In our blog post titled Things First-Time Movers Will Likely Need we said that not everything in your home needs to be bought new and that some of those items can be bought used. However, we didn’t specify which household items can always be bought used. This post will detail what those items are and where you can buy them (or, perhaps, find them for free).
Non-upholstered furniture, like tables (from coffee tables to end tables), wooden chairs, dressers, armoires, TV stands, nightstands, and more can be bought secondhand. If you don’t like how the furniture looks when you get it, you can always paint over it. There are paints and spray paints made for all kinds of surfaces. Just make sure to do your research on how to prepare the furniture before a paint job (as some surfaces, like wood, needs to be sanded down before you paint it), and use a primer first. Découpaging the inside or outside of the furniture with paper or fabric is another option.
Non-plastic cups, plates, bowls, serving dishes, eating utensils, and cooking utensils, as well as glassware, are perfectly fine to buy used as well and will still last quite a while. Just check for any stains, scratches or cracks.
Cast iron cookware, if found secondhand, can be repaired if needed and re-used at a less expensive price than buying it new. The only thing you might want to keep in mind is what was cooked in that cookware beforehand, especially if you have any dietary issues or special needs (e.g. food allergies, vegetarian, vegan, etc.), as the old fats, oils and liquids could still be left behind. (If you have concerns, simply buy new. Better safe than sorry.)
Secondhand home décor and wall art are great for decorating your home inexpensively. And just like the used furniture, you can repaint frames and certain pieces of décor and repurpose them. Plus, you’re more likely to find rare décor and works of art when you buy it used.
Used books, as long as they aren’t too worn down, are as readable and useful as other books. So save your money and buy your books secondhand.
If you have a room or area of your rental home designated for exercise, you can buy your exercise equipment and sports gear secondhand (especially the larger exercise equipment).
Lastly, you are likely going to have things break in your home. But that doesn’t mean you have to buy brand new tools to fix things. Buy your tools used instead. So long as they aren’t too rusty or worn, they’ll still be as useful as they would be new and will still last a lifetime (particularly if they don’t require electrical wiring).
So, where can you find all of these things used? Start with your local thrift store, as well as any nearby flea markets, garage sales or estate sales. You can also check various websites and apps, like eBay, Amazon (yes, third-party sellers on the site sell used items), VarageSale, Etsy, and more.
Occasionally, you might find some of the above items sitting on a curb because someone just wanted it out of their house. Or you might have a friend or family member who just wants to get rid of something without having to worry about selling it. In either case, as long as the item is in decent condition, or it’s something you know you can get repaired inexpensively, go ahead and pull that item off the curb or take it off your friend’s hands.
If you’re not ready to buy anything or don’t yet need anything extra because you haven’t found the right rental property yet, we can help you with that. We have home rentals, apartment rentals, and even corporate rentals available in the Clovis and Portales areas in New Mexico. To get more information about homes and other properties available for rent, you can message us via our Contact Us page, or call us toll-free at 1-877-720-6992, or fax us at (575) 356-4436.