Last night, I accompanied a girlfriend on her quest to find the perfect couch! (She is finally moving out on her own and signed a 1-year lease on an apartment.) Her budget was $500 for a 3-seater, non-leather, so we went to the usual places like Leon’s, Ikea, Sears Furniture, etc. Technically, she can spend more, but since she’s not to sure of where she’ll be once the lease is up, she didn’t want to invest more money.
Out of all those places listed above, she liked a really simple couch at Ikea the most, but it was $600+taxes. In addition, she still has to assemble it herself. And of course, since it’s Ikea, it’s just mediocre quality.
I suggested that perhaps she scour the free classifieds like Craiglist/Kijiji just to get an idea of what people were selling, for how much, etc. Naturally, her reaction consisted of a bit of apprehension, a used sofa? What if it was infested by bed bugs or just smelt funny?
I’m skeptical too, but I think if I were in her situation, I’d seriously consider the classifieds. I’ve purchased a beautiful, dusty rose ottoman from the ’60s AND a mid-century, teak/rosewood, Danish, night table, both at Value Village before and would do it again in a heartbeat. However, I would draw the line at a used mattress…despite the cost of a new set! Based on my experiences though, I definitely think that there are “deals” to be found online. 🙂
As far as pre-owned furniture is concerned, does the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle idea apply to you? Would you or have you purchased pre-owned furniture? If so, how was your experience?
P.S. Based on friends who live downtown, picking up a mattress, off the curb, on garbage day is definitely a HUGE no-no!!!
On the facebook local classifieds for our local area there are some really nice sets posted. A girl I know down the street was moving and posted her less then a year old lazy boy sectional (2k) for free! Guess whos house it’s in? Haha
I’ve bought a couch and chair pre-owned for $300 and you would never even know it was used!
I have to admit that during spring clean up in town, I’ve stopped along the side of the road and picked up an item that someone has otherwise thought was garbage…when it really wasn’t. I’ve picked up a solid wood rocking chair, a wooden Roxton side table, a toddler bed in perfect condition, among countless other items. Some of them I’ve kept and others I have sold on kijiji and made nearly $100 on these ‘junk’ items that were in perfect condition. A good majority of our furniture in our house is from kijiji…bunk bed frame, mates bed frames, dressers, shelving units, dining room table sets, coffee tables…and you’d never know it. I think I would buy a used couch if I knew the type of house it was coming from….mattress…not so sure…
I have never bought a used sofa, because I can’t be sure of where it was coming from. I have, however, bought used items from friends and family who were ready to upgrade their furniture, and sometimes, it was me who planted the idea in their head.
As she is just moving out on her own, it is very likely that there is someone in the family who would love the opportunity to upgrade their couch. Ask. Ask neighbors, friends, co-workers, etc…
my post isnt showing?:(
I found a lovely micro-suede 2-seater on Kijiji for $150! They usually retail for $500 and up 🙂 we checked it out first, for any stains or damage and the couch literally looked new! So I def say yes to checking used furniture!
it came with 4 pillows but I only kept 2 (panda bear is mine:))
here it is!
[ur]http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/308082_10100438224751370_48901962_57920407_676632375_n.jpg[/url]
hmm not sure where my post went but here it is again:
I found a lovely micro-suede 2-seater on Kijiji for $150! They usually retail for $500 and up 🙂 we checked it out first, for any stains or damage and the couch literally looked new! So I def say yes to checking used furniture!
I found the original in the spam filter, it was the link that spammed it.
We have an awesome used furniture store close to me that you have to check at least once a week and preferably when they open for the week so you get first pick of the new stuff. I have so far picked up a solid wood antique dresser for $30!!!
I would probably buy a bed frame used, but never the mattress just because I am very afraid of bed bugs. At least you can inspect and deep clean a bed frame. I would probably buy a couch used too as long as I knew the place it came from was clean or if it was at the second hand store if it looked clean. I probably wouldn’t pick something off of the side of the road if I lived in Toronto especially outside of an apartment building because of bed bugs.
If your friend lives in Toronto check out Kensington market. There is an awesome clothing/used furniture place called Bungalow. I think it’s on Augusta but not 100% sure since I found it by accident last year. They have some really cool retro furniture though!
I must have said something to annoy the filter too because my comment is awaiting moderation LOL!
Sally, now that you’ve put that pic, I don’t know why anyone WOULDN’T buy a used couch!
