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Home Depot Secrets You’ll Want to Know
When it comes to getting the best deal on home improvement materials, Home Depot is the go-to store for many DIYers. The big-box retailer sells a wide variety of goods, including lumber, hardware, kitchen appliances, power tools, and paint and gardening supplies. Before you start your next home improvement project, take note of some of these shopping secrets. They may save you big bucks on your next Home Depot run.
Look for Lightly Damaged Goods
Don’t diss the damaged goods section at Home Depot stores. Depending on your project, you may find just what you need there, and you’ll get it at a discount. In some cases, it’s just the outer packaging that’s torn or crushed. But because it’s tough to sell something that looks damaged, the store may slap a discount sticker on it, even if the product itself is unharmed. (Of course, always check for damage before purchasing.)
Subscribe and Save
If you buy certain items regularly from your local Home Depot store, such as water filters, cleaning products, or trash bags, consider starting a subscription account. You’ll save 5 percent, plus the items will be delivered to your front door. The company’s subscription service offers free and easy returns, you can pause the service at any time, and there are no start-up or yearly fees.
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Rent a Truck
If you’re buying large items like lumber or appliances that don’t fit into your vehicle, you can rent a truck from The Home Depot. For $19, you’ll get the use of a truck for 75 minutes. Just stop by the service counter to inquire, or reserve online. This option might even be more economical than delivery.
Save on Gardening Products
Want to have a more beautiful garden and save money too? Of course you do! Just sign up for Home Depot’s Garden Club and you’ll get a $5 coupon sent straight to your in-box. The Garden Club offers members up to $300 in annual savings as well as gardening articles, DIY garden projects, and region-specific gardening tips to help your garden thrive.
Buy More, Save More
Have a large order? Ask about Home Depot’s Volume Pricing Program. Here’s how it works: Draw up a project list and bring it to the store’s Pro Desk. An associate will put together a quote for you in just a few minutes. Savings start on qualifying orders of $1,500. Certain products, including drywall, insulation, plywood, shingles, and concrete, can receive a discount when bought in bulk.
Related: Beyond IKEA: 10 Other Places to Get Affordable Furniture
Get Tool Repairs and Tune-Ups
Give your old tools new life by taking them to your Home Depot store for repairs and tune-ups. The store repairs a wide range of gas-powered tools like blowers and generators as well as electric tools by major manufacturers like Ryobi, Husky, and Milwaukee. If your tool is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, the repair will be done at no cost to you.
Save When You Buy Used
Do you need to buy a pricey tool but don’t want to break the bank? Start by checking out Home Depot’s rental department, where the company sells used rental tools. Just plug in your ZIP code to see what’s available near you. You’ll find an assortment of roofing nailers, dollies, generators, chainsaws, and more. This might be a good option for tools that you want to own but aren’t willing to pay the price to purchase new. Plus, each tool is inspected by a qualified technician before being sold.
Buy Paint at the Right Time
If you’re considering giving a room in your house a face-lift with new paint, head to The Home Depot on holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July, or Labor Day weekend. That’s when the store has a sale on paint—usually $5 off a gallon, $20 off 5-gallon buckets.
Shop Mixed Paint Mistakes
When a paint color just doesn’t turn out right, that paint ends up in Home Depot’s mistakes bin at the paint counter. These paints usually come with a big discount. This is a great way to get quality paint for a lower price. Sometimes you’ll get lucky and find the perfect color, other times you may run across a can that will work for a project where you’re not too picky about the color, such as repainting outdoor furniture, changing up the basement walls, or even freshening a guest bedroom.
Fill Out the Survey
Don’t toss that Home Depot receipt right away. Enter the code and password found at the bottom of the receipt and you’ll be entered in the Home Depot survey sweepstakes. Just answer a few questions about your shopping experience (it takes only a couple of minutes) and you could win a $5,000 Home Depot gift card. That’s a lot of DIY materials!
