6 Tips for Scoring Quality Furniture on Facebook Marketplace
Since moving in to our first home and beginning the slow process of furnishing it, I have developed a moderate to severe addiction to Facebook Marketplace. At the end of a long day, my favorite thing to do is lie in bed, scroll through all the treasures, and convince David why we simply MUST have that vintage Italian marble coffee table.
All jokes aside, my addiction to Facebook Marketplace has actually saved us a-lot of money and allowed us to furnish our home with unique quality pieces (new and old) that make our home feel special - on a dime!
I often hear “ugh how did you score a piece like that?! My facebook marketplace has nothing.”
Well, I’m here to tell you that when used correctly, Facebook Marketplace can be a treasure trove so here are my six top tips to help you browse (and score) on Facebook Marketplace!
1. Use Descriptive Key Words
just like when making a google search, scoring furniture eon FB Marketplace requires the strategic use of keywords. Instead of searching for “dresser” try searching “vintage wood dresser” or even better, “vintage Henredon dresser with marble top.” When you get really specific with what you’re searching for, it helps the algorithm show you relevant items.
Some of my favorite keywords to use are:
vintage wood dresser
vintage oil painting
antique velvet chairs
farmhouse style
english roll-arm furniture
french-inspired
henredon furniture
stanley furniture
2. Search in a Large and Small Radius
When searching for items I always suggest expanding your radius as far as your willing to drive. On the other hand, I have also found success when I minimize my search radius. For some reason different items will come up and I’m not exactly sure why - but it’s worth a try!
3. Click that “Save” Button
Even when you are not interested in buying a particular piece that shows up in your feed, if it aligns with your style and relates to furniture you ARE interested in then press the “save” button. This is the greatest tip I ever learned because it tells the FB Marketplace algorithm to show you similar items. After a few strategic saves you’ll start to see your Marketplace feed looking more curated with items that you are searching for.
4. Check to see if Seller has other Items for Sale
If you’re interested in an item, click on the sellers name in the actual item post, and a list of other items they have for sale will show up.
I usually scroll through to see if they have anything else I’m interested in and a few times I’ve negotiated picking up 2+ items from them at one time. And even if I see a high-end item I’m not interested in purchasing, I still may click on their name to see what else they are selling that could interest me.
5. Write a Personal Note
Once you find that unicorn piece you’ve been looking for it can be frustrating when you don’t hear a response from the seller. This is a total bummer and has happened to me more than once. However, I have found that I am more likely to receive a response if I write a personal note about how much I love a piece or how I plan to use it than if I just send the automated “is this still available” message.
Another thing to do, if you can, is guarantee same-day pickup. Most people want to get rid of their stuff as quickly as possible so if you’re able to go pick it up that afternoon - use that as leverage.
6. Patience
My last tip is to simply practice that patience. All of my Facebook Marketplace finds did not happen over night. In fact, I waited about three months to find the perfect dresser for Axel’s nursery and it took about six months to find a matching sofa for our living room (plus lots of desperate messages begging the seller to sell it to me lol). But nothing beats the feeling when you do finally score that perfect piece for you home.
