someone who shares all their knowledge, from their personal experience is really giving...i think it shows the solid character of a person thank you Lauren for all you share with others rock on
@@Hulafula88 Are you unaware that this is her personality, her core character and it comes naturally. When you chose your career did you choose something you loved and are good at it? She gets paid for what she is doing well, to make mention of her “ altruism” factor makes you a much less desired character - in my opinion. The world would be an easier and more enjoyable place if there were less people who blurted out shit talk such as what you said. Have a great day Katrina, I hope something brings you joy today~
@@Hulafula88 apparently you have not seen any of her work! She transforms furniture amazingly! Don't add destructive comments about people you haven't taken the time to learn something about. I'm 60 years old and Been working in. Chicken plant all my life still do. I have talents that I only do when I have time. THIS YOUNG LADY IS SO SMART TO BE SO YOUNG DOING WHAT SHE LOVES AND BEING HER OWN BUISNESS. She awesome for teaching others how they could do the same! Shame on you! I am happy for her & I hope she made a wallop for this video! 😁
@@Hulafula88 exactly! People here just want to believe she’s an angel or something. It’s a business. These videos and our views pay her very well. Nothing to do with ‘giving character’.
I remember when this was your side gig & you just wanted to pay off your student loans cuz for your education to become a kindergarten teacher. But you were and are so good at this, and it turns out it paid so well, that it became your full-time gig. You are a generous and inspiring person who truly deserves your success. Thank you again, Lauren, for all you do …. And all you give!!!!
You popped up in my feed a couple months ago and I’m bingeing your videos. What I really need to tell you is that you are such a generous person sharing not only all your experience in refinishing furniture. But what I think goes above and beyond is all the ins and outs of the everything else involved in the furniture flipping world. From what to look for when buying to the importance of the visual requirements for selling. And finally how to make it financially profitable. Seriously, you and Neiman are amazing people. Instead of taking from the world you graciously give. I thank and appreciate you both. 💙
Yes! Take us along when you purchase your flips. I learned so much today. BTW I spray painted black a wicker bookshelf like the one you passed on and it sold for $225!
This was informative. I am a ‘settle for’ person, and it comes with disappointment. Thank you for your insight. Lesson learned: it’s okay to walk away and keep looking.
I have been teaching for 35 years and retiring in 7 months. I have been watching your channel and I have a notebook full of ideas! You two have been such an inspiration!
Be sure to try moving the drawers around before you completely give up on a piece. A lot of times these things are donated and to keep them light when you’re moving them they take out all the drawers. Then they just get shoved back in and they may not be in the right slot.
That is true. I just got a dresser given to me and the bottom 2 drawers were not going in very well. I switched the drawers and now they work like they are suppose to.
Great advice! I often take the drawers all out. Usually the drawers are numbered so it helps to discover how the drawers are SUPPOSED to be placed. Super helpful
I was surprised that she didn’t say that in this video b-c she said it in another video about the drawers fitting differently even if they look the same.
I converted one of those large 1980’s/90’s tv armoires into a bar cabinet. I cut & stacked 4x4 lumber to create “steps” for bottle display, ran simple lighting and put in a few tracks to hang stemware. A couple of shelves display other glassware. Nice feature is that I can just close the doors for a cleaner look.
Thank you so very much! You handled “disappointment and no-finds”with professionalism. Furthermore, you taught EXACTLY what to look for and your thought process. HUGELY helpful. Can’t even tell you how wonderful this was. A ‘urge, giant thanks.
Loved going thrifting with you. Was a great way to end my day of cleaning house. Made a cup of hot tea kicked back in the recliner and got a great lesson on furniture shopping without leaving the house. I am ready to go again. Thank you for sharing with us all your wonderful knowledge and tips
Great video! I loved to hear your thinking on specific pieces. Clarification: plywood is many layers of thin sheets of lumber combined with glue. Pressboard (sometimes called other names) is what you pointed out on the first three drawer dresser. It is a combination of shavings and glue that is combined with pressure. Thanks again for a refreshing post.
I learned more in 35 minutes than from several semester-long university classes. Lauren, you''re an excellent instructor and you've shared an incredible amount of hard-won expertise in what may be one of the newest "side gigs" of the 21st century! While I've always envied people with the resources to afford new furniture I'm learning that much of the demand is based on how the furniture is marketed and presented rather than construction, design and finishes. I wonder how many upscale potential buyers with the substantial resources to purchase pricey "name" pieces end up being disappointed by the assembly-line appearance that comes with the appeal of glossy magazine ads and feature "articles" promoting one manufacturer's products over another (typically based on how much advertising they've purchased). A rescued and carefully restored piece of beautiful furniture sets itself apart from this year's trendy "prize" that will quickly land in a charity thrift store when it goes out of style in favor of next year's splashy finish or unusual design. The curse of "fast fashion" has worked its way into chairs, tables and dressers, unintentionally increasing the demand for older, beautifully-designed one-of-a-kind art that does double-duty by giving buyers a comfortable place to live their best lives!
@@burntbeansoup Any income-producing project I take on -- from creating art that sells, caring for other people's children, cleaning houses, landscaping and maintaining yards and gardens or restoring unwanted furniture -- requires a significant investment of my time and personal energy. The more I know about the market and the more information I have about what clients want the better prepared I'll be to make a profitable success out of whatever business I've begun. The important question is why WOULDN'T anyone take a class on making a success out of the business they've chosen?
