It helps to make a list of the features most important to you, and then it's almost a must to sit down and try out machines at dealerships. Some machines that look great on paper end up feeling uncomfortable (I'm particularly sensitive to noisiness!). Take your own fabrics and do the kind of sewing you would be doing at home. It doesn't help to do elaborate embroidery stitches at the dealership and be wowed by that if 99.9% of your sewing is going to be piecing seams and free motion quilting.