Buying used furniture? Good. Now, read this.
Just because you're eco-conscious and buy furniture used, doesn't mean you should settle for what is essentially a piece of junk. Freshome recently gave some helpful tips on what to look for when buying used furniture. Some seem a little obvious, like testing out the piece before you buy, but sometimes this is difficult to do, especially if you're buying from Craigslist. Here are a few more suggestions:
- Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions of your seller, including whether they live in a home with pets, smokers, or tykes.
- Measure, measure, measure, before you see the item and before you bring it home. There's nothing worse than dragging an enormous couch all the way home, only to find out that it's an inch too long for your space.
- Have a budget. Craigslist is a great place to barter, but don't go into a deal knowing that you're going to pay $500 when you can really only afford $400.
- Bring someone with you. I mean - isn't this an obvious one?
- Play with the furniture. Don't be afraid to look a little silly - wiggle table legs, look under couches, squeeze chair arms, and check for mold, dirt and odor.
- Trust your gut instinct. If something doesn't seem right - with the seller, the piece of furniture, the price, or anything - reconsider. It's not like you'll never again find another IKEA Ektorp loveseat in muted beige.
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