What to Look for on Facebook Marketplace & Estate Sales
I’ve shared my tips for how to get the most out of searching the Facebook Marketplace, but what about what to look for? This is the part of the hunt that can be a bit perplexing if you are new to the world of antique scavenging. Below are my tips on where to look, what to look for, and words to use.
Where to Look
Follow popular Instagram accounts of designers and bloggers who know their stuff. Two of my favorite Instagram accounts to look to for inspiration when hunting for antiques are James Farmer and my friend, Eddie Ross. These two guys have an eye for antiques! I like to think of Farmer’s design style as perfectly mixing Grandma’s old accessories and furniture with updated fabrics, tons of foliage, and natural home accents to create a classic and inviting feel. All of his designs feel approachable and welcoming.
I love Eddie Ross - not only is he hilarious, but the guy has an uncanny gift. Eddie got his start as a contributing writer and stager for magazines such as Martha Stewart Living and House Beautiful. Now, Eddie uses his large antique collection to stage images and events with his company, Maximalist Studios.
Eddie has an eye for furniture, but his true gift (in my opinion) is tableware. I had the opportunity to tour his beautiful warehouse of plates, linens, and vases and was in utter awe.
I find myself studying their designs and using descriptive words for items in their photos that I like. There are numerous sources of inspiration outside of these two between Instagram and Pinterest. Start with those and see what catches your eye!
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What to Look For
So we’ve covered how to get inspiration for pieces to search for, so how do you look for those items? Aside from basic search terms, sometimes it is beneficial to know the exact manufacturer or name of the product. For this research, I hunt in a few different areas.
These two websites are a treasure trove of information to use as a resource. Browse them to find items you like the look of or that you’ve seen in a designer’s portfolio. Once you find a similar item, you’ll have the name of the manufacturer and have an idea of what the full retail price for one of the items could be. From there, utilize the manufacturer’s name, the name of the piece itself, or descriptive words when hunting on the marketplace or at estate sales. Keep a mental list of items you are looking for and search websites like Facebook Marketplace or https://www.estatesales.net/ for an at-a-glance view of antique sales in your area.
eBay
eBay is another great website for finding names of furniture, fabrics, and tabletop items. When I was at Eddie's studio, I saw a beautiful antique ice bucket and I had to have one. I searched and searched based on the description and finally found one on eBay for $450. Whomp Whomp. From eBay, I found the name of the manufacturer and had a better idea of a description to use while I continued searching for the ice bucket in a lower price range.
I decided to take to Facebook Marketplace and use my new collection of search terms that I discovered thanks to eBay: Willoughby ice bucket, lucite ice bucket, vintage glass ice bucket, vintage clear ice bucket, clear ice bucket, etc. One day, thanks to the amazing FB Marketplace algorithm, one popped up on my marketplace feed for only $10. I immediately messaged them and made the 2-hour drive to pick it up.
I hope these tips help you while you hunt! Be sure to tag me on instagram with your vintage finds by tagging @littlehouseofchic!