@@burntbeansoup Upgrading used furniture I hope to sell for a profit demands specific knowledge of the market I'm working in and learning about clever techniques that can save me money and time. I have to know WHO is buying, WHY they choose not to invest in new pieces, and WHAT they're looking for that name brands and big retailers aren't offering. Flipping for my own home is far different than redoing someone's cast-off dresser and table to offer to the public. It's first and foremost a BUSINESS -- I have to keep careful records of my time and expenses, I have to know where the best sites to advertise my pieces are and stay on top of trends in new furniture so I can adapt popular colors, textures and designs to a 100-year old dresser or outdated dining room set. Plus, I'm also sourcing my products one piece at a time -- used furniture may come with an insect infestation or structural damage that isn't immediately obvious. Flippers need to know how to make repairs and have the necessary tools and storage space -- often in our own homes! We have to predict what will be the hot trends in home decor for next year, choose the right colors and focus on whether the furniture will make the buyer's life easier and more pleasant or become just something else taking up space. Lauren has taught me that there will be times I have to "just say no" to a lovely piece in need of so much work beyond my skill set that I'd lose any profit on it. It's a painful but necessary lesson for flippers, and -- as a furniture fanatic -- a trap I'd fall into without her guidance. The right teacher can make the difference between your flipping business being a success or a failure. Hope that answered your question?
Those old dressers can sometimes have the drawers in the wrong place!! We had 50s style dressers blond furniture like what u found in Thrift World & if u put the top drawer in the bottom space...it was all wonky. Sometimes it is worth it to take them out rearrange. ...but of course u know that already lol.
Learning how to fix those not so perfect drawers would open up more options for you to purchase furniture. Drawer slides can be replaced and broken pieces repaired. Ask the staff for an extra discount on the ones w damaged drawers. Might be a good winter project to learn how to do repairs from a carpenter or pick up a freebie and practice.
I guess I was missing something. I was not impressed with this video. Walking around and just showing the same flaws over and over again is not helpful. Too many buts for me. Minor fixes.
@@kmoore6105 Since she doesn't buy furniture w broken drawers she was showing that she looks at many pieces before finding one to purchase, which isn't easy for her. For someone new to furniture flipping the video may be helpful.
I have to say, you're my favorite teacher! I'm learning so much from you. Very new to this and just sucking up the knowledge you're sharing so I'm properly prepared to start this new endeavor. Many many thanks for your incredible tutorials.
The coffee table that you passed up in the first thrift store with the glass top. I've thrifted them and sold them. Just remove glass top. Go to your local fencing store. A fence store company near me, bring back the old fence. They allow you take those fence pieces which are already weathered. cut the fence panels and plass them where the glass insert was. don't forget to paint the wood table white and distress that. They actually turn out very beautiful and will sell.
I''m so jealous of your thrift store prices! My local goodwills and habitat stores have caught on to flippers and now price their too high for flipping. Still a good deal if you want to spruce something up to keep.. but too high for making any profit.
I was just about to comment the same thing! I laughed out loud when she balked at that dresser for $7.99. Small, broken, plastic lawn chairs at the Goodwills here in Phoenix are $10, poor quality dressers are $25-$50, and even little things like dishes are the same price as brand new ones at Walmart. I enjoy repainting vases and get many from there, but they're usually $5-$10 for small ones and $10-$20 for larger ones.
In Canada, EVERYTHING is more expensive. Thrift stores and retail stores so it's almost impossible to flip anything. The housing market is also super expensive so you can't flip there either. I can't believe how cheap everything is in the US.
Exactly! At the nearest habitat store, an entry door, used, no frame, damaged was priced at 399.99. went across the street to a home Depot, a prehung door, regular price 266.00
@@mrsducky3428 yup!! It's so overpriced for the regular shopper, never mind flipping. I don't even bother going into the #ReStore anymore because they overprice things and no returns.
The rattan / cane hutches sell super well! That boho look is really in right now. I recently got one for free, had to do a lot of work and learn how to weave the cane but it sold for $250 and I had a bunch of inquiries so probably could’ve got more! That piece has minimal damage (the cane slots back in super easily), so could’ve made a super good profit!! Just for future reference :)
Thank you so much for the detailed instructions, and educating everyone about the types of wood grains and plywood. Wow, you are truly talented and AMAZING!
@@lilyamezcua4047 you do realize you're replying under someone else's comment right? So she's not even going to get a notification of hope comment and won't see it.
Wife flips. Gets things at estate sales and auctions, occasionally on Marketplace. I recondition, and she resells on FB Marketplace. The key is to know how much to pay and what it will sell for. Love these tips, but wife doesn't care how much I have to work to fix it. Also check seasonal stuff. Patio sets big sellers, buy in winter, sell in spring, but they have to be in pretty good shape as paint spray cans add up quick. Great video, thanks.
Wow. I also loved from thrift America the "hand made" dresser that each drawer locked. It would be beautiful painted white and left the top the wood. That little bit of damage adds the character to the piece.. I love your thrift stores!! ❤️❤️
I loved this! That rattan shelf could have easily sold for $500 maybe more in the Austin area, especially if listed as a Boho bar cabinet. Lol it probably would have sold in minutes. I’m jealous.
