Potentially saving time, money and effort it is worth bearing in mind that there are likely two main reasons that the equipment is available for purchase second hand. That it's no longer reliable or that it's no longer needed for reasons of insolvency, upgrade or a change in the operation. You can minimize the risks of purchasing used farm equipment by buying from a reputable source and getting the maintenance records.

It's widely considered that the safest bet when picking up used machinery is the local machinery dealer as they usually know the history of the machine and may have even reconditioned it themselves. Often they will provide a warranty on the machine and help get it up and running.

On the other hand, the riskiest place to purchase machinery is likely to be at auctions as often there are no maintenance records available, and the real reasons as to why the machine is being sold might not be known. The pace of an auction is also usually quite fast for the inexperienced buyer to keep on top of things.

Somewhere between the lurking threat of an auction and the comfortable expense of a local dealer lies the wonder of the Internet. Buying online will certainly offer you the greatest choice of equipment. It's also likely to provide some of the most competitive pricing.

Online farm equipment classifieds and agricultural machinery chat rooms provide a rich source of great used equipment deals with the Internet playing a valuable role in helping get better deals since it's easy to find used machinery prices. If used wisely the Internet is probably the best bet when it comes to purchasing equipment especially if it leads you to a local dealer who you can buy from using Internet prices. It's the best of both worlds.

Wherever you source your used equipment it is worth remembering a few pieces of advice. Firstly, the brand of machinery is very important when it comes to finding a dealer for repair and parts service. Some brands have better resale when you may want to sell the machine on.

Don't be seduced by a new coat of paint - it can cover many defects. Always check under the bonnet for knocks and bangs and be sure to get the equipment up and running. Check the bearings, knuckles, joints or working parts for damage or indications of wear. Listen to the equipment running and check for excessive exhaust or smoke.

Try to but as locally as possible. The problem when buying from afar being that when you take into account expenses such as fuel, travel time, hired help, trailer rental and lost income you may actually find that you're not getting as good a deal as you thought.