If you’re like any homeowner, you have probably dreamed about having a luscious, green lawn. Maintaining your lawn is one of the easiest things you can do to enhance curb appeal (and have your neighbors talking.) That’s why it’s important to invest in a good lawn mower that fits your lawn’s specific needs. Fortunately, buying the right lawn mower for the job is easy when you follow a few simple steps. Try your best to avoid the most common mistakes that people make when buying a new lawn mower by keeping these tips in mind:

Purchasing the wrong size lawn mower

Searching for a lawn mower online gives you thousands of results, reports House Digest. In reality, there are four main types of mowers: riding or ride-on, walk, power, and drive. It’s best to narrow down your search by the size of your lawn, your comfort, and your needs.

The cheapest lawn mower isn’t always best

All lawn mowers have advantages and disadvantages, but going the cheap route isn’t always the best. For example, reel mowers may not be the best option if you have tall grass with leaves scattered. If that’s the case, you’ll want to invest in a rotary mower. These types of mowers make it easier to mow large, uneven areas.

Not buying a powerful enough mower

Believe it or not, different mowers have different levels of power. What types of blades does your lawn mower have? Is it gas or electric? Does it have a cord? These are the factors you should consider before making your purchase.

Buying a lawn mower you are not able to start

There’s nothing worse than preparing yourself to mow your grass, only to find out that you can’t turn on the mower. Most lawn mowers come equipped with a pull string, which happens to be one of the most common reasons why mowers don’t start. Other problems include a smoking mower, blades not spinning correctly, and loss of power. Regular maintenance is key, and make sure you are prepared to troubleshoot any issues.

Not reading the owner’s manual

Your user manual is there to help you. It will help you learn everything about your new lawn mower. If you try to power yours up before reading about it, you might cause some expensive damage. Have you misplaced your user manual? Most companies have their handbooks online. You can also reach out to the manufacturer for further assistance.

Not having a secure place to store it

Lawn mowers are huge pieces of machinery, so it’s essential to store them in a dry, secure place when not in use. Garages and sheds work just fine. That way, it won’t get damaged by the outside elements. Also, remember not to pile items on top of it.

Learn more about your town’s waste regulations

Lawn waste does have regulations that differ from state to state. So, before you mow, study your town’s guidelines, and learn when the waste gets picked up. It will help you have a consistent mowing schedule.