Now that your spring cleaning is finally done, why not make some money? Your discarded “stuff” could be perfect for one of the best luxury home goods re-sale sites. You will, of course, also be contributing the growth of the circular economy and luxury sustainability efforts. Our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy is sharing the facts on how to re-sell luxury furniture, home decor and objects that you no longer need.
how to re-sell your luxury furniture and home goods
Spring cleaning— love it or hate it? Personally, I hate it.
Nope, not even going to sugar coat it. Nothing gives me more anxiety than staring down hours of deciding what gets thrown away or kept. Then there’s the organizing and the storage prepping that always makes me vow never to buy anything ever again.
As for the actual scrubbing, dusting and housekeeping? Luckily, I married well and have a husband who loves to corral the children and tackle it as if they were a troupe of gaily singing country critters preparing the manor for a royal visitor.
The post-Spring cleaning feeling is enough reward for some. But it can admittedly be short-lived. In that case, consider another incentive that might inspire you. Money! Your junk could be another family’s treasure. Wedding gifts that were never opened. The side table that just doesn’t work no matter where you move it. Lamps and vases that don’t complement the new aesthetic you’re striving for.
You could donate your unloved items. But there’s a growing ecosystem of luxury home goods re-sale sites, the best of which will allow you to de-clutter and monetize your home furnishing discards. Sounds good, no?
Modern Living Room. Photo Courtesy: Architectural Digest.
the best luxury home goods re-sale sites
We went in search of the best luxury home goods re-sale sites for your luxury furniture, housewares and objets. They might not be as familiar as fashion consignment sites like The Real Real or Poshmark. But you no longer have to rely on the bedlam of Craigslist or Ebay. These are attractive, curated and user-friendly platforms that make selling a breeze. Because goodness knows — after a laborious spring cleaning, we want the clutter out as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Photo Credit: Sotheby’s Home
1. Chairish
Who:
Founded in 2013 by a fashion executive wife and technology entrepreneur husband who faced a vexing problem as they were moving. They discovered that their nearly new furnishings could not fit into their new home. And the idea for Chairish was born. It has since connected millions of shoppers to sellers of high end, design driven furnishings.
What:
Chairish is a highly curated site of everything home decor related. From covetable Knoll sofas, to brightly lacquered cabinets, to mint-condition antique mirrors, it’s all here. Aside from pristine furnishings, there is also art, lighting, rugs and decorative objects of all types from all eras. The common thread is that the items that are approved are geared toward informed design lovers. If it looks like it could be in a home design magazine, then there’s a good chance you can find it here. About 150-250 new items are added daily.
How:
If you’re looking to sell, you can start by uploading photos and a description of your item. And set a price. The Chairish team will evaluate your item and approve those that will appeal to Chairish shoppers. They’ll also touch up photos for maximum attraction. As a seller, you will receive and respond to verified offers and questions. Once a sale is made, Chairish will organize all the shipping details or you can opt for local pick-up and delivery.
Fees:
It is always free to list an item. For sellers with less than 10 listings, Chairish will take a 30% commission. If you have more than 10 listing, Chairish takes up to 20% commission. Payment is issued via PayPal following delivery and the 48 hour return period.
chairish
2. AptDeco
Who:
The idea for AptDeco was born out of pure necessity. A small team of entrepreneurs came together after having numerous bad experiences of trying to buy and sell furniture in New York City. They decided they couldn’t be the only ones struggling with how to re-sell luxury furniture. The group created their site in 2013 to combat the scams, hassles, and creepy people going into your apartment. And instead, buy and sell furniture in a more enjoyable way.
What:
This online marketplace offers secondhand furniture exclusively. Antiques and mid-century finds mix with modern pieces from popular retail stores (West Elm, Crate and Barrel, Restoration Hardware). Currently, its low-cost shipping service is only available in the New York and New Jersey areas. But the service is expanding to Boston and Philadelphia soon.
How:
As with Chairish, creating a listing is free. Snap a few photos, fill out a description, and set your price. Within 24 hours, you’ll receive notification approving you to post. AptDeco enhances your post with complimentary proofreading, adding informative details about your item. The site also does photo editing, so that all listings conform to their formula (which makes it easy on the eyes). Once the sale is a go, you’re pinged with the requested delivery date so you can select a pickup time.
Fees:
The selling fee ranges from 19 and 29 percent based on the price of the item, with more expensive items charged a lower percentage. AptDeco offers a simple and straightforward delivery fee. Most items will fall under the $65 flat-rate delivery bracket. Smaller items get delivered for $35, and extra large items can go up to $119 (items such as china cabinets, etc).
