Thrifting is huge, as you can buy quality products at a bargain price, making it easy on your pocket and quite a sustainable option.
Second-hand furniture is also great to bring in some unique pieces to your home at a fraction of the cost of creating custom furniture.
The problem with second-hand furniture is that you need to understand the weak points of the product before committing to making a purchase. The issue there is, well, you don’t know what you don’t know.
We’re sharing some telltale signs and red flags to look out for when buying second-hand furniture.
Red Flag #1: Buying second-hand furniture on the Internet
There are wonderful online thrift shops and even Facebook pages and groups dedicated to the buying and selling of second-hand items. The problem with buying second-hand items online is that there rarely is an opportunity to inspect the items, which is imperative when buying second-hand furniture.
Red Flag #2: The seller avoids in-person viewing
Always try to view the item in person and don’t exclusively trust online ads.
When it comes to furniture, you want to thoroughly inspect the items first. For instance, if you’re buying second-hand chairs or tables, you want to see that all the legs are sturdy and not wobbly, which is something you won’t be able to tell from a picture. If a seller is avoiding an in-person viewing, that would be a red flag in our books.
Red Flag #3: An isolated angle
If you are buying your second-hand furniture online, look out for a single angle of the item in pictures. Usually, that indicates that there could be something off. It’s good to also be aware of images where one, particular angle of the item is excluded. That could indicate that there might be some sort of damage that hasn’t been disclosed, like a crack, or a mark. With the understanding that second-hand furniture might not be in impeccable condition, you want to get your money’s worth and at least be in the know about the type of damage you’re signing up for.
Red Flag #4: Not understanding dimensions
Sometimes pictures can be misleading, as we’ve previously stated. In a picture, an item could seem big in another person’s space, but it might seem small in yours or vice versa.
Red Flag #5: Buying second-hand mattresses
Second-hand mattresses can be bad for your health, especially if you’re buying from a seller that you don’t know. If there are stains on the mattress, you won’t know how they got there. There are also associated health hazards like mold, dust mites, and bed bugs.
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