How to find the ‘good stuff’ on facebook marketplace
Have you met our preferred partner, Rachel Gill? Rachel is the founder and visionary behind Rachel Gill Design + Lifestyle - and she is our favorite interior decorator, space designer, and renovation planner in Baltimore, Maryland!
Rachel recently shared some tips on how to find the best items on Facebook marketplace so you can design your home with panache, but not break the bank on every single item.
Read on for all of her great tips, and if you want more information, we recommend you check out her website or instagram profile and get in touch with her!
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At Rachel Gill Design, we pride ourselves on knowing where to save and where to splurge. Splurges for us usually consist of upholstered pieces - such as your everyday sofa or sectional - plumbing fixtures, lighting and sometimes rugs.
When it comes to saving, Facebook Marketplace is our favorite place to find accent pieces to fill in the gaps - bookcases, coffee tables, benches, chairs, etc. Great solid wood pieces with patina and character are what add personality to a space and keep it from feeling like you stepped into a furniture showroom, so we always check FBMP first for our own homes.
In case you missed our recent post in the HomeSchool Facebook Group, here are a few of our favorite tips and tricks to find the good stuff:
1. Be specific with your search terms.
For example, pair of chairs, pine console, vintage bookcase, etc. - be sure to 'save' the things you love even if you don't plan on buying them. Once you search and save a few times, FBMP will become accustomed to what you're looking for and will start to show you things similar to your common searches.
2. Check EVERY day and act fast.
Good things come and go quickly on FBMP and you have to be willing to be decisive. You can always sell it later if you don't love it, but if something in your gut is telling you that you love it, pull the trigger. Your first message to the seller should not be "Is this available?" it should be more like this "I can PayPal or Venmo you for this now and pick it up on Tuesday evening." Make it easy for the seller to know that you're serious. You will not have much success if you waffle back and forth on whether you want something.
3. Patience and persistence.
As more people discover the magic of FBMP, it will become harder and harder to snag the things you really want. Just know that something else will always come along and with patience and persistence you're sure to find at least a few of the things you're on the hunt for. We like to keep a running list of search terms so we're not looking for a needle in a haystack. Here's my current list: vintage etchings, vintage oil paintings, brass lamps, vintage area rugs, antique chairs, antique hall tree, english roll arm (sofa or chair) for reupholstering. Make your list and get started. I promise you'll find the good stuff as long as you keep trying!