Yummm…seaweed…
I have used wooden furniture (from friends, the curb or purchased.) I would not accept a used upholstered item from anyone that I didn’t know really well. I actually don’t even have a sofa. If I did have a $500 budget and couldn’t find a larger sofa, I would either get a smaller one or a really comfy chair. But I agree with your friend. I wouldn’t get a used one.
thanks Sally! 🙂
After buying brand new furniture (brand new comfy pillow-top King size mattress, Ikea table and chairs, sectional couch) and having to sell them 1.5 year later at a ridiculous price because we had to move to a furnished place, I swore to myself I would only buy second-hand (and be the person who makes the good deal) until I own my own place. I paid roughly $2,300 for the three things and sold everything for less than $1,000.
A lot of people are selling their old stuff because they are getting brand new stuff and don’t need the smelly couch anymore, but a LOT of people are selling them because they have to move away or because their situation has changed. It definitely pays to look at used furniture.
my husband and i purchased a used matching loveseat and chair for $100 2 years ago, off Kijiji. we were hesitant at first, because of bedbugs etc. when i walked into the buyers’ home to see the furniture, i was immediately set at ease. everything was clean, everything looked good. the furniture was in perfect condition, it didn’t smell or look bad, there were no rips or tears except a cat scratch in one spot. it looked brand new. they even delivered it for free, bonus.
i think when buying something like furniture you have to check out the enviroment it’s coming from, check the ‘seams’ of the piece for bugs, etc. if you or anyone in your house is allergic to cats, ask if they have pets, as the odour/hair might be on the furniture.
i would definately buy used furniture.
oh but wait….i would NEVER buy used mattresses or boxsprings. all sorts of things could be living inside them…..or could have been defacated on. yuck. too big of a sanitary risk in my opinion!! new is best when it comes to mattresses. 🙂
Just because of bedbugs I would not buy soft goods from kijiji.
I got a free futon, closet drawer and TV stand from a couple selling a vacation home. Found them on Kiji, and everything is great quality stuff! Practically brand new because these items were rarely used! The couple was very nice!!! Saved me $300!
I bought a green chair in Kijiji for $30, that was in perfect condition. The only draw back was that when we got it in the car and drove away. I could smell something funky. Needless to say it was the chair. I purchased a can of upholstery cleaner and voila! the smell was gone.
I know what to look for in terms of bed bugs so I would def. buy used again. I am actually on the lookout for a couch right now, since my beautiful cat decided to use our last one as a toilet
I am VERY hesitant when it comes to used furniture. I don’t think I could ever buy used when it came to mattresses and box springs. I did however cav e and bought two brown leather chairs (the ones that have storage under the seat, and can link together to be a love seat) and a storage ottoman all for $100 a couple months ago off Kijiji. I think it’s very important to look at it first, and ask the seller questions! Where it came from, why their getting rid of it, etc.
My chairs and ottoman were just used to stage a house to help it sell. A few scratches on it because their cat would go on it, but I have a cat too and expect that so no big deal to me 🙂
@ Melissa, I agree about used bedding, mattresses, sheets, pillows.
Because there may be bed bugs in those, I wouldn’t buy used. I wouldn’t want to bring more living creatures into my house.
@ilovegratis – I FEEL YOU! My cat has been using my hallway (carpeted) as her personal toilet. Get in touch with me as to how we can get our beauties to STOP peeing outside their boxes!!!
It’s soo gross, exhausting, and stressful.
I furnished two homes and two cottages from Craigslist and Kijiji. Most of the furniture is Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn. All for a fraction of what they would coat at full price.
I bought a great sofa at IKEA! aaaannnnd the fact that you have to put it together yourself allowed me to get it into a very small apartment’s staircase. I love used furniture deals but don’t knock something because you actually have to put a little effort into assembling it 🙂
I’ve had everything used, mostly from family and friends, in my home up until the last few years. Now that I’m more established, pretty much everything is new. I bought my first ever NEW bed just a few years ago. I’ve never had any problems with used though. Oh and just recently I bought a used ceramic top stove in excellent condition from the classifieds. It was $100. I also bought a $350 bathroom vanity NEVER USED for $80.
