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A HOME DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT FEATURE Now 'fashionable'. to"bu yus:edappliances To many people, it seems stovesand other major appliances on i beakdown when theres not much moey in the ban.k. But Onàtarios Consumer Ministry augsa the used appliance market is a good way to avoid paying more than you can afford. "T'heres been a big change in public attitude toward used goods" says Marilym Gurevsky, a manager of thM ministry',s Conumer Services Bureaus. "At on, time, many people feit there was a stigma attached to buying usled articles. But enthusiaom for recycing and reusing has helped make it more fashionable." Buying used, epcal lar -tiktitems, suhffas household appliances, cari help curb credit problemns. For example, if your fridge quits tonight, it cari be tempting to buy on. on. credit. ' Don't pay 'til spring' offers at sonie stores may increase your inoentive to buy. But these offers are onlY worthwhile if you'Ilb. able to pay off the full amount when the bill is due.. If not, it pays to look for leesepesve alternatives. hreare maný good places to, shop for used appliances. iàstings for used fridges, stves, washers, dishwashers and microwave ovens cari be found in newspapers and on cable-vsion prgan.Also, sMme magazines and community newspapers specalize in advertising second- had goods. Many of these appliances are An good condition. Sme people mili eUi ktchen equipment when they move or renovate just because the old fiidge and stove don't fit the style of their new kitchen. In mnme cases, manufacturera' warranties may still be valid.. But other privato sellers want te replace. appliances that arent energy efficient, or no longer' work well. Gurevsky says the consumers hoast protection against inferior used goods is caution. "Once money lhas changed hands, the private seller isn't obliged te rearthe unit, or to take it bak"she says. Before buying fio= a private seller, check -the appliance carefully. The seller should plug it in and let you te st it. Ché&k thati door seals are intact and tMeauecontroaswork. oe th ppliance look dlean and well crdfor? A little paint cari disguise a small dent, but interior rust or corrosion may ha signs of serious trouble. Used appliances may also ha available in lre retail stores. Department stor es that service appliances often have items that were brought in for rprsbut nùot picked up. In uera aeas, itse common for stS orst repai these units for resale -- ftn with a full warranty. But this policy isndt INGROUMD 16'X32 .AMA POOLS s12,99c5(o Price includes 3 foot 0 CO always advertised. A phone calI te service departm---ente wiil letý you klow if theoilsuch items. Other stores specialize in uised-appia.nces. Warranties and guarantees can vary from one store te, the next, an make sure te This article is prouided by local reait ors and the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) for the bene/lt of consumera in the real estate market. If you feel like al the living space in your home is steadily haing gobbled up to meet your famiy's changing needs, then mayha it's time te take a long, critical look at your surroundings. Ini the past, when people started to feel crazped in their homes, they tended te, move on te bigger, more spacious dwellings. But today, more and more homeowners are choosing te, enflarge their' existing living quarters rather than relocating te new surroundings. They're also lookcing at ways te make more efficient use of available space -- particularly in large urban centres. So if you!re starting to feel a little hemmrtd-in, keep in mind W~1lM ask- whether parts and labour are included. and about the terms of the protection. Othe r bargains cari also b. found at stores that spcalize in dented andsthd items. These appliances' may work perfectly and have a ful warranty, but are priced wel below those in A-i condition. Second-hand stores operat ed by charitable., institutions are another good source of bargains. oansuch as -the Slvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul Society, March of Dimes and Goodwill Industries sell appli- ances and many other items at low prices. There's an added benefit. Shoppers who buy from a registered non-profit charitable organization pay no (J8T. The goods may ha priced very low, but that there are many options available. The most obvious choice, of course, is te, add an addition. When built te blend in with and complement your original- home, an addition cari add toits value and beauty. However, building an addition -- particularly a large one -- may not always b. possible, either due te local bylaws or a lack of land. If y ou have a tiny lot and youlre thinking of expanding, you'll have te, decide whether or not youIre wiiling te, sacrifice most of your available outdoor space te, add oerte your home -- providing of course, that you can warranties andgurateesare usua]ly Aot ofrd Whenever a warranty is provided, make sure i s in writing. But buying one product rather than anothier just'because youreciveawarranty cari b. a mistake.If thefirmgoesout of business, the warranty is worthless. For information.on a variety of consumer issues, call or write for the free. brochure, - A. constumer god mine,? thatlista rnany pamphlets - available, from.,the Consumer Information Centre, Ministiy 'of .Consumer ,and Commercial, Relations, tBrut loor,, 5M5 Yonge St., Torontc, Ont, M7A 2H16, telephone (416) 326-8555 in the 'Toronitoaeaor, coilect from area code - 807 only.- From other parts of the province, ca toil free 1-800-268-1142. Special, visual equipment for use by'the hearing and speech impaied is available at (416) 326-8566. obtain the necessary permnits te carr out your plans. Some owners 'o f small prprties choost'te expand their h rns upwards, by adding an additional storey. Tnistype Of rnvatinriturn a umal bungalow inte an attractive, more spacious home. Using oeiutin pc The otherJternaive is tap inte existing and often-wasted space, such as your basement garage or attic. Thea. areas of your home can give yuan additional, one, two or thre extra SER PAGE 17 " 8 Types of wre shelsng-wve'Icut to qualtsed idstairs. or you may installt fit atrno extra cost. e.Availabe in widths o 6", 9 ,12. "Ail Vinyl Coated Steel Shelvng. 16- & 20 *. " Ideal fordcothes or iînendcosets and e Competve priciN. personal service. storage sheves. aOver 300,000Oleet of shelvng sold- " Rocis and Ixackets extra. anrually. "eGuaranteeci installations byopur own (£&%CE AQE HE .c co I 1~ z t:. i 'i 1~ s, ~~O 00 USIED APPUACE o 00 I , e1 Expnigy rlvn se 1 ýàjjgmqLzjvjqmLý ârLaplille Plus 900 Hopkins St. at Burns Whilby (be-hind the restaurant) 668-3192 1