So interesting to shop with a professional furniture flipper shopper who knows her stuff! Still learning at 76. Thank you both! Half way through and have to comment, completely mesmerized by your teaching. Wow, were your students privileged to be taught by you.
I’m now at the end of the video, but have to remark how much I enjoyed it. Background music enjoyable, again, the two of you are a power couple and loving your working success.
This was very informative and hearing your thoughts on each piece. I really, really would love to see more of these. It would be really cool to follow one piece from thrift store to refinish to staging to selling.
You are a legend! Thank you for being so detailed, and with great advice! Just starting out with my two kids to have some fun and be creative while showing them how to make some money creating something.
Great video. I wanted to share my experience with you of the drawers. I recommend pulling it out all the way and seeing if the edges are all together okay because sometimes they're loose a little bit and all they take is a little glue with a clamp and then if you put a new glide stopper on it or a little plastic piece where the drawer hits the wood that it's rolling on on the corners of each front it makes a huge difference and those are easy fixes.
I absolutely want to go thrifting with you more! I learned so much.... I wish I would have seen this before I acquired the 6+ bust projects that I thought I could handle but clearly can not. Extensively damaged. Also your price guide on what to pay was very worthwhile knowledge. Thank you so much for sharing, I look forward to more like this.
Thanks Lauren for all of the great advice on picking furniture. I pass up a lot of furniture in my area because they are cheap made and damaged. I don't mind doing a few repairs but if I don't feel that I can make a decent profit, I'm not going to purchase it. Please take us along on more of your journeys thrifting. I really enjoyed learning just what to look for.
This video was so valuable in showing what NOT to get! I appreciated it because I would have liked to pick up many of them and then wondered how I was going to fix them when I got home!
Looks nice..with the dye ,the possibilities could be endless. Like ombre, or marble effect or tie dye look..omg! However I get the time consumption factor. You go girl. I love what you do, and you're TEACHING us all.😊
Thank you! You will always have because you are giving. This videos are a wealth of knowledge for anyone wanting to buy a used piece of furniture. Thanks.
I like how you talked about each piece and told why or why not you would buy it. It is more helpful than just showing the items in the store. You shared some great information
Love going on your shopping expeditions with you, Lauren! Please take us along whenever you go again. Just one thing I noticed in the small handmade dresser at the first shop: looked like the drawers were cedar lined or simply made from cedar... would have been a real plus if the dresser had met your standards overall.
Wow! I can’t believe all of the thrift stores you have near you! Amazing. My husband and I found a media cabinet armoire on the side of the road and took out the tv drawer and added a rod . It’s a perfect armoire for his clothes since there is no room for him in MY closet 😂
Here in California, after years of searching, I found a Hoosier in rough shape and she was asking $500. A friend in Nebraska sent me dozens of ads for Hoosiers in much better shape, all for less than $75.00 She calculated that I could drive there, stay at her house, buy the Hoosier of my dreams, then drive back to California for less than the $500.
Twenty years ago my husband and I downsized to a smaller home. We sold our massive bedroom set. We scouted thrift stores and Salvation Army stores. We bought a dresser, mirror bed and two night stands. They were all wood with dovetailed drawers. They were all different finishes so we sanded and painted them Later we found a small armoire and retrofitted it to house a small tv I still have them and they have stood the test of time. I love all your advice
Temple Stuart is a Massachusetts company that made solid maple furniture. My second flip and sale was a similar buffet/server. I picked it up on the side of the road! I ditched the top. Painted the case deep green, sanded and stained the drawers, doors, and top. Sold for $350! Go back and get that piece!
Have been looking for a table and chairs set at thrift stores for years. I know it’s out there, waiting for me. Learned a lot from this video, and now I’m even pickier 😝
I live in the Metro Omaha area also. Love all your tips. I’m new at all this and want to paint my existing bedroom furniture. It is from the ‘70’s with “plastic” applied pieces as decoration. I want color but having a difficult time deciding! Love watching your videos!
I watched this in order to learn new english words about pieces of furniture, (beacause I'm learning english) but in the end, I really enjoyed watching your video. I know that I migh not be your target, and I probably won't buy furniture to flip, but I just wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge to everybody.
I recently subscribed because I enjoyed one of your videos…and was beyond excited to see you thrifting in my area! I am a transplant to Omaha/ Papillon and love it here. Thank you for the videos!
That chair to the left of the recliner you were looking at was gorgeous. I would have taken that home, sanded the wood on it, stained it lighter and sold it, unless it was just too beautiful for me to let go! I was slobbering over that chair the whole time you were looking at the velvet chair. lol
Yes yes yes - - - I learned a HUGE amount today. I would have bought half the things you said not to and I would have been sad. Except for that one fancy tall dresser. I would have snatched up that one. But I really learned what to look for.
I really enjoyed this video and found it very informative and helpful. I have definitely made some big mistakes buying the wrong pieces. I sold them but for very low profit. I also want to say don’t be afraid to say no to out dated furniture that friends want to give you.
A way to easily utilize a cabinet and hutch - selling 2 pieces so more profit. Add a cleat to the back of the hutch (available in stores selling hinges, latches, etc), paint the piece and sell it as a coffee bar, dry bar, juicing station, tea bar, etc. (I would remove spindles and curved trim pieces for a more timeless appeal.) It can easily be hung and not consume floor space. The cabinet can be totally separate. The stores sell the pairs for a bit less since the 'look' can be so dated.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. And thank you for saying don't settle. I absolutely have settled in the past and you are right it becomes more work and my profit margin plummets.
