I have two snowblowers, a single stage and two stage. The single stage is the most often used, and probably all you will need 90 to 95% of the time, with the exception of some years (this year has been one of those around here!). After I bought my two-stage, there were years when I had buyer's remorse. There was a stretch of about 5 years, say between 2007 and 2012, when I never used it at all. But man, when you need it, you need it, and that single stage is not of much use in those situations. I live in NWI, so I probably have more use for it than you do. But my brother lives in Noblesville, and there have been years recently when they had more snow than we did.