London is full of pre-owned gems waiting to be snapped up — often at a fraction of what they’re worth.
So where do you find them online? And how do you sift through the mountains of more questionable fare to get to the good stuff?
Here’s how to find the best secondhand gems — from the comfort of your own (vintage) sofa.
You’ll need to decide what you’d rather have brand new — a mattress, say — and what could be usefully sought out on the secondhand market.
Large and expensive items that have the biggest impact on how a room looks are a great place to start.
Even a very basic sofa, for example, can easily set you back £1,000 new, while wardrobes and chests of drawers can also cost a lot if you want them to be stylish. They’ll be a fraction of the price secondhand.
Finding preloved, framed art is one of my favourite tricks. A trip to a framer can easily set you back £200 even if the picture itself cost next to nothing. So hunting down wall art that pleases you (and has been framed at someone else’s expense) represents excellent value.
Garden furniture is also worth getting secondhand — a new version will quickly start looking worn, so there’s no harm in starting out with something a little weather beaten.
Hone your search terms and harness the algorithm
The biggest struggle with navigating platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, eBay or Gumtree is the sheer volume of what’s available. The trick is knowing what to look for and the best search terms to use.
If you’re looking for vintage or antique items, use a specific era in your search. Just be aware that there is a big difference between a mid-century chair and a “mid-century style” chair from the modern high street.
Both can work, but you should know what you’re paying for and bear in mind that sellers can get the hang of inserting popular search terms — sometimes erroneously — too.
If you’re looking for modern items that haven’t had a lot of use, search for brands you’d like to be shopping at if you had the budget.
Pieces from the Conran Shop, Soho Home, John Lewis or Heal’s can all be unearthed for a fraction of their new price if you are persistent.
Try a few different ways of phrasing your search and make sure to try any synonyms — for example chest and dresser, art and print.
The more you search, the more the algorithm will get to know your tastes. That brings us to the next tip: check the platform’s homepage or feed for things you might like — and check it often.
The “today’s picks” section on Facebook Marketplace is great at doing some of the sifting for you. But you have to get on there every day for a week or two to have a good chance of snapping something up.
Vintage sellers on Etsy and eBay have also pre-sifted the nicer items for you, although you may pay a premium for it.
There will be competition for the good stuff, so send inquiries quickly, before you decide whether you truly want the item — you can always change your mind.
It also helps if you respond to messages promptly and are ready to pick up items soon. One of the biggest drivers of price drops is when sellers need to get rid of things quickly. They might be desperate to shift an old wardrobe because they’re moving in a week.
Don’t worry about delivery
One thing that puts a lot of Londoners off making substantial secondhand purchases is the fact that they don’t have a car. You would be amazed how much you can fit in a black cab, but even factoring in the price of a van delivery or courier can still often leave you much better off with a secondhand purchase.
A sofa for £150, plus two men with a van to deliver it to your house for £80, is still a sofa for £230 instead of £1,500.
Some companies that offer removals or “man with a van” services specifically offer moves for one item, while specialist couriers such as Proovia are trusted by many antiques dealers on eBay.
One of the joys of the secondhand market is that you can end up with a really eclectic collection that feels unique to you.
So keep an open mind. That’s not to say you should get trigger happy for clutter, but there are some great bargains out there — so experiment.