Monday, November 1, 2021 / by Raj Jaggi
Useful Pointers for Buying Used Furniture for Your Home
You've just gotten the keys to your new home and can't wait to furnish it. This is especially useful if you have certain things in mind or have had your eye on something for a long time. Buying everything new, however, may not be the best option if your budget is limited, especially after paying for closing costs and other housing-related expenses. Secondhand furniture is an excellent way to decorate your home and should be investigated for a number of reasons.
It is not only a cost-effective option, but it is also environmentally friendly. It keeps perfectly excellent, reusable furniture out of landfills, reducing the environmental impact. It's also a terrific option if you're looking for one-of-a-kind, high-quality vintage goods at a lower cost. And it's even better if you enjoy DIY and think you might restore a piece of furniture to give it new life.
However, buying used furniture may be risky at times, especially if you are unfamiliar with the process. That's why today we'll go over some suggestions and techniques to help you get the most bang for your buck. Consider this a 10-step guide to avoiding lemons while shopping for old furniture, no matter where you go!
Before you start looking for suitable sites to buy used furniture and deciding which pieces would work best in your house, you should be aware that some items should never be purchased secondhand. It's preferable to spend and buy something fresh then go through the effort of verifying such items. Here are a few things to stay away from:
- Mattresses that have been used. Because you don't know how clean (or unclean) they are, they might be hazardous to your health. There's also no way to see all of the dust mites, mildew, bed bugs, and other health risks that have already infiltrated the fabric. Also, avoid using used crib mattresses for your baby.
- Upholstered furniture is heavily utilized. It's unpleasant to sit on saggy cushions and bumpy sofas. While they may be changed, doing so properly might be costly and cause more hassle than they're worth.
When it comes to buying old furniture, you have a lot of options. All that is required of you is to consider all of your possibilities in order to increase your chances of finding something suitable for your house and budget. The following are some of the places to look for:
- Instagram or Facebook Marketplace
Instead of winging it, shop with precise dimensions and measurements in mind—both for the piece of furniture you want to buy and for the specific location in your home where you might want to put it. This is due to the fact that you are not purchasing using a furniture catalog, which provides dimensions and descriptions up front. So, whether you're shopping for a chair, a dresser, or a bookshelf, take exact measurements of the object as well as the space you've designated for it before purchasing. Also, make a list of a few different places in your home where you might be able to put the item so you have a backup plan in case the furniture is a bit too big in your first location.
When buying secondhand furniture, getting the most bang for your buck is almost definitely your primary goal. Examining tags and labels might help you avoid wasting money on something that isn't worth it or that you can have for a lower price. To determine the piece's quality, you must first determine its origin. It's wise to do some preliminary research before making a purchase if you come across a brand you're unfamiliar with.
Look at the materials that something is made of when you find something you like. Hardwoods are preferred over softwoods for solid wood furniture because they are simpler to chip or deface and can droop and distort with time. Hardwood furniture, such as oak or maple, is more durable and has a more solid construction. They may also be made to glisten anew with a little polish and care.
Take a look at the piece's structure in addition to the material. Look for dovetailed connections rather than cobbled-together components, since they are indicators of high quality. Concentrate on the piece's integrity rather than flaws or surface faults like shallow scratches and cracked paint, which is readily repaired. Investigate any symptoms of mold, water damage, termite, or other insect infestations while you're at it.
Smelly furniture is a deal killer, no matter how great it would look in your home or how inexpensive it is. While certain scents may be easily removed, others, such as pet odors and smoke, might persist for an extended period of time or even be impossible to eliminate. So, when you buy something, make sure you smell it to avoid the stress of having to remove the scents, which may require more effort than you want to put in just to save a few bucks.
Even without food, these pests may live for months, thus furniture can lie in a warehouse or facility for a long period and still have healthy bed bugs. Look for black patches, reddish streaks, old insect skins, or real bugs in cracks and corners. They might be difficult to see, but if you see any of these symptoms, you should avoid making the transaction. It's not worth the danger of letting bed bugs into your house, no matter how good of a deal it appears to be.
Because there's nothing worse than bringing home a piece you've fallen in love with only to discover it doesn't work, you should test the item straight away. A lot of secondhand furniture is offered "as is," with no return policy, so you won't be able to return it for any reason once you've bought it. And only after you've double-checked the product's quality and cleanliness. Take a few minutes to sit on a chair or couch to make sure it's comfy and can support your weight. Open all drawers in cabinets to ensure that they move freely in and out and that the knobs do not come apart after a few usages. To ensure that tables are stable, lean or press on them at an angle.
Because not all vendors are ready or able to assist you in carrying and delivering the used products you purchased, it's vital that you prepare ahead of time how you'll get them home. The good news is that many retailers will hold your items for a few days so you can pick them up. If that's the case, be sure your car can handle the piece of furniture you're buying and bring assistance with loading it. If you choose to rent anything, especially if it won't fit in one of our trucks, simply add up the charges to be sure it'll still be less expensive than buying fresh.
