How to Find Expensive Leather Furniture for Free

This video shows how to find quality leather furniture -- and avoid the cheap fakes -- on Marketplace, Craigslist and at estate sales and thrift stores. Look for:

• Removable cushions - These take extra material and labor to produce, which is a sign of better construction. Those that can be unzipped also let you clean, re-fluff, or swap out the filling. Recliners and reclining sofas rarely have them, though the leather itself is often decent quality with a durable, non-absorbent finish.
• Stains - Leather with little or no protective topcoat soaks up whatever it touches. Water rings, body oil, and pet accidents can leave permanent marks, though cleaning and recoloring will usually hide them.
• Sun fading - Absorbent leathers tend to fade badly and unevenly, since their dyes are susceptible to UV where protective, pigmented finishes are not.
• Marbling - Watch for color variation paired with absorbency. Plenty of leathers and imitations use a two-tone or base-and-print effect, but those will bead water instead of drinking it in.
• Suede backing - Flip the material over, or look inside any crack or tear for real suede, not microfiber or woven cloth.

Don't be afraid of scratches, cracks or tears. All are fixable. But avoid peeling and flaking!