Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are great for secondhand furniture. You can save serious money furnishing your first apartment or find great deals on truly unique pieces and antiques. But if you’ve never done it before, it can be intimidating. There are a lot of listings and, unfortunately, not all of them are completely honest. So, we have a few tips for weeding through untrustworthy listings and getting your must-have furniture finds safely to your home. 

Successful Marketplace Furniture Shopping Tips 

Shop smarter online with these Craigslist and Facebook marketplace furniture buying and pickup tips.

Measure First 

There’s nothing worse than buying a beautiful piece of furniture or a couch only to discover it doesn’t fit your space or that you can’t get it through your doorway. Whenever shopping for furniture or large items for your home, it’s a good idea to measure first to make sure it’s going to fit. Typically, Craigslist and Marketplace sellers do not take back items, so always get dimensions and measure before you buy. 

Double Check the Listing & the Seller

Although a good find online might not last long, it’s still a good idea to be a bit cautious. Look over the listing carefully. Make sure the photos don’t look faked, read the full description and verify that the price isn’t too good to be true. You can also check the seller’s profile for any reviews and ratings. Watch for generic messages, aggressive sales pitches or lack of information and always trust your gut if something feels off. 

Ask Questions Before You Go

We understand nobody wants to be bombarded by a ton of questions, but if you are seriously interested, don’t be afraid to ask a few smart questions, especially for larger and more expensive purchases like furniture. If you get there and find out that the upholstery is stained, the table wobbles, parts are missing or it’s too big, you’re probably not going to buy it. So, it’s better to ask ahead of time for exact measurements, close-up photos, or about any other deal-breakers you have. If the seller is rude, dodgy or pushy, they could be trying to hide something, and it might just be your cue to move on. 

Plan Ahead for a Safe Meeting  

Furniture pickup will often happen at the seller’s home, and while odds are nothing out of the ordinary will happen, it’s still a good idea to take few safety precautions. Arrange for pickup during daylight hours, bring along a buddy if you can, make sure your phone is charged and that someone knows where you are going. If anything feels off, leave. Your safety should always come first. 

Inspect Before You Pay

Minor wear is fair trade off for a good price. Items bought off Marketplace or Craigslist usually aren’t new, after all. But hidden structural damage is different and could make the item unsafe or unusable. Go ahead and sit on the sofa, look under the table, open drawers and test hinges to make sure the item meets the description and your expectations before handing over any money. 

Have Help & Transportation Planned 

Arranging how you are going to get your item home before you buy it can help make for a smoother transaction. If you don’t have the means to transport your purchase yourself, you may want to make plans to borrow or rent a truck or hire a local furniture mover. If your item is large or heavy, you may need tools for disassembling, blankets for padding, a friend for the heavy lifting or a Couple More Guys™ can handle all that for you. We’ll even put it exactly where you want it in your home and reassemble it if needed.

Delivering Your Online Finds to You

Buying used furniture online can be a smart, budget-friendly way to furnish your home or office. Take your time, verify what you can, keep the process straightforward and don’t let your lack of truck keep you from buying the perfect item. Let Couple More Guys® move your furniture. 

We specialize in the hassle-free delivery of furniture bought on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or at local summer yard sale. Our two-person, insured crews are ready with a truck, trailer and the muscle to get your items where they need to go, ensuring a seamless solution for pick up, transportation and in home furniture placement. Schedule your furniture pickup crew today.