Used Furniture Near Me
Used furniture is one of the largest secondary markets in the world, thanks to the increasing popularity of used furniture in both personal and commercial collections.
Previously owned furniture runs the gamut from vintage pieces to antique furniture and can include entire sets or individual pieces. The following vintage furniture shopping guide will help you understand more about the used furniture market, along with the pros and cons of buying used furniture pieces.
Why do people buy used furniture?
In order to understand how the used furniture market works, it’s important to know why people tend to buy used furniture. Essentially, three different groups of people buy second hand furniture.
Some people purchase pre-owned furniture because of the great deals on used pieces compared to the full price of brand new furniture. Of course, this type of shopper seeks a bargain. Ultimately, people in this category look to save money and their main motivation is saving hundreds or thousands of dollars. Indeed, these consumers tend to gravitate towards thrift stores, auctions, estate sales and Goodwill. If they shop online, they scan the classified ads on Facebook, Craigslist and Letgo.
The second group of people who seek used furniture do so to receive a higher quality product. While this second group may have price concerns, they really want to purchase something of higher quality and beauty than what they find in new stores today.
So, some people in this second group still end up spending a significant amount of money on their furniture. However, they wish to get the best vintage furniture out there. Of course, they may love a certain style, fine furniture brand, or love a certain type of wood.
For instance, they may love Henredon Vintage Furniture from a particular collection. Or they may love Pulaski furniture from years ago. They have more discerning tastes than the first group. These types of shoppers usually purchase from online antique stores, online marketplaces like eBay and Chairish and at vintage furniture stores and consignment shops.
Used Antique Furniture
Finally, the third group of used furniture buyers is really not concerned with price. Instead, they have a passion for antiques. Indeed, they really don’t use the term “used furniture.” Rather, they purchase antique furniture of incredible aesthetic or historic value. Typically, this group of people goes to fine antique stores, specialty auctions, and antique shows.
Now, obviously, you may find some cross-over between these groups. However, largely, these types of buyers find their niches and their special sources for used furniture and stick with them.
So, since the market is so diverse, most businesses make a commitment to one of these niches. Used Furniture stores tend to target their core group of buyers with these factors of price and quality in mind.
How Can I get Cheap Furniture?
If your primary goal is to get cheap furniture, you should look at charity shops. Obviously, thrift stores, Goodwill, and charity shops will offer the cheapest used furniture on the market. Most of these places receive their merchandise as donations, so the cheapest furniture you will find will be at these types of stores.
Secondly, local auction houses may be able to offer very cheap furniture as well. However, you must have cash in hand, be ready to move the pieces and bring help. Also, you have to be able to make a decision quickly!
Where Can I buy Local Used Furniture?
Outside of the normal brick and mortar locations, you can also buy local used furniture online. There are several aps and marketplaces you should consider if you want to buy local second hand furniture. They include:
- Facebook Marketplace
- Craigslist
- Letgo
- Offer-up
- eBay
- Chairish
Of course, most of these aps require an in-person meet up, so use your best judgement and have cash ready.
Who Can buy my furniture?
Occasionally you can sell your furniture through a furniture dealer or consignment shop. However, if you want to receive the most money for your used or vintage furniture, you may have better luck selling direct to consumer.
Of course, the costs and burdens of selling are now on you if you decide to sell privately. That means, you will have to market your own goods and you may need to help deliver them. Obviously, you have to be comfortable with people at your home or storage unit. Finally, you have to be flexible with your time. Selling furniture takes work and know-how.
In the end, you may wish to forgo these troubles and work with an auction house or consignment shop.
The pros and cons of buying used furniture
As with any purchase, there are both pros and cons to buying previously owned furniture. The following are some of the most notable benefits and disadvantages that buyers can encounter when purchasing vintage furniture.
Pros of Buying Used Furniture:
- Lower prices and deals can often be found for pre-owned furniture
- Potential for higher quality from older pieces
- Unique and interesting pieces can be found in antique or vintage furniture from different decades
Cons of Purchasing Second Hand Furniture:
- Need to be careful regarding condition and old repairs
- Antique or certain high end vintage furniture may be higher priced
- Time and Costs of sourcing fine used furniture
Vintage furniture shopping tips
If you are interested in adding used furniture to your home, then consider the following used furniture shopping tips that will help you find better deals and make more successful purchases.
Tip: Narrow down the age by researching maker’s marks.
It is possible to narrow down the general age of used furniture by researching any maker’s marks on the piece. A maker’s mark will tell you at least the name of the company that created the item. From there, you can do online research which will help you understand when that particular mark was used.
Of course, sites like Vintage Furniture Guide will help you better learn about the used furniture companies and their products.
Tip: Always ask about previous repairs.
One issue that buyers of used furniture face is the potential of damage due to previous repairs which were done improperly. Always ask the seller about previous repairs. Not only does this affect the overall value, it can make the used furniture loose its function in your home. Of course, you do not want a non-functioning used furniture piece to ruin your day!
Tip: Consider buying pieces from different sets.
Unless you are a stickler for an exact matching set, you can often save money by buying individual pieces from used furniture sets. Mixing and matching individual pieces will be a more cost effective option than trying to complete a set. Additionally, you can achieve an interesting eclectic design, if you mix and match used furniture in your home.