Sources to Buy (and Sell) Vintage, Pre-owned and Up-Cycled Furniture

SOURCES TO BUY (AND SELL) VINTAGE, PRE-OWNED AND UP-CYCLED FURNITURE

Sources for acquiring (or "picking") vintage and pre-owned furniture to “flip” and up-cycle are abundant these days, whether you are doing so as a hobby, to furnish your own home, or to resell.  Pre-owned furniture through these sources is often of remarkably good quality at reasonable prices—if you know what to look for and where to look.  Many of the same sites where you can buy pre-owned furniture are also platforms to sell.  All of these sources have different target audiences and price points.  This guide shares the most common sources of vintage and pre-owned furniture—many of which you might have considered already—and some you probably never knew about.  I'll also share what to look for when buying vintage and pre-owned furniture and when to take a pass.     

VINTAGE & PRE-OWNED FURNITURE SOURCES

Social Media Buy (and Sell) Sites and Apps: You can find (usually) reasonably priced, or even free items on these sites.  Quality is hit or miss, but if you keep your eye out, you can get some real gems; plus prices are usually negotiable.  If you sell your finished up-cycled furniture on these sites, expect to be dickered down.  Also anticipate wading through a number of scam buyers (so beware).  Selling fees are free/negligible; but you might be tempted to pay to promote listings.

♻   Facebook Marketplace and Facebook Buy & Sell Sites

♻   Offer Up, Let Go, Craig’s List, Varage Sale 

♻   Classifieds Websites:  Sell.com, Oodle.com, Recycler.com; Remoov; Bookoo.com 

Premium Buy (and Sell) Sites and Apps:  Furniture on these sites is often (but not always) curated and prices can be high; but, the quality is almost always assured.  You can also buy (and sell) specific period furniture on these sites--like Mid-Century-Modern, which can have an almost cult-following.  If you sell up-cycled furniture on these sites, expect to get top dollar, but pay a (sometimes hefty) subscription, commission or transaction fee.

♻   Chairish

♻   Sotheby's Home

♻   1st Dibs

♻   Etsy Handmade/Vintage

♻   AptDeco (NYC Metro Area)

♻   Apartment Therapy Bazaar/Marketplace

♻   Route 66 Furniture

♻   Bonanza

♻   Trove

♻   Ruby Lane

♻   Amazon Handmade

♻   Pinterest
♻   Shopify

Thrift & Salvage Stores:  Many great vintage and pre-owned furniture pieces can be found at reuse warehouses, architectural salvage stores and thrift stores.  Architectural salvage stores are also an excellent source for unique finds that can be up-cycled for new and creative uses.  Some are nationwide outfits and others are regional/local.  You only need to do a quick online search to find the local ones; the examples below are just representative. 

♻   ReStore (Habitat for Humanity)

♻   Good Will, Salvation Army or Thrift Stores

♻   Wertz Brothers Furniture (Los Angeles area)

♻   Community Forklift (Washington DC), Housewerks Salvage (Baltimore), Philadelphia Salvage

Tag Sales, Markets, Consignment Shops, and Antique Malls:  Tag sales are a great source for good quality used furniture typically from estates or people's attics.  Estate sales (often managed by professional companies) can yield beautiful furniture, but the prices are not as flexible because the bereaved family is seeking to maximize the estates' value.  On the other hand, you can find fantastic deals and steals at physical yard and garage sales, because the motivation is to clear out one's space quickly.  Markets can also be a great source for previously-owned furniture; but, pieces found at Vintage Artisan Markets, Consignment Shops and Antique Shops/Malls are often either already up-cycled or of a quality that you might not wish to modify them. Flea markets are another story though--hence the popular show Flea Market Flip!  As a seller at these venues, you should expect to pay fees to set up a tent or booth, plus commissions in some cases.  Certain consignment shops charge a whopping 50% of your sale price.

