What To Look For When Buying A Used Mower

If you're looking for a lawnmower, perhaps the prices of new models are a scrap overwhelming. If so, you could consider buying a used lawn mower. Simply when you purchase any kind of used equipment, there's always the danger that you lot'll end up with a dud. Today I'll walk you through what yous demand to look for when buying a used mower and highlight warning signs that y'all should watch out for so you don't waste your coin.

In that location are used lawnmowers available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and at many dissimilar price points.

The type of mower that will work best for y'all will depend upon your property size, your forcefulness and concrete status, and your lawn goals.

In this article

I'll go over the advantages and disadvantages of buying a used lawnmower,
Share with you some tips for choosing the right mower for your holding, and
I'll too discuss what to lookout for – the warning signs of a potential lemon.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Buying a Used Lawnmower

In that location are certainly a few potential advantages to buying your lawnmower used.

Advantages include:

You can buy a larger and more powerful lawnmower for a lower toll than you'd pay for a new mower.
You tin get get-go-paw knowledge from the previous owner almost how well it runs. This can be better than just relying on product descriptions and assurances from the manufacturer. Keep in mind, though, that how honest (or quack) the seller is will play a large part in whether this is an advantage or a disadvantage. This is why it's so important to do your enquiry. Discover out all you can most a seller before making a deal.

Disadvantages include:

The possibility that the previous possessor improperly used the mower and caused damage (and withholds this information).
The owner might have used the lawnmower longer or more often than they communicate.
If yous don't check the parts when buying a used lawn mower, y'all could end up with a mower that seems to work well just has a function that is about to wear out and will need to exist replaced. If you cannot replace the part, you'll take to buy another used lawnmower. And even if yous tin can replace a part, they could exist expensive and that cost could negate the financial benefits of buying a pre-endemic lawnmower in the first place.
If you end upward with a lemon of a mower, yous'll waste all of the money you saved by maintaining it. Information technology may exist worth the time and energy to buy a new lawnmower.
A used mower won't come with the full guarantees and warranties that back-trail most new models. This means that you might save money on the mower when buying information technology, but yous could terminate up having to repair or replace it very soon afterward your purchase.

It'south also very risky to buy a used mower online if you don't give the mower a rigorous inspection and test run when you pick it up.

It is important to closely wait at and try out a used mower before handing over any coin. You lot should not implicitly trust any descriptions provided online.

What Type of Lawn Mower Should Y'all Purchase?

There are a few things yous should keep in mind when ownership a backyard mower (used or new).

I recommend you consider the following 5 points before shopping for your mower:

How large is your backyard? Large lawns crave larger mowers with wider mowing decks unless yous want to be mowing all day.
How hilly is your backyard? If you accept a apartment grand you lot have more options. Hilly properties aren't great for some riding mowers and push mowers without self-propelled chapters.
What is your garage like? If you don't have space to store a large mower, yous can't realistically get 1.
What is your physical status? If you can't (or don't want to) physically push a mower around the grand, you'll want a self-propelled or riding mower.
Gas or Electric? In that location are some amazing electric backyard mower models on the market now, but older used models may non be as reliable every bit used gas mowers.

I have an article comparing different types of riding mowers, and another article comparing different types of walk-behind mowers to aid yous choose the best type of used backyard mower to buy.

How to Avoid Buying a Bad Used Lawnmower

If you lot want to purchase a used lawnmower, you probably worry that you'll end up with a useless or worn out slice of equipment. There are certain things that yous can do to avoid this.

In gild to get a high-quality used mower that you'll be able to get use out of for years to come, you will have to invest more fourth dimension in the shopping process than you would spend on finding a new model.