Thank you for taking us on your flip hunt! Just an observation at 7:11 The material you're pointing out is actually particle board. Plywood has layers of wood, as opposed to the compressed material making up the particle board. Again, thank you for your hints and tips!
It was actually kind of comforting to see that you too can spend all day shopping and find nothing! Another thing I look for in drawers is a center or side glide. I don't know if that is the correct term, but it makes a world of difference in the function of the piece.
When I saw that rattan piece I gasped and then saw $25, wow. That would have been a pick all day every day. Quick glue to the loose pieces and post for sale and could get a minimum of $150 but probably way more. Don't pass those up! I am shocked it was still there and at that price.
Thank you for bringing us along even though people look at you with interest, wondering what you are doing. Trust me, as you get older, you won't give a flip what other people think and it's sooooo freeing! :D Plus, if anyone asks you what you're doing, you can tell them and they just might be looking for a velvet chair or 4!
As experienced as you are, getting in and out should take very little time unless you find a bunch of furniture to purchase. Depending on travel between stores it should take 1-1.5hrs. Sometimes drawers are just in the wrong place. The piece you called a hutch, you could just do the bottom as a dining room buffet, if to short, add legs. Do you ever paint fabric? Might open up a whole new area possibilities
Hello 👋, even though I am not flipping, I love your journey and learning from you. Today happens to be Saint Patrick’s Day and I am wishing you the luck 🍀 of the Irish.
Thank you for sharing all your wisdom and knowledge on these pieces I'm about to buy some new pieces for a home in the new year and you've given me a lot of tips on what to look for to get the quality of the product I found this very educational . Yes I would love to see some more of your flipping days and teaching days thank you for sharing have a great day and God bless you and Nieman
Yes, I’m so glad I’ve found you, I was given a bedroom set and I’ve sanded it just need to repaint it and discovered you… thought I’d like to do this, maybe and enjoy watching you tell what to look for and what not… thank you for sharing your experience
One of my issues is that through Covid all our local Goodwill's have not been taking furniture and out prices in California are much higher at nearly all Thrifts.
Habitat for Humanity has a Re-Store, donated used "anything" from people doing renos. You can get furniture apertures, handles, knobs etc (some pewter too) for a 1/10 of what you pay at Amazon. If you ever find a Re-Store, you'd be impressed. Great work btw, you are a very talented woman!
This was great. Would love to go thrifting with you again? I have been refinishing antiques for years, but items people have brought to me, so I’ve never flipped them before & would like to know more about that end of the equation. You’re great!!!
Plywood doesn't split! And is stronger than wood! Go to an antique store and look at the sides of the case goods. They will be split from top to bottom on the sides! Wood splits! Plywood doesn't!
Don't settle -- the best advice ever. I have done it because I wanted a new project. Sadly, I ended up disposing of it because it was beyond my ability to fix. :(
someone who shares all their knowledge, from their personal experience is really giving...i think it shows the solid character of a person thank you Lauren for all you share with others rock on
She makes money from these vids. It's not that altruistic.
@@Hulafula88 she didn't always get money soo...
@@Hulafula88 Are you unaware that this is her personality, her core character and it comes naturally. When you chose your career did you choose something you loved and are good at it? She gets paid for what she is doing well, to make mention of her “ altruism” factor makes you a much less desired character - in my opinion. The world would be an easier and more enjoyable place if there were less people who blurted out shit talk such as what you said. Have a great day Katrina, I hope something brings you joy today~
@@Hulafula88 apparently you have not seen any of her work! She transforms furniture amazingly! Don't add destructive comments about people you haven't taken the time to learn something about. I'm 60 years old and Been working in. Chicken plant all my life still do. I have talents that I only do when I have time. THIS YOUNG LADY IS SO SMART TO BE SO YOUNG DOING WHAT SHE LOVES AND BEING HER OWN BUISNESS. She awesome for teaching others how they could do the same! Shame on you! I am happy for her & I hope she made a wallop for this video! 😁
@@Hulafula88 exactly! People here just want to believe she’s an angel or something. It’s a business. These videos and our views pay her very well. Nothing to do with ‘giving character’.
I remember when this was your side gig & you just wanted to pay off your student loans cuz for your education to become a kindergarten teacher. But you were and are so good at this, and it turns out it paid so well, that it became your full-time gig. You are a generous and inspiring person who truly deserves your success. Thank you again, Lauren, for all you do …. And all you give!!!!
You popped up in my feed a couple months ago and I’m bingeing your videos. What I really need to tell you is that you are such a generous person sharing not only all your experience in refinishing furniture. But what I think goes above and beyond is all the ins and outs of the everything else involved in the furniture flipping world. From what to look for when buying to the importance of the visual requirements for selling. And finally how to make it financially profitable.
Seriously, you and Neiman are amazing people. Instead of taking from the world you graciously give. I thank and appreciate you both. 💙
Yes! Take us along when you purchase your flips. I learned so much today. BTW I spray painted black a wicker bookshelf like the one you passed on and it sold for $225!
Yes she should have gotten that.
Those shelves are highly sought after! Easy flip with super high ROI.
Well Guys it really depends on her customers. Here in Florida we definitely sell different things from Los Angeles where I am from.
I do think she knows her market pretty well. It always amazes me the difference in preferences in markets.
