Okay so my driveway was lookin' straight up nasty after last winter – all grimy and stained. I knew I needed a proper pressure washer, something tough. Kept hearin' "Mi-T-M" thrown around in forums, like it's the heavy-duty stuff.

Step one was figuring out what I actually needed. Forget fancy terms, I just needed something to blast concrete clean, maybe handle my deck later. Started googling like "mi-t-m pressure washer how much". Big mistake. Prices were all over the place! Saw stuff from kinda pricey to "sell-my-kidney" expensive. Felt overwhelmed fast.

Then I remembered those "refurbished" deals. You know, like when stores sell machines someone returned or that were display models? Checked out a few big tool places online – sure enough, they had some Mi-T-M stuff marked "outlet" or "refurbished". Way cheaper than brand new. Like… hundreds cheaper sometimes. Felt like finding hidden treasure. Almost grabbed one right then, but held back.

Next I just went simple: I picked two models that seemed right for my driveway size. One was like the basic workhorse model (small one), the other was a step up (bigger one). Wrote those model numbers down – that's key!

Huntin' time. I ain't just buyin' the first thing I see. I took those two model numbers and checked everywhere:

• Big online stores: Obvious place. Prices were okay, but you know how it is.
• Actual local equipment dealers: Drove out to one. Nice to see the machines in person, get a feel. Guy there actually knew his stuff, which helped. Prices were competitive, sometimes better than online.
• Those "outlet" sections online: Kept lookin' for those refurbished listings for my two chosen models. Found one for the smaller model! Saved a good chunk.

Price shock was real. Just the base Mi-T-M machines? Yeah, starts high. But the real kicker? Attachments! You want that surface cleaner for the driveway? Extra hose? Yeah, add another couple hundred easy. That "great price" suddenly wasn't so great anymore. Gotta factor that crap in from the start.

Ended up goin' with the smaller model, refurbished. Found it at a dealer's online "outlet" section. Got a decent price on it. Honestly, it's probably more machine than I strictly needed, but I wanted that Mi-T-M rep for lasting. Saved probably… 30% compared to brand new? Used those savings to grab a basic surface cleaner attachment right away. Felt smart.

Biggest lesson? Mi-T-M ain't cheap. Period. But don't pay full price like a sucker. Dig for refurbished (seriously, saved my bacon), shop local dealers too (they surprised me), and DO NOT forget the cost of extra bits and pieces. Know your models cold before you start hunting. Felt like a mission, but man, blasting that grime off my driveway with a legit machine? Worth every penny saved.