I have loads of used stuff… my couch was given to us by our neighbours, the papasan from a 2nd hand store, the table & chairs from a 2nd hand store, the kids bed frames, dressers etc, etc…. in fact, I think that only the tv stand is new. I can’t afford to buy the better quality furnishings at store prices, so I look for the same style in used. The few pieces of brand new furniture we’ve bought over the years have not held up the way the used stuff has and have been replaced by the better quality 2nd hand items!
jysk has good deals on sofa i think 399 and they offer free shipping when you spend 400$
My loveseat and pullout sofa were bought for me by my mom at a yard sale. the Loveseat is in mint condition (like it was wrapped in plastic!) and the pullout was slightly more used. Sometimes a good deal is there when people are just redecorating. Just be sure whatever you get is clean!
I also got my 150+ year old bed frame from a yard sale for $80 🙂
I go to a second hand store run by a church. (Those are the best kind price wise) When I first bought my house a couple years ago I got a pair of nice couches there for $80 total. Then a couple months ago I bought a black micro-suede chaise lounger there for $12. Well, it was tagged $24 but it was half price day 😉
We just bought a fantastic couch for less than $500 @ The Brick. But we have had some minor success with furniture from kijiji
I would never pick up used furniture off curbs or eleswhere. Do it only if you want to risk a bedbug infestation in your home. I’m not paranoid — just realistic because there have been too many horror stories. Welcome to the new norm of todays present pest problem.
I do believe big box stores have had bug infestations, so its not just used stuff…..
Funny this should come up! A co-worker rents out a house, the occupants kept bringing in used furniture. Now the house is severly infested with bed bugs, the source all the used furniture. Be careful, my co-worker has contacted an agency to spray the home, unfortunately he had to evacuate the people before the company will go in and spray. Stating that as long as these people bring in used furniture the bugs will never be under control. Good luck!
its great to search for used furniture like tables, chairs, dinettes, etc.. but anything fabric like sofas, mattresses, etc i would not purchase due to possibility of bed bugs and the like. i’ve heard and seen some horror stories with people picking up a sofa but i would think its a low chance of it happening
liquidation places and warehouse sales are a good place to explore as well. picked up a brand new all gas stove oven display model from one of these sales for a few hundred (retail for $1500+) and sold my old one for the same price! basically a free upgrade.
I can honestly say I NEVER buy anything new that I can get on kijiji. Except for mattresses, but that’s just good sense. If an item can be hosed down, washed with or laundered in hot water or sprayed with an antibacterial cleaner, I’ll always take the cheaper “pre-loved” item over paying retail.
I lump couch into the mattress category. The only exception is if I knew the family that it came from. I got a used couch from a distant relative and I knew it was well cared for. A friend of mine does reupholstery work and I’ve seen too much to be comfortable with a used couch.
If your friend is looking for a cheap couch however, check out The Brick. They literally have a wall of couches under $500. I got my bonded leather couch (3 seater) on sale as a floor model for $400.
I never realized how many amazing pieces there are on craigslist, usedeverywhere, etc!
The only reason I started to look there was because I was looking for a decent bed frame that wouldn’t cost me a fortune (seriously, stores like the Brick want 600$++ for mediocre quality..)
I wanted one from Ikea, but since I don’t live on the mainland, shipping or going to pick it up myself would have cost as much as the bed frame itself)
So I post an ad and lo and behold someone replied! She wanted to sell her handmade solid mahogany bed frame. She was totally awesome, her and her boyfriend were so helpful and pleasant. For 200$ it was a total STEAL! I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
I bought a brand new couch from Ikea 9 years ago and it still looks amazing, it never sagged or faded. I would buy one from there again. Both kids beds and my kitchen table are from Ikea, it’s definatley NOT mediocre quality.
I got my brown microsuede couch at the Brick for $200.
Our well-made, custom-upholstered loveseat (with extra cushion covers) and rattan 5 pc set in our sunroom came from Kijiji. Our daughter also bought a Crate and Barrel couch, 1 yr old, for 1/3 the new price. We would buy used couches and tables from clean homes (I am very careful about avoiding funky smells), but not mattresses. My hubby has a pest control business and knows all about bedbugs…but did not feel buying these pieces was a high risk. Apparently you can bring bedbugs home even from luxury hotels.
I’ve gotten a free sofa and loveseat off Kijij, it needed a bit of cleaning up of dog hair but other then that it was great. I still have the loveseat but I purchased a microfibre couch from Kijiji for $200. I live in a town where people make a lot of money and buy new things quite often. You can get some great deals on Kijiji just because someone got tired of their old stuff. I have bought a mattress set on Kijiji that was almost brand new. It was for my spare bedroom, it had a matress cover on it and you could tell it came from a clean house. I love Kijiji and my family always comments on the great deals I find on there.
