8 Home Depot Shopping Tips You Need to Know

living room — Design: Katie Martinez Design

Shopping at The Home Depot can feel overwhelming for a variety of reasons: You either don’t know what you’re looking for, don’t know where to find what you’re looking for, or have taken on a home improvement project that has you in way over your head. Pair any of the above with the fact that your renovation budget may be tapped, and we don’t blame you if you feel like giving up.

Thankfully, we’ve learned a few insider Home Depot shopping tips to help you save a pretty penny at the home improvement megastore and ease that Oh my, what have I gotten myself into? feeling. From knowing exactly the right time to buy paint to keeping an eye out for lightly damaged goods, there are so many ways to save money and score some under-the-radar décor finds.

Read on for our money-saving intel and transform the way you do your Home Depot shopping.

01 of 08

Learn the Price Tag Code

If you’re wondering whether an item on your shopping list will go on sale, just look at the price. At The Home Depot, when a price ends in .06, it signifies that there will be six weeks until the next time it’s marked down. If it ends in .03, the item will be closed out after three weeks (this is the best deal you’re going to get). Some items are color-coded: Yellow tags mean the product’s a clearance item.

02 of 08

Clip Some Coupons

If the item you're coveting ends in .03, and it's still not cheap enough for you, track down a coupon or coupon code for extra savings. Luckily, they're all on the website and easy to find.

03 of 08

Pay Attention to Customer Service

If you encounter any sort of customer service issue with your purchase, ask a store clerk for a price adjustment. Every Home Depot employee has the authority to give up to a $50 discount if it’s warranted. That said, don't make up an issue (or get someone in trouble necessarily) because, let's face it: That's not a very kind thing to do.

04 of 08

Wait to Buy Until the Holidays

Thinking about painting a room in your home? Wait to do your Home Depot shopping until the next major long holiday weekend, such as Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, or Labor Day. On these holiday weekends, paint gallons are usually $5 off, and five-gallon buckets are $25 off.

Know where you are getting the competitor pricing from; it makes a difference if it's from a virtual or brick-and-mortar store. The Home Depot will price-match online purchases but not beat them.

05 of 08

Look Out for Damaged Packaging

Keep an eye out for slightly damaged boxes as you’re browsing the aisles. If the packaging of an item is damaged, ask for a discount, and the store will give you a small break of around 10 percent. (Make sure the product itself isn't damaged.)

06 of 08

Save Your Receipts

The Home Depot offers price protection within 30 days, which means if something you’ve already purchased goes on sale, you can bring your receipt back in, and the store will refund you the difference.

07 of 08

Know the Competition

It seems to vary from store to store, depending on the leniency of the store manager, but some Home Depot locations will actually accept coupons for competitor stores, such as Lowe’s 10-percent-off coupons. Give it a shot at your location. Even small discounts can add up when you’re making a big purchase.

08 of 08

Be Willing to Put in the Effort

If you find an identical item at a local competitor’s store (such as Lowe’s or Ace Hardware), The Home Depot will not only match its price but beat it by 10 percent. How’s that for customer retention? The item must be in stock at both locations, and the offer excludes special orders, bid pricing, volume discounts, open-box merchandise, labor and installation, sales tax, rebates and free offers, typographical errors, and online purchases.

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