Used home appliances on OLX.ua, alerts in Viber

A pre-viewing checklist for a used washing machine

Before you travel: ask for a photo of the rating plate, the load in kilograms and the width, and whether the receipt survives. On the spot: run a short programme with a spin, listen for rumbling bearings, look under the door for drips, and check the door seal for mould. Turn the drum by hand; it should move smoothly without grinding.

Ask how the machine was used and why it is being sold. A clear, unhurried answer and a working demonstration tell you more than any adjective in the listing.

Fridges and freezers need the compressor running first

A fridge that has stood unplugged cannot prove anything in five minutes. Ask the seller to switch it on several hours before you come, then check that both compartments are properly cold and that the compressor cycles rather than running nonstop. Look at the seals around the doors and for rust at the back.

The energy class sticker and the model number help you judge running costs and age. An older, cheaper unit may cost more over a few years of electricity than a younger one at a slightly higher price.

What a Viber message about an appliance shows

Viber alerts are text: no photo card and no buttons. You get the seller’s own title, which often says a lot, and the price. Narrow Indesit 6 kg with documents at a reasonable figure is the kind of line worth tapping right away, while a vague title at a suspiciously low price deserves a careful look.

For people who never installed Telegram, Viber is the easiest route: the alert lands in the app they already open many times a day.

Power stations and inverters for power cuts

Many people in Ukraine also look for portable power stations, inverters and large power banks for outages. Put the capacity or wattage you need in the search words and set a minimum price so cables and small accessories stay out. Ask to see the unit charge and run a real load, such as a kettle or a router, for a few minutes.

Smaller items like these often travel by Nova Poshta. Agree on inspection at the branch and payment after it rather than paying a stranger in full upfront.

Check frequency and the cost of getting it home

Free covers one search, checked every 30 minutes. Starter at $5.99 covers five searches checked every 10 minutes, and Pro at $14.99 covers twenty searches with the fastest checks. Viber is included on all three. Budget separately for a cargo taxi, stairs without a lift and installation, which can change which offer is really the cheaper one.