Trying to update your home and make necessary repairs can be expensive. You could hire a professional to come to do the work or try to do it yourself. With a little know-how, purchasing the materials yourself can save you a ton of money in the long run. If you look online, there are several websites like Build Direct where you can get what you need at manufacturer's cost but is it really worth the time and effort? Let's take a look.
What is Build Direct?
BuildDirect.com was founded by Jeff Booth and Rob Banks in October 1999. Its corporate headquarters are located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company sells home improvement products exclusively online at manufacturer prices.
How Does Build Direct Work?
Build Direct provides people with all sorts of indoor and outdoor building and renovation materials for their home improvement needs. The company acts as a go-between between you and manufacturers so you can save money and get things done around the house more efficiently at less cost. You can also use their online library of resources to learn how to complete any project and create floor plans using their Design Center.
Build Direct Features
Numerous Home Improvement Products: There are multiple categories to choose from for any project. Categories include Deck Materials, Flooring, Paint, Hardware, Appliances, and more. You can also find many items on clearance as well for even more savings.
Home Improvement Library: Learn how to do any project yourself with the online resources provided on the company's website. You can search through multiple topics or narrowing down what you are looking for through a direct search on the website.
Design Center: You can create 3-D models and customized floor plans directly on the company's website. The Design Center provides recommended layouts based on the dimensions you provide as well as where fixtures are located with your project. You can customize paint and flooring choices among other things using the 3-D view. This can really help you plan out everything beforehand so you are not stuck with any hidden surprise while renovating.
What We Like About Build Direct
30-Day Money Back Guarantee: You can get your money back if you are unhappy with your order for any reason. To get the refund, you must return the product unused in its original packaging. The company will even come pick up your return at no cost to you. You can make partial returns as well but you'll have to pay the shipping costs.
Learn How to DIY Any Home Project: There is a ton of information on the website so you can learn how to do any home improvement project yourself. The online resource library will help you figure out what you need to buy and how to install and care for the products you bought.
Get Rewarded For Frequent Purchases: Build Direct has a rewards program where you can get up to 5% back on purchases made over the course of a year. You also get unlimited samples and the lowest pricing no matter the size of your order.
Excellent BBB Rating: When choosing a company to buy from, many people turn to the Better Business Bureau as a trusted source of information for how the company treats its customers. At the time of this review, Build Direct has an A+ rating with full accreditation. The company seems to quickly respond to customer complaints and tries to resolve them as best they can.
Build Direct Complaints
Some Deliveries Seem To Take Forever: According to the website, most orders arrive with 6-14 days after ordering. But if what you ordered is out of stock, you can expect it to take 6-8 weeks. Orders shipped in containers can take up to 10 weeks. This really slows you down in getting your project done. If they should get the order wrong somehow (which they have done before), you'll have to delay your project even longer. Who wants all that hassle?
Quality May Be Less Than It Appears: Previous customers have complained about the quality of the products they ordered. Items arrived with either damages or defects such as knots in hardwood flooring and wrong colors and the products looked inferior compared to pictures on the company's website. With the high cost of home repair purchases you would expect a company to provide quality products and get your order right the first time.
So Does Build Direct Help You Save Money?
Build Direct is a legitimate company offering home improvement products at affordable prices. You can also learn how to do repair projects yourself as well as design your dream your home. However, the company can take a long time to get your order to your house and the quality of the products are questionable according to some customers.
The best thing about Build Direct is its 30-day money back guarantee. If they should get your order wrong, you can always get your money back. The company will even come pick it up for you for free. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with Build Direct so leave a comment down below.
Until next time,
Eddy with a y
-
Our Overall Rating
-
Support
-
Quality
Summary
Build Direct seems to be a legitimate company that can save you money on your home improvement needs. But it may come at the cost of quality. Read some of the complaints below.
Hi Eddy.
I enjoyed reading this review. It actually sounds pretty good to me. Other than if you are in a hurry to get your materials, that is. I really like the idea of being able to learn DIY on their site and being able to make a 3D model of your project. Most contractors don’t provide you with that and don’t help much when you are trying to decide; other than to give you pricing comparisons. I think I will check it out myself. Thanks for this review.
Jeannie
You’re welcome. I’m glad you liked it. Let us know how it turns out for you.
Hey there Eddy with a Y! 🙂 Your review on Build Direct was informative. I am not a “do it yourselfer” but if I were, I would definitely take a look at this site. I like the return policy and the fact that you’re not being charged more than what the product is worth. However, I would be concerned about the quality of the product that is being delivered (your section regarding the customer complaints). Do you know if these issues have been addressed or not?
Hey Scott,
I’m not sure if the quality issue is widespread. Not everyone complains about it.
Great review. I’m glad you mentioned the 3D floorplan feature. This was very intriguing to me. That is such a huge benefit to be able to map everything out which will save you money in the long run. I’ll definitely be going to Build Direct for my next DIY project.
I’m glad you liked it Joey.
3D floor planning is a must, especially with a kitchen. I remodel and flip houses for a hobby and I’m going to check into this. Great review, I will be doing more research and see what I come up with. I would like to see more product examples so I will check them out. Great review and thank you for the input!
You’re welcome Pam. I agree 3D floor planning is very helpful. I had it done for my kitchen and it helped us better visualize what it would look like. So it’s definitely a nice feature for Build Direct.
When we do the DIY to make home better, what we worry most is we are not sure if we can really make it. When I lived in Raleigh, I went go Home Depot to buy items for kitchen and bathroom. I always have the concern about if what I buy can fit or not.
Build Direct allows creating 3D models making it significant to avoid wrong decision making. I think it is a plus though. If you do the house repairing or improvement before raining season, maybe the shipping delay is not that big deal. If you can prepare the material in advance and getting a good deal, it will be the right choice to use Build Direct’s service.
Thanks for your insight George.
Considering I am a homeowner and an income property owner, this review really grabbed my attention. I’m constantly buying home improvement supplies. This sounds like a great way to save some cash. You can’t beat a 100% satisfaction guarantee! I’m curious after hearing about the delays in shipping, do they ship large orders by freight? I’d imagine that they get some big orders of lumber, siding, etc. Do they have semi-trucks or flat beds deliver that deliver those large orders to your house? Seems like this would be a logistical challenge.
Glad to hear it Ryan. I don’t have the answers to your specific questions. Your best bet is to contact the company directly for that information.