This was informative. I am a ‘settle for’ person, and it comes with disappointment. Thank you for your insight. Lesson learned: it’s okay to walk away and keep looking.
I have been teaching for 35 years and retiring in 7 months. I have been watching your channel and I have a notebook full of ideas! You two have been such an inspiration!
I've been really depressed lately and you made me smile when you smiled in the mirror. Thank you!😁
Be sure to try moving the drawers around before you completely give up on a piece. A lot of times these things are donated and to keep them light when you’re moving them they take out all the drawers. Then they just get shoved back in and they may not be in the right slot.
That is true. I just got a dresser given to me and the bottom 2 drawers were not going in very well. I switched the drawers and now they work like they are suppose to.
Great advice! I often take the drawers all out. Usually the drawers are numbered so it helps to discover how the drawers are SUPPOSED to be placed. Super helpful
Great point! I’ll remember that.
I was surprised that she didn’t say that in this video b-c she said it in another video about the drawers fitting differently even if they look the same.
I thought the same thing.
I converted one of those large 1980’s/90’s tv armoires into a bar cabinet. I cut & stacked 4x4 lumber to create “steps” for bottle display, ran simple lighting and put in a few tracks to hang stemware. A couple of shelves display other glassware. Nice feature is that I can just close the doors for a cleaner look.
Thank you so very much! You handled “disappointment and no-finds”with professionalism. Furthermore, you taught EXACTLY what to look for and your thought process. HUGELY helpful. Can’t even tell you how wonderful this was. A ‘urge, giant thanks.
Loved going thrifting with you. Was a great way to end my day of cleaning house. Made a cup of hot tea kicked back in the recliner and got a great lesson on furniture shopping without leaving the house. I am ready to go again. Thank you for sharing with us all your wonderful knowledge and tips
Great video! I loved to hear your thinking on specific pieces.
Clarification: plywood is many layers of thin sheets of lumber combined with glue. Pressboard (sometimes called other names) is what you pointed out on the first three drawer dresser. It is a combination of shavings and glue that is combined with pressure.
Thanks again for a refreshing post.
Yeah, plywood is solid construction. That $8 dresser was particleboard.
I noticed that the piece was MDF not plywood. Important difference especially as the top was water damaged.
I learned more in 35 minutes than from several semester-long university classes.
Lauren, you''re an excellent instructor and you've shared an incredible amount of hard-won expertise in what may be one of the newest "side gigs" of the 21st century! While I've always envied people with the resources to afford new furniture I'm learning that much of the demand is based on how the furniture is marketed and presented rather than construction, design and finishes.
I wonder how many upscale potential buyers with the substantial resources to purchase pricey "name" pieces end up being disappointed by the assembly-line appearance that comes with the appeal of glossy magazine ads and feature "articles" promoting one manufacturer's products over another (typically based on how much advertising they've purchased).
A rescued and carefully restored piece of beautiful furniture sets itself apart from this year's trendy "prize" that will quickly land in a charity thrift store when it goes out of style in favor of next year's splashy finish or unusual design.
The curse of "fast fashion" has worked its way into chairs, tables and dressers, unintentionally increasing the demand for older, beautifully-designed one-of-a-kind art that does double-duty by giving buyers a comfortable place to live their best lives!
Why are you taking classes on thrifting
@@burntbeansoup Any income-producing project I take on -- from creating art that sells, caring for other people's children, cleaning houses, landscaping and maintaining yards and gardens or restoring unwanted furniture -- requires a significant investment of my time and personal energy. The more I know about the market and the more information I have about what clients want the better prepared I'll be to make a profitable success out of whatever business I've begun.
The important question is why WOULDN'T anyone take a class on making a success out of the business they've chosen?
@@burntbeansoup Upgrading used furniture I hope to sell for a profit demands specific knowledge of the market I'm working in and learning about clever techniques that can save me money and time. I have to know WHO is buying, WHY they choose not to invest in new pieces, and WHAT they're looking for that name brands and big retailers aren't offering. Flipping for my own home is far different than redoing someone's cast-off dresser and table to offer to the public. It's first and foremost a BUSINESS -- I have to keep careful records of my time and expenses, I have to know where the best sites to advertise my pieces are and stay on top of trends in new furniture so I can adapt popular colors, textures and designs to a 100-year old dresser or outdated dining room set.
Plus, I'm also sourcing my products one piece at a time -- used furniture may come with an insect infestation or structural damage that isn't immediately obvious. Flippers need to know how to make repairs and have the necessary tools and storage space -- often in our own homes! We have to predict what will be the hot trends in home decor for next year, choose the right colors and focus on whether the furniture will make the buyer's life easier and more pleasant or become just something else taking up space.
Lauren has taught me that there will be times I have to "just say no" to a lovely piece in need of so much work beyond my skill set that I'd lose any profit on it. It's a painful but necessary lesson for flippers, and -- as a furniture fanatic -- a trap I'd fall into without her guidance.
The right teacher can make the difference between your flipping business being a success or a failure. Hope that answered your question?
Those old dressers can sometimes have the drawers in the wrong place!! We had 50s style dressers blond furniture like what u found in Thrift World & if u put the top drawer in the bottom space...it was all wonky. Sometimes it is worth it to take them out rearrange. ...but of course u know that already lol.
