mower predicament

Im having a bit of a hard time with a mower decision I need to make.
I am currently renting one side of a duplex house. It is really nice actually.
next fall my wife and I will be looking to buy a house. But until than I made a deal with my landlord that if he doesn't raise the rent for my last year there I will cut the lawn for him to give him more time with his wife and new baby. I am going to purchase a mower not really for the rental but to make that one less purchase when I do buy my home next year.
my predicament. Do I buy a push mower which I will use here easily and most likely need at the house, or do I buy a riding mower that I can still use here all tho its overkill but have the more expensive purchase out of the way when the time comes. One stipulation I have for home shopping is a yard big enough for my 2 boys to play in, which I for see being large enough to justify a riding mower

 

I'd try to find a used push mower on Craigslist, estate sale, etc.
Because you don't plan on buying a house until next year I wouldn't spend any more money than necessary at this time.

Good luck.

 

X2 on this.

I'd wait to spend a lot specialy till you know what you will need. If the yard isn't that big now, you could also pick up a cheap electric mower too.

 

You can get a nice Craftsman push mower at Sears for like $150. Even with a yard big enough to have a rider there is probaly still some push mowing that will be required so its not like you wont need it in the future.

 

Depending on where in CT you are, I have a push mower that I'd give you for nothing. I bought it for $50 off Craigslist when I first bought my house 2 years ago and have since aquired a new mower from my father-in-law. It's a Lawnboy Silver Series, it burns oil and the drive no longer works so it's a true push mower but starts first pull every time. It ain't pretty but it gets the job done. I'm about 45 min to an hour SW of Boston. If you're interested, let me know and you can come get it any time.

I tend to agree with the posts above. Even if you don't take mine, don't spend a lot of money just yet, you might need it for other things on your new home.

 

You never know where life will take you man. I for damn sure didn't know even 8 to 10 years ago where or under what conditions I'd be living today. I thought I did but... Buying a mower isn't like getting married especially if you take the free offer on here. Otherwise I'd do the CL or new push. I'm guessing this time of year there may be some sales.

So...
1.) free push
2.) decent but cheap used push
3.) decent but cheap new push

 

i decided to go the push route, I will need that regardless of where im living, and as mentioned above even with a yard big enough for a rider I will probably still need a push mower. I plan on buying new as I don't want to acquire someone elses problems. I have a good local power equipment shop 5 minutes away I will buy something decent from them that will last me a long time.
the theory behind buying something good now is to avoid large purchases at the time of purchasing the home, I will be spending enough money at that time

 

I would go with a push mower now. I know you want land/yard for the boys but you don't know if the yard will be stagered or seperated by fences and or walls that would limit your need for a rider

 

Have you looked on Craigslist. This time of year, a lot of people dump fairly new mowers. I got a 2 year old Self Propelled Toro for $75 in Great condition with no issues. Starts on the first pull. Lawn Mower don't hold their resale Value like a Tacoma.

 

Can't blame him for going new. He has a point about inheriting someone else's problems. I bought mine for $50 on craigslist and it runs, and gets the job done, but that's about all you can say about it. The drive cable broke and it burns oil (I call it the free built in mosquito fogger).

 

I will be going with a Husqvarna, I have a bunch of their smaller equipment and love it. I have no problem buying new, I know it will be used for a long time to come, beats finding a new cheap mower every 2 years or so

 

As one who owns both, just a point to ponder.

When you get that house next year, you will need a push mower most likely. That said, you'll barely need one. I filled my Craftsman push with fuel start of this season and haven't even used half that tank..yes I used stabilizer too.

Therefore, a cheap push mower now will last a long time when you get to that point.

 

True, but in this case free is a good price to pay..

I had an old Lawn Boy that did the same thing..fun fun

 

my wife and I were so poor when we bought our first house we push mowed several acres with a 20 year old toro thing ran like banshee. My advice save your money and buy a used push mower great exercise too.