Decision to sell second hand furniture is not just about making a bit of extra cash or decluttering. It is also a sustainable choice that helps combat the alarming statistics of furniture ending up in landfills.
According to Wrap, a climate action NGO, 670,000 tonnes of annual waste in the UK is furniture. Between 20 and 50% of this furniture waste is re-useable in its current condition. A further 25% is reusable with slight repair.
The British Heart Foundation has surveyed British attitudes towards buying, upcycling and donating second hand furniture. Its findings were worrying. Many Brits are overlooking the opportunity to buy and sell good quality, unique and affordable second hand furniture.
- A third of people in the UK and nearly half of Londoners have thrown away furniture and homewares. These items were in a condition, good enough to sell or to donate.
- Only 41% of UK adults have ever bought second hand furniture and homewares. Less than a third have used second hand sites like eBay and Gumtree.
- A fifth of 16-24-year-olds don’t actually know how to recycle or donate.
Where to sell second hand furniture near me?
Embracing online marketplaces and social media platforms to buy and sell second-hand has never been easier. There are also options to donate to the local furniture charity stores.
Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree.com are popular peer-to-peer marketplaces in the UK. Freeads.co.uk and Preloved.co.uk are their smaller alternatives. Sellers can sell their furniture online for free. Buyers and sellers make their own arrangements for delivery and payments. AnyVan is now offering delivery services on Facebook, Gumtree and Preloved.
eBay and Etsy are two large marketplaces working in a different way. They will handle payment and charge seller a commission. Sellers will need to organise delivery, though both marketplaces have partners to handle the delivery. eBay partnered with Parcel Monkey who can assist with booking delivery of larger items.
Sell a sofa, a wardrobe or dining tables and chairs – sellers can list almost anything, with the price at their discretion. Online platforms make it easy for sellers to compare prices, and understand demand for certain types of furniture.
Marketplaces have best reach to sell second hand furniture
Facebook Marketplace
- How it works: Free to list as a private seller
- What you can list: almost anything at any price, except restricted items, including services, animals and medical products
- How will delivery work: Collection or delivery agreed between buyer and seller
- How will payment work: agreed between buyer and seller. Often cash on collection.
eBay
- How it works: List for free for up to 250 insertions per month
- What you can list: almost anything at any price, except prohibited / restricted items
- How will delivery work: collection in person, or delivery organised by sellers
- How will payment work: eBay will pay the seller when the item sells, and will charge a final value fee – 13% commission for most items
Etsy
- How it works: Set up a shop and list your items. Etsy charges USD$0.20 listing fee
- What you can list: almost anything at any price, except listed items
- How will delivery work: Delivery organised by sellers. Etsy has delivery partners for small items
- How will payment work: Etsy will pay the seller when the item sells, and will charge a 6.5% transaction fee
Gumtree
- How it works: Free to list as a private seller. Gumtree will offer options to promote ads
- What you can list: almost anything at any price, except listed items
- How will delivery work: agreed between buyers and sellers. Buyers can organise delivery by Anyvan
- Payment: Cash on collection
What are the delivery options?
How to make the full cost of second hand furniture purchase more transparent with the delivery cost fully factored in? How to enable buyers to widen their area of search vs. the ‘collection only’ option?
eBay, Gumtree and Preloved include quotes from Shiply.com and Anyvan.com on their websites. These are price comparison tools, which connect removalist companies to people looking to transport their goods. Such tools help improve accessibility of second-hand furniture buying and selling. See our post to learn more: How to Deliver Furniture Your Buy Online?
Furniture specialists offer an easier way to sell your furniture
Here are the options to sell your second hand furniture for cash. Is there a business ‘we buy any furniture UK’ or ‘we buy any sofa UK’ out there? May be not yet, but a number of online furniture specialists are real second hand furniture buyers ‘near me’. They will buy and sell your good quality furniture for you.
Selling platforms such as Vinterior.co, quickli.co.uk and vintagehomestores.co.uk are offering a user friendly way to take the hassle out of selling second hand furniture. They have streamlined collection, listing, storage and delivery to help you sell furniture ‘near me’. They also present your furniture pieces to the target buyers in the best possible light on their websites. Thus, the second-hand furniture finds its right platform to sell at the best possible price.
How the furniture buy and sell works:
- The seller needs to send the detailed description and images of their furniture
- The second hand furniture buyers’ team will review the details for each piece of furniture, to ensure it meets their standards. Then the furniture pieces will be listed on their websites.
- The buying team may buy your second hand furniture for cash outright. Or, they would publish it on their selling platform, and charge a commission after it sells.
- Most platforms have delivery partners and and can organise the delivery for the buyer.
Vinterior
- How it works: Vinterior’s team reviews and approves all items before listing. Listing of approved furniture items is free.
