Shh! Here’s the Insider’s Secret to Finding Remodeling Materials for Cheap

Thrift stores aren’t just for scoring super-cheap clothing and decor. What if I told you there is a place to stock up on renovation supplies (and great furniture) without paying home improvement store prices? And shopping there contributes to a great cause?

Some smart shoppers may know just what I’m talking about: Habitat for Humanity ReStore. With nearly 900 shops around the country, these stores are the ultimate win-win. Homeowners redoing their places, downsizing, or Kondo-ing donate used goods and home materials, keeping them out of the landfill—and even getting a tax deduction. Savvy fixer-uppers and upcyclers shop there for amazing bargains, and the money spent goes toward the great work that Habitat for Humanity does in communities across the globe.

So what can you find? What can’t you find? Anything under the roof is fair game. Including the kitchen sink. According to their website, they’ll take donations of “new and gently used appliances, furniture, building materials, household goods, and more,” although it’s up to each location what they’ll take. Stores often end up a wonderland of vintage goods and materials.

Here are some of the treasures I’ve scored:

An old office door for $25. With a can of spray-on privacy frost and a couple cool letter stickers (WC, as in water closet) it became a bathroom door.

The most amazing vintage stove for $125. We call her Florence because of for the brand name, and she dates to about the ’40s. A local appliance repair shop handled the electrical work and a couple touch-ups.

A window to replace one missing from our latest fixer-upper for $40.

Awesome vintage green filing cabinets—for free. (The store put them out to the dumpster for some reason!) I used them as side tables next to a $25 vintage couch.

A chandelier for $20 that I spray-painted white.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg: Restaurants, hotels, and other corporations can donate, so you may go in one day and find, say, a bunch of hotel desks. They seem to always have cabinets in varying degrees of repair; sometimes they look brand new. I’ve seen clawfoot tubs, doors galore, patio furniture, art, miles of baseboard and trim, and tons of floor and wall tile, rugs, and carpet tile. They also carry their own line of paint and you can often find bricks, blocks, and lumber.

For all the great things about ReStore, there are—of course—some pain paints. It’s very hit or miss. Most of the time I walk away empty-handed. And rarely do I find exactly what I’m looking for. It’s more about serendipity. I mean, I didn’t know I needed a ’40s electric stove until I saw her sitting there!

You’re also going to need a truck, or know someone who can lend you one if you’re buying something bulky. There’s no delivery, and you’ll need to snap up things you love fast. Odds are pretty good that if you like it, so will the next person coming along.

And this is definitely not your place to go if you’re frightened of DIY. Most buys will benefit from a paint of coat, or a scrubbing at minimum. Plan to put some sweat equity into your purchase. Their blog offers fun project ideas if you need inspiration.

To get the best stuff, keep an eye on social media for your local store(s). The ones in my city do a  good job of posting fun new arrivals. The folks who work there are also happy to help save you a trip—call ahead to see if they have something in particular. No, I wouldn’t ask them to see about specific styles and measurements—that calls for a measuring tape and a trip to look for yourself—but they could probably tell you if there’s a vintage velvet sofa (my current treasure hunt), for example.

Here’s a pro ReStore tip: When I find something I like, I usually quickly check Etsy, Ebay, and a standard home improvement store on my phone for a similar item to make sure it’s a good deal. The vast majority of the time, it’s legit a great value, but sometimes prices are weirdly high on random things. Have an idea what that would cost elsewhere before you get overly excited and plunk it in your cart.

Even with all that, ReStore is my first stop when I’m on the hunt for renovation or refurnishing goodies. And it should totally be yours, too!