard to pull from store representatives or online discourse. For example, someone may suggest always buying protective used farming clothing while never getting miter saws and power tools preloved.
Even more curious minds should venture further into the world by attending seminars, conferences, and other events to see what they can learn about the meta of new and used homesteading equipment. These communities gather academics, consultants, and hobbyists with decades of trial and error.
8. Weigh Environmental Impact
A prominent variance between new and old homestead equipment may be its carbon footprint and long-term environmental impact on soil, air, and water. Older items may use fossil fuels for power or have low to no recyclability options. This isn’t to say new equipment is devoid of these same concerns, but modern devices are more likely to be considerate of the climate crisis than antiquated alternatives.
Research and inquire about the life cycle assessments of new and used devices under consideration. Realize there may be insufficient or no data available, as this is a more modern expectation not applicable to old tech.
Repairability and available retrofits impact the item’s climate impact in another way. Fixing over time instead of throwing away an entire unit is more eco-friendly, but detractors like running diesel may diminish this boon.
These are several other environmental criteria homesteaders should review about equipment if the information is accessible to them:
- Water consumption
- Supply chain ethics
- Energy efficiency
- Compatibility with other climate-friendly tech
- Material composition
- End-of-life recyclability
- Corporate sustainability values and certifications
Off-gridders may realize buying new and used from an eco-conscious perspective is not even the right course of action — renting, leasing and borrowing may make more sense, primarily for short-term projects.
9. Know Safety and Reliability
Corporations strive to make each iteration of their products safer and more reliable than the previous. Safety standards and compliance for equipment are diverse based on what kind of item it is. Tractor regulations will differ from recommendations for miter saws.
See what rules apply to each product type and review if older versions consider modern safety. Entities like OSHA and Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories place stamps of approval on validated equipment.
Looking into personal testimonials will also give additional context. Be sure to read with precision, as user error may influence the safety of products with adequate protective measures. Lastly, someone may consider buying new homestead equipment if it is pertinent to safety, whereas older options may already be compromised in some way.
10. Determine Local Regulations and Requirements
Buying something new or used may be out of the individual’s control if local laws and regulations only permit homesteaders to have certain types of equipment. There could be restrictions on what to own on land or install based on zoning or building codes. It could be for environmental, noise or safety reasons, but check with local authorities and legal experts to verify.
Additionally, what someone owns may require permits or taxes based on its make and model. Buying a device used may avoid these logistical hurdles if it’s outside a regulation’s purview.
Final Considerations
Other lifestyle choices and values may impact more personalized and circumstantial purchasing, such as whether:
- The equipment item is shared and getting more use than recommended.
- Luxury features of modern equipment apply to current homestead layouts and habits.
- The item is presently essential or merely nice to have.
- Accessibility options of older or newer devices prevent adequate and productive use.
Is New or Used Better for Homesteading Equipment?
Buying new or used depends on the homesteader’s priorities and the item itself. Individuals may be willing to invest in the sustainability of a contemporary model, while others cannot justify the price of repairs and settle for an old variant. Fortunately, there are no right or wrong answers for off-grid living, so long as the choice benefits the land and its residents.
Note: This was a guest post.
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