Home Improvement Stores

Shopping at Home Improvement Stores

Home improvement stores have begun to crop up in droves in the past few decades putting the control of many common household improvement or repair needs into the hands of the consumer. Many of these stores formerly retailed only to professional contractors or construction crews; however theses same supplies that are used by professionals can now be purchased by the general public and used individually at home.

The existence of home improvement stores that are easily accessible has brought a number of benefits and drawbacks for individuals that are fixing their homes. While cutting down costs to the consumer, smaller stores, such as local hardware stores, and contracting companies have lost business as a result of the lessening demand for professionals.

One other drawback is the concept itself of placing the home improvement capabilities directly into the hands of the consumer, as many people who may not be qualified for certain jobs, may attempt them causing injury or damaging the house they were trying to improve. Some home improvement stores offer classes on certain types of repairs and home improvements and encourage their customers to get educated to avoid any unpleasant results when attempting to do a job that has traditionally been reserved for professionals.

Home-Only

Home improvement stores such as Lowe’s, Sutherlands and Home Depot carry products that serve a specific purpose. From lumber to machinery to plants and barbecue supplies, virtually everything necessary for home improvement can be found in these places, usually at a very affordable price. Staff members are on-hand to offer assistance and many of them were formerly employed in the field that they work in at retail. These large, national chains rely on customer service to attract consumers and offer education and assistance to those have questions or are inexperienced in certain types of home improvements.

Home-Plus

Other large, national retail stores also carry a number of home improvement supplies, however not on the same scale as those specifically designed for ho me improvement. Stores such as Super Wal-Mart may carry a variety of gardening, light construction, home repair and other supplies, however their stock is not meant for major repairs. Typically, if only interested in purchasing smaller home improvement supplies, such as hammers, paint and even ladders, a store that relies on cost-effectiveness may be the place to go to save money, however, the larger, home-only stores will have a wider variety of options.

Online

The internet has brought home improvement stores to the fingertips of everyone who has a computer. Often times these stores will deliver products, even larger ones, directly to the home of the consumer via trucking shipment. If a product is not available locally another store will ship it to the local store or directly to the consumer. When home improvement stores are not close by, the internet can give a homeowner a number of options to choose from, depending on what they are willing to pay for shipping. However, it is possible to find free shipping deals, use online coupons or wait until there is a promotion to order supplies online.