Bed bugs are not picky, and do not “prefer” dirty homes… I agree with the posters that if I knew the person I was getting the couch from, that would be ok, but doubtful from a stranger.
For your friend – there’s some lower quality new furniture stores that are around, and you can still get something that will last a few years. May not be great quality, but for her price range, it will be new and clean and hers.
Best of luck to your friend!
yep, would buy everything except mattress. Would buy box spring though. I buy almost everything I own from the Salvation Army. I use the coupons they have on their website as well. I am rich in my experiences because I have not let materialism get in the way. The money I have saved this year is allowing me to spend my summer in Africa.
I’ll stick to new furniture thanks
Sounds like a good idea to me. We can’t all afford the new stuff
We bought our condo from the estate of a woman who clearly had fantastic taste. The furniture was carefully picked to match everything, and left for the showing of the unit. The estate administrator lived out of province, and dealing with the furniture was going to be a problem, so we were able to negotiate the purchase everything for less than “kijiji prices”, and she left some other pieces for free! In total, we paid $1150 for two couches, two large area rugs, a coffee table, a kitchen table with 2 leaf extensions and six leather chairs, a bed, dresser, two night tables, and three decorative chairs, as well as shelving and side tables under the shelving.
Prior to this home, all my other furniture, while I was a student, was an amalgamation of “rescued and revamped” pieces or leftovers from roommates past.
Like many who grow up with southern European immigrant parents, there were rooms in the house where the furniture was “too nice” for regular use. There may as well have been a velvet rope, as if in a museum, where the furniture was being preserved for the Queen’s eventual visit. I swore that I would never have furniture in my home that I did not intend on comfortably using. One of the nice things about buying used, is that you don’t stress as much about regular wear and tear, since you paid less for it to begin with. A spot on a brand new expensive couch would stress me out, but on the used couch, there’s somehow less worry.
I’ve also purchased used antiques, and from estate sales, and there are some fantastic durable timeless pieces that will retain their value, moreso than anything “brand new” that is ultimately made of particle board. I spent $350 on a 100 year old solid oak dresser and I have no doubt that I could probably resell it for a similar amount if I tire of it.
don’t do it. I purchased a couch and dining room table off of kiijji. The couch apepared to be in great condition. The table was a great deal solid wood. A few days after buying the furniture we discovered bedbugs in the couch and believe it or not in the screw holes of the wood table. We were also amazed at the eggs that were in every crevice of the table. I didn’t know that bedbugs could live in wood. Needless to say after paying for exterminators and throwing out all of our good furniture and clothes we did not save anything. It cost a few thousand dollars. One thing to remember, bedbugs do not discriminate, the house we bought the furniture from was worth over a million dollars.
Some of both my friends and my own favourite furniture has been used. When a friend and me were moving out on our own for the first time we bought this super long brown fuzzy couch from the salvation army, it was over 7 feet long and to this day is the most comfortable couch I have ever owned, though after many long distance moves it is no longer with us. It was great to sit on and I had many friends comfortably sleep on it as it was so long.
There are great deals to be had out there in the used universe and don’t hesitate to check out antique stores and second hand shops. A good vacuum and even a cheap couch cover and you are good to go.
I went to a consignment furniture store to buy my first couch, and I had a similar budget to the woman in the story. They had a lovely brown microsuede that was much more affordable than it would have been used. It was like new. I found out from the store that it had been used in a show home so was never actually sat on. So basically I got a new couch at a used price. I could even afford to have it delivered!
I would definately buy used and have many times. We bought our house 7.5 years ago and everything we bought was bought new. We just didn’t buy all in one shop, it took awhile to get what I wanted. I work with a woman who bought a beautiful bamboo furniture set: couch, 2 chairs and table ( all with cushions) She put the furniture in her garage and washed it carefully with bleach and washed all the cushions. She then added it to her huge bedroom to accent her already beautiful bedroom furniture. Poor woman ended up with something that was rash looking. I suggested a visit to the doctor: turns out she “bought” some bedbugs when she got that beautiful set. The furniture cost her a few hundred and the cost of getting rid of the bedbugs was almost 3K. I have definately changed my mind about what I would purchase used.