What to Practice When Ownership a Used Mower

Hither are the steps you lot tin can take to make sure you're not taken in past a quack seller:

Ensure that you lot meet the used mower in person and are given the time and access to take a shut look at it and try it. This is crucial regardless of what kind of mower you want to get, whether information technology be a riding mower, a gas mower, or an electric or button model. Make certain that you ask the seller very specific questions. Notice out the historic period of the mower. Ask the reason why it'due south being sold. Inquire if there is whatsoever paperwork on the machine, including such things as instructions, warranties, and guarantees). Brand an organization with the seller so you know what will exist done if the mower breaks down after you buy it. Ideally, there should be a written understanding on this.
When you test out the mower (you should practice this prior to purchase), heed to what it sounds similar as it runs and effort cutting grass with information technology. See how well information technology does its job. Think that a lawnmower's blades should always be sharp enough that the grass is cut with the first laissez passer.
Don't be pushed into agreeing to anything also apace. If the seller seems strangely rushed to become the mower off his or her easily, there could very well be something incorrect with information technology. If it seems like it's been available for sale for an inordinately long period of time, that could be another red flag.

Full general Tips for Used Lawnmower Shopping

There are many other tips you should keep in mind when you lot're shopping for a lawnmower, whether new or used.

It Can Be Tough to Buy a Used Lawnmower Online

If y'all take the opportunity to closely inspect and try out a lawnmower, you tin can find expert deals on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and elsewhere. Merely the fundamental is that you take to accept the time in-person to evaluate the machine.

Buying a used lawnmower online and having it shipped to you is asking for problem in my view.

There'southward really no substitute for being able to see something, touch it, and endeavor it in existent life. If you lot make up one's mind to render a mower that y'all bought online, it may exist an enormous hassle.

Inspect All Parts of the Mower

Brand sure to cheque out the mower's parts, taking note of the status of the blade, engine, mowing deck, and mower body.

Fire up the mower, and run it for at to the lowest degree 5 minutes. If the mower sounds like it's running equally it should and does an efficient and clean cut on grass, you lot notwithstanding cannot necessarily presume that it's in good condition.

When the seller is continuing in that location, it can be easy to feel pressured to make a quick decision and presume the mower works well subsequently a quick demo. Just it's necessary to check the parts.

If any of the parts look very worn, the mower isn't probable to last you very long after buy. As well look out for oil leaks and check the spark plug cable. It'due south cheap and easy to buy a new plug (about $eight), but replacing the cablevision can be more expensive.

Electric lawn mowers should have batteries that volition hold their charge.

Bring an Practiced With You

Are you inexperienced with mechanical equipment? A lot of us are, and a lot of us also know someone who is savvy on this subject field and knows how to work with small engines.

If you accept a friend who knows engines and has owned and maintained lawnmowers for years, endeavour to bring them with you.

This could be a family member, a friend, or your spouse.

Buy the Mower You Demand, Not the Mower You Want

Base of operations your decision on how large of a mower to buy on the area you need to mow.

If you have a very large yard or property, you will probably desire a larger and more efficient lawn mower. Extremely large backdrop will demand a ride-on mower that has a gas or diesel-powered engine.

Small-scale lawns are unremarkably fine with a pocket-sized electrical or gas model, and homeowners who have a small, apartment lot are probably all-time off ownership a new reel mower similar this one on Amazon.

Research the Backyard Mower Brand Before Y'all Purchase

Even if yous buy used, brand sure that you do online research on the model you lot plan to purchase.

Y'all want to make sure that at that place isn't annihilation faulty nigh the model in full general that yous'll end up having to bargain with later. Y'all also want to be enlightened of the longevity of mowers from that manufacturer.

Look for reviews from previous purchasers, and bank check out my article on lawn mower brands to avert (and what to buy instead).

Purchase in the Autumn, Not in the Spring

The best fourth dimension to purchase a used lawn mower is when people aren't buying used lawn mowers.

You'll become the best price, and y'all'll have your selection of the models that are available.

Requite yourself as much time as possible to store around and find the all-time possible deal on the highest quality mower you can afford.

If yous await until the grass is growing, you'll accept a smaller option, you'll pay more, and you'll be competing with other buyers.

Final Thoughts About Buying a Used Backyard Mower

Think, a backyard mower is an investment, and when buying a used lawn mower you need to:

Practise your homework,
Give information technology a examination drive,
Shop around, and
Buy the mower you demand (not the mower you desire).

When y'all do buy a mower, I recommend that you read my spring mower maintenance checklist and my tips for preparing your mower for winter storage to maintain your new machine for years to come.

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