AptDeco
3. Sotheby’s Home
Who:
Sotheby’s hardly needs an introduction- it is one of the world’s largest auction houses and brokers of art, collectibles, jewelry and real estate. Recently, the company decided to help solve the issue of how to re-sell luxury furniture. In 2018, they acquired Viyet, an online consignment marketplace, known for its high-end designer furniture. Since then, the Sotheby’s Home site has expanded its inventory to include new relationships with over 60 galleries, showrooms and brands.
What:
Sotheby’s Home specializes in vintage and antique furniture, decorative objects and accessories. In addition to rare antiques, you will find exceptional designer furniture on the site (Phillipe Starck, Arne Jacobsen, Tom Dixon), art, rugs, home accessories and everything else found in stylish homes across the country. Mass market brands like West Elm, Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn are not accepted.
How:
If you choose to consign with Sotheby’s Home, there are no listings to keep track of, buyers to meet with, or shipping to calculate. The company does all the work for you after receiving your list of things to sell via a simple online form. A Consignment Liaison will be assigned to you and your listing will be live for a six month period.
Fees:
Furniture will be priced according to condition, brand name, age, and original retail price, or comparable items on the secondary market. You’ll get to approve all pricing. Once sold, you will receive 50% of the net sale amount if consigning 20 items or fewer, and 60% if consigning more than 21 items.
Sothebys Home
3. Kaiyo
Who:
Founder Alpay Koralturk is committed to shifting consumer perception of furniture as throwaway by encouraging “upcycling.” Formerly known as Furnishare, the company has been rebranded as Kaiyo. The name reflects the company’s dedication to good design and a more sustainable planet. In Greek it connotes purity; in Japanese, a place for rest; and in Zulu, a dwelling, abode or home. Its shared global and cross-cultural meaning feels close to nature and connected to the earth. The company is based in New York City, and currently only serves the greater New York area, including New Jersey.
What:
Kaiyo is an online marketplace committed to great design from popular brands like Restoration Hardware, Room & Board and Roche Bobois. Their niche is in increasing the desirability of pre-owned furniture and connecting people to timeless pieces that are sustainable and meaningful. It’s the perfect place to learn how to re-sell luxury furniture.To that end, Kaiyo inspects and cleans every piece of furniture so that it is restored back to good condition. And for every item purchased, Kaiyo arranges for a tree to be planted through the National Forest Foundation.
How:
Interested sellers fill out a submission form online which will be reviewed within one business day. Kaiyo picks up the furniture, cleans and photographs it and does their best to maintain and monetize each piece.
Fees:
Furniture will be priced according to quality, value and market demand. At the time of submission, sellers will select the revenue share (or percentage of sale) they would like to receive if the item is sold. The revenue share can be cashed out at any time after the sale.
kaiyo
Who:
Apartment Therapy is a lifestyle and interior design blog that’s “saving the world, one room at a time.” The popular site features house tours, how-tos, shopping guides and expert advice on how to create a beautiful home. It’s also a place to learn how how to re-sell luxury furniture. Their Bazaar site is a peer-to-peer community and app that caters to design lovers who want to buy and sell antique, vintage and used designer furnishings and accessories. The largest markets are New York City, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, but one can sell from almost anywhere.
What:
Listings on the site are focused and fall into specific categories: furniture, accessories (art, mirrors, oddities and pillows), lighting, tabletop and rugs. There are three “Market” categories: Everyday (CB2 and Wayfair), Stylegrade (well loved designer brands) and Luxe (mint condition designer brands). The aesthetic leans towards Mid Century Modern but there are over 10 different styles to search- from Coastal to French Country to Industrial.
How:
This site is more hands-on than the other platforms and feels more personal. Listing is free, and you can boost your listing for a small fee. Sellers create a profile and post their items online or with the iPhone app. Once you list a product, you can share it on Facebook and Twitter. Delivery method and pricing is up to you.
Fees:
Sellers will receive payments via Stripe. Stripe allows buyers to pay with their credit card online and the money is then deposited to your linked bank account. Bazaar takes a flat 5.9% + $0.30 service fee. In addition, the listed rate includes a flat 3% Bazaar Transaction Fee and a standard 2.9% + $0.30 Stripe Processing Fee.
Apartment Therapy
That’s it – everything you need to know about how to re-sell luxury furniture on the best home goods re-sale sites. Good luck!
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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, fitness and even investigating police misconduct. Julie lives in NYC where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women, kickboxing and spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.
Join our community
For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier newsletter. And see luxury in a new light.