Does anyone have a secret to buying materials?? We buy as we go...sometimes using the same materials for multiple projects! I am looking for a good online retailer, or advice on how to buy home improvement materials in bulk??

Both Home Depot and Lowes offer a pro account open to anyone that offers discounts on large purchases and ongoing discounts.

@Nathaniel Walker yes we use Home Depot! Was just trying to see if anyone had better advice on other wholesale places! Thank you:)

@Meghan Riley I use my contractor friend's Lowes account.  He does a lot of business with Lowes (4-6 new builds and similar number of flips, per year) and orders most all his materials through Lowes.

Depending on your anticipated volume of projects and supplies needed, you can normally get trade accounts/contractor rates with many stores, and I have found some are better than you will get from Lowes or Home Depot, even when you are ordering a lot of material.  This is particularly true for tile stores and counter suppliers.

Do you have a good relationship with any contractor or subcontractor or perhaps a vendor you use frequently on flips/rehabs? Some contractors order in bulk or have vendor contacts to get materials cheaper. If you have a good relationship with any of them or use any of them frequently, you can ask if you can order through them or combine an order with them. In the past we've had a couple contractors allow us to do something similar. They can get pretty sizable trade discounts. 

Most trade stores are cheaper than lowes and home depot, in So cal. I used to manage a trade store for flooring, cabinets, and countertop. After 1 volume purchase you would automatically get the lowest prices possible. from the 2nd volume purchase onward if the manager or salesperson remembers you. Typically, we will remember you if you purchase volume. And in the slight chance we don't, you can refresh our memory. Or if you have their direct number and text them with orders thats the best. We used to have people bring trailers from Colorado or Northern cali to purchase in socal cause the pricing here was enough to pay for that and some.

Originally posted by @Chris Kim :

Most trade stores are cheaper than lowes and home depot, in So cal. I used to manage a trade store for flooring, cabinets, and countertop. After 1 volume purchase you would automatically get the lowest prices possible. from the 2nd volume purchase onward if the manager or salesperson remembers you. Typically, we will remember you if you purchase volume. And in the slight chance we don't, you can refresh our memory. Or if you have their direct number and text them with orders thats the best. We used to have people bring trailers from Colorado or Northern cali to purchase in socal cause the pricing here was enough to pay for that and some.

@Chris Kim would you like to share which trade store here in SoCal did you used to manage? I'm always looking for quality stores in the area to support.

@Shawn Regnier

Hi Shawn, I'll be setting up a flooring and cabinet store/showroom once covid dies down. I'm currently for now, doing material & installation services through pdf/photos and bringing samples to houses. Since, most of my customers are either contractors or realtor/investors.

stop going to Depot and lowes. The quality is even worse now then it was just a few years ago and it's usually more expensive.

Go to supply houses. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, local lumber yard, window and door place. You will.get much better quality and usually much better pricing

A couple summers ago, I worked as a construction laborer for an architect who was originally from Canada.  Often times, he would bring materials back when going to visit family to save $.  (apx 1.5 hr.)  Unfortunately, being as remote as my area is, even the local lumber yards are about the same as Lowes/Depot, though sometimes they'll have deals.