Most of our furniture is free and used too! We got 6 used mattresses, 5 box springs, 2 couches, bed frame, desks, dressers, carpets, chairs etc.. and they are all fine. No bed bugs at all! (I have been using them for 1 year already) Buying used or get it for free have saved us thousands of dollars. If you’re worried, see if the seller lives in a good community. Sometimes they’re just moving, rearranging the room, or buying a new one. A few mattresses/box spring I got are basically new. It’s amazing what you can get for free on Cragslist or Kijiji!
I work in a type of job where I go in and out of peoples homes. This is an example of how the bedbug issue becomes an epidemic. They are very difficult to spot, and can live years. You should really do some good research into bedbugs before just getting some used furniture.
for those that won’t buy a used mattress… why buy a used couch then? many people spend more time on their couch then the bed…? just don’t understand that thought…?
The Sally Ann’s have some brand new mattress sets for very reasonable prices. I’ve also never had problem with items purchased there or from other charity shops (of which Value Village is not).
UsedCanada.com and kijiji.com are great too. And so are relatives with furniture they no longer need or want. (;
I bought two bedroom sets (not the mattresses) on craigslist and I love them. I got a hole set for 50 dollars for my room (but i had to pay a lot to the movers) and then I spent 150 on my daughters but her furniture is lovely antique childrens furniture. They were not infested. I come right out and ask people why are they selling it and if they have bedbugs. I’m a people person and most of the time can tell when people are lying….by the pauses in speech or body language. If I had any doubts about why they were getting rid of stuff or their responses I wouldn’t buy it. I think it takes a special kind of weirdo to resell their bedbug furniture.
I would lump sofa with mattress though. I don’t think I would buy either used.
When my husband and I were dating (he lived in the USA still then too) he was on a TIGHT TIGHT budget when he moved from Chicago to Buffalo and was able to find a place to rent, but furnish it? Not quite.
My finances were tough too and I could only help out slightly. We bought a couch for him from the local thrift store for $25 bucks. It kinda smelled like wet dog, but other than that was in great shape and really comfy. So after a weekend of deodorizing and cleaning it it turned into a great 25 bucks spent. We even sold it for the same amount on craigslist when he moved here.
We also bought everything else one could need to furnish a small apartment from craigslist, thrift stores or local ads. And when he moved we sold it all the exact same way.
When he moved to Canada we thankfully had just gotten married and had money from gifts to purchase things new. But we still looked over Craigslist and Kijiji for deals. I LOVE my living room table which we got from Craigslist, we even had gotten the matching dining set too, but found something better so donated it to charity.
To make a long story short, there is no shame in second hand. Sometimes you do what you have to and it is amazing what you can find out there that is good quality but still used.
I buy almost everything on Kijiji and I always follow my instincts. I only buy items from houses and people that I think look clean. If you walk into a house and it is dirty, then I wouldn’t buy anything that can’t be fully disinfected and sanitized. If the house is immaculately clean and the person is very presentable, you are pretty safe to assume that they have clean habits. In some ways I prefer to buy from kijiji, because in most cases you can have a quick look at the person and house the item is coming from. Buying furniture from Value Village or Salvation Army seems a little more yucky because it is completely unknown where the item came from.
Just wanted to weigh in too; I know someone who had the bed bug problem and had the exterminator come 3 times at 2 week intervals as the adults are killed usually in the first sprayings but the eggs will hatch 2 weeks later etc.(Have to evacuate the apt with pets for 4 hours) I agree, like Cockroaches, they do not seek out necessarily dirty places and yes can hide in wooden cracks etc. Having said that, I saw at Zellers, there are matress protectors that are specially made for bed bug protection. And it might be an idea to rent a steam cleaner for most of the used items as I know they can be killed with high heat.I inquired about pets and Bedbugs and apparently the creatures do not like traveling on pets!These days I believ it is like playing Russian roulette. If we really wanna get paranoid, can we not pick them up on the seats in buses and Metros(Subways) public libraries etc.?
Mandy, it is NOT safe to assume that just because someone is clean and their house is clean, that the furniture is safe and bug free… just because you have met someone for 5 minutes and been in part of their home, does not mean that its any better. its still used, and you will never know the complete history of where it came from.
I have bought pieces through Craigslist a few times and would do it again in a heartbeat. If your friend can afford $500 for a new sofa, she can find a good one on Craigslist or Kijiji for that price or less, and the quality will be much better than anything at Ikea. Look for an ad written by someone who is moving overseas, for example, or downsizing to a smaller place – those will usually feature quality furniture pieces that are in great shape and being offered up at an amazing (and negotiable) price.
