Top 8+ common items to avoid buying from Home Depot (and 4 that are worth it)

Appliances with third-party warranties can cause stress

Home Depot admittedly has a wide selection of appliances at reasonable prices, and the company also offers some other financial incentives, such as sales and store credit card special financing options. What's more, the company also sells some major reputable brands, including Whirlpool and LG. Home Depot can even help you install appliances for additional fees. This can save you the hassle of trying to figure out how to get a new appliance back to your home, and as well as determining how to set it up properly.

When it comes to warranties, though, Home Depot will not be able to help you with any claims that might come up in the future. This is due to the fact that any warranty you do purchase with a new appliance is through a third-party vendor, and not with Home Depot. Ultimately, the process can end up being stressful if you do file a claim at some point in the future. Keep in mind that this feature is not unique to Home Depot either, as many other big box retailers sell third-party warranties with their appliances, too. While this might not necessarily deter you from buying an appliance at Home Depot (especially when you can get a good deal), this is something to keep in mind before you buy outside warranties.

The smaller kitchen appliance selections may be minimal in store

Home Depot does indeed sell a number of small kitchen appliances, including mixers, blenders, toaster ovens, coffee makers, and more. While you may be able to find a larger selection on the store's website, you may find that the inventory is lacking in the store. This is certainly common as stores sell more merchandise online, but it might not be ideal if you want to compare different small kitchen appliances in-person. Home Depot may also be limiting if you're wanting a specific high-end brand of these types of kitchen items.

While Home Depot does have occasional sales on their small kitchen appliances, you might find even better deals at warehouse or discount retailers. For a wider variety of brands and more varied selections overall, you might consider visiting a kitchen-specific store. As a caveat, though, keep in mind that specialty kitchen stores of this kind may offer more selections and higher-end brands, and thus end up being more expensive than Home Depot.

Do buy: Tools

Whether you need new tools for renovating your home, a gardening project, or to add to your work bench, Home Depot is usually a one-stop shop for these basics. Not only does Home Depot offer a pretty wide selection, but they might be more affordable than those found at a smaller store. This is also a great place for a new homeowner or renter to start building their toolbox from scratch. At minimum, experts recommend everyone ought to have a basic claw hammer, tape measurer, screwdriver set, wire cutters, and leveler.

Not only does Home Depot offer a wide selection, but they also carry exclusive brands. If you've been researching specific brands, Home Depot is a great place to find famous names like Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi. The store also offers rental options for larger tools you do not really need on a regular basis. For example, you can rent a sander, tiller, or power washer for a few days and turn it in when you're done to save yourself some money from buying one. Home Depot even has a selection of gently used power tools for sale at cheaper prices.

Do buy: Area rugs

When you need a new area rug, you don't necessarily need to spend hundreds of dollars at a specialty store, nor do you need to spend hours online trying to determine whether a prospective rug may look just as it does on the screen. This is another area where Home Depot shines. The big box store offers a surprisingly large selection of rugs that tend to be much more affordable compared with a flooring or home accents store.

Next time you go to Home Depot, head towards the flooring and carpeting design area. Here, you should find the rug area nearby. This section offers floor mats, runners, and rugs, and you may notice there are different offerings throughout the year. As a bonus, the store offers a variety of sizes, designs, textures, and colors for buyers to choose from. You can find typical 8 x 10-foot area rugs for a living room, as well as some harder-to-find dimensions such as 9 x 12 feet or 7 x 9 feet. What's more, some design experts also tend to buy their jute rugs from Home Depot, citing both the quality and affordability of products offered here.