Learning how to fix those not so perfect drawers would open up more options for you to purchase furniture. Drawer slides can be replaced and broken pieces repaired. Ask the staff for an extra discount on the ones w damaged drawers. Might be a good winter project to learn how to do repairs from a carpenter or pick up a freebie and practice.
Or just watch some TH-cam videos on how to fix them LOL
That's what I was thinking about the handmade dresser that she passed up. It looked like cedar to me. I would have grabbed it up in a New York minute!
I’ve fixed a few different types on hand-me-down furniture and our expensive name brand solid wood furniture. Most are actually very simple.
I guess I was missing something. I was not impressed with this video. Walking around and just showing the same flaws over and over again is not helpful. Too many buts for me. Minor fixes.
@@kmoore6105 Since she doesn't buy furniture w broken drawers she was showing that she looks at many pieces before finding one to purchase, which isn't easy for her. For someone new to furniture flipping the video may be helpful.
I have to say, you're my favorite teacher! I'm learning so much from you. Very new to this and just sucking up the knowledge you're sharing so I'm properly prepared to start this new endeavor. Many many thanks for your incredible tutorials.
The coffee table that you passed up in the first thrift store with the glass top. I've thrifted them and sold them. Just remove glass top. Go to your local fencing store. A fence store company near me, bring back the old fence. They allow you take those fence pieces which are already weathered. cut the fence panels and plass them where the glass insert was. don't forget to paint the wood table white and distress that. They actually turn out very beautiful and will sell.
Thank you for the tip!!
I’d love to see that! It sounds very creative.
I''m so jealous of your thrift store prices!
My local goodwills and habitat stores have caught on to flippers and now price their too high for flipping. Still a good deal if you want to spruce something up to keep.. but too high for making any profit.
^5!
I was just about to comment the same thing! I laughed out loud when she balked at that dresser for $7.99. Small, broken, plastic lawn chairs at the Goodwills here in Phoenix are $10, poor quality dressers are $25-$50, and even little things like dishes are the same price as brand new ones at Walmart. I enjoy repainting vases and get many from there, but they're usually $5-$10 for small ones and $10-$20 for larger ones.
In Canada, EVERYTHING is more expensive. Thrift stores and retail stores so it's almost impossible to flip anything. The housing market is also super expensive so you can't flip there either. I can't believe how cheap everything is in the US.
Exactly! At the nearest habitat store, an entry door, used, no frame, damaged was priced at 399.99. went across the street to a home Depot, a prehung door, regular price 266.00
@@mrsducky3428 yup!! It's so overpriced for the regular shopper, never mind flipping. I don't even bother going into the #ReStore anymore because they overprice things and no returns.
Lauren would be the calm friend who makes you feel chill and enters things from a logical place
The rattan / cane hutches sell super well! That boho look is really in right now. I recently got one for free, had to do a lot of work and learn how to weave the cane but it sold for $250 and I had a bunch of inquiries so probably could’ve got more! That piece has minimal damage (the cane slots back in super easily), so could’ve made a super good profit!! Just for future reference :)
Maybe you could show us how to do that.
Wow! Those prices in New Jersey or New York do not exist in our thrift stores
Thank you so much for the detailed instructions, and educating everyone about the types of wood grains and plywood. Wow, you are truly talented and AMAZING!
@@lilyamezcua4047 you do realize you're replying under someone else's comment right? So she's not even going to get a notification of hope comment and won't see it.
Wife flips. Gets things at estate sales and auctions, occasionally on Marketplace. I recondition, and she resells on FB Marketplace. The key is to know how much to pay and what it will sell for. Love these tips, but wife doesn't care how much I have to work to fix it. Also check seasonal stuff. Patio sets big sellers, buy in winter, sell in spring, but they have to be in pretty good shape as paint spray cans add up quick. Great video, thanks.
That white velvet cane chair beside the blue one was GORGEOUS!!
Thanks!
FYI - The “dresser” with the locks, was actually used for documents, art or maps . That’s why they locked each draw.
They're drawers, not "draws"...
Busting out those teaching skills! You’re great at explaining and educating us. Thank you!
Wow. I also loved from thrift America the "hand made" dresser that each drawer locked. It would be beautiful painted white and left the top the wood. That little bit of damage adds the character to the piece.. I love your thrift stores!! ❤️❤️
It was made of red cedar wood. Paint doesn't stick very well to cedar.
Would be nice for woolen cloths storage!
I loved this! That rattan shelf could have easily sold for $500 maybe more in the Austin area, especially if listed as a Boho bar cabinet. Lol it probably would have sold in minutes. I’m jealous.
Getting expensive to
live in Austin.
Yes that shelf is the best ! So popular now
So interesting to shop with a professional furniture flipper shopper who knows her stuff! Still learning at 76. Thank you both! Half way through and have to comment, completely mesmerized by your teaching. Wow, were your students privileged to be taught by you.
Yes, do more like this. It was a great learning what others look for, seeing potential in pieces or why you avoid some.
I’m now at the end of the video, but have to remark how much I enjoyed it. Background music enjoyable, again, the two of you are a power couple and loving your working success.
This was very informative and hearing your thoughts on each piece. I really, really would love to see more of these. It would be really cool to follow one piece from thrift store to refinish to staging to selling.
You are a legend! Thank you for being so detailed, and with great advice! Just starting out with my two kids to have some fun and be creative while showing them how to make some money creating something.
You’re so pretty and your heart is even prettier! Thanks for the great videos!! So informative!
