Shopping for secondhand furnishings

Need more furniture or want a new look? Buying secondhand can pay off in big savings and excellent value.

Thrift shops, garage sales, flea markets, auctions and estate sales are all good places to shop for secondhand furnishings. You can get great bargains on some lightly used items. But others don’t recycle well and are not good value.

If you make a mistake, you won’t be able to return your purchase. So be a careful shopper and follow our secondhand value guidelines:

You can find great values shopping for second-hand tables, dressers and desks. Be sure to:

• Check for dents, scratches, cracks and wobbly legs
• Test the hinges and drawers. Do they work properly?
• Check for leaves or extenders. Do they fit?

Don’t worry about missing or damaged drawer pulls or knobs. They can be replaced easily and inexpensively.

Couches and chairs may be good purchases, too, if you are careful. Some questions you should consider:

• Are they stained? How much does steam cleaning cost?
• Are they worn? How much will new slipcovers cost?
• So the cushions feel lumpy? You may need to replace the foam.

Lamps are often a great bargain secondhand. Consider the following when shopping:

• Does the lamp work? Plug it in. Also, if it has more than one bulb holder, test each one.
• Are the light bulbs an odd size or type? Anything non-standard will cost more to replace.
• Is it a halogen torchère floor lamp? (These have a bulb in what looks like a saucer at the top of the pole.) Make sure the bulb is rated no higher than 300 watts. Also, for fire safety reasons, don’t buy it if it doesn’t have a glass or wire guard over the bulb shield.
• Does the lamp shade need to be cleaned or replaced?

Many home furnishings outlets sell reconditioned major appliances, often with a 30-day warranty. They’ve been repaired, cleaned and road-tested, but you should still give them a once-over, as follows:

• Make sure appliances like washers and dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators are no more than five years old and have no nicks or dents.
• Check refrigerator and freezer door seals. Close the door on a piece of paper. Try to pull it out without tearing. If you can do it, the seal is not tight.
• Check the energy efficiency rating. Some older appliances are not energy efficient. You could pay a lot later in the former of higher utility bills.
• Look for worn cords and damaged plugs. They could be signs of overheating or other problems.

Carpet remnants, the pieces left from custom jobs or ends of rolls can be tempting. Find out:

• How much it will cost to finish the raw edges.
• Does it needs an under pad?

Some general guidelines, no matter what you are buying:

• Use the sniff test! Sniff inside, out and around very carefully. Is there any hint of mold or something else unpleasant?
• Measure! Will it get through your front door? Will it fit in the room where you plan to use it?
• Stay away from these secondhand items, no matter how good the savings look:
• Mattresses. They may be infested with vermin or no longer give good support.
• Safety equipment for babies and small children, such as safety gates and car seats. They may not meet current safety standards.
• Bean bag chairs with zippers. Young children may unzip and choke on the pellet stuffing.
• TVs, stereos, computers and other electronics. If you want guaranteed performance, buy retail on sale instead. Get a warranty (and some peace of mind).
  
  
  

Related Topics:

• Financial Literacy Guide
• Managing your money
• Smarter spending