As you look around your home, perhaps you see the need for new furniture; your existing living room furniture needs to be retired from its tour of duty; a child is ready for an updated dresser and nightstand; or maybe you need something completely different for your modest makeover.
Whatever your reason, you have many options besides heading down to the local furniture store and purchasing a full-price couch, chair, table or bedroom set. Depending upon your needs, there are a variety of budget-friendly considerations.
Check out the local furniture consignment shops. Furniture consignment shops feature “like new” furnishings for resale. People may consign their furniture for a variety of reasons; they may be relocating, downsizing, or simply don’t want the hassle of selling it themselves. A furniture consignment shop will assess the value of the furniture and place it on their showroom floor, allowing buyers to often view items online or in person.
Visit furniture outlet stores. If your heart is set on new furniture, a visit to a furniture outlet may be worth your time. Buyers may be able to negotiate a discount by purchasing discontinued pieces. This is also a good time to inquire if there are discounts for floor models. Keep in mind that these items may have some minor damage due to their time on the sales room floor. But they may be so minor that they don’t bother you at all.
Attend an estate sale or garage sale. First, there’s a difference between estate sales and garage sales. The goal of an estate sale (also known as a tag sale) is to liquidate the belongings of a family or estate. These are usually held when someone needs to sell items for a variety of reasons – downsizing, divorce, relocation, bankruptcy or the death of a family member. E
state sales are open to the public and browsers actually wander through the home to view items that are for sale. While prices should be clearly displayed, there is an opportunity to bargain for lower prices. Estate sales are usually run by a professional company with the goal of selling all remaining items within the home. Garage sales, on the other hand, also feature a variety of items for sale but browsing is limited to the garage and driveway.
Wander through the local thrift shops. Visiting a thrift shop can be a treasure hunt. People donate all kinds of items, ranging from furniture, home furnishings and decor to clothes, jewelry and shoes. Thrift shops are constantly receiving new merchandise from a variety of sources, so each trip can be a new adventure. Just because you don’t find something during your first visit, don’t cross the thrift shop completely off your list.
Use your own connections to get out the word. Perhaps you’re seeking a new couch for your family room–why not post your request on Facebook? With dozens of friends visiting your site regularly, there may be a great match between buyer and seller. Of course, if the couch isn’t quite what you had expected, be sure to have a gracious explanation of why it won’t work so you don’t ruin a good friendship.
View the classified ads. Before the Internet, we used to view the newspaper ads, circling the ones that sounded promising and calling the seller to make an appointment. Today, there is a host of online options ranging from Craig’s List to eBay. Each site may have its own terms of agreement, so read the fine print closely before making any purchases. Freecycle has also become popular over the past several years; with the goal of keeping items out of landfills, all items are “free / recycled” to a new owner.
“Gently Used” Does Not Mean Old!
When you’re in the market for some new furniture, take a fresh look at the word “new.” It may be new to you, even if it has a former life in someone else’s home. There are many reasons people sell their furniture, so in addition to furniture outlet stores, don’t forget some of the creative options like estate sales, classified, and “word of mouse” via social media outlets like Facebook.
If you enjoyed these ideas on furnishing your home, please check out Kimberley Kelly’s Palm Springs California real estate website where you can also search all Rancho Mirage CA homes for sale.
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