Dining table chairs, leather sofa, bunk bed, mirror, coffee table, armchairs, two chests of drawers and a desk. This is a list of the furniture we bought for the current household second-hand. We have no regrets. For a long time, this category of used things went beyond me. After all, during moving, subletting, and renovation, we mainly got rid of furniture we had yet to acquire. Since last year, I have repeatedly confirmed how second-hand furniture Sharjah is a godsend and often needlessly neglected.
It’s a separate category that I haven’t written about on the blog yet. I’m going to fix it.
I have written down the points that will help you clarify what you are getting into from a buyer’s point of view, whether you do it for price, originality, or ecology. In addition to the WHY reasons, the article includes a practical procedure for finding furniture and tips on what to find out in advance. Then, good luck hunting!
A search and a drop of luck
Buying second-hand furniture is only for some. It takes time, some searching, and some luck.
Then, you will find treasures that will overcome even possible snags (such as inadequate communication with sellers) and fears.
It is often said that you can bring fleas, bedbugs, or worms home with you. I don’t know; we have yet to bring Barbera home, yet you are just starting. The easiest, safest, and thus least problematic are tables and chairs without padding.
Why buy furniture in an ad or from a bazaar?
Point number one. For less or the same money, you get significantly better quality pieces than from the average furniture chain. That’s why I do it, too. How much would a new one cost? So, five times as much?
This will solve your housing temporarily or cost-effectively. It would help if you had a cot right now, but in a few years, you will replace it with a regular bed. Alternatively, furniture for a cottage or sublet from which you will move again.
When shopping, you will come across original, otherwise unobtainable pieces. Pieces with a historical patina, with a story. By doing so, you support others in not throwing away, thrift, and ecology. This partially prevents the generation of waste. At the same time, you choose the option without packaging. You probably know if you’ve bought a new piece of furniture lately. There are always so many cartons, boxes, foils, and bubbles that remain after unpacking and assembly.
The last WHY is you touch the thing and check it on the spot. You will see how it behaves and looks after years of use. This way, you eliminate downright low-quality chain pieces that cannot be moved (because they will fall apart during disassembly), and the first owner is their last.
Three steps to your dream furniture from the Bazaar
So, how do you do it practically? I do these three steps:
- I’ll map the terrain.
- I know exactly what I’m looking for. I will clarify the style, dimensions, and material.
- When it comes up, I act quickly and fairly.
Step 1 – I will map the terrain.
I search primarily in internet bazaars, mostly Mr Second Hand and Max Used Furniture. There are many more choices, and I can decide before I go to the place.
In principle, you will come across three types of advertisements there. The classic ones are from individuals selling units of pieces. The visible “bazaars within bazaars”, i.e. brick-and-mortar bazaars that use advertising portals as their e-shop with an extensive reach.
The third group consists of various traffickers and larger entities who like to appear as individuals (with a username and a first and last name). You can recognize them because they have about 400 advertisements under their name, and it is impossible to call them or send an SMS in advance.
They like to focus on retro furniture from the 60s to the 80s, which is trendy now and can be made into money. With this group, you must take a risk and check things out on the spot. I tend to avoid them.
From my experience, good partners are:
- People who suddenly and quickly need to get rid of furniture from heritage or before renovation,
- people moving
- Entrepreneurs who sell used furniture Dubai, cafes, and boarding houses (it is usually of good quality, and there are a sufficient number of the same pieces).
Watch the site right from the start. You probably don’t want to drive 300 km for a chest of drawers. Furniture sales are essentially very local (this is both a disadvantage and an advantage). Limit your location with the filter so that you only see the relevant within a radius of, for example, 20 km.
Smaller pieces can be sent by post, but don’t count on it. Packing and shipping is a lot of work. The seller will always prioritize the person who picks up the piece in person.
Recommended Article: Used Furniture in Ajman