Used couches are the #1 way bedbugs enter homes. They're also the #1 used-furniture impulse buy that goes wrong. Both problems are preventable with a 10-minute inspection.
Step 1: Inspect under cushions and along the seams. Lift every removable cushion. Look at the welt (the seam piping). Bedbugs hide in seam stitching — look for tiny brown spots (digested blood), small reddish stains, or live insects. If you see ANY of these signs, walk away. Don't negotiate, don't touch the couch — leave immediately.
Step 2: Check the legs and frame underneath. Tip the couch up. Look for cracks, repairs, or visible particleboard (low-quality core). Solid wood frame = good. Particleboard = will collapse within years.
Step 3: Sit on every seat for 30 seconds. Notice sag, springs poking through, hard spots. Sag indicates worn-out coils + foam.
Step 4: Smell every cushion. Old urine (pet stains), smoke, mold — none of these come out. Walk away.
Step 5: Ask if it came from a non-smoking, pet-free home. Get them to say it explicitly. "Yes" before you arrive doesn't always hold up in person.
Step 6: Check the fabric for tears, deep scratches, deep stains. Minor wear is fine. Major damage is permanent.
Step 7: Verify dimensions fit through your door. Measure the couch + every doorway, stairwell, and hallway it must traverse. Couches don't bend.
Step 8: Negotiate price 15-25% below listing. Used furniture is highly negotiable. Cash + immediate pickup = leverage.
Bedbug treatment if you accidentally bring some home: Vacuum aggressively, steam-clean at 130°F+, encase mattresses + couch in bedbug-proof covers. Professional treatment (Orkin, Terminix) is $500-2,000 — sometimes cheaper to discard the furniture.
For furniture listings in your area, browse Wikishopline Classifieds.