A sofa is a very personal item. Attesting to that fact is this quirky article from House Beautiful that estimates that the average sofa will seat a couple who will kiss 2,105 times and also argue 1,236 times. But, unusual statistics aside, should you really buy a second hand sofa? Will the savings be worth it? We discuss the pros and cons.

BUYING A SECOND HAND SOFA - SENSIBLE OR SENSELESS?

WHEN IT’S SENSIBLE?

There are times when buying a second hand or used sofa makes perfect sense. In fact, it can be a very smart decision on occasions. Here are some of those occasions.

When you know who’s selling the sofa

Who is selling or giving away the second hand sofa that you are interested in? Is it a stranger on the internet or is it someone very close to you, like a family member or close friend. When you know a person well, there’s a good chance you will know enough about their personal hygiene and attention to cleanliness to make an informed decision about buying a second hand sofa from them.

WHEN YOU KNOW WHY A SOFA IS BEING SOLD

Not everyone puts up a second hand sofa for sale because they don’t like it anymore or because they have worn it down. Sometimes, life happens and things just need to go. If someone has to suddenly relocate, they might have a perfectly pristine sofa that they just don’t want to or can’t move with. Some people might be upsizing, downsizing or moving into an already furnished place.

When shopping around for a second hand sofa, it always makes sense to ask why the sofa is being sold. Not all sellers are truthful but most are and you can then use that rationale to make an informed decision about whether you are getting into a great bargain or a terrible rip off.

WHEN IT’S A LEATHER SOFA

Genuine leather sofas are mostly impervious to stains and spills. It will take a lot of abuse to really soil the hide on a leather sofa. No matter how carefully a sofa is cared for, spills and stains are bound to happen. If it’s leather, they won’t stay on like victory scars. The downside however is that leather sofas are quite expensive, even when they are being sold as second hand sofas.

Why chance it with a second hand sofa when you can buy a brand new one for an incredible price, right here at Abakus Direct!

Shop corner sofas starting at £295 | Shop 3 seater sofas starting at £325 | Shop 2 seater sofas starting at £325 | Shop cuddle chairs starting at £325 | Shop swivel chairs starting at £345 | Shop armchairs starting at £179.99 | Shop footstools starting at £95

WHEN IT’S SENSELESS?

There are many occasions when buying a second hand sofa is going to give you nothing but trouble and disappointment. You want to stay clear of such scenarios at all costs.

WHEN IT’S A KERBSIDE PICKUP!

If a sofa is already out on the kerb, just don’t get it, whether it is available for a ridiculous price or even for free. If a sofa can’t have a courtesy of having a roof over its head, it’s probably well past its prime. Just take a hard pass on any second hand sofa or free sofa that is advertised or displayed as a kerbside pickup.

WHEN IT’S A FABRIC SOFA

Fabric second hand sofas are very tempting because they are usually fantastically priced by whoever is selling it. But, unless the sofa was very sparingly used, you are almost always going to find several stains and spills when you look closely. Don’t feel shy about scouring over every inch of the sofa, especially over the sitting area or all the other areas that will be on display in your living room. If spills and stains are even a bit unsightly, just move on and look for another used sofa, unless you are absolutely certain they will all come off with a thorough cleaning.

WHEN THERE’S HISTORY OF BED BUGS

This is a caveat that is a hard one to check. Bed bugs aren’t visible during the day as they will be in hiding under the cushions. To check for bed bugs in a second hand sofa, you will have to turn over the cushions and use a flashlight to very closely look at the fabric, to actually see the bed bugs. If there are bed bugs, you will almost always find them hiding under the creases in a sofa.

If you feel carrying out such an inspection is an insulting thing to do in front of a seller, you must at least look for dark red stains or tiny red smidges that basically indicate bed bugs have relieved themselves on the couch. Yucky, yes! But, better you know this so you can avoid a nasty purchase!

WHEN THE SELLER ISN’T FORTHCOMING ABOUT WHY THEY ARE SELLING THE SOFA

Like mentioned earlier, it makes sense to ask the seller why they are selling their sofa. Sometimes, sellers decide to sell a sofa after temporary repairs, if the base breaks or if a spring or two is shot. They know it won’t hold up for long and they want to get rid of it. If they don’t give you a straight answer as to why they are selling, there’s probably something funny going on with the sofa. New staples or staples that don’t match the other staples on the sofa also indicate fresh repairs.

In such cases, if you are still interested in the sofa, give it a nice workover. Slump down on it like you would after a long day at work, slide around and use your hands to feel for unevenness, pointy places and listen to creaks. In many cases, a simple sit down can tell you if the sofa will hold up or not, or at least if it is worth the price that is being asked for.

WHEN THE PRICE DOESN’T MAKE ABSOLUTE SENSE

When you are buying a used or second hand sofa, savings are your top priority. When such is the case, you absolutely don’t want to compromise on the price you pay. If you don’t think the price is fair, just don’t get that used sofa. You will almost certainly regret it later otherwise.

Speaking about price, remember that a new sofa doesn’t always have to be expensive. At Abakus Direct, we have a wide range of cheap sofas at incredible prices, offering excellent durability and comfort.  We also offer our sofas on finance, allowing you to buy a brand new high quality sofa at just £30 a month.