Great video. I wanted to share my experience with you of the drawers. I recommend pulling it out all the way and seeing if the edges are all together okay because sometimes they're loose a little bit and all they take is a little glue with a clamp and then if you put a new glide stopper on it or a little plastic piece where the drawer hits the wood that it's rolling on on the corners of each front it makes a huge difference and those are easy fixes.
Your welcome. When I walked in the salon I thought you were shelly.
I absolutely want to go thrifting with you more! I learned so much.... I wish I would have seen this before I acquired the 6+ bust projects that I thought I could handle but clearly can not. Extensively damaged. Also your price guide on what to pay was very worthwhile knowledge. Thank you so much for sharing, I look forward to more like this.
Thanks Lauren for all of the great advice on picking furniture. I pass up a lot of furniture in my area because they are cheap made and damaged. I don't mind doing a few repairs but if I don't feel that I can make a decent profit, I'm not going to purchase it. Please take us along on more of your journeys thrifting. I really enjoyed learning just what to look for.
This video was so valuable in showing what NOT to get! I appreciated it because I would have liked to pick up many of them and then wondered how I was going to fix them when I got home!
Looks nice..with the dye ,the possibilities could be endless. Like ombre, or marble effect or tie dye look..omg! However I get the time consumption factor. You go girl. I love what you do, and you're TEACHING us all.😊
I love your ideas and the colors, I love the kitchen it is just so cheerful to me. Good luck with everything, can’t wait to see it all.
This was really helpful and I appreciate you taking the time to film, explain your processes and visit all of these stores.
Thank you! You will always have because you are giving. This videos are a wealth of knowledge for anyone wanting to buy a used piece of furniture. Thanks.
I like how you talked about each piece and told why or why not you would buy it. It is more helpful than just showing the items in the store. You shared some great information
Thank you for pointing out what to look for when buying used furniture to redo for yourself or to resell.
Love going on your shopping expeditions with you, Lauren!
Please take us along whenever you go again.
Just one thing I noticed in the small handmade dresser at the first shop: looked like the drawers were cedar lined or simply made from cedar... would have been a real plus if the dresser had met your standards overall.
Wow! I can’t believe all of the thrift stores you have near you! Amazing. My husband and I found a media cabinet armoire on the side of the road and took out the tv drawer and added a rod . It’s a perfect armoire for his clothes since there is no room for him in MY closet 😂
start making them n marketing them as husband closets lol could be a big seller most u ladies would the extra closet space lol
Here in California, after years of searching, I found a Hoosier in rough shape and she was asking $500.
A friend in Nebraska sent me dozens of ads for Hoosiers in much better shape, all for less than $75.00
She calculated that I could drive there, stay at her house, buy the Hoosier of my dreams, then drive back to California for less than the $500.
One of those coffee tables with the glass tops would look amazing with a resin ocean pour on it 😍
Twenty years ago my husband and I downsized to a smaller home. We sold our massive bedroom set. We scouted thrift stores and Salvation Army stores. We bought a dresser, mirror bed and two night stands. They were all wood with dovetailed drawers. They were all different finishes so we sanded and painted them Later we found a small armoire and retrofitted it to house a small tv
I still have them and they have stood the test of time. I love all your advice
Yes I would love to go shopping with you again. Thank you for your tips and tricks.
This was so helpful! I loved seeing your criteria for choosing or rejecting various pieces. More, please!
Temple Stuart is a Massachusetts company that made solid maple furniture. My second flip and sale was a similar buffet/server. I picked it up on the side of the road! I ditched the top. Painted the case deep green, sanded and stained the drawers, doors, and top. Sold for $350! Go back and get that piece!
Thank you for teaching many of us how to thrift. You're very talented and inspiring.
Hi Lauren. You and your husband are awesome.
You are an amazing artist. Your work ethic, we love your work ethic.
Yes, I want to go along when you go thrifting!!
Have been looking for a table and chairs set at thrift stores for years. I know it’s out there, waiting for me. Learned a lot from this video, and now I’m even pickier 😝
Loving the U2 song in the background. Yes!!!!!
I live in the Metro Omaha area also. Love all your tips. I’m new at all this and want to paint my existing bedroom furniture. It is from the ‘70’s with “plastic” applied pieces as decoration. I want color but having a difficult time deciding! Love watching your videos!
I watched this in order to learn new english words about pieces of furniture, (beacause I'm learning english) but in the end, I really enjoyed watching your video. I know that I migh not be your target, and I probably won't buy furniture to flip, but I just wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge to everybody.
I recently subscribed because I enjoyed one of your videos…and was beyond excited to see you thrifting in my area! I am a transplant to Omaha/ Papillon and love it here. Thank you for the videos!
That chair to the left of the recliner you were looking at was gorgeous. I would have taken that home, sanded the wood on it, stained it lighter and sold it, unless it was just too beautiful for me to let go! I was slobbering over that chair the whole time you were looking at the velvet chair. lol
This is such a major help.
I hope your business increases exponentially after all you are doing to help others. Appreciate it greatly
I would buy the rattan shelf because I’ve been looking for one! Thanks for the tips!!! 😊
Iv done pretty good grabbing scabby antiques off marketplace.
Paint the base white and stain the tops.
They go pretty fast
Yes yes yes - - - I learned a HUGE amount today. I would have bought half the things you said not to and I would have been sad. Except for that one fancy tall dresser. I would have snatched up that one. But I really learned what to look for.
