Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores - Thrift Store for DIYers!

[eyePod]

Just visited the local one by me.  Holy crap there was a ton. I just needed some smaller screws, but they had almost anything you could imagine.

Appliances, lighting fixtures, paints, lumber, cabinets, dishes, tools, etc.

I guess it's either donations from contractors or leftover materials from some of their own jobs.

They even had huge buckets of miscellaneous screws/nails that you could buy for $0.50 a pound. 

Obviously it's all hit or miss depending on what they have and you need, but still, a lot of their proceeds go to a good cause.  I think it fits right into the mustachian mentality!

http://www.habitat.org/restores/

[SavingMon(k)ey]

I've never been to a ReStore but have volunteered with HH and I know they also get donations from people who renovate and tear out stuff that's still useable. Anyone can call them, and they bring a skilled team to your house and tear things out for free, so people can save on the labor for that part of a renovation job.

I also just mentioned to my partner just yesterday that we could go there to look for a door (the one to the garage suffered water damage with the massive amounts of rain here in CO last week). Think we might find something like that, there?

[eyePod]

I didn't dig in too deep into the back area with all the wood/cabinets etc, but I'm sure there could be doors there.  May be great to give them a quick call first to see if they have what you need?

[kdms]

I also just mentioned to my partner just yesterday that we could go there to look for a door (the one to the garage suffered water damage with the massive amounts of rain here in CO last week). Think we might find something like that, there?

I would think there'd be a high probability.  Every time I go (there's two locations here in Ottawa) there's more doors than you know what to do with.  Definitely call first.  A few years ago we did a pretty big reno to our dining room (moved a window and installed a door - climbing through the window to the deck was not an option - long story) and instead of paying $1200 retail for a 6ft slider we paid $400 for the same door that had been donated by Home Depot out of one of their display units.  However, we did get the contractor to verify the measurements - in person - before we bought it.

[Tyler]

This. Is. Awesome.  Thanks for the tip!

It looks like the local Austin ReStore is actually the original.  I'll have to check it out this weekend.

[Ductyl]

My take on the ReStores is that they're absolutely wonderful as long as you're not picky. They have some very nice stuff there, and as long as you're not trying to match something you already have at home, you can usually find something quite nice. They have a pretty nice selection of one-off doors and windows, so as long as you don't mind mismatched stuff, you'll probably find something.

This is also a great place to find any PVC pieces you need for projects, they sell the connectors *by the pound* at a ridiculously good price. Also, if I wanted to tile something, I'd probably come here first and see if they had anything I liked... so much cheaper.

[MrsPete]

We plan to start building our retirement home in 2-3 years, and I'm visiting the Habitat store occasionally to pick up . . . well, whatever.  I don't go in there looking for specific things, but I've picked up some light fixtures and some plumbing fixtures.  Since they cost pennies on the dollar, it's worth my time and effort to put them aside and save them; however, since I am saving them for a while, I'm pretty picky about what I buy. 

The thing I wish I could've bought:  An oversized kitchen island with a granite countertop.  Absolutely gorgeous, and it was priced just under $2000.  Purchased new, this thing would easily have been more than $10,000.  But it wasn't practical:  I might never be able to match the other cabinets to it, and I have nowhere to store it.  For the right person, what a deal. 

My brother, who travels for work, tells me that the best Habitat stores are located in the more expensive parts of town.  He's made some amazing finds; for example, a garage door (he had to buy an electric lift separately) and a plain wooden door for his workshop . . . less than $100 for the two.   

[kendallf]

I picked up all of the tile for my bathroom at our local Restore for $57.  :-)  Also got a nice refrigerator for $125.  I need to go back this week; I'm looking for a table top for my fold-out dining table project.

[eyePod]

You guys are getting some great deals.  This is one the reasons I can't wait to buy a house.  Getting deals like this would be awesome!  I saw one of those microwaves/vents that sits over the stove for 50 bucks.  I'm guessing the appliances are new or taken from a model home.  Those things cost a pretty penny brand new though.  Would be great to get one on the cheap.

[greenmimama]

We got some great deals on our interior basement doors, we bought them for $25/piece real solid wood doors, in a current style, we had to pay $225/piece for the ones we bought before that.

We saved almost 2k, loved that deal!

[eyePod]

We got some great deals on our interior basement doors, we bought them for $25/piece real solid wood doors, in a current style, we had to pay $225/piece for the ones we bought before that.

We saved almost 2k, loved that deal!

That's nuts.  Although we were looked at weird for buying a sturdier desk for $75 from the thrift store.  Which replaced a $25 one we had from Big Lots for 8 years.  I guess we're not the norm.

[KatieSSS]

What a great tip! I had no idea these restores existed. I've told three people about this IRL in the last five minutes! I love everything about this and will keep it in mind one day when I own a home.

[yogagirl95]

I am now on a first name basis with my local store. I am restoring a 1945 cape cod. I was missing all the lighting, and was able to replace that. Also got a stove, and a leaded stained glass lamp. Going back this week for a vintage outside door ( they hold things for me now).

I also stopped by another that is close to my work. Got tile flooring that I wanted, but was discontinued from my flooring store. Got 90 sq feet for $19.  I have just enough for my kitchen now. I spent an hour on the floor sorting all their tiles!
I also picked up some tiles for my bathroom. When I had the tub taken out I lost about 6. So I got those to be replaced.

Ive also spotted some vintage furniture there. And many newer building materials. And pink sinks and toilets! Some people are restoring there bathrooms back to those colors believe it or not.

[SavingMon(k)ey]

Ive also spotted some vintage furniture there. And many newer building materials. And pink sinks and toilets! Some people are restoring there bathrooms back to those colors believe it or not.

Yikes! I rented a place with a pink tub for a long time. It was so hideous that  when I moved and made a list of things I didn't miss, that tub was on there! Lol!

[cosmie]

Re-Stores are a fantastic place to find appliances. Most people don't know this, but Whirlpool Corporation donates a complete set of appliances to go into every Habitat for Humanity home built. At the same time, they receive a lot of donations of virtually new appliances from builders and appliance stores (display models), as well as used appliances from private donations. The majority of these get funneled directly to the ReStores and sold super cheap since they aren't needed in the HH homes. And in some cases the donations from Whirlpool end up in the ReStores, so you get appliances direct from the manufacturer for pennies on the dollar.

[sleepyguy]

Yeah H4H is always the 2nd place I check out if I'm doing some kinda of reno where I can save cost, first I check the free ads on Kijiji.

Fluked out one time getting a perfect fitted blinds for our very large bay window... Homedepot cost $275, H4H cost $35... and it was brand new and white :)

[yogagirl95]

Ive also spotted some vintage furniture there. And many newer building materials. And pink sinks and toilets! Some people are restoring there bathrooms back to those colors believe it or not.

There is actually a save the pink bathrooms website! 


Yikes! I rented a place with a pink tub for a long time. It was so hideous that  when I moved and made a list of things I didn't miss, that tub was on there! Lol!