Furniture can be a significant expense. When I first moved into my apartment, I vividly recall visiting a furniture store in Los Angeles. The sheer variety of affordable items was intriguing and I required a reliable furniture courier service to deliver the pieces I purchased, who did an admirable job.
I was in need of a couch for my living room but the one I had my eye on was priced at $500, which was out of my reach. Consequently, I opted for financing the couch, which ultimately cost me more due to the accrued interests. Such experiences make financing furniture a great disadvantage.
If saving your hard-earned money on furniture expenses and evading loans is important to you, then the most effective solution is to turn to used furniture. Currently, a majority of my household furniture is second-hand and they are fantastic. I will share several superior locations for finding such used furniture, alongside a few of the fundamental safety and savings advice to heed when you are purchasing pre-loved furniture.
1. YARD SALES
Yard sales are ideal for acquiring used furniture because resale rates are generally very low. The aim of most sellers is primarily to rid of their items. If you are ready to relieve them of their unwanted goods, they might be open to price negotiations, giving you a chance to secure an even lower offer.
A couple of years back, I happened upon two beautiful lamps at a garage sale going for only $5 each. These now serve as fantastic additions to my living room. It is common for sellers to set up signs indicating garage sales in their region or you can keep abreast with such news via online garage sale listings. Some localities host annual community garage sales which offer the perfect chance to gather some cheap used furniture. Estate sales are also an incredible cradle for attractive second-hand furniture pieces.
2. THRIFT STORES
Thrift stores represent another fantastic site for purchasing used furniture. You can luck out on exceptional finds, though some sifting through items may be necessary given the outdated nature of some of the pieces. Second-hand stores such as Goodwill and Salvation Army are some of my favorite shopping spots.
However, I have recently started frequenting lesser-known resale shops, some of which purchase used items from clients and resell them. These resale shops may be comparatively more expensive than your typical thrift store, but sometimes the finds are worth the costs.
3. ONLINE
The internet holds vast potentials for acquiring used furniture if garage sales or thrift stores fall short. You can widen your search on websites such as Craigslist, FleaPop, and Etsy which serve as platforms for buying and selling used items.
4. FACEBOOK
Facebook can be a great source for cheap used furniture due to local buy-and-sell groups. Every town has one, and you find yours by conducting a brief Facebook search. Remember to adhere to specific rules set by the various groups.
5. ROADSIDE PICKUPS
Don’t underestimate the potential value in items carelessly thrown by the roadside. With little degradation, these discards can serve as wonderful additions to your home and it also assists the original owners in reducing waste management expenses.
ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR PURCHASING SECOND-HAND FURNITURE
With the identification of various sources of quality used furniture, the following are a few handy tips as you shop:
Examining the furniture’s construction: Even though you’re purchasing second-hand items, you’d still want them to last. Ensure the furniture is robust, priced correctly, and look out for trivial scratches to secure even bigger discounts.
Don’t overestimate your DIY capabilities unless you’re an expert at furniture refurbishment.
Avoid used mattresses. Lifespan and cleanliness of second-hand mattresses may not be guaranteed.
Your choice in furniture shouldn’t necessarily translate to a need to overspend. Considering the tips above is a good start in buying economic and attractive used furniture.
What about you? Have you ever purchased used furniture? If so, where did you find your items?
