The ingenuity of some furniture flippers never ceases to amaze me. When I'm secondhand furniture shopping, there are plenty of pieces that I'll overlook simply because they're just kind of generic or boring. Why spend my money on something mundane when I can look further and find a more unique piece? But where I see mundanity, furniture flippers see potential.
Jenna Townsend is a pro at taking generic secondhand furniture finds and not only flipping them into something more visually appealing, but also making a killing off of reselling them. Case in point: Jenna recently claimed to have bought a dresser for $80 and flipped it into a $900+ sell. How'd she manage that? See for yourself:
The original $80 dresser that Jenna (aka @touch.of.townsend ) was... fine. It was obviously a quality build and kept in good condition, but it looked like a piece you could find at just about any furniture store. It wasn't some unique antique, either (and thank goodness for that, because my blood boils when furniture flippers make one-of-a-kind antiques irrecognizable). The dresser was a solid "blank slate" to work off of, but I couldn't envision how Jenna would manage to multiply its value more than tenfold!
Oh, me of little faith. I had no idea the transformation I was about to witness. Jenna was methodical about her furniture flipping project, too, taking the time to create a flawless product that would look right at home at a high-end furniture boutique, even though the base product cost her less than $100.
As detailed in her video, Jenna first used Krud Kutter to thoroughly clean the furniture inside and out. Jenna knew she wanted to repaint the piece, so she took the time to carefully sand the finish down to bare wood first. For the top and base, Jenna applied a smooth tan wash ( Fusion Algonquin paint mixed in water) that she sealed with a matte top coat.
The body of the dresser first got a stain-blocking primer coat before Jenna finished it off with a spray coating of Wise Owl Jet Black , giving it a rich black enamel finish that contrasted beautifully with the tan top and bottom. The silver drawer handles got swapped out for sleek modern ones painted the same shade as the dresser, and the new look was complete. I never would have imagined it from the start, but yeah - the finished product looks worthy of a $925 price tag!
Turning a Bargain Find into a Boutique Beauty
Jenna carefully detailed her process so other DIYers could follow in her footsteps. What I appreciated about her work was the thoughtfulness she put into it. She didn't just slap a new coat of paint on some old, ugly dresser and jack up the price tag. She found a solidly-built piece that was obviously made from well-maintained hard wood, took the time to carefully clean and prep her surface, and meticulously repainted and refinished the dresser with high-quality products that are designed to last.
Not every furniture flip is going to be worth $925, even if you're as methodical and choosy about your materials as Jenna, but that doesn't mean they can still turn a profit. In her caption, Jenna recommends considering four things when pricing furniture flips: market price, the quality/brand/style of the furniture, the quality of your work, and popular styles and colors in your area. For example, she acknowledged that painted furniture isn't favored in all markets, but it's popular where she's from, so she knew she could make more money off of it.
I found her advice really insightful, and while I'm not ready to become a full-time furniture flipper myself, I think her tips are something that novice furniture flippers should take heed of. If you're choosy, crafty, and considerate when pricing, every piece can have tons of potential!
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