Customer: How do you get all this stuff?
ReHouse: One way is that we go get it! Our Acquisitions Manager is tasked with making and taking daily calls regarding salvage jobs for ReHouse Recovery.
Customer: How does he know which ones will result in something store-worthy?
ReHouse: Before taking on any job we request photos and details about it. For a large job that cannot be adequately represented in just a few photos, the Acquisitions Manager will go out to the location for a preview. He will take notes and additional photos of items he feels we can save. We work with our customers to clearly determine what is available as part of each salvage job.
Customer: How do you narrow it down from there?
ReHouse: As with any business there are factors that go into choosing jobs. How far away is it? How many employees will be needed? Can we take the van or will it require the larger but less fuel efficient truck? How much effort will it take to remove the items? How long will the removal take? What is the condition of the items? Is there anything unique or hard to find? Do customers want the resulting merchandise? Using a special formula created by the Finance Dept. we can conclude which jobs to pursue.
Customer: Once you get there how do you know what to bring back?
ReHouse: We have lists upon lists of items we typically look for. Our primary focus is reusable architectural items such as doors, trim, woodwork, windows, corbels, columns, etc. We also have an ever growing customer wish list which includes everything from a vague description of something someone’s grandmother used to have to stained-glass, gothic-arched window with specific colors, design, and measurements. Once in a while we will find something so unusual or strange or ugly we just have to bring it back to the store and see what happens.
Customer: Do you only salvage houses?
ReHouse: No. We salvage many types of buildings and for different reasons. Sometimes we go to single or multi-family homes that are being renovated or torn down. These often have hardwood flooring, gumwood trim, built-in cabinets, leaded glass, wood framed windows, fireplace mantels, hardware, and other architectural details. Sometimes we go to a restaurant or hotel that is being updated or closed. Here we find multiples of items people often ask for such as mirrors, large frames, chairs, tables, and light fixtures. Each type of location has its own special findings, its own focus, but the mission remains the same… “ReHouse strives to better the environment by reusing antique, vintage, and modern building materials that would have otherwise gone to the landfill.”
Customer: What have you salvaged lately?
ReHouse: Our most recent job was in Spencerport where a customer of ours is planning to take down his century old horse barn. Here, we were given the ok to remove whatever we needed, and our focus was barn wood which is currently very popular in home décor trends. We also brought back main exterior barn doors, stall doors, and lots of hardware.
Customer: Isn’t it dangerous?
ReHouse: Life is dangerous. Salvaging is no more or less so. The employees that go out on our salvage jobs have been well trained in all aspects of safety when doing such work. Locations are checked before any work starts to make them aware of any possible dangers. They are encouraged to work safely and may even call off a job if it presents an uncomfortably risky situation for anyone.
Customer: How long does it take?
ReHouse: Sometimes it is easy to know how long a job will take. If we go to a house that only has kitchen cabinets we can usually estimate 1-2 hours for removal and loading. In the case of the barn it was hard to know. We scheduled 2 days of recovery in which we were able to remove all stall doors, main doors, hardware and other wooden items that were not “tied down.” At the end of 2 days we reevaluated, talked to the owner, and are now able to return for one more day in order to cut out as much barn wood as possible.
Customer: What did you end up with from the barn?
ReHouse: Enjoy these photos of the salvaged goodies that will soon be available for purchase.
ReHouse Blog 
One thought on “Q & A with ReHouse Recovery”