I have made this purchase before, and i have had no problems, some people are simply moving, and cannot take the stuff with them, sometimes you find brand new stuff.. and sometimes it is just a couple months old.
Its always good to be on the look out never know what you can find.
Also, Sears Warehouse, usually has good mark downs on couches.
When we moved to a new condo, I came across some gorgeous well-preserved furniture (end tables, couches, etc) from different sites/sources but my husband and I had already ordered all our furniture from local stores and from overseas. So we didn’t need 2nd hand items.
Although I convinced him to say yes to this antique piano…but then we had no room for it. I have always wanted an old old piano.
2nd hand is ok as long as you inspect it well. Everything is different. Blanket statements are for the weak-minded. 🙂
NONE of our furniture has ever been new. We only buy used furniture. We have a beautiful near brand new couch… cost $25 and came with a love seat for free. Why on Earth would I spend more than $100 on a couch when I can get near mint condition couches for 25% of the cost? I get them from a type of store similar to a Salvation Army but NOT a Salvation Army.
As for smells associated with used furniture–such as nicotine–I have a good nose (I can smell your “scent free” deodorant from across the room), I give every couch the “sniff test” and if it doesn’t pass, I don’t buy.
As for bed bugs and other problems (like mice) I leave the furniture in a separate area and get them dealt with. If it’s mice I’m worried about, my cats have a field day. Never had a bug problem, but if I was worried about it I wouldn’t buy the furniture!
I’m too cheap to waste money hundreds of dollars on a couch.
Well, my response to this, is I agree you can find some good deals on used furniture, but the bed bugs thing is so dead on. People assume they’ll be safe as long as they buy their mattress brand new. Newsflash, I’d consider doing some bed bug research before picking up anything used! Bedbugs love to live in places like headboards, photo frames, clock radios, side tables ect. They can hide anywhere you could fit a razor blade, because they are indredibly flat. They are large bugs when fully grown, but again, they can fit in between two pieces of screwed together wood, such as in drawers of a dresser! They prefer materials like this, as opposed to fabric on couches and beds. People tend to find them on places like beds because people sit or lay on beds, and people breath… they are attracted to carbon monoxide (your breath)!! Bedbugs are at an epidemic state right now in Canada, and because I have this training from work (a hotel) I would be weary and keeping my eyes open even if I wanted to purchase a used book! No matter what, you should look for evidence of bedbugs… but it shouldn’t stop you from looking at a used couch, because your chances are just as high buying a used couch, as it would be to buy a used dresser,book,shoes,luggage…. pretty much anything!
I just can’t help thinking about the nasty things I’ve done to a couch, mattress, or chair, either cloth or leather, with a partner/stranger. I can’t imagine purchasing used either. To each is own I guess…. just ensure you get that black light and see what you’re missing! Those places I’ve been in were equally immaculately clean. Just the Ewww factor is enough…
Every forum has these type of people. They like the price so much, and believe in the deal so much, that anything, and I mean anything that is negative about it, isn’t believable or possible.
Nobody cares about your self-esteem.
Liquidation World often has great deals on new furniture. Last year we bought a new micro suede sofa and love seat for under $600.
I’m uncomfortable about buying second-hand couches, matteresses, or futons because of the idea that they’ve mostly likely been used as amorous zones. 😛
As someone who has dealt with bed bugs, I don’t believe the potential savings of going used outweigh the risk. Bed bugs are becoming a full blown epidemic, especially in major cities. Taking furniture off the street is an obvious bed bug no-no, but anything used can be risky.
I have known people who purchased furniture from very reputable places only to end up with an infestation. Bed bugs are sneaky and not easy to detect. If you do decide to go used, be sure to educate yourself online beforehand so you know how to spot the signs of bed bug infestation. A lot of people have been saying they will only take furniture from places that ‘look clean’… Bed bugs do not discriminate based on your housekeeping. The cleanest of homes are just as likely as any other to get bed bugs… normal cleaning methods do not prevent or remove these little pests!
IMPORTANT NOTE – just because it isn’t fabric, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have bed bugs!! Bed bugs love anything made out of wood and are known to be found in bed frames, dressers, night stands, etc. They will live pretty much anywhere, the only reason they are commonly found in beds/couches is because these items provide access to a human host. It is a common misconception that as long as it’s not a mattress or a couch, you will be safe.