How to Find the Best Stuff on Facebook Marketplace
Lately I have been absolutely KILLING IT on Facebook Marketplace, if I do say so myself. A lot of people have been asking me how I keep getting so lucky, but the truth is, I am not lucky. I have a strategy for finding things on there, and it works! Let me share all my secrets, the best tips and tricks to how to find the best stuff on Facebook marketplace!
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My Recent Finds
I have always been interested in vintage and beautiful antiques, and some of my favorite things of all time are things I have purchased on Facebook Marketplace!
When we bought our cabin, it did come furnished which has honestly been so great. We have not had to rush out and buy all the little things you need to fill a home. But the furniture that came with it…. let’s just say there weren’t any heirloom pieces in the bunch.
Over the last few months I’ve been slowly gathering items (mostly antique furniture) to make over the space and replacing the furniture that came with it one at a time. And I must say, it’s really coming together! Here are some of the vintage items I’ve found for my cabin!
On this wall, instead of these two small storage pieces I thought a single large unit would not only look better but be more practical.
I found this antique pine armoire for $350 and I scrubbed it down and gave it a little fresh wax, and its such a stunner of a piece!
My husband really liked having a recliner in the space, so I found a one year old Pottery Barn leather recliner to replace it. It was $1000 so it was not cheap, but they retail for around $3000 new so it still was a significant savings!
The dining table in the cabin was an 80’s style corner banquette. It was actually pretty charming in a way, but I thought that better use of the space might be to eventually put cabinets along this wall and bring a dining table into the middle of the room (which had lots of wasted space.) I sold the vintage corner banquette on Facebook Marketplace for $200 and it sold within an hour.
I replaced it with a farmhouse style dining table which ended up being the exact perfect dimension to serve as more of a farmhouse style table, as it’s narrow and long.
That table didn’t come with chairs, so I separately bought a chair and table set from a cute little cafe that was getting rid of some of their antiques. I only wanted the chairs, but the table ended up being so perfect for a side table in the living room.
I thought a lot about keeping the coffee table that was in the space and refinishing it, but decided I really didn’t want to put the work into this table so I found a vintage trunk from the 1800’s to act as a table. Not only does it have some perfect patina, it’s got storage which is something else we need more of in the cabin.
I really wanted a handmade vintage or antique quilt for the cabin and I found the most beautiful hand quilted one on Facebook Marketplace. When I went to pick it up, the older lady gave me the whole story of the lady that made the quilt and for whom! I’m planning to work on our bedroom next and that is going to be the inspiration for the whole room!
I scored this bamboo desk just recently to put up in the loft so we have a place to work, and it’s so perfect! It is nice and light so we will be able to heave it up over the railing!
I got the cutest little project chair to add to the living room, I’m planning on trying my hand at reupholstering it!
We decided early on to remove the wood burning stove from our cabin, but we really wanted something similar to take it’s place. I ended up finding a Dimplex electric stove on Facebook Marketplace. It was the same brand as the fireplace we have in our living room so I knew it would have some realistic flames. The roll of toilet paper was not included, ha!
How To Search
So I’ve seen a lot of people recommend a specific search term or relevant keywords when they are looking for something, and that’s a good place to start. For example, if you are looking for an antique dresser, start by just searching, quite obviously “antique dresser”.
If you have a very specific type of antique dresser in mind, try searching for that. For example, if you want a mid century modern vintage walnut dresser, try searching mid century dresser, mid mod dresser, walnut dresser, or even just mid century.
But keep in mind that not everyone knows what they have. So if you are searching for a very specific item like a mid century dresser, that is only going to pop up if the seller listed their item as a mid-century dresser. So if you don’t find what you are looking for right away, try broadening your search.
People always mis spell things too, so don’t be afraid to search those! Recently I was looking for an “Armoire” and I actually came across quite a few listed as an “Armor”!
I occasionally search specific brand names that I like or I know to be of good quality just to see what’s out there!