♻   Estate Sales (online and in person), Yard Sales and Garage Sales

♻   Vintage Markets, Antique Stores and Flea Markets

Online Auction Houses, Hotel Auctioneers, Government Auctioneers: Auctions sites are a great way to get decent quality furniture at rock-bottom prices--if you keep your eye out for listings and bid smartly (and sometimes shrewdly).  Some auctions sites, like Rasmus or hotel liquidation sites will have excellent (and occasionally high-end) furniture selections without having to pay the high cost you would find on the premium buy and sell sites.  An often overlooked source is federal, state and local government auction sites.  For instance, the U.S. General Services Administration is nationwide, and charged with disposing of property from government offices by region, which could include beautiful solid wood conference tables, cabinets, bookshelves--even dining sets--for pennies on the dollar.  I purchased some beautiful pieces at the GSA near our nation's capital--furniture from the State Department, Congressional offices, etc.  Typically the GSA auction sites run exclusively by online auction (with physical pick-up at the regional warehouse; but some GSA sites will open the warehouse periodically to the public for a "grab and go sale".

♻   eBid, HiBid, Rasmus Auctions, eBay

♻   Hotel Liquidation/Surplus/Auction Sites

♻   U.S. Government General Services Administration Auctions (www.gsaauctions.gov)

♻   State & Local Government Public Auction Sites

Family:  An often overlooked source for used furniture is your family.  A lot of times children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews may see old pieces in the basements, attics (and front rooms) of relatives and perceive them as out of date or staid.  They don't have a vision for how they could be up-cycled.  These pieces not only have family history, but they are also often of very good quality.  And they are also usually FREE!  

♻   Your Grandma’s Attic

THE SIDE OF THE ROAD:  Until I started up-cyling, I never really noticed how much good furniture you can find on the side of the road.  You would be shocked what people throw away--good pieces with maybe a few scratches are just put out with the trash!  I can't tell you how many times I have been driving, only to slam on the brakes and pick-up something that is being thrown away.  A few times my husband and I were walking in our neighborhood only to find something great (which I would then enlist him to carry home or go pick up after our walk was done).  It is generally considered legal to rummage through refuse that has been left in a public place or on the curb; but, just to be safe, it could not hurt to ask the home owner if they mind.  And of course, it is free, free, free!  

♻  Curbside! 
♻  Dumpster Dive!

WHAT TO LOOK FOR & WHEN TO TAKE A PASS

So now that you know the sources, how do you know if you got good stuff or if you should take a pass? Quality furniture worth buying, bartering for or picking out of the trash, will be:

   

♻   Mostly or entirely solid wood.  Avoid particle board, though some veneered MDF if strategically placed can be up-cycled with chalk or texture paints or other mediums.

♻   Made with solid joinery.  Look at the back of the drawers--they should have dovetailed, mortise and tendon, or rabbit joints.  Avoid simple butt joints unless you are willing to reinforce them, as they can pull apart easily.
♻   Free of parasites, such as woodworms.  The most obvious signs of woodworm infestation in your wooden furniture include visible darkening of the color, lots of holes in the wood, a cracking sound coming from the furniture and possibly spotting adult beetles.  You might miss these signs with quick visual inspection typical of buying in this manner, so be careful. 
♻   Free of mold spores--usually seen as white and/or black spots on furniture, but often not visually detectable (but it smells musty).  Again, sometimes you won't realize that you have an issue with mold or bad smelling furniture until you get it home and in an enclosed space.  You can certainly treat it; but, it's not pleasant and not always successful, so beware.
♻   From a smoke-free home--similar to mold, years of tobacco build up will result not only in grime, but also a strong smell which could be difficult to remedy.
♻   Generally free of major damage or missing parts--this is a really a matter of personal preference and whether you feel up to the task of fixing damaged furniture (including veneers).  You might very well have an up-cycling plan that makes the damage irrelevant, or maybe you love the challenge of replicating missing pieces or fixing broken legs. (I do!)

So, with this guide I wish you great success with your "picking" of vintage and pre-owned furniture pieces.   Up-cycling or flipping a piece that was pre-owned or possibly destined for the landfill can bring great satisfaction (and revenue).  Remember to Recycle, Reduce and Reuse when you can!

Copyright 2020.  Vintage Veneers Decor LLC.