The entire noob’s guide to shopping for second-hand fixtures
Most older Singaporeans I know nevertheless frown upon something 2d hand (“What if the preceding owner died?!”); however, they’re missing out on the top-notch offers you can get on used fixtures in Singapore.
By second-hand furniture, I do not suggest a few $200,000 antique sugar timber dining tables carved from an unmarried tree felled in the primary rainforest.
I regard normally used furniture—you know, primary objects such as Muji sofas and IKEA cabinets—that humans frequently sell at low expenses (or maybe give away) on structures like Carousel or Facebook organizations.
WHY BUY SECOND-HAND FURNITURE IN SINGAPORE?
At this point, you might be shaking your head and tsk-tsking me: “Nowadays, writers get such low pay, meh? Why must I purchase second-hand? IKEA furniture is very cheap already!”
One would not have to be terrible to want to store cash. An IKEA Poang armchair might cost the most effective $199 ultra-modern. Still, if a person is promoting a used one in proper circumstance for $30, I’m sure as hell now not going to pay an additional $ hundred and seventy for the privilege of taking the components out of the field myself.
I like extra about buying used furniture because you can get excellent deals on fixtures. It is just a little bit too high-priced first-hand. For example, I’m now not wealthy enough to outfit my entire domestic with Muji furnishings <three; however, I snagged a Muji reclining sofa for $250, a 3rd of its original price tag.
Sure, it’d gross some people out that I sit down on something that a few strangers have sat on before – God forbid! – but I love the couch and experience it each day, and that is, in reality, all I care about.
Finally, I also love the danger of maintaining aged furnishings for cheap. I have fond youth recollections of my grandma’s rattan armchair and changed into over the moon to have scored for my new domestic (from a lovely antique woman in Yishun clearing her thoroughly-maintained furnishings to make manner for grandkids) for $15.
GOT SO MANY GOOD LOBANGS!? SHARE LEHZ…
I got most of my used furniture from Carousel—who else?? The excellent thing about it is that you can effortlessly look for objects.
While searching for fixtures at an “ordinary” store like IKEA, I’d open my Carousel app to search for furniture I’m hoping to discover second-hand. After “checking out” the IKEA Ingo eating desk ($ seventy-nine), I searched for “ingo” and observed a person promoting a second-hand one for $15.
Ikea
It’s now not restrained to the cheapo IKEA stuff – you may discover more stylish brands like HipVan, Castlery, Commune, Crate & Barrel, and (of the route) Muji, too.
For example, one person is giving away a Commune couch freely, while another is selling a HipVan armchair for $eighty (U.P. $149), and there are uncountable Muji bean baggage/floor chairs/sofas on the platform.
Other online structures you may try are Gumtree and Facebook companies like Freevo or Freecycle. These do not let you search, but if you’re energetic, you might be able to snag excellent deals (fixtures giveaways on Facebook, particularly).
I must also point out that there is more than one brick-and-mortar used fixture shop, but they’re much more luxurious than buying “peer-to-peer.” The highly regarded ones are Hock Siong and Second Charm, which promote refurbished vintage furnishings, which are very fashionable but also quite steeply priced.
WHAT ARE SECOND-HAND FURNITURE SELLERS LIKE?
To me, the most critical “homework” you should do while shopping on the peer-to-peer market is to research the vendor. Read the descriptions, take a look at his/her different listings, and ask questions—the point is to find out precisely the reason for selling.
Most people on Carousell are just “regular” oldsters looking to declutter earlier than Hari Raya, make way for a new child, cast off furnishings before moving house, upgrade their home decor, and so forth. And they’re normally glad to tell you so (if it is not already stated on the list).
My favorite sellers to buy from are ex-pats who’re moving because most of their furniture is generic IKEA stuff they were given for their condo. They are in a superb situation due to the fast-term nature of their lives.
I also appear out for dealers who contend with their property. These can tell you how long they have had the object, while it turned into ultimately laundered/maintained, what type of family it’s been in (smoke- and pet-loose), and many others.
