Aquiring Props:

Once you have list and know what to look for, can start gathering and 
construction props.

Borrowing:
Common way to get props, especially furniture. Can be the only way a low budget 
production can aquire appropriate pieces. 
Oftentimes retailers will loan items in exchange for program credit. I must 
admit, though, that I avoid whenever possible. 
Drawbacks:
Actors, especially amateurs, are notoriously hard on props, and first props 
broken will be borrowed, and expensive.  If you are not prepared to purchase 
or pay for repairing a borrowed prop, think twice about borrowing it.
  Never borrow extremely valuable or irreplaceable items for expediency's sake.  
It may prove a poor option. 
 At very least, consider buying insurance.

Props can also be rented from other theatres or professional prop houses.

Professionally built:
•Intended as props
•Difficult props, esp. Trick props.
•Look better because ARE meant as prop.
•Insurance MAY be included.

 Remember though, 
Borrowing costs more, but saves time.
Borrowed or rented props MUST be returned in good and original condition.
Costs more if not retured promptly.
 Belong to someone else, you don't have right to destroy them for your own 
convenience.  

Bad reputation is very quickly established and hard to overcome. Won't be 
able to get props from that source in the future, and if the word gets 
around, and it will, you won't get them from elsewhere either.

Buying props:
Sometimes, if budget sufficient, buying most practical.
Needs:
• larger city with small specialty shops.
•Money, such shops often not cheap.
•Props person who is professional shopper.
Realize trading money for time.

Modify or build:
For many reasons, then, I usually prefer to buy and modify or build my 
props from scratch. 

Props can be made for specific show.
Damage only affects you, not another org.
More freedom to correct problems.
Can be only option for unique or difficult props.

Props often art of Creative Adaptation. You can and often will build props 
from scratch, but a small prop can take as much time as a major set piece, 
but doesn't look it, and there are a lot more of them.  
Best strategy is to find things to adapt to what you need. 
 Hit your prop room first, of course, BUT don't destroy a generally useful 
props to make a specialty item that will never be used again unless you really 
have no other choice.  You may regret it next show.

Your best shopping source is often the second hand shops, like Goodwill, 
St. Vinnies', Salvation Army or Bethesda stores.  You can often find things 
you wouldn't know where to find new at far less than new prices.  It pays 
to make yourself familiar with all such stores in your area, they often 
seem to specialize in particular types of items, and it helps to know 
which hunting grounds are most fertile.

Larger cities offer specialty shops with selection of weird stuff, but 
won't be cheap. Second hand stores are fertile ground, but unpredictable.

  Realize that you will rarely find the exact item ready made; look for 
things that can be modified to suit.  If you DO find a particularly good 
ready made that doesn't fit your show but might be hard to find later, 
it might be worth grabbing if for future reference.