It is not only a cost-effective option, but it is also environmentally friendly. It keeps perfectly excellent, reusable furniture out of landfills, reducing the environmental impact. It's also a terrific option if you're looking for one-of-a-kind, high-quality vintage goods at a lower cost. And it's even better if you enjoy DIY and think you might restore a piece of furniture to give it new life.
However, buying used furniture may be risky at times, especially if you are unfamiliar with the process. That's why today we'll go over some suggestions and techniques to help you get the most bang for your buck. Consider this a 10-step guide to avoiding lemons while shopping for old furniture, no matter where you go!
Before you start looking for suitable sites to buy used furniture and deciding which pieces would work best in your house, you should be aware that some items should never be purchased secondhand. It's preferable to spend and buy something fresh then go through the effort of verifying such items. Here are a few things to stay away from:
- Mattresses that have been used. Because you don't know how clean (or unclean) they are, they might be hazardous to your health. There's also no way to see all of the dust mites, mildew, bed bugs, and other health risks that have already infiltrated the fabric. Also, avoid using used crib mattresses for your baby.
- Upholstered furniture is heavily utilized. It's unpleasant to sit on saggy cushions and bumpy sofas. While they may be changed, doing so properly might be costly and cause more hassle than they're worth.
- Anything with a strong odor. Bad scents, such as thirdhand smoke, may be difficult to remove, and pet or urine odors can permeate through many pieces of furniture, especially upholstered goods.
- Anything with a high price tag. When an item's price tag does not represent its condition and repairing it would cost additional money and effort, it's best to avoid it.
When it comes to buying old furniture, you have a lot of options. All that is required of you is to consider all of your possibilities in order to increase your chances of finding something suitable for your house and budget. The following are some of the places to look for:
- Thrift stores
- Goodwill or Habitat Restore
- Instagram or Facebook Marketplace
- Apps like Craigslist, LetGo, Carousell, NextDoor, and OfferUp
- Yard sales and estate sales
- Auction sites
Instead of winging it, shop with precise dimensions and measurements in mind—both for the piece of furniture you want to buy and for the specific location in your home where you might want to put it. This is due to the fact that you are not purchasing using a furniture catalog, which provides dimensions and descriptions up front. So, whether you're shopping for a chair, a dresser, or a bookshelf, take exact measurements of the object as well as the space you've designated for it before purchasing. Also, make a list of a few different places in your home where you might be able to put the item so you have a backup plan in case the furniture is a bit too big in your first location.
When buying secondhand furniture, getting the most bang for your buck is almost definitely your primary goal. Examining tags and labels might help you avoid wasting money on something that isn't worth it or that you can have for a lower price. To determine the piece's quality, you must first determine its origin. It's wise to do some preliminary research before making a purchase if you come across a brand you're unfamiliar with.
Look at the materials that something is made of when you find something you like. Hardwoods are preferred over softwoods for solid wood furniture because they are simpler to chip or deface and can droop and distort with time. Hardwood furniture, such as oak or maple, is more durable and has a more solid construction. They may also be made to glisten anew with a little polish and care.
Take a look at the piece's structure in addition to the material. Look for dovetailed connections rather than cobbled-together components, since they are indicators of high quality. Concentrate on the piece's integrity rather than flaws or surface faults like shallow scratches and cracked paint, which is readily repaired. Investigate any symptoms of mold, water damage, termite, or other insect infestations while you're at it.
Smelly furniture is a deal killer, no matter how great it would look in your home or how inexpensive it is. While certain scents may be easily removed, others, such as pet odors and smoke, might persist for an extended period of time or even be impossible to eliminate. So, when you buy something, make sure you smell it to avoid the stress of having to remove the scents, which may require more effort than you want to put in just to save a few bucks.
Even without food, these pests may live for months, thus furniture can lie in a warehouse or facility for a long period and still have healthy bed bugs. Look for black patches, reddish streaks, old insect skins, or real bugs in cracks and corners. They might be difficult to see, but if you see any of these symptoms, you should avoid making the transaction. It's not worth the danger of letting bed bugs into your house, no matter how good of a deal it appears to be.
Because there's nothing worse than bringing home a piece you've fallen in love with only to discover it doesn't work, you should test the item straight away. A lot of secondhand furniture is offered "as is," with no return policy, so you won't be able to return it for any reason once you've bought it. And only after you've double-checked the product's quality and cleanliness. Take a few minutes to sit on a chair or couch to make sure it's comfy and can support your weight. Open all drawers in cabinets to ensure that they move freely in and out and that the knobs do not come apart after a few usages. To ensure that tables are stable, lean or press on them at an angle.
Because not all vendors are ready or able to assist you in carrying and delivering the used products you purchased, it's vital that you prepare ahead of time how you'll get them home. The good news is that many retailers will hold your items for a few days so you can pick them up. If that's the case, be sure your car can handle the piece of furniture you're buying and bring assistance with loading it. If you choose to rent anything, especially if it won't fit in one of our trucks, simply add up the charges to be sure it'll still be less expensive than buying fresh.
