You’ve found the perfect house or apartment to buy or rent, and you’ll be moving in soon.
You’ve already started furnishing the place with a bunch of wonderful new pieces from local furniture stores – in your mind, that is.
Soon, reality sets in though, and you remember that you have a lot of other financial commitments (such as the mortgage or rent) and there’s no way you can afford all those fabulous items right now. So, what do you do?
Cheap Furniture
There are a number of ways you can get some of the furniture items you want without spending an arm and a leg or getting stressed out about it.
You might be surprised to learn that a good way to save money in the long run is to avoid buying cheap furniture. Low quality, poorly constructed items might not cost much to buy, but you’ll only get a few years’ use out of them. If you can spend a bit more for a good quality piece you’ll be able to use it for a long time, and you won’t have to worry that it might fall apart if you move it!
Here are some things to consider & avoid as a wise furniture buyer:
- Rent-to-own: If you have poor credit or no credit, or you just don’t have enough cash to buy that beautiful leather sofa, you might be tempted to sign up for one of those deals where you pay “just” twenty dollars a week for the next year or two, and the couch is yours. Stop and think about the amount of interest you’ll be paying, and you’ll see that the sofa could cost you twice as much as it should.
- Buying cheap stuff: There’s a lot of inexpensive pressboard furniture on the market. Remember, though, that the quality is so poor that it will fall to pieces if you move it, plus it marks easily, looks old quickly, and frankly just looks like a cheap piece of furniture.
- Going overboard: Plan ahead and buy only what you need right now, and possibly – if you have the money – what you know for sure you’ll need at a later date. For example, if your bedroom set is about to be discontinued, you might want to pick up another matching chest of drawers and vanity that will fit in the master bedroom of the house you’ll be moving into in a couple of months. But don’t go wild with your credit card just because something’s on sale or catches your eye. If you’re shopping for your daughter’s room, focus on that and don’t go buying dining room furniture at the same time.
Furniture Shopping
Now that you know what not to do, you can concentrate on ways to find well made, reasonably priced furniture to suit your home. Be prepared to spend a bit of time – possibly a few months if you can – making a plan and shopping around.
If you’re in a hurry, start by purchasing the bare essentials, then adding things once you’ve decided what you really want and compared prices from different retailers. Always keep in mind that you might be buying furniture that will become heirlooms in future years.
Search Online
Start your search on the web to save yourself the time and hassle of driving around town. Online furniture retailers have a broad range of items along with detailed photographs and descriptions of each piece. In most cases, they also offer lower prices than traditional stores as they buy in bulk or directly from the manufacturer, plus they have lower overheads.
The internet is also a quick and easy place to compare styles, colors and trends before you decide what to buy. Call each online furniture store you are thinking about buying from and speak to a customer service representative. This will give you an idea of their level of service and integrity, in addition to answering your questions about shipping and returns, and anything else you might want to ask.
Furniture Outlet Stores
Another way to get good prices is by visiting a factory-direct store. Many of these stores have a good range of quality items at discounted prices. Don’t forget to go to other large furniture outlets within easy driving distance of your home too. Let the salespeople know that you’ve been looking online as well, as this shows them you know the market in terms of both variety and price. Take photos of items you like, and make a note of the store they’re in, plus the prices and delivery costs.
An increasing popular option these days, and one that helps keep costs down, is buying unfinished furniture. There are entire stores (sometimes known as “naked furniture stores”) that sell nothing but unfinished furniture items to people who take them home and wax, polish or paint them to suit their own décor. The quality of the unfinished hardwood chairs, tables, beds, dressers etc. tends to be good, and you end up with a piece that feels that bit extra personalized because you finished it yourself.
Used Furniture
Maybe you like the idea of picking up pre-owned furniture, whether for environmental reasons or because it suits your budget or style. Auctions, estate sales, garage sales and used furniture stores are all good places to hunt for pieces that could work in your home. Keep an eye on your local classifieds and online ads for people selling pre-loved furniture that can range from nearly new to genuinely antique.
Unless you’re prepared to repair or refinish the items yourself, it’s best to go for things that are in good shape. That said, if you buy upholstered chairs or sofas that need some work, it’s easy to find local businesses that can repair or re-cover them.
Furniture Sales
Watch out for sales, liquidations and other special deals. If a furniture store goes out of business, or simply moves to a new location, you’ll often be able to pick up good items at bargain prices. Online furniture stores usually have a page where they sell off discontinued lines and items that have been slightly scratched or nicked during shipping or storage.
Do you live near a military base, university or other place that has a lot of people moving in and out every year? If so, be aware that many of them will probably sell their furniture and other household goods rather than drag it across the country to a new location. You can snag some nice pieces at good prices, if you can beat the crowd.
Free Delivery
Unless you buy from a retailer that offers free delivery, it’s good to have a friend with a truck to help you bring your purchases home. This also saves you waiting around for your stuff to be delivered. It’s also possible to rent a pickup or truck for less than $30, but don’t forget the beer and pizza for your buddies who help out.
Friends & Family
Your family can also be a good source of furniture – and you probably won’t even have to pay for it. If your parents are buying a new couch, ask if you can take the old one off their hands. So maybe it’s seen better days, but at least you know where it comes from, plus now you can afford to buy a coffee table to go with it. Any time you buy or take over a piece of upholstered furniture, be sure to use upholstery cleaner on it, wait for it to dry and then apply a sealing spray. This will guard against spills and stains for at least a year.
Lastly, let your friends and co-workers know you’re in the market for affordable furniture. Maybe one of them has something to offer you, or perhaps they can keep an eye out for you. One of your friends might call you from a furniture store they happen to be passing, or your sister might have spotted a cute dresser in a charity store. Just be patient and keep at it, and you’re bound to find some great things on your travels.
Once your home is furnished, don’t forget to say thanks to all your friends and family who’ve helped you by inviting them over for dinner. That way everyone can admire your new purchases and learn all about how you came to acquire them.
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