Inspiration

10 top tips for buying vintage furniture on Trademe

If you’re on the hunt for unique vintage furniture Trademe is a good place to start. Here are some handy hacks to help you with your search

10 top tips for buying vintage furniture on Trademe

  1. If you find something you like, check out the seller’s other listings. You can also save the seller to your favourites.
  2. Always check measurements and request them if they are not noted.
  3. Ask if there are any defects, chips or marks. Some sellers will include photos of these, or you can request them.
  4. Ask what items are made from to assess the quality of the piece.
  5. Don’t be shy to request extra photos if you want to see a different angle or close-up view.
  6. Ask for information on the designer or maker. Some furniture items will have a sticker underneath bearing the maker’s name or brand.
  7. Did you know there is an antiques and collectables category, with a sub-category for art deco and retro? These are handy for finding items from specific eras.
  8. You can filter your search results to show secondhand items only – just select ‘used’ instead of ‘all’ or ‘new’ on the condition tab.
  9. Try multiple keywords. For example, if you are looking for a sideboard, you can also search ‘credenza’ and ‘cabinet’.
  10. Filter the search results by area if you are looking for items that are harder to transport. Then you can ask to view the item before bidding, too.

Words by: Fiona Ralph. Photography by: Rachel Dobbs.

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