Most people wanting to start their own office at home or at a rented space do not have enough capital to furnish their office the way they want to. Start-ups usually do not have a lot of capital to begin with and on top of that, there are plenty many things that need to be done like registering the company, obtaining a license for trading, renting a property, fixing up lights, phone lines and internet connection. After all the essential stuff has been done, buying brand new and chic looking furniture may not be possible for all.

Used furniture for offices can be of much help in such a situation. You can buy that writing desk or book shelf or file cabinet that you have always wanted for your office at a much discounted price. Many offices open up in the city but unfortunately they fail to make it big. While shutting down, they sell off their furniture at very cheap rates.

You can find home & office furniture classifieds online and use them to locate a good garage sale or office furniture sale online. You can also look up classifieds in the newspaper. A lot of people advertise the sale of old furniture and you can get the leads to a furniture sale from there.

However, before buying any particular furniture, you need to make sure of certain things.

• Physical condition of the furniture- You should look for the condition of the furniture first and foremost. If you are thinking of buying a table, lean on the table or press down on the joints to see if there is a crack or if the table is wobbling. Similarly, for a reclining chair, make sure you sit in it and see if there is any unhinged part. For lobby sofas, you can press down the handle and check the cushions to see if the sofa is in good condition.
• Odours and smells- If you have gone to a garage sale to pick up your furniture, then chances are there that the furniture was kept in a storage room or basement or attic. Such furniture can gather a musty smell because they were piled on to other articles. If you do smell something foul, consider the fact whether getting the furniture cleaned would work or not.
• Insects- Not only does furniture stored in the basement gather dust and foul smells, but they also gather fungi and harbour insects such as silverfish, termites and bedbugs. You need to inspect your furniture well before buying them. Buying a piece of furniture full of insects or fungi can lead to your other furniture getting affected.
• Once you have made a purchase, it would be a good idea to get the piece of furniture reupholstered. That way, you can be sure that you are getting perfectly fit and clean furniture for your office.

Buying home & office furniture second hand can be quite handy and will have you a lot of money. If you follow the above mentioned tips, then you can get a very good deal at a lot price.