- What you can list: all quality pre-owned pieces; contemporary, mid century, antique and vintage furniture
- How will delivery work: Delivery by Proovia, Vinterior’s partner. Buyer will be charged for the delivery. Buyers can opt for a free collection from the Seller’s location
- How will payment work: Vinterior pays the seller after the item sells and charge 17% commission
Vintage Home Stores
- How it works: Coverage: North East, North West, Midlands, London, West Midlands, Yorkshire, Humber, Home Counties, Thames Valley. Seller sends a proposed price and details of the items, VHS team reviews and agrees or declines.
- What you can list: Some items VHS will not buy. For example, they will not accept sofas that exceed £300, beds and mattresses, wardrobes and flat packed furniture.
- How will delivery work: VHS will pick up the item and bear the cost of collection
- How will payment work: VHS driver will pay the seller on pick up in cash or you can be paid by bank transfer.
IKEA has a buy back scheme for its used furniture
If you’ve got any unwanted IKEA furniture that’s in good condition, you’re able to sell it back to the home furnishings store and receive a refund card in return. The collected furniture is then resold in stores as second hand items.
The scheme aims to breathe new life to their products while creating easy and affordable solutions to help people live more sustainably and make circular consumption more affordable and accessible.
- How it works: Bring your gently used IKEA furniture to an IKEA store. A member of IKEA team will inspect your furniture.
- What you can sell: IKEA will buy back only certain used IKEA items, including: dressers, office drawer cabinets, display storage and sideboards; bookcases and shelf units; small tables; multimedia furniture; cabinets; dining tables and desks; chairs and stools without upholstery; chests of drawers; children’s products excluding baby items, and PAX accessories.
- How will delivery work: Seller delivers to a participating IKEA store
- How will payment work: IKEA will purchase your items. You will get an IKEA refund card to use with your next purchase. See the price estimator tool on their website.
Furniture specialists will buy your used designer furniture
Designer furniture specialists like rehaus.co.uk and lot.co.uk buy a curated selection of high-quality pieces from a selected list of brands and designers.
- How it works: Send the details of your designer furniture items to Rehaus. Their Expert team will value your items.
- What you can sell: Examples of brands.
- How will delivery work: Rehaus will organise collection from the seller
- How will payment work: Rehaus will either purchase the items or sell them on their website and through their partner network. Once your items have sold you can choose to receive 65% of the proceeds as cash, or 100% of the proceeds as credit to spend in our store.
- How it works: Like at an auction house, submit your items for review and approval by furniture dealers.
- What you can sell: Contemporary design furniture, evaluated by a team of experts.
- How will delivery work: After purchasing the item LOT will request a quote on the buyer’s behalf from their preferred courier. Used furniture buyers pay for the delivery. Buyers can also arrange their own collection or delivery
- How will payment work: Lot will take a £25 deposit on every listing. When it sells, LOT will return your deposit and levy 25% commission
Many other second-hand online furniture businesses in the UK are buying and selling furniture locally. This includes:
- furniturerecyclingshop.co.uk (Thames Valley)
- homefromhomestore.co.uk (Sussex)
- surreyfurniture-secondhand.co.uk (Surrey)
There are more than 250 charity stores in the UK selling and accepting donations of furniture. Read our post ‘15 ways to donate your used furniture‘ about how to find a charity store selling furniture near you, and how to organise a collection of furniture donation.
How to get a fair price for your used furniture
Condition
- Assess the condition: Before listing your furniture for sale, take a moment to evaluate its condition. Be honest with yourself and potential buyers about any wear and tear. This will help you set a fair price and manage expectations.
- Clean and repair: Giving your furniture a thorough cleaning can make a world of difference. Dust off those hard-to-reach corners, polish the surfaces, and remove any stains. If there are any minor repairs needed, such as loose screws or wobbly legs, take the time to fix them. A little effort can go a long way in attracting buyers.
Price
- Research the market value of similar items. Online platforms and local classifieds are great resources for comparing prices and understanding the demand for the furniture. Remember that second-hand furniture generally sells for far less than its original price, so prepare to negotiate.
Description
- Take clear photos and videos. Ensure your photos are well-lit, showcase the furniture from different angles, and highlight any unique features.
- Write a compelling description: Alongside your photos and videos, a well-written description can make your furniture stand out. Highlight its key features, dimensions, and any special characteristics. Mention any notable history or craftsmanship. Buyers who appreciate the real value of second-hand furniture will expect a detailed and engaging description.
Buyers
- Choose the right platform: consider your target audience and the type of furniture you’re selling. eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree offer a wide reach. Specialists can target specific buyers regionally, by value range and by brand – from IKEA to high end furniture brands. Specialists will also provide a more streamlined experience for both buyers and sellers.
- When selling on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, you will be expected to respond to inquiries promptly, offer viewings and organise delivery if needed.
- Negotiate and be flexible: Remember, your goal is to sell the furniture and free up space, so compromise on the price as much as you can.
- Leave positive reviews for buyers. Encourage buyers to do the same. This will help build your reputation as a reliable seller, and attract more potential buyers in the future.
Successful sale converts your unwanted furniture into cash. But it achieves so much more. It allows someone else to enjoy a quality piece at an affordable price, promote responsible consumption and help make a big impact on the planet.
Keep good things going!