I wanted to share a few places to find furniture to flip, especially if you are on a tight budget. Finding furniture to flip on a budget is not hard. Read on.
I have been flipping and repurposing furniture now for over 6 years. I get emails constantly asking where I find pieces to flip that are reasonably priced because of budget constraints. I thought I would share some tips with you if you are interested in getting started.
What is your budget?
Of course, this is the most important factor. Be sure to have a budget BEFOREHAND. Meaning before you even start looking for a piece to flip. If you work full time and have a family household budget this is crucial. Come up with a figure. Don’t worry about supplies, etc., just a basic figure that you can afford to put into your first flip.
Where are the best places to look?
I, personally, do not buy from local used furniture stores. I find they are overpriced and are not willing to negotiate. If you have a local store that does, then that would be a great place to start. But I have found that these types of stores have a huge overhead and have to make up for that overhead in their prices.
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Habitat for Humanity ReStore
One of my favorite places locally is my Habitat for Humanity ReStore. I have found many pieces there for great prices because the Manager likes to move furniture out the door. They will also cut me a deal if I buy more than one piece. All proceeds stay local and help build safe and secure homes for those less fortunate. What better way to buy used pieces, knowing you are giving back to your local community with every dollar you spend.
Here is a dresser I got for $30 bucks at my local ReStore. (See how I transformed this dresser into a coastal beauty here).
Goodwill
Use caution when shopping at your local Goodwill for used furniture. Let me tell you why. I am not sure of your local situation, but here, some of the prices are just too high for used furniture. Most used furniture at Goodwill is very used and shows significant signs of wear and tear and I refuse to pay $79.99 for a dresser that the veneer is peeling off, it’s just not feasible. Until you have a little bit of experience under your belt, be careful at Goodwill. Here is one great deals we just recently found. See how I repurposed this television cabinet HERE!
Facebook Marketplace
Another place to search for used furniture is Facebook Marketplace. Most people who post used furniture on these sights want it gone, are moving, or have just purchased new furniture. I have also found that they are the most willing to negotiate.
I found this orange dresser for $70.00 on the Marketplace. I gave it a totally different use by repurposing it into a farmhouse cabinet! See it HERE!
Curbside Finds
Curbside finds are another great way to find used pieces. I always ride around neighborhoods that I know have local curbside pickup for unwanted furniture. This normally happens the last of every month. I have found several pieces this way. Like this bookshelf. It doesn’t look like much, but the makeover will surprise you! See it HERE!
Craigslist
You can also find some awesome deals on Craigslist. Although with Craigslist, you have to be smart and safe! Listen to your gut, if it’s too good to be true it probably is, so stay away. Meet in public places and always, always if you are a woman go with your spouse or better half. NEVER go alone. I have found many pieces at great prices because people are willing to negotiate. I scored this Drexel dresser for $40.00. (see the makeover here).
Freebies from Friends and Family
Once the word gets out that you are flipping furniture, you will get all kinds of freebies from friends and family! The people who support you are the people who will always think of you when they have items they do not want or see an item on the curbside for free. I can’t tell you over the years how many free pieces I have scored this way! I also barter with friends/customers. I will redo a piece for them and they give me a piece they no longer want for free. I scored this hutch top by bartering with a friend. See how I repurposed it here.
Auctions
Lastly, I will mention another place that I look for pieces and that is my local Auction House. However, until you gain a bit of experience in purchasing used pieces, I would be wary of auctions. When I first started out, I went the auction route and I ended up paying way too MUCH for used pieces. Once you have some experience under your belt, then you will be ready for auctions. I won this piece for $5.00. Yep! Read all about it HERE and how I found it!
I hope this helps you find the perfect piece to flip. If you are ready to start and have questions please feel free to send me a message. I will be more than happy to share my experiences with you. I wish I would have had someone to do that with me when I first started. My goal is to make this as painless as possible for you!
Remember, « It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it will be. »
