Rental Property Investor · Willow Springs, MO · Member since 2017 · 15 posts · 5 votes
I am turning an empty building into a four plex. I need to buy all the plumbing fixtures and sinks. I had previously been told by a contractor that Lowe's and Home Depot don't have the same quality fixtures as plumbing stores. Is this true? What's the best place to buy these? Big Box, local hardware, plumbing supply? I am located near Springfield, MO if anyone has specific local suggestions.
Depends on what quality of product your looking for. While you can often find good quality lines like Moen, Kohler and others at both big box and supply houses, you’ll need to go to supply houses or online retailers for higher end product. I’d say though that it’s less common for higher end fixtures to be used in rental situations but I suppose it depends on who your target market is.
I’d also give some thought to the water quality in your area. Scale and iron build up will excellerate wear and tear on anything that water touches including dishwashers, water heaters shower doors etc. Know your local water conditions and install a water softener if necessary. It will pay for itself in the form of repairs and replacements you’ll be delaying. A good water softener can be bought at Depot or Lowes for about $500 and installed for about the same.
I've done most of my plumbing purchases as HD. If you're getting into bulk purchases, a supply house might be able to give better prices.
I never buy the lowest end. Whether it's faucets or toilets, I'll always get a step or two up in a brand name. American Std for toilets, Moen or Delta for faucets. While there are cheaper ones out there, you'll end up replacing them in a couple years.
Home Depot sells cheaper versions of the same things. The outside may look the same, but the internals may not. It's not the biggest deal, since replacement is fairly cheap, but buying at a plumbing supply store will get you the best quality for the price, which might be just a bit more.