Model Home Interiors Clearance Sale this Friday!

Bargain hunters in Raleigh-Durham, if you haven't heard of the MHI Warehouse sale yet, I am so, so happy to give you the scoop.

Here's how MHI works. The furniture you see in model homes at new housing developments is rented thru Model Home Interiors. When the builder no longer has a need for the furniture in a model home, it goes back to the warehouse to wait for the builder's next model. But when the builder no longer needs the items, they negotiate a price with MHI to sell it at deep discount prices. Quality, lightly-used items -- furniture, accessories, lamps, art, beds, etc -- are sold directly to the public. And voila - we score the deals.

Now, let's talk "real-life" logistics -- the stuff you won't find on the website. The sale historically happens on a Friday during a three-hour window. I got my email today (you can sign up for notifications on their website) for the event this Friday, April 2 from 9:00 am - Noon. The sales are held randomly -- at one point they were doing three-per-month, but lately they've been once a quarter, more or less.

As with so many deals, there are caveats. You may have to sacrifice some time to get a shot at the best selection, or you can keep your time (have breakfast at Bob Evans or Brig's) and take your chances with leftovers. From the email:

All Furniture Items Have A Three-Part Invoice Attached

• Only if you wish to purchase an item, write your name on the invoice.
• Take the TWO top copies off of the invoice leaving the Pink copy only on the piece.

So if you arrive late (meaning, around 9:01 am), you'll see quite a few pink slips on beautiful furniture. BUT around 11 am when most of the people are gone, the white and yellow slips go BACK onto the stuff people decided not to buy. And voila, you score a deal... leftovers, but still pretty good stuff! Example: we went later in the morning and found a two-year old Lane sectional sofa that retails for more than $3,000. Got it for around $600. I have friends that bought lovely dresser sets and armoires for a couple hundred dollars (or less!).

Parking is kinda crazy around 8:30, 9 am. Make sure you park in the designated places (the blue areas on the pic above, sorry it's so small), or you might get towed. Around 11, parking is a breeze -- you can post up right by the door.

Location: 2522 S. Tricenter Blvd, Durham 27713 (off Cornwallis Rd in RTP). Entrance is at the back of the warehouse.

FYI - they don't deliver. You can haul it away immediately, or they will hold it for you for free through Thursday of the following week. Any longer than that, and you pay a daily a fee. Debit, credit, cash and check are accepted.

Bring your coffee or cocoa, wear your comfy shoes, and have at it! :)