Furnishing a new home can be incredibly expensive if you buy everything brand new. However, why do that when you can get some amazing second-hand furniture instead? There are lots of excellent vintage pieces with unique designs that you simply won’t find if you buy brand new. A lot of old furniture also tends to be better made, using solid wood rather than the chipboard and veneers that you find with modern furniture. Even though second-hand furniture might need a little care and attention to bring it back to life, it’s a great way to save money and get some more interesting pieces for your home.
You can find second-hand furniture in thrift stores or antique stores, but you should also check online. You have more choices, and you can get some excellent deals shopping on sites like eBay. However, you must do your research to make sure you’re getting good quality furniture. Here are a few tips to help you safely buy second-hand furniture online.
Use Reputable Sites
Firstly, make sure you buy furniture from reputable sites. If you go on eBay, for example, you have protection from the site. If somebody rips you off or sells you something drastically different from what is advertised, eBay will help you get your money back. However, on other sites, you won’t have the same protection. Craigslist is a good place to find furniture deals, but it can be a little riskier than eBay, so make sure you see the furniture first.
If you are buying from a site that you haven’t used before, do a bit of research online to see if it is legitimate. You’ll easily find lots of information if it’s a scam site.
Make Sure There Are Lots of Pictures
If you see a listing that only has one image, that’s not a good sign. You need to see lots of close-up images, so you can get a good idea of what condition the furniture is in. A reliable seller will give you close-ups of any damage (because there will be damage) but some people will try to hide it. If a piece of furniture is 40 years old and they claim it is in excellent condition with no dents or scratches, they’re probably being dishonest. So, go for listings with lots of pictures that are upfront about the damage. When you are looking at the damage, simple scratches and dents aren’t a problem, but don’t buy anything that shows signs of woodworm.
Don’t Forget About Shipping
Before you buy anything, check how you are going to get it shipped to your home. You may need to organize large item shipping with a company like Shiply before you make the purchase. In some cases, the seller will organize the shipping (this is how it’s done on eBay) but on other sites like Craigslist, it might be down to you to ship the furniture.
Always Haggle
Finally, always haggle on price if you can. Whenever you’re buying second-hand furniture, you always have a bit of room to negotiate. The seller is trying to get rid of a large item they don’t want anymore, so they’ll be willing to be flexible too. Remember, if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Keep these key tips in mind and you can find some amazing deals on second-hand furniture online.
