Purchasing a sofa can be an expensive venture, especially if you are looking for a quality piece of furniture that can be used for years to come. Many people wonder if buying a sofa used would be a good idea. You’ll definitely find the sofa for cheaper if you choose among used sofas, but will you find what you want? And is it a good idea? Here’s what you need to know.

Buying furniture used can be risky, because you don’t know how the prior owner has treated their sofa. They may be a smoker, they may have had pets climbing all over it, getting pet dander and dirt in it. Buying a used sofa is risky. But it does have benefits.

The main benefit of buying used sofas, such as a used leather sectional sofa, is that you can get a great couch for a fraction of the retail cost. If you know when and where to look, you can get a great sofa for a really good price. So, if you’re not put out by the downsides to buying used, let’s get to the nitty gritty of how to go about getting used sofas for great prices. Here are some quick tips for buying used sofas.

1. Take your time and look everywhere. You can look on Craigslist, garage or moving sales, and consignment shops. Especially when people are moving, they generally lower prices because they’re hoping to unload a bunch of things fast. So you could get used leather sofas for a killer deal. You’ll find just about every kind of sofa imaginable, including a fabric corner sofa, corner sofas, used leather sofas, and used corner sofa beds. It may take time to find exactly what you’re looking for, but you will eventually find it.

2. Once you’ve located one or two potential sofas, then the fun begins. If you found them online, email or call the seller to get some information. You definitely want to know how old the sofa is, if a smoker lives in the house, if they have pets, and they type of fabric on the sofa. Make sure to see a picture of the furniture before making a trip out to see it, as that will save you time.

3. Once you actually see the sofa in person, take your time! Sit on it. Look for signs of wear and tear such as rips, stains, misshapen cushions, etc. This sounds gross, but you should probably smell the couch to ensure that it doesn’t smell of cigarette smoke or pet urine.

If the sofa meets your standards and looks like the sofa you want, congratulations! You’re almost done. Next, you negotiate with the seller. You don’t have to go for the full price right off. If you’re up for it, a little bargaining may get you an even better deal. Either way, you’ll get a sofa for much less than retail price.

And that’s that. If you’re in the market for a new sofa but can’t afford the new prices, used sofas may be a good option for you. You can easily find cheap corner sofas in this manner. As long as you take precautions and do some inspecting of the used sofa, you may just find the corner sofa of your dreams for a fraction of retail. Try it and see.