How to Buy and Sell Used Furniture and Appliances in Egypt

Why expats buy furniture and appliances second hand

Many flats in Egypt are rented empty or with very little furniture. Buying everything new for a year or two of study is expensive, while expats and students keep leaving and selling their things. That is why used furniture and appliances sell fast among foreigners.

The items most often bought second hand are fridges, washing machines, air conditioners, gas stoves, beds, sofas, wardrobes and tables.

Where to find used furniture and appliances

Most offers usually appear at the end of the academic year and in summer, when many students and expats leave and sell everything at once. It is worth looking in several places.

• Listings from departing expats. Often the best option: the items are in decent condition, the owner can tell you when and where they were bought, and you can talk in your own language. See furniture and home appliances.
• Telegram chats of fellow countrymen. There are many offers, but they get lost quickly in the feed.
• Used furniture and appliance shops. They exist in many districts and charge more than private sellers, but sometimes you can arrange a test or a short warranty.
• Flea markets, such as the Friday market Souq al-Gomaa in Cairo. Cheap, but you cannot really test appliances there, and you will not be able to return them.

What to check in a fridge

• Ask the seller to switch the fridge on in advance so it is cold when you arrive. Check both the fridge and the freezer.
• Listen to the compressor. A steady hum is normal, while loud knocking, crackling or running nonstop are warning signs.
• Door seal. Close the door on a sheet of paper: if the sheet slides out easily, the door does not seal tightly.
• Rust, cracked plastic, a smell inside and water under the fridge.
• Transport. A fridge is best moved upright. If it was carried lying down, manufacturers advise letting it stand upright before switching it on: usually a few hours, and up to a full day after a long time on its side. Check the exact time in the manual for the model.

Washing machine and gas stove

It is best to test a washing machine in action: ask the seller to run a short programme with water. Check filling, draining and spinning, and during the spin the machine should not jump or bang loudly. Look for leaks under the machine and at the hoses, and check that the door seal on a front loader is intact. Turn the drum by hand: it should rotate easily, without grinding or a lot of play.

On a gas stove, check three things.

• Burners and oven. The flame should be even and blue, without soot.
• Type of gas. Find out what the stove is set up for: a cylinder or mains gas. Leave conversion from one to the other (changing the jets) to a technician.
• Leaks. Check the hose and valve with soapy water: bubbles mean a leak.

How to check an air conditioner

In Egypt an air conditioner is a basic necessity, and a mistake with it is costly. Egyptian shops usually state the power of split units in horsepower (HP): a 1.5 HP model is meant for a room of up to about 12 square metres, and for larger rooms people choose 2.25 HP or 3 HP. Used units are collected in air conditioners and fans.

• Run it on cooling for 10 or 15 minutes: the indoor unit should blow clearly cold air.
• Check that no water drips from the indoor unit and that the outdoor unit does not make loud noise or vibrate strongly.
• Ask when the unit was last cleaned and refilled with refrigerant.
• Inverter models cost more but use less power. This matters: in 2026 electricity tariffs for most households were raised again, and the more you use, the more each kilowatt costs.
• An air conditioner should be removed and installed by a technician, otherwise refrigerant can be lost. Agree in advance who pays for removal and installation.

Delivery and movers

Furniture and appliances are usually moved in a small truck or pickup with porters. The price depends on the distance, the number of items and the floor: if there is no lift or it is small, they will charge extra for carrying things up. Agree on the full price before loading, including carrying and assembly.

You can find carriers and porters in moving and freight. Measure doorways, the lift and the stairs in advance: a large sofa or a two-door fridge does not fit everywhere.

How to tell a fair price

To avoid overpaying or getting scammed, keep a few rules in mind.

• Compare it with the price of the same item new in shops and with similar listings. If a used item costs almost as much as a new one, bargain or keep looking.
• Consider the age, brand and condition. For brands common in Egypt it is easier to find spare parts and a repairman.
• Budget for delivery, air conditioner installation and minor repairs.
• A price that is too low should make you wary: the item may be faulty, or it may be a scammer who only wants a prepayment.
• Pay on collection, after checking, and do not send a prepayment for a «reservation» to strangers.

How to sell furniture and appliances before leaving

Start selling three or four weeks before you leave, not in the last few days: in a hurry you end up giving things away for next to nothing. First sell what you can easily do without, keep the fridge and air conditioner for the last week, and agree on a pickup date with the buyer.

• Take photos in daylight: the whole item, details and defects separately.
• Give the brand, model, age and size, and be honest about flaws.
• State the district and floor, whether there is a lift and who arranges pickup.
• Sell only what is yours. Furniture and appliances that belong to the landlord stay in the flat, even if you used them.
• Whatever does not sell, give away to fellow countrymen or neighbours: the item will not go to waste, and you will not have to haul it away.

How Tullab helps you buy and sell

Tullab collects furniture and appliance listings from Russian-speaking residents of Cairo, Hurghada and other cities in Egypt. You can contact the seller by phone or Telegram and arrange a viewing. Leaving? Post a free listing: good photos and an honest description help you sell faster.