Several secrets to saving money on appliances for the kitchen

It's no secret that a kitchen appliance is a major purchase. When you're on the hunt, you'll want to learn a few of these clever money-saving tips from industry insiders.

Don't give attention to seasonal sales
You don't want to wait until your refrigerator or oven breaks before exchanging it, but you avoid need to time your purchases around Memorial Day time, Black Friday or other sales events, either.

"If anyone looks at advertisements for appliances, you'll see appliances are always for sale, inches says Kevin Brasler, executive editor at Consumers' Checkbook. "It's just one sale after another. But when you consider the prices they may offering, they're roughly the same. " A 10-month investigation by Checkbook's puzzle shoppers found that the sales prices -- even heavily discounted ones -- on cookware at many well-known stores are more often than not the most common prices.

Brasler recommends consumers commence shopping for kitchen appliances when they're ready to buy them rather than waiting for "deals" from retailers.

Get quotes via email
Although it will pay to shop around when buying kitchen appliances, many consumers make the blunder of physically going to stores for quotes when they should be getting them through email, Brasler says. -Doing so will not only help you save time but also protect you from succumbing to a salesperson's face-to-face negotiating tactics. In addition, "it forces stores to compete for your business, " Brasler says.

Look past advertised prices
The majority of appliance manufacturers dictate the minimum prices at which stores can advertise their products, explains Dean Schwartz, president of home home appliances at Sears. In other words, just because something happens to be listed at a certain price doesn't mean you may not get a much better deal.

Examine policies
If you have a favorite retailer -- either because you're a member or because there is a store credit card that offers rewards -- see whether the shop is willing to complement the best price you obtained. Many big retailers do. Greatest coupe, for instance, matches the prices of local competition and major online retailers. At the same time, Home Depot offers customers a "low-price guarantee" on all in-store purchases, meaning the store will defeat the price of a competitor by 10 percent.

When looking for deals, look at both online and in-store promotions. (They don't always match, Schwartz says. )

Check for utility rebates
Many manufacturers offer discounts on appliances, but a lot of shoppers avoid cash in on utility rebates, says Dan DiClerico, home expert at HomeAdvisor. You can search for rebates on Energy Star appliances at -energystar. gov/rebate-finder and on your utility company's website. "A lot of them are mail-in rebates, so it's an extra step, but it's easy money in your pocket, " DiClerico says.

Hire a service provider for unit installation
A quantity of retailers charge high fees for installation services. (Some stores quoted Checkbook's mystery shoppers $250 or more to install dishwashers and $200 or more to install gas ranges. ) Try hiring a certified plumber, electrician or HVAC contractor to install home appliances at more affordable price. You can use an online site such as Angie's List or HomeAdvisor to find service professionals, compare prices and read customer reviews.

Buy old
On a tiny budget? Buying used appliances can be a good way to cut costs, but you have to search smart. Generally, you will want to obtain a used-appliances store that sells restored products with warranties rather than from Craigslist or eBay, where you don't really know very well what you're getting.

One reputable spot to purchase lightly used appliances is a Habitat for Humanity Bring back, an independently owned shop that donates a part of its proceeds to the nonprofit organization.