If there are any small repairs you can make, put them in now. It will disproportionately lower the sale price if you expect the buyer to make fixes. Test any old electronics to ensure that they still work.
Furniture Valuation Guides, found easily online, will give you ranges of prices for most furniture. Look for items as similar as possible to yours. If you know the maker, model, or materials used, look up furniture with similar qualities. If you don’t know how much the piece originally sold for, this is the best place to start.
The dresser is in good condition, and not very old. You decide that 80% is fair. Multiply $500 by 80%, or . 8. (500 x . 8 = 400) $400 is your baseline asking price for the dresser.
If you bought a beautiful bookshelf for $1,000, and it is in prime condition, you can likely sell it for $800. If the bookshelf is faded, older, missing shelves, or has marks and chips, you may want to price it closer to $6-700.
Cheap furniture, like IKEA-brand wares, will often sell far below it’s buying price, often for no more than $20-100 bucks. This is because it is not made to be moved and resold, and is made of cheap materials. If you see particle board – the layered, rough sheets of wood, chances are good you’ve got cheap furniture. [4] X Research source
If possible, bring the appraiser the year, make, and model of the furniture, or at least where it came from.
Remember, you don’t want to get their opinion on whether or not the like the furniture, you just want to know if they think the price is reasonable. If you’re still stuck, there are several websites, like Splitwise Furniture Calculator and Blue Book Furniture, that that will calculate potential prices for you. Note, however, that these are only estimates. [7] X Research source
Bed: $50-300 Dresser: $20-100 Desk: $25-200 Dining Room Set: $150-1,000 Table: $50-150 Sofa: $35-200 Arm Chair: $25-150. [8] X Research source
If someone tells you “it is expensive because it is antique,” make sure you know when it was made. If they can’t tell you, or if it was made after 1970, it is not an antique. Take any price with a grain of salt.
Don’t buy the furniture if it is cheaply built– chances are good you’ll just need to buy another one in a few years.
Know how high you’re willing to go. Set this now so that you can walk away if the price gets too high. You don’t want to make this decision on the spot. Make your preferred price clear. This is not about tactics or strategy. Be honest and upfront when making your case to get the price you want – “I’d be willing to pay $200 for this desk. " Be flexible. If you’re not going to budge on your price, don’t bother negotiating. You should never pay more than you decided beforehand, but you should be able to work with the seller.
Remember that you may have to reupholster or restain the piece if it is faded or in need of repair. Consider this part of the buying price, and let the seller know.