A Bad Picture Often Means a Good Price
If you find something that looks like it might be good but the picture is blurry or cropped and you can’t really tell what it is, don’t be afraid to ask for more photos! Remember, those blurry photos are the reason everyone else just scrolled right by, too. If you ask for a couple of photos of the piece and it’s a real gem, you might be able to negotiate a great deal because of the lack of interest!
In general, the items with good photos that are staged showing the piece from all angles will attract the most potential buyers and usually demand a higher price. Just because the photo is blurry does not mean the piece is no good!
Honestly the best way to know for sure if a piece is good is to see it in person. So if the photos are not good, ask if you can come by to take a look. Try to look past things like dirt, as you are bound to be giving it a good cleaning anyway so that dirt is just lowering your purchase price!
Ask for Dimensions
I know you want that beautiful coffee table you found but will it fit? Make sure you check the dimensions and if there aren’t any listed, ask! You really don’t want to pick something up and find out it doesn’t fit in your space.There are no refunds on Facebook Marketplace!
Train the Algorithm
If you hear nothing else I have to say please hear this. LISTEN UP because this is my number one tip!
If you see something that is close to what you like, similar items, but not quite right (wrong size, colour, price, WHATEVER) then SAVE IT. In fact, when I am am scrolling on Facebook Marketplace, I save all kinds of things, even if I’m not actively looking for that thing.
If I see anything that I like at ALL, I save it. Why? Because Facebook’s algorithm is incredibly smart. It can recognize the things you like and save, and it will start feeding you more of the same.
When I am looking for something, the first thing I do is check out the FBMP listings and save save save. Then, over the course of the next few days, all I have to do is open the app. Facebook already knows what I like, and it will feed me more of the same, right to the top of the feed!
I’m at the point now where all I really have to do is open my app and scroll the main feed for 2 or 3 minutes and if there is a new listing that the Facebook algorithm thinks I might like… well it’s right there at the top waiting for me in my marketplace feed.
Pay a Fair Price
I know there are a lot of people out there that like to get a “great deal” and throw out a lowball offer. There are a lot of people that buy low and resell with better photos in the local market or as an online business. All I can say about this is…. that’s not my jam.
I am all about doing a little bartering, especially if you feel like it is overpriced and the market value is not what they are asking.
Personally, if I feel like it is a good deal, I don’t even try to barter, I often just give them full price. I feel like that way, you both walk away pretty happy about the transaction and we keep Facebook Marketplace a happy place.
If the piece is priced too high, or is maybe priced fairly but out of your price range, I think it is ok to be honest with the seller. But be polite about it!
If a piece is priced too high, I will often point out that I will have to do a bit of work on it to use it. (I say something like, “this piece needs a little more work than I expected for this price. Would you take XXX for it?”
If a piece is priced fairly but it’s out of your budget, I have had some success just telling the person that up front. In this case I would say something like, “I really love this piece, and it is exactly what I have been looking for, but it’s a little out of my budget. I am wondering if you would take $X for it? If not, I totally understand!”
I like to look at it this way. If I am buying, say, and antique dresser, and I am paying $300 for it, what type of a dresser can I get new for $300? Not a very nice one, I can tell you that right now. It will be cheaply made and nothing like the quality of an heirloom antique!
Pay Attention to Quality
I talk a lot about antiques, but you can also find great newer things on Facebook Marketplace, like my Pottery Barn recliner! That recliner is genuine leather, down filled cushions and is only a year old. Any recliners I could find that were in the order of $1000 did not have that level of quality.
Personally, I use Marketplace and secondhand shopping to find higher quality items than I could afford new, as simple as that! I love an antique piece and a little patina, but I also love genuine leather, real brass, solid wood, and down filled furniture! Facebook Marketplace is a way I have have the quality I want at reasonable prices.
I once found a bunch of solid brass Emtek doorknobs on FBMP for $50, there was enough to do all the doors in my basement!
