Ask questions before viewing
Request overall dimensions and photographs of all sides, including the back and underside where these can be shown without unsafe handling. Ask about repairs, missing fittings and previous use. A clear photograph in good light is more informative than a heavily edited sale image. Resolve vague details before making a long journey.
Distinguish solid wood, veneer and coated wood-based boards where the material is known. They offer different repair possibilities. A thin veneer cannot be sanded indefinitely. If the construction is uncertain, do not plan extensive refinishing on the basis of a guess.
Check operation as well as appearance
Open doors and drawers individually. Notice whether they run properly, catch or hang out of line. Inspect joints and visible damage. Wobbling may have a straightforward cause or require substantial repair. Do not rely only on reassurance that a screw simply needs tightening.
Check that shelves, supports, keys and required securing parts are present. A missing standard component is different from an unavailable proprietary fitting. For identifiable products, look for assembly instructions and any manufacturer safety information or recalls.
Notice unusual smells, signs of damp and damage in less visible areas. Uncertain signs of pests or significant structural problems merit appropriate professional advice. Do not accept a problematic piece solely because its visible front looks well preserved.
Calculate the real work
Combine the price with collection, possible repairs and materials. Cleaning and restoration also take time. A small mark may be acceptable where it does not affect use. Damage to a load-bearing component is not merely a question of style.
If you intend to change the finish, identify the existing coating and a suitable treatment first. Not every second-hand piece suits an improvised sanding project. Have valuable or uncertain furniture assessed before material is permanently removed.
Plan the journey home
Measure access at both collection and destination. Ask whether dismantling is possible and whether earlier dismantling caused damage. Record removable joints and keep their fittings together. A large wardrobe can stand comfortably in the seller's room yet fail to pass through your staircase.
Decide only when dimensions, condition and effort form a coherent picture. Buying used does not mean accepting every defect. A suitable, functioning piece with visible wear may be a better choice than an apparently inexpensive repair project.
Distinguish wear from unresolved repair
A small discoloured area on a tabletop may be acceptable when understood and the surface still performs its job. A loose chair joint calls for a different decision. Describe the defect specifically: where it is, whether it changes during normal operation and whether an appropriate repair is known. Calling everything patina does not answer those questions.
Take a tape measure and a list of decisive checks to the viewing. Establish size and function before spending a long time on decorative details. If a cupboard would have to be divided at an unsuitable point to get home, an attractive finish cannot resolve that problem.
For older furniture without available instructions, reassembly after dismantling may not be obvious. Document existing joints with the seller's agreement and establish which components are genuinely removable. Force or improvised cuts can turn a usable piece into an unsuitable project.
Decide which work you can competently undertake and which needs a specialist. A project can be interesting, but should be chosen knowingly as a project. If usable storage is urgently needed, an already functioning piece may be more appropriate even when another initially appears more distinctive.
