7  tips on furniture flipping for beginners

Furniture flipping can be an enjoyable and profitable venture, especially when you know where to look for free items and how to make the most of them. By spotting discarded but reusable furniture, knowing which tools to have on hand, and choosing easy projects to start, you can turn someone else’s trash into your treasure. 

With a few simple tips, you’ll be prepared to identify pieces with potential, use basic repair skills, and bring new life to old furniture. Here’s a guide to getting started in furniture flipping and maximizing your finds.

1. Recognize the dates of moving and trash days

Have you just clenched your teeth? Let’s get to the point quickly. Finding free furniture to flip is your greatest option if you want to make the most money—which you most likely are. Flipping furniture that would otherwise end up in a landfill is the best way to earn the most money, especially in affluent areas.

Recognize garbage day so you can take advantage of free furniture to sell. You can locate some amazing finds for free by waiting for the trash truck to take up furniture that is at the end of driveways or on sidewalks.

Know the date of the move as well. The fact that it’s off their curb will be appreciated. You’ll appreciate the complimentary item, and no one will think less of you. Around the end of the month, when people are leaving their apartments, you can also find fantastic furniture flipping projects. 

These garbage dives could be treasure troves because so many individuals are relocating at once. Although Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor are well-known places to find free items, you can also keep a watch on their “free” postings. There’s a chance someone will beat you to it. 

Tools like Swoopa can help you stay ahead of the competition by giving you real-time alerts for postings on marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace. With faster alerts, you’ll be the first to message sellers and conclude profitable deals before your competitors ever see them.  

2. Keep simple tools for flipping furniture nearby

Before you begin flipping furniture, make sure you have a few essentials. To arrange, go to the hardware shop or go through your garage. The following building and woodworking tools are probably going to be used frequently by you:

Screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, nails, screws, and different types of sandpaper, drill, paint and paintbrushes, wood filler, drawer linens, super glue or liquid nails, tide pens, stain or varnish.

Additionally, you’ll need a lot of cleaning supplies. Make sure you have sufficient sponges or rags and liquid soap on hand. To get rid of dark stains and scratches, you’ll also need gloves and Bar Keeper’s Friend if you’re flipping other home goods like grills, pots and pans, or Pyrex (more on this below). 

Lastly, make a safety investment. Protective eyewear is a must, and I imagine that everyone has a mask on hand these days.

3. Acquire knowledge of power tool safety and fundamentals

You should be familiar with the business end of a drill and sander, but you don’t have to be Tim “the Tool Man” Taylor. When flipping furniture, a table saw can be used for a few more complex tasks, however it’s not required.

4. Seek out simple flips

You won’t believe how many individuals, assuming that, pull like-new and brand-new stuff to the curb every day. Before being sent to a new home, a lot of outdoor furniture pieces merely need a simple power wash or stain.

Naturally, take advantage of the new item that someone has decided they no longer need. Additionally, search for items that require a fast clean or minor touch-up. You’ll be shocked at how much money you can make with just a little effort.

5. Use caution when turning objects coated in cloth

Using fabric to flip furniture can be challenging. You can’t tell if the item was owned by a smoker, comes from a home without pets, or even has fleas or bed bugs. But while flipping bits of fabric, exercise caution. They might cause more trouble than they’re worth.

6. Select two or three product categories to concentrate on flipping

Everything is flipped, including clothes and workout gear. Because people genuinely need furniture, it moves rapidly, but storing and repairing it takes room and work. However, trying to flip everything will probably drive your roommate or partner crazy because you will have bins and bins of strange objects that haven’t moved yet.

7. Examine the furnishings for any free materials

Did you find a dresser on the curb that was obviously beyond repair and headed for the landfill? 

Don’t feel guilty about keeping the wheels, knobs, or if you can find a purpose for them, even the drawers. 

Final Thoughts

Flipping furniture such as couch flipping can be a rewarding way to earn extra income and save pieces from ending up in landfills. By timing your search with local trash and move-out days, gathering a few essential tools, and being selective in your projects, you’ll set yourself up for success. With these strategies, you’re ready to dive into the world of furniture flipping, combining creativity and sustainability in every project.