Would You Buy a Used Sofa?

Updated on October 01, 2013
L.G. asks from Watertown, MA
32 answers

Cort Furniture, I guess they rent furniture...to corporate clients, but also to individuals for apartments and houses... has a showroom near my house where they sell the used furniture that's come back from the "lease" period...the prices are amazing for good quality stuff, but i can't decide if i'm skeeved out by the idea when it comes to an upholstered sofa. i shop at thrift stores and buy used things (ebay, yard sales) all the time - clothing, other home goods). Some look totally new, and they claim that the furniture is cleaned professionally. But still...I'm not sure I can do it. Has anyone had experience with this? Happy or unhappy about the decision? Thanks. I'd love to save some money and really need a new couch, but....

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J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

If it is a reputable store then yes I would buy a used sofa. A lot of these rental places are renting to people that stage their homes for sale so most of the time they may not even be used. I would also think they would have them cleaned and if you are that worried then pick up a handheld steam cleaner (Shark makes one) and sanitize it.

Personally I think worse things go on in hotel room beds/sofas and most people don't even think about that when traveling.

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S.T.

answers from Houston on

I am sitting on a used sofa. Its a like new lazyboy with 2 recliners I got for 100 bucks. It was clean as a whistle when I got it. I am very happy, it's no big deal.

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M.M.

answers from Boston on

My friend bought one there, at the one in Allston/Brighton, and it's great. I'm definitely would checck it out myself next time (pretty soon) for a sofa.....

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

Yes, I've bought a used sofa. I brought it home and sat it in the garage and had it professionally cleaned.

I've bought furniture from CORT and had no problems. If you are concerned - bring it home and have it professionally cleaned or do it yourself.

I know some people might be concerned about bugs - sorry to say - even NEW furniture can have bugs in it.....go to the store and buy a can of bed bug spray and spray it down....still cheaper than a brand new couch!

Have fun!

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J.K.

answers from Wausau on

Yes. In fact, I've only ever brought used sofas or had hand-me-downs. With kids and a cat, I'm simply not paying for a brand new sofa. I wouldn't pull a couch off the street from the side of a dumpster, but I would certainly buy one from a reputable second hand furniture shop.

The sofa we have now came from a funeral home that was remodeling. It was less than 2 years old and in perfect condition. Only $50 and they delivered it. I guess some people would be creeped out by that, but I live directly next to a cemetery and I'm not easily spooked.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Honestly, what do you think they did on the couch? If it looks clean and it isn't smelly then it's okay. You really don't know who has sat on it and what they had on their clothes when you buy one at a store.

Most people have been given a couch or chair at some point in their lives or have sat on one and didn't know about it. Really, most college students pass the furniture down to the next tenant if they can't move their stuff home, a lot of apartments rent fully furnished, etc....

You've slept in a hotel, you've sat in a chair in a doc's office, you've sat in used furniture many many many times.

It's the same difference. If this company says they're cleaned then they should be just as clean as they can be. Look closely at them and pick the one that seems to be exactly what you want.

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B.A.

answers from Chicago on

Yes they clean it and many times it sits in a corner at an office building or hotel never or rarely sat on. Its not like its been pulled from the hoarders basement full of cockroaches and placed on the curb for 20.00

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M.B.

answers from Austin on

Yep... in the past, we've bought a lot of used furniture....

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A.L.

answers from Seattle on

I have owned a lot of used furniture in my life.
When I can afford it I do prefer to buy new sofas and such, but honestly if it was used as a floor sample or for staging homes... or even an office setting, I would not even worry about it.

I have never had any regrets about any off the used furniture we bought... but then it's not like we could afford anything else.
Good luck.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

I think that the store is required by law to sanitize upholstery. Even if they aren't I would buy a sofa from a reputable store. They have their reputation to maintain.

I did buy a sofa from a reputable thrift store several years ago and was quite pleased. It was nearly new, had no stains. The store was also very clean and reputable.

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N.P.

answers from San Francisco on

All my furniture is second hand except the mattresses on our beds. However, I didn't buy our couches second hand, I just inherited them from a friend of my mothers when she upgraded to leather sofas. I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth so I just accepted them and then cleaned them with an upholstery cleaner. Smelled and looked brand spanking new.

I wouldn't have a problem buying second hand if 1.) the price was a steep discount (no sense buying used if for only a couple hundred more you can get brand new!) and 2.) as long as there were no visible nasty stains and it was easy to clean.

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V.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

I would need to be in extremely dire straits to consider such a thing. Especially the way bed begs have cropped up again everywhere.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

Well, we bought a sleeper sofa in good condition when we married from a friend of a friend and I'm sitting on my SIL's late MIL's couch that was in storage for years. So, yes. If it was cleaned and in good shape, yes. I would.

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M.L.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I don't remember when I last bought any new furniture! A lot of pre-owned furniture comes to our house. Some of it is antique, and some is just good used stuff. I'm not saying I pick it up off the sidewalk when somebody puts it out there! But if you go in a thrift store, for instance, you can sit on the sofa, take the cushions off, have them turn the piece of furniture over so you can look underneath, sniff it, ask your dog to sniff it, do whatever you need to do to check it out. If the store objects that that, you don't want to shop there.

