Whether you’re newer to the thrifting world or just need a refresher on what to take home versus leave behind before you hit your favorite secondhand stores, keep reading.

We’ve spoken with three secondhand experts who describe five common red flags to keep an eye out for when you thrift for home goods. These quick, valuable tips will help to save you time, money, and space in the long run—so what’s not to love?

Beware of “Project Pieces”

It may seem tempting to scoop up a piece with great bones that just needs a bit of TLC, but if you’re not someone who is generally inclined to tackle DIY projects, it’s best to hold off on this purchase, Virginia Chamlee, the author of What’s Left on Substack, says.

Chamlee explains how it can be tempting to pick up a gorgeous piece and assume it’ll be cheap and easy to fix, but this could result in a storage shed full of project pieces you may never actually get to. While Chamlee is okay with reupholstery, which is easy to outsource to a pro, note that this can cost a pretty penny.

Kendra Hagerman, the founder of Kendra Found It, agrees with the outlook that project pieces aren’t usually worth it.

“That $20 dresser is a great deal until you have to put 20 hours of work into it to fix it and $150 worth of materials,” she says.

Want more design inspiration? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest decor ideas, designer tips, and more!

Don’t Assume Everything Is Well Priced

You may come across an item that catches your eye and feel ready to hand over your cash right then and there if the price is reasonable. However, Chamlee recommends doing a bit of quick research before committing to a purchase—you may just discover that it’s priced a bit better online. Chamlee likes to use reverse Google image search to quickly gather more information about something she is considering.

“If I look something up, and there’s a ton of it online (and at a better price) or if I discover it’s actually not vintage at all but factory-made and probably won’t stand the test of time, I’ll pass,” she says.

Recently, Chamlee discovered a set of ashtrays, which she enjoys using as trinket trays, for $40 each, and was ready to purchase them before an online search revealed that they were listed on eBay for just $5 each.

Not Everything You Thrift Is Old or Valuable

Many people like to visit the thrift store in search of older items in order to bring a collected feel into their home. That said, Hagerman warns that not everything at the thrift store is going to be old—or valuable. She has often run into dollar store items on thrift store shelves and considers this to be a major pet peeve.

“Many times they are priced more expensive than buying them new at the dollar store,” she says. “Keep an eye out for your local store’s tags so you don’t overpay.”

Don’t Forget to Check for Odors and Stains

While you may be eager to place a special find into your cart immediately, give it a good once over before you head to the checkout line. Hagerman recommends always inspecting a potential purchase for odors and stains before bringing it home, noting that some older items may have a musty smell to them.

Stacy Verdick Case, the founder of Peony Lane Designs, agrees that doing a bit of recon at the store is always worthwhile.

“Better to leave it behind than realize when you get home that you brought home something you have to throw away,” she says.

Be Weary of Buying Thrift Store Appliances

If you spot that kitchen appliance you’ve been eyeing on a thrift store shelf for a low price, don’t get your hopes up quite yet. This find may be too good to be true, Case explains.

“If you see a lot of a product on thrift store shelves, that’s probably a good indication that it doesn’t work the way the manufacturer advertised,” she says.

Since there is no real way to test a thrift store gadget before bringing it home, you’re probably better off leaving that espresso machine or hand mixer behind, unless you’re willing to risk losing some money.