Don’t Use the Generic Message
Facebook Messenger autofills “is this available” when you message someone, DO NOT USE THAT! Delete it and include a polite, to the point message instead.
A lot of people will not even respond to that generic message. If it is something that I am sure I want, and I am worried that someone else might get it, I usually say, “Hi Joan, I really love this and would love to make arrangements to come by and pick it up, are you available now?”
Even if you just want more information, a little politeness goes a long way. “Hi Joan, this looks like a great piece, but I can’t tell what the sides look like from your photo. Would there be any chance you could send me a side view photo? Thank you so much!”
Whatever you say, be nice, don’t use the generic message, and get to the point. If the seller is dealing with multiple responses, they are much more likely to reply to the specific and polite messages and to ignore rude or generic ones.
One thing that I learned lately is to not send the first message asking for a price reduction. Some people will not respond to that at all. First ask something else, like when they are available for pick up, to get them chatting with you. If you are really into the piece and worried about loosing it, for goodness sake don’t make a low offer over messenger at all or you risk being ghosted.
Act Fast
If you see something you like, message right away and offer to pick it up at their convenience. If it is really good, it’s not going to last! If you have to take time off work to go pick it up… well I’m not telling you to do that, but I’m not telling you not to.
Widen Your Search Radius
If you are a die hard bargain hunter of special finds like me, you will be willing to drive for the right piece. How far? That’s up to you. I live in a small city right smack dab in the middle of two larger cities, so I have pretty freqently driven to those larger cities for pickup. That’s about a 3 hour round trip, with is doable in an evening after work or on a saturday morning.
If you aren’t willing or aren’t able to drive that far, there are shipping companies that you can pay to pick up and deliver your piece. You are just taking your chances a little bit that it will be as good as it looks online! You also have to have a cooperative seller to make a pickup by a shipping company work.
If you aren’t willing to ship and can’t drive, you should still broaden your search results to other areas. Why? The algorithm! Save pieces you like and wish you could purchase, and next time new items like that pop up in your area, it’s going to go right to the top of your feed!
Check a Seller’s Other Listings
People tend to list a bunch of things at once, and if you like their sofa, you might also like their coffee table! Click on their profile picture and check out their other listings!
Check Often
You don’t have to spend hours scrolling but you do have to check often for new listings. The early bird gets the worm, as they say, and the best items go quickly. I am in the habit of doing a quick search in in the morning when I drink my morning coffee and again after supper, most days!
Bring Help
Do not expect the person to help you load your large item! If you are alone and need help, ask in advance if they have someone there that can help with the heavy lifting. Do not assume that they will be willing or able to pitch in the manual labor to load your piece. Also, perhaps it goes without saying, but make sure your vehicle is large enough to handle picking up the piece.
Also, I almost never go for a pickup alone for safety reasons!
Don’t Be Afraid to Walk Away
The deal isn’t done until the money has changed hands! Even if you made a deal in advance, when you go to pick up an item and it isn’t in good condition or otherwise does not meet your expectations, you don’t have to buy it.
At the end of the day, you can not return it so make sure you don’t have any buyer’s remorse!
Don’t be Afraid of a Little Repair Work
A lot of things benefit from a good cleaning or a little fixing. Wood pieces can be easily refreshed with wax or Restore-A-Finish. Things can be reattached or reglued. Drawer slides can be waxed to glide more smoothly. Chair seats can be reupholstered.
It is up to you how much repair work you are willing to do, or how much patina you can live with. Personally, I love to rescue an old piece and give it new life!
I hope this helps and gets you inspired to go looking on Facebook Marketplace for some treasure! It really is a hunt, and can be so rewarding to find just the right pieces. With a little patience you can find whatever you need! Happy hunting!
Such great tips! Thank you for sharing so much knowledge and encouragement!
Thank you! These are helpful.
Hello, I enjoyed reading your tips, very informative.
Do you have any tips on selling items, especially antiques on Facebook Marketplace?
I don’t really, I tend to a buy an antique and keep it for the rest of my life 🙂