I do make it a rule not to buy anything upholstered that doesn't seem solid. A chair or sofa that's a little bit wiggly is only going to get more wiggly, not less. If you sit on it and it feels fine except in one place, check that one place. Inside damage can get worse. If the upholstery is torn, then, yes, I'd wonder what or who was inside. You want to look for a piece that has been given good treatment.

I'd at least go look at the used furniture store you're talking about. In that rent/lease situation, often the piece is fine, but the hotel-owning client changed the style of the hotel rooms, or something like that, and wants new furnishings for that reason. If you have a friend who is knowledgeable about furniture, take him or her along. You could find something really good.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I haven't and probably would not because I have allergies. I was allergic to my best friends winter coat since it had cat hair on it and I couldn't sit on chairs at work if the person who regularly sat there was a cat owner but...
I think it is fine. When I go to a hotel, I sleep in a bed that many strangers have used. I sit in chairs at restaurants, hotels, doctors officers, the library etc.
I think you should get it. You can always have it professionally cleaned yourself.

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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would and I have. I was very happy with my new used couch. I'm always on the lookout for great pre-loved furniture. It's a great way to save money and help the environment.

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

We have a secondhand sofa; bought it off craigslist for a good price. The covering looks like brown leather, it's likely a microfiber of some sort, but it looks good in our home and it's comfy for us.

I don't know if having a leather/microfiber couch would be an option for you or not, it is an option that certainly feels cleaner than someone's old upholstery. My husband also said he saw that the woman who had it had a tidy house when he went to pick it up. Nonsmoker and all that. Sometimes the more personal experience can help.

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L.A.

answers from Austin on

Yes, Actually the sectional we have now was used.

They had used it in their rental home while a new home was being built.
It is a Bassett. They had dogs, but never allowed them on the furniture. Non smoking house hold. Their house looked immaculate inside.

FYI, I also have sold our own old sofas, beds, Futons, chairs.. and we also had taken very good care of our furniture.

I also do Estate and Garage sales so I am always selling other peoples furniture.

If it is not in what I consider Very good condition. I will not sell it. OR I place a sign on it, "Free As Is".. and let people decide if they want to haul it off.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

Yes, and we have years ago. When my husband and I were looking for new sofas last year, we looked around for used also though we were looking for a year old or newer. We ended up buying new. As long as it would be clean, no problem. And Cort is very reputable. Most of their leases are for model or staging or for temporary use, not long term at all so you could really save and get something almost new.
As for a used matress, no way.

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

Yes I have - from friends, from garage sales, and from thrift stores - and would do it again if the right piece of furniture appeared.

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i've done it. i bought a yard sale sofa for $50 (oh, how that hurt us back then!) and loved it, but when i got it home i found it REEKED of cigarette smoke.
but we were broke, and it was a beautiful couch. we aired it, sprayed it, and eventually it was fine.
i doubt your situation would be that dire.
i'd be much less inclined to buy something upholstered that was used today, but we're in a better financial position now. i'd bet that cort furniture's stuff is fine, and you can always have it professionally cleaned to clear away any lingering worries, right?
khairete
S.

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M.S.

answers from Salinas on

I'm sorry, but no. I am not trying to be snotty, but just the thought of what someone might have done on the sofa or if bugs are infested deep inside and survive a cleaning and then hatch or whatever or spills that seep deep into the cushions....so many possibilities. I just couldn't do it.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

All of our couches have been used (and free!). One was from a friend of a friend and another set was from my husband's old boss. Both were very nice and neither skeeved us out. You can have it professionally cleaned again if it makes you feel better but there's probably no need to. We've never had any issues with our used couches.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

Nope. Upholstered furniture, never.

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C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I would not. You never know what has been on or in (think bed bugs) them.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

No way. It's the same as a mattress...I as myself...exactly what has been done on that! Cleaning upholstered furniture only goes so far, they can't underneath that fabric...

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J.D.

answers from Cincinnati on

From a friend or someone I know, yes but that would depend on a few things like if they had pets then no because I am allergic to cats. If it was someon I did not know then no because I have bed bug aphobia and stuff.
I bet Cort Furniture is a reliable source. I would buy from them before a garage sale

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

No because I am afraid that it would have bugs, been left outside, have
spiders hanging out underneath etc.
I've seen ppl have repeat garage sales that have left their furniture (sofas,
high back upholstered chairs etc) out in their fields.
I worry about spiders & mold.

I'd buy other non-cloth items at the thrift store for sure (hard wood chairs,
tables etc) as they can be cleaned.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

I used to do it all the time but with bed bugs, I'm too afraid. I bought a sofa, 2 chairs, a lovely coffee table and end table, for $1000. Maybe if I ask a bedbug treating company? Maybe they could treat it before it came to your house?

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S.R.

answers from Washington DC on

yes, go ahead and buy it if it's in good condition. You should probably vacuum it with the vacuum hose when you get it home to get all the dust etc. out of it.

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J.N.

answers from Philadelphia on

No I would be grossed out by used uphostery. I would purchase clothing that I can wash or wooden furniture used.

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R.X.

answers from Houston on

I would pay to have it recleaned as soon as I brought it home. But, yes, I would buy a used one.
As to what people do on it, in response to a post: kids often wipe their noses and rub it into the sofa, I was having chicken wing snacks at a friends home and SAW her best male pal rub his fingers into the fabric when he thought no one was looking. Adult intimacy may have happened there... Reclean it to rest your mind.

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