I really enjoyed this video and found it very informative and helpful. I have definitely made some big mistakes buying the wrong pieces. I sold them but for very low profit. I also want to say don’t be afraid to say no to out dated furniture that friends want to give you.
Love a great thrift video with Lauren 😊💙👏
Yay! Thank you!
A way to easily utilize a cabinet and hutch - selling 2 pieces so more profit. Add a cleat to the back of the hutch (available in stores selling hinges, latches, etc), paint the piece and sell it as a coffee bar, dry bar, juicing station, tea bar, etc. (I would remove spindles and curved trim pieces for a more timeless appeal.) It can easily be hung and not consume floor space. The cabinet can be totally separate. The stores sell the pairs for a bit less since the 'look' can be so dated.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. And thank you for saying don't settle. I absolutely have settled in the past and you are right it becomes more work and my profit margin plummets.
Thank you for taking us on your flip hunt! Just an observation at 7:11 The material you're pointing out is actually particle board. Plywood has layers of wood, as opposed to the compressed material making up the particle board. Again, thank you for your hints and tips!
It was actually kind of comforting to see that you too can spend all day shopping and find nothing! Another thing I look for in drawers is a center or side glide. I don't know if that is the correct term, but it makes a world of difference in the function of the piece.
Thank you for this ride-along! So helpful!
When I saw that rattan piece I gasped and then saw $25, wow. That would have been a pick all day every day. Quick glue to the loose pieces and post for sale and could get a minimum of $150 but probably way more. Don't pass those up! I am shocked it was still there and at that price.
Thank you for bringing us along even though people look at you with interest, wondering what you are doing. Trust me, as you get older, you won't give a flip what other people think and it's sooooo freeing! :D Plus, if anyone asks you what you're doing, you can tell them and they just might be looking for a velvet chair or 4!
As experienced as you are, getting in and out should take very little time unless you find a bunch of furniture to purchase. Depending on travel between stores it should take 1-1.5hrs. Sometimes drawers are just in the wrong place. The piece you called a hutch, you could just do the bottom as a dining room buffet, if to short, add legs.
Do you ever paint fabric? Might open up a whole new area possibilities
If you can sew a slip cover......the fabric is very inexpensive! White duck!
So Cheap!!!
Still celebrating 100,000 🎉🎉🎉🎉 so excited for you to Neiman!!!!!! 💜🙌💜🙌💜🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Us too! Thank you so much!
Really enjoy your videos. Just love you & Niemen.
"Don't settle." I like that.❤
I like that you took us thrifting with you...great video!!! I would of loved that antique buffet!!!
Yes take us along with you. It is nice to see how you choose the furniture and what to look for.
Thanks Lauren, and yes, take us along for the ride!
Such great tips I didn't think about. That's for sharing!
Loved riding along with you on your search for treasures.
Hello 👋, even though I am not flipping, I love your journey and learning from you. Today happens to be Saint Patrick’s Day and I am wishing you the luck 🍀 of the Irish.
Thank you for sharing all your wisdom and knowledge on these pieces I'm about to buy some new pieces for a home in the new year and you've given me a lot of tips on what to look for to get the quality of the product I found this very educational . Yes I would love to see some more of your flipping days and teaching days thank you for sharing have a great day and God bless you and Nieman
Great video, Lauren. Please do more. Pricing, wood, quality all important to learn. Thanks!
It was very enjoyable to hear what you have to share about purchasing second hand furniture
I like all the info you gave to help others.
Yes, I’m so glad I’ve found you, I was given a bedroom set and I’ve sanded it just need to repaint it and discovered you… thought I’d like to do this, maybe and enjoy watching you tell what to look for and what not… thank you for sharing your experience
Thanks for teaching what you look for and what you choose not to get. Knowing the whys and why not really helped.
Just what I needed! You are the best Lauren❤️
So glad! thanks for watching!
I love this type video!! I wish you had found a dream piece but I learned so much from you that I had never thought about!!!
One of my issues is that through Covid all our local Goodwill's have not been taking furniture and out prices in California are much higher at nearly all Thrifts.
This is the truth!
Loved the tag along😍
Habitat for Humanity has a Re-Store, donated used "anything" from people doing renos. You can get furniture apertures, handles, knobs etc (some pewter too) for a 1/10 of what you pay at Amazon. If you ever find a Re-Store, you'd be impressed. Great work btw, you are a very talented woman!
Love your videos & flipping examples.
This was great. Would love to go thrifting with you again? I have been refinishing antiques for years, but items people have brought to me, so I’ve never flipped them before & would like to know more about that end of the equation. You’re great!!!
Thanks Lauren for the educational shopping trip. I have a plywood piece that I would have never bought if had seen this video first.
Plywood doesn't split! And is stronger than wood!
Go to an antique store and look at the sides of the case goods. They will be split from top to bottom on the sides! Wood splits! Plywood doesn't!
New subscriber, love your sharing of knowledge , etc. thank u so much , it means a ton to people and it’s so appreciated!
Thanks for your lesson! I know that some of your wisdom is applicable to other parts of my life as well….
Don't settle -- the best advice ever. I have done it because I wanted a new project. Sadly, I ended up disposing of it because it was beyond my ability to fix. :(
Thanks Teach! Appreciate your knowledge!