Having a side gig for extra money should be entertaining as well as profitable. Learning how to flip furniture is a way to learn about history, perfecting a new skill, and taking pride in a job well done. Technology has erased the need for working with your hands and appreciating the value of an artful piece.
Take, for instance, a walnut kitchen table that has scars and has dulled over the years. Look at it from all sides and notice how the hardware has rusted or loosened. To many people, this piece could look like a piece of firewood, but to a lover of nature or antique collector, this is a diamond in the rough. You are about to learn the difference between fine antique furniture and junk.
How to Flip Furniture — What to Look For
The most important point of how to flip furniture is in the quality of the materials that make up the furniture piece. This is where the history part comes in. We have come a long way in making replicas of wood with veneer and MDF.(medium density fiberboard). The first rule of thumb is to know the difference between true wood and look-alike crap. Here are some tell-tale signs:
- Real wood is almost always heavy.
- The underside will have the same wood-grain markings as the top.
- Give it the fingernail test. Scrape your nail across an unnoticeable area and see if leaves a mark.
- Real wood will not wobble.
- Solid furniture will have joints that are screwed or doweled, instead of stapled and nailed.
There are a lot of antique dealers out there that know the difference between a solid piece of furniture and a cheap imitation. This does not mean that they can expect top dollar for a dresser that needs to be refinished. Unless they have proof of the age and style of their model, never take someone’s word as truth. What they have is a poorly maintained and aged dresser which may or may not have the potential of becoming a fine piece. Only your degree of passion will provide the final answer.
Be Ready with the Proper Transportation & Storage Space
Another important factor in how to flip furniture comes from being at the right place at the right time. If you show up at a garage sale in your little electric car and ask the seller to hold your furniture piece until you can come back with a truck, don’t expect it. You just gave him a bargaining chip to use on the next flipper that heads his way.
Always have a storage spot ready for your find. Have your area set up to start work on your piece immediately. Take your time with your new venture of how to flip furniture by being able to stop and start again on the stripping and sanding procedure over days or weeks.
Set up your Shop
Nothing is worse than starting a project and finding out that you are missing something. Part of how to flip furniture is putting all your ducks in a row. Have all the necessary equipment, supplies, and instructions needed to work on the project. Decide what you want your masterpiece to look like and what it is going to take to make it happen. When it comes to solid wood, removing the past finishes, scars, and smoothing to perfection will leave you with a great base to start building on. Here are the essentials you will need to gather:
- Steel wool
- Paint stripper or stain remover
- Lots of rags and towels
- Sanding materials
- Vinegar and water for rinsing off stripper
It may take you weeks to get your wood furniture to a smooth and unblemished place for staining or painting. Fill in any gouges or chips with wood glue and smooth again. Some people prefer to leave the existing scars to add character to their piece.
Take your time in selecting the best finish and sealant for your piece of furniture and follow the instructions carefully for the number of coats and drying time. As you go through the steps in learning how to flip furniture, you will find a bond begin to form from all the time and energy that you have spent together. This is the fun and satisfying part of how to flip furniture.
Pricing and Marketing
Buyers are always looking for handmade or crafted furniture to give their home a transitional flavor. Consider what a reasonable price is by scanning similar pieces online. Set a price and decide if you are willing to ship your piece under such advertisers as eBay and Facebook as opposed to closer destinations through Craigslist or local antique stores.
Take the time to study styles and time periods so that this information can be included in your listing. Someone could be shopping just for what you have. If you get superb at refinishing, you could make anywhere from $100 to $1,000 for your hard work. Leave out words like genuine, professionally restored, and authentic in your sales copy.
How to Flip Furniture Quickly
For those wishing to make a quick buck from flipping furniture, some MDF pieces can be used if they are in good shape. Taking cheap pieces of furniture and transforming them into useful decorative items are often sought after by young people getting their first apartment or looking for a shabby chic design. Just remember that picking up a spray can and hanging a few handles will not net you the same profit as creating an heirloom. However, finding furniture in need of a few repairs and a coat of paint can be found easily, sometimes for free if you haul away.
If this is more along the lines of your intentions of how to flip furniture, there are still some costs and supplies involved. The surface should still be smoothed out from the old finish and repairs made to bring the furniture back to stability. Few people take the time to sand down the wood. However, using a wood filler is recommended to prevent further decay of the material. Be sure to protect the surrounding area with plastic and newspapers to catch the overcast spray of paint. A good sealant will keep the paint from peeling. Look for decorative handles that are inexpensive to keep your costs down. A profit margin of $10 — $50 can be expected, but the time involved will be less than a more involved restoration.
Sources
https://www.amishoutletstore.com/blog/pro-tips-refinishing-solid-wood-furniture-diy-guide/
