10 Facebook Marketplace Tips to Find the Best Deals

10 Facebook Marketplace tips to help you find the best deals on high end furniture and home decor to furnish your home on a budget.

It’s no secret I love shopping Facebook Marketplace. It’s my go-to shopping destination for sourcing quality, high-end furnishings for my home on a budget.

Why do I love it so much? Facebook Marketplace is like one giant virtual garage sale + thrift store combo that you can shop from the comfort of your own home. It’s full of antique treasures and one of a kind pieces just waiting for a new home. You just have to know how to find them!

With a little patience and the right strategy, Facebook Marketplace has allowed me to furnish much of my home with high quality items on a budget.

Facebook Marketplace Shopping Strategy

Just like I shared in this post, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this same thing:

“You must be so lucky, I never find anything good on Facebook Marketplace.” Or, “You must live in a nicer area. My local Facebook Marketplace doesn’t ever have anything good.”

Wrong!

As it turns out, there is a strategy (and some unwritten rules) on how to shop Facebook Marketplace to find the best high end furniture and home decor.

And if you learn to use it properly, Facebook Marketplace can be a treasure trove for sourcing high-end, quality, and vintage/antique furniture and decor for your home.

Let’s dive in! Use the table of contents below to easily navigate the Facebook Marketplace shopping tips.

Facebook Marketplace Tips: Table of Contents

How to Find the Best Furniture and Home Decor Deals on Facebook Marketplace

1. Search Facebook Marketplace Often

Search Facebook Marketplace often, ideally multiple times a day.

This may sound time consuming but it is not. Simply refresh your screen a few times throughout the day and quickly scroll down to see what is new in each category.

You will notice that new items pop up each time you refresh your screen.

Seeing an item soon after it has been listed greatly increases your odds of getting it. If there is one thing you should know about Facebook Marketplace it is that good deals go lightening fast!

2. Search Variations of Keywords In Facebook Marketplace Search

Keywords are key! The problem? Most sellers don’t know how to properly describe the item they are selling.

For example, I’ve seen very valuable, beautiful antique dining chairs listed as “old chairs.”

For this reason it’s important to use variations of keywords and get creative with your search terms.

When I was searching for a set of antique Jinny Lind beds, these are the different keywords I searched until I found a pair:

• antique beds
• antique spindle beds
• Jinny lind beds
• twin beds
• vintage beds
• vintage bed set

You get the point! Be sure to vary your keywords in your Facebook Marketplace search.

3. Train Your Facebook Marketplace Algorithm

Training your algorithm may be the most important key to finding good deals on Facebook Marketplace!

What does training your algorithm actually mean? It basically means you are teaching Facebook Marketplace what you like.

Facebook Marketplace starts to notice the kinds of items you search for, like, and show interest in. In return, Facebook Marketplace starts to show you more and more items it thinks you will like.

To do this, be sure to actively “save” any items that you like or that are similar to what you are looking for. Even if you don’t plan to buy an item but it is similar to what you are looking for, be sure to save it. This tells Facebook Marketplace that you want something similar!

To save an item in Facebook Marketplace, simply click the heart shaped icon under the listed item.

Once you search a specific keyword a few times, you will start to notice that you see more and more listings of that particular keyword each time you refresh your Facebook Marketplace.

Bottom line: If you see something you like, save it. If you see something similar to what you’re looking for, save it.

4. Expand Your Search Radius

Set your search radius to search both near and far.

Decide how far you would be willing to drive for an item and increase your search radius to this distance.

5. Look Past Bad Photos

Try to look past bad photos!

One of my most favorite Facebook Marketplace finds ever was an antique pencil post bed. I wish I had taken a screenshot of the listing photo because you probably wouldn’t believe it unless you could see it!

It was the worst photo I’ve ever seen. It was hard to tell that it was even a bed!

6. Make it Easy on the Seller

Nine times of out ten, a Facebook Marketplace seller is going to sell the item to the buyer that is most responsive and can arrange the quickest pickup. Sellers want to get rid of their item ASAP, so they are normally willing to sell it to the person that can get it out of their house the quickest.

Be Prompt

Be prompt in your communication and replying to messages. More than once I have been passed over because another buyer responded to a message before me.

Be polite and to the point

Be polite, concise, and to the point. Chances are the seller is receiving multiple messages, so you want to make sure you show that you are a serious buyer and can arrange a quick pickup. Don’t waste their time!

Do not use the automated “Is this still available?” message. Most sellers won’t even respond.

My message usually looks something like this: “Hi ___. I would like to buy this item. I can pay cash (or their preferred payment) and can pick up as soon as today. Is there a time today that you are available for pick up?”

Offer Cash or preferred payment

Be sure to indicate that you can pay the seller in their preferred payment method (i.e. cash, Venmo or PayPal). I always make it a point to include this is my message to the seller.

If the seller does not specify a preferred payment method, I always ask if they prefer Cash, Venmo or PayPal and let them know I can pay any one of those three ways.

Offer Promt Pickup

Most sellers want an item gone ASAP! Many times the seller will sell to the person who can arrange the quickest pickup.

If possible, offer same day pickup in your message to the seller. Most sellers will not risk holding an item for a buyer that may or may not follow through with a purchase.

If it’s an item you absolutely want but cannot pick up until a later date, be sure to offer reassurance to the seller that you are a serious buyer by sending a deposit via PayPal or Venmo. *Of course, this comes with a risk as you don’t know how honest this person really is.

Don’t insult a seller with a low offer

Do not insult a seller with a lowball offer.

If it’s an item you absolutely, positively, 100% want, offer full price with a quick pickup.

7. Don’t try to Negotiate on an Already Good Deal

Facebook Marketplace is full of amazing deals! However, a good deal means lots of interest from multiple buyers.

Negotiation is common on Facebook Marketplace, but in my experience if a quality item is priced fairly, it is going to sell quickly at asking price or sometimes higher. If you offer less than asking, you risk the seller moving on to the next buyer who is willing to pay a little more.

8. Be Patient

Be patient and persistent! In my own personal experience, if you look long enough chances are it will always show up on Facebook Marketplace (thanks to your highly trained algorithm 😉 )

If you miss out on an item, keep looking. Something better will always come along.

9. Look for Potential

If you’re willing to invest a little elbow grease by refinishing or painting furniture, Facebook Marketplace opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

Look for solid furniture with good lines and use your imagination on what the piece could be.

10. Be safe

Be safe! Do your research – a little “stalking” never hurt anyone.

I always make it a point to check out the Facebook profile of the person I am buying. It’s crazy how much you can learn about a person online. Oftentimes I will have a mutual friend with the seller (what a small world!).

If I am picking up an item from someone’s home, I never go alone. I also always put the address into a quick Google search. This helps me get a feel for where I am going and what the surroundings are like.

Unfortunately something that is becoming more and more prevalent on Facebook Marketplace is scammers. Fortunately scammers do not seem to be as prevalent in the categories of furniture and home decor (at least in my experience), but always do your due diligence!

Do you have any other Facebook Marketplace shopping tips to add to the list? Be sure to share them in the comments below!

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