What is the value of used furniture?

Used furniture is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. It loses at least half its value the day it is installed in your home.

• A large part of the re-sale value is related directly to the condition of the furniture.
• Another part is related to whether or not the styling is still popular.
• If the furniture is in poor condition or the styling is out of date, your used furniture will have very little value for the vast majority of potential purchasers.

Recently, I inherited a 6 pc. John Widdicomb solid cherry mid-century modern bedroom set. My parents paid over $5000 for it when new in 1960.

• It is among the finest quality bedroom furniture ever made in the U.S.
• There are numerous collectors of John Widdicomb furniture.

Unfortunately, my parents’ bedroom set is in very poor condition. The time and cost needed to refinish this magnificent mid-century modern bedroom classic is more than the re-sale value for similar pieces in good condition.

This leaves me with only two options:

• Find an individual who is willing to spend many months carefully refinishing the furniture for his/her personal use.
• Donate one of the finest examples of top quality solid wood furniture ever made to a charitable organization.

The photo above shows a restored chest (in walnut) from the same John Widdicomb collection.