With dodgy product photos and bizarre descriptions, Facebook Marketplace can often feel like the wild west of second-hand shopping. Unlike Vinterior or 1st Dibs, there are very few professionals on the platform. Unlike eBay, there is no online auction to participate in. Very often, winning pieces simply comes down to speed and luck of the draw.
On a platform where you can buy everything from hamster wheels to car tyres, how do you find the treasure in the trash? Enter the tastemakers, interiors designers and renovation experts, who have kindly compiled a list of their greatest tips and tricks to help you get the very best out of Facebook Marketplace. Happy hunting!
Location, location, location
As Tattie Isles, a botanical artist and set designer whose 18th-century cottage was recently featured in House & Garden, says, ‘Facebook Marketplace is great for anything and everything. I like that it’s local and often there’s a community feel because of that. I have found two of my favourite possessions on the platform: the suzani in our bedroom (seen above) and my oak framed beautiful shepherd’s hut which I adore. If I am staying somewhere for a few days I change my location and have a look at what’s around in a new area. I have found some beautiful pieces in the north of England and Scotland.’
Cruz Wyndham, creative director of Anut Cairo, suggests searching locally to save on transport costs. ‘Look in nearby, affluent areas, too. I often search in neighbourhoods like Notting Hill, Islington, or Hampstead Heath–areas where people are more likely to want things gone quickly rather than make a profit.’
Interior designer Gergei Erdei also recommends widening your search beyond just your immediate neighborhood. He says, ‘Residential outskirts often have hidden gems, and people moving house tend to part with beautiful antique pieces at very reasonable prices. Often, they’re more interested in clearing space quickly than making money, which can lead to amazing finds.’
Nadine Bacchus-Garrick, who documented her house renovation on Instagram a few years previously, has become quite the Facebook Marketplace expert. Her advice is simply to ‘Be realistic about how far you’re willing to travel for the item, and set the mileage to avoid wasting time.’