Okay, let's dive straight in. Flipping furniture, particularly couches, is a very profitable and satisfying side business. Whether you're new to this venture or looking to refine your process, this guide will outline the most effective steps to begin your couch flipping journey. From sourcing the right pieces to ensuring they’re spotless and ready for resale, you'll learn how to turn undervalued couches into profitable assets. 

Locating and Taking Up Your Very First Couch

It's time to arrange for your first pickup once you've determined how to handle everything mentioned above. When we originally started, we only looked on Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace for affordable couches. 

To quickly keep track of freshly posted furniture, we would create notifications depending on price and distance from our home. Being the first to contact the seller and offer a quick pick-up is the key to success in this situation. When the buyer is unable to select, it causes the vendor great inconvenience. Offer to pick up on the same day in order to get ahead of this.

We advise employing our strategy of setting aside money for every couch, but remember to show vendors some courtesy. Never undercut a seller with the intention of just reselling (e.g., offering $50 for a couch that costs $400). It's merely impolite. 

Instead, concentrate on locating inexpensive or free couches that, after being cleaned up, may be sold for much more. Before you give a seller money after they've agreed to sell you their couch and you show up for pick-up, there are a few things you should do:

• Examine the couch's general state (ask them if there are any problems, please).

• Has the sofa ever been in a house with pets?

• Does there exist any structural damage, such as a fractured frame?

• Are there any insect infestations, such as bed bugs or carpet beetles?

• If you're not happy with the quality of a couch, don't be afraid to turn it down. Purchasing a couch that is difficult to sell is the worst thing you can do if you don't have much room. In person, haggle over the price if there are any flaws not covered in the post but you still like the couch.

• You can also message them ahead of time to ask for assistance moving the couch to the door. Ask them to help make space for you to do so. 

• If everything appears to be in order, take your new couch to your car, make sure it is fastened, and you are ready to depart.

Cleaning

We didn't have any expert cleaning supplies when we first started. Throwing the cushion covers in your laundry machine is the simplest approach to clean the majority of your first couch. To avoid damaging the covers, make sure you read the tags or do some research on the material to find out how to wash them.

The armrests and backrests still need to be cleaned once the covers are washed. Vacuum the entire couch first. We discovered that any minor, temporary stains could be spot cleaned with just warm water and a dab of dish soap. 

Refrain from using excessive amounts of dish soap as this may cause discoloration or stains once it dries. Simply give it another wash with warm water if discoloration appears, then let it dry. Replace the cushion covers once everything has dried and prepare to snap pictures.

Capturing Images

This is a very simple stage, but here are some guidelines to make sure the pictures you shoot will optimize the offers you receive after you list it for sale:

• Ensure that your lighting is excellent. 

• Take straight-on pictures and capture the couch's armrests, cushions, backrest, and other details in your images. 

• Take pictures of the couch's flaws, such as stains. Not only is it morally right to be upfront about the problems, but it also gives potential buyers more assurance to make an offer on your article. 

Posting

Once you have all the photos, we advise publishing on Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace, among other sites, to make sure prospective buyers see your post wherever they shop. As previously said, providing an accurate description is crucial. Point out any problems and state that you welcome inquiries regarding your posting. 

To raise the likelihood of a sale of the couch swiftly, we also advise providing complimentary local delivery. The majority of individuals won't purchase a desired couch if delivery isn't an option.

Final Thoughts

And that's it! Even while this type of work isn't really "passive," you can make a sizable side income from it. It's time to move on to the next sofa and repeat. To make your couch flipping journey even easier, consider using Swoopa. With instant marketplace alerts for platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp, Swoopa ensures you’re always the first to catch the best deals.