Habitat for Humanity ReStore - The Affordable Alternative

The ReStores may be one of non-profit Habitat for Humanity's lesser known "secrets". Monies from all donated goods and materials sold at ReStores are used to help Habitat fund their house building projects. Buying there enables customers to contribute to others and help themselves to significant savings at the same time.

Huge discounts are available at all Habitat for Humanity ReStores. Anyone who is into DIY and saving money on home improvement projects should visit their local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Run, don't walk!!!

(Photo credit Pam Irie)

What you see is what you get.

Make sure you don't miss any bargains. Because of the nature of donations, the stock is constantly changing. Ask whether your local ReStore has a sign up list for email notifications. You'll find many ReStores also have a Facebook page.

Find their Facebook page and sign up. A heads up notice can give you an advantage if you're looking for particular building materials, hardware or supplies.

(Photo credit Pam Irie)

How can they sell so cheap?

Habitat for Humanity ReStores are VERY affordable. Building materials are donated from local contractors, local hardware and home improvement stores and regular consumers like myself. Perhaps you've also donated in the past?

In addition, many of the workers at ReStores are volunteers.The stores themselves are usually housed in a warehouse building with concrete flooring. Plain shelving and no-frills, low maintenance is the norm. All this contributes to ensuring you get some really good bargains. (Which makes you keep coming back for more.) Win, win for everybody.

(Photo courtesy Searcy, AK ReStore)

Inventory changes quickly; check back often.

Shelves at ReStores hold whatever has been donated. Doors, windows, appliances, paint, wood trim, tile, various flooring, hardware, hand and power tools, electrical and plumbing fixtures, sinks, tubs, showers, toilets........you name it. Your ReStore will probably have it in some shape or form at any given time. The trick is checking back often as inventory changes quickly.

(Photo credit Pam Irie)

BHG designers recognize and use good things when they see them. This kitchen redo was done with building materials purchased at a local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Among the many tips in the article, they suggest taking advantage of whatever shades of wood flooring is available to create the mosaic flooring pictured. This is a great idea because the current stock at each ReStore is in direct relation to the donations taken in by each individual store. In short, if you see it, better grab it now.

(Photo credit BHG website)

Local Habitat for Humanity ReStore Find!

We purchased two brand new louvered windows for our DIY outdoor storage shed at our local ReStore for $30 each! They are a little odd sized at nearly 5 ft long x 1 ft high, but these fit perfectly into our storage shed design. The window placement takes advantage of our tradewinds to allow a nice crossflow of air.

(Photo credit Pam Irie)

There are a total of 700 Habitat for Humanity ReStores in the U.S. 48 of the 50 United States have ReStores (including Alaska and Hawaii). As of June 2011, the two states currently without ReStores are North Dakota and West Virginia (according to the latest list on the ReStore website).

There are 60 Habitat for Humanity ReStores in Canada.

Use this directory to locate a ReStore near you.

(Photo credit Pam Irie)