How do you flip furniture as a beginner?
So you want to flip furniture. Great choice! I flip furniture and I love it!
Flipping furniture can be a fun and rewarding hobby, as well as an excellent way to make some extra money. The good news is that furniture flipping is easy to start, even for beginners. Here are a few key steps you can follow to get started flipping furniture:
1. Start Small and Work Your Way Up
You may want to start by flipping smaller pieces of furniture, such as chairs, end tables, or nightstands, before tackling larger pieces like sofas or dressers. It's tempting to start with a big, splashy piece of furniture that looks like it would sell for the most profit, but often large pieces take a lot more work and have a steeper learning curve than small pieces. If you make a mistake with your paint color on a nightstand, it'll be a whole lot faster to fix than if you need to repaint an entire dresser. Flipping smaller pieces of furniture will help you get a feel for the process and build your skills and confidence.
Plain wood furniture pieces that do not need a lot of repairs are the best pieces to start with. Try to choose a piece of furniture that has not been previously painted, as stripping off layers of old paint will add a lot of unnecessary time and expense to a furniture flip, making it more difficult for beginners.
2. Research Your Market
Before you start flipping furniture, it's important to understand what types of furniture pieces are in demand and what price you can expect to get for them.
Check to see what furniture styles are most popular in your area. Look for inspiration in location-based marketplaces online, like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, or in local stores, and research the prices of similar items to get a sense of what you can expect to sell your furniture for. You need to know what will sell and how much it will generally sell for in order to know how much you can spend on furniture and supplies.
If you want to flip furniture for profit, you need to make a business plan to avoid any unnecessary expenses and maximize your profit. Download this template and it should only take you a few minutes to add in this market research and make a business plan.
3. Find Your Furniture Pieces
There are many places to find furniture to flip, including garage sales, thrift stores, estate sales, and online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, eBay, or Craigslist. Look for furniture pieces that are in good condition but need a little TLC, such as those with minor scratches or dents that can be easily fixed.
Free furniture can be surprisingly easy to find. Often free furniture needs a little more work than paid furniture, but surprisingly, this is not always the case. Furniture is large and can be difficult to move so when it does not sell, people will often list perfectly good furniture for free. Look for curb alerts online, as well as dedicated sites like Freecycle and Buy Nothing Groups. Remember that if you see furniture that appears be in the trash, knock on the door and confirm that it is being discarded and get permission before you take it.
If you can't find a free piece, choose a furniture piece that's priced low enough that you can still make a profit. As a rule of thumb, start with a piece of furniture that you can resell for at LEAST four times the purchase price and requires minimal tools and supplies to flip. That way you can guarantee you'll make a profit on your very first furniture flip!
4. Clean and Repair Your Furniture Pieces
Once you've found a piece of furniture to flip, the next step is to give it a thorough cleaning and make any necessary repairs. This might include sanding and refinishing the wood, painting over damaged wood, replacing hardware, or reupholstering cushions.
Yes, this is the flipping part! If you chose a piece of furniture that does not need too many repairs, this part will be easy and fun. Nearly all pieces will need to be sanded and re-sealed, regardless of style or age, so make sure you have a good sander. A random orbit sander sands quickly, leaves a good finish, and is still affordable for beginners. Make sure you have the appropriate grit sandpaper for your project.
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5. Stage and Photograph Your Furniture Pieces
When it's time to sell your furniture, it's important to present it in the best possible light. When it comes to your ultimate sale price, presentation can be as important as the quality of furniture and your work. Take the time to stage your pieces in an attractive and appealing way, and take high-quality photographs to use in your listings. This will guarantee the best chances of making a higher profit.
Find an uncluttered, neutral backdrop that does not distract from the furniture, and use good lighting. Take pictures of your pieces from multiple angles and make sure to highlight the details that make the piece special, like upgraded hardware or unique furniture legs. Include the size and dimensions of the furniture in the listing, so people can picture the piece in their space.
Furniture flipping can be as lucrative for beginners as it is for experts, if you follow these steps. With a little bit of effort and attention to detail, you can start flipping furniture and earning some extra cash. Have fun!