Strategy for buying/storing consumables?

[Danny Brown]

Hi All,

My wife and I now have 6 short term rentals spread out around our small town with another 3 on the way in the next few months.  Some of these we own, some we manage for other people.  We’re quickly realizing that our trips to Walmart for consumable supplies (toilet paper, paper towels, dish detergent, etc) are becoming far too frequent.

For the people that have multiple units, what is your strategy for buying and storing these supplies?  Do you buy in bulk and store in a centralized location, and pull/replenish as needed?  Are you buying in a brick and mortar store like Walmart or Costco, or doing something like Amazon subscribe-and-save and having them shipped? For those of you that manage properties, do you charge the owners more than what you paid to compensate for your time spent shopping?

Thanks!!!

Danny