How to describe the condition of used furniture
How to describe the condition of used furniture: practical observations, a worked example and clear details to record.
This guide 4 sections
Inspect visible surfaces and included pieces
Scan the furniture’s visible surfaces in daylight, working across the top, along the edges and around the underside where accessible. Photograph each area and attach a short note identifying the view. Keep top, edge and underside notes separate so readers can connect each observation to the relevant photograph.
List the furniture pieces included in the listing, then list included hardware separately. Match those lists to what the photographs show, and identify nearby props that are excluded. Keep the contents description specific about quantities and separate pieces so a pictured object does not silently become part of the offer.
Describe the location and extent of wear
Locate each visible mark by naming its side, edge or corner. Define left and right from a consistent viewing position, and use that same orientation in the photograph notes. Pair the location with the relevant image reference so readers can find the mark without interpreting vague references to wear somewhere.
Describe the visible extent of each mark using its shape, spread and boundaries. State whether it occupies one area or appears in several places only when observation supports that distinction. Avoid guessing what caused it, how old it is, what material lies beneath it or whether unseen parts perform properly.
A hypothetical condition note
For example, suppose a hypothetical piece of used furniture has a visible scratch near the front left corner of its top. Write: “A scratch is visible on the top near the front left corner, viewed from the front.” Keep the note tied to that location and the mark actually described.
For example, continue that hypothetical note by leaving the scratch’s cause and age unstated. Do not infer its depth or any effect on unseen parts from its appearance. Pair the note with a close photograph of the front left top corner and a wider photograph showing where that corner sits.
Match each observation to a photograph
Read each written observation beside its referenced photograph. Check that the named surface, location and visible extent agree with the image. Remove adjectives that the photograph and direct observation do not support. If the image does not show the stated detail, revise the wording or provide a photograph that does.
