Should I still prefer buying used heavy equipment over new?

[My Equipment]

Hi Everyone,

For the last few years, I have been using some old equipment for my day-to-day project. Now, as I am expanding my construction contract business, I am curious about investing in some new pieces of equipment or choosing to buy used heavy equipment.

Keeping the budget in mind, I personally want to go with used ones, but I can still manage to buy some new and latest models of an excavator or grader.

What would you guys prefer to go for?

What should I look for in a seller's transparency—service history, inspection records, and overall condition of used equipment?