5 Big Box Alternatives for Buying Materials, Tools & Appliances

We've all been to the big box stores like Lowes and Home Depot to buy new building materials, tools & appliances. Although this is often the easiest, most convenient solution, you may be able to save substantially by finding alternative resources for purchasing materials, tools & appliances...

Here are a couple resources that I have found to help save a significant amount of money without sacrificing quality.

1. Online Shopping

Online shopping is a great new resource for rehabbers & investors for buying building materials. Not only can you find great deals, but you can also make the purchases right from the comfort of your home and have the materials delivered directly to the project site.

Amazon.com is a great resource that I have used to buy fixtures and smaller items, such as door handles, cabinet knobs, plumbing fixtures, & even light fixtures. Amazon has a wider variety of design styles than the big box stores, so you can find trendy fixtures & design elements that will help your project stand out from your competition.

Also, consider Build.com or BuildDirect.com which both specialize in selling building materials, fixtures & appliances that you won't find in the big box stores.

2. Craigslist.com or OfferUp.com

Craigslist.com is a very valuable online resource to find new or used building materials, appliances, furniture, etc. Some of the best items to find on Craigslist are tools and appliances.

You can often find brand new kitchen appliances at a 50% discount or more...although one should be wary of buying used appliances because they will likely not have a valid warranty and can be more susceptible to defects.

If you are a contractor or a 'do-it-yourselfer', Craigslist can also be a great resource for finding deals on lightly used tools & construction equipment.

If you can't find it on Craigslist, checkout a fairly new competitor called OfferUp.com which has a 'Pinterest'-esque user interface so you can quickly see images of all the materials for sale on their site.

3. Auctions

To be honest, I think I have had the best luck and found the best deals at local live auctions or local online auctions.

Perform a Google Search to find local auctioneers and auction sites in your area. Often times you can find auctions for building materials, tools & appliances for significant discounts!

I recently bought around 600 sqft of high-end, 3/4" hardwood flooring for $1/sf . This material would have likely retailed for at least $5/sf, so I essentially saved $2,400+ on the material.

I also purchased an entire 17 piece kitchen set for $2,000 with all the bells & whistles, such as raised wood door fronts, plywood construction, & soft close drawers. I bet I saved at least $3,000 on this kitchen set!  

4. Outlet Stores

Check out your local outlet stores for appliances and building materials. Often times outlet stores will have damaged, refurbished, or discontinued appliances or materials that you can save more than 50%.

I recently purchased a new stainless steel refrigerator from the Sears Outlet Store for 50% off retail due to a small dent on the side of the refrigerator!

5. Habitat for Humanity Restore

Habitat for Humanity Re-Store can be another great resource to buy building materials for significant discounts. Local builders, contractors, & suppliers donate new building materials, extra materials or de-constructed materials from their projects to the ReStore. The ReStore then resells the materials at a significant discount and all of the proceeds go to the Habitat for Humanity charity!...So not only are you getting cheap building materials, you are also helping a good cause!

In summary, big box stores are the easiest way to find building materials, tools & appliances for your projects, but this convenience usually comes with a premium. To really save on costs, consider some of these alternatives and maximize your profits.