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Tips for Buying New Furniture

As we all know, the expense of buying a home does not stop at the closing table. One of the bigger expenses of buying a home – whether it’s your first or tenth, whether it’s new or 10 years old – is furnishing it. A recent Realty Times articles gives tips on planning these big purchases.

According to a National Association of Homebuilders report, owners spend an average of $8,900 to furnish, decorate and improve their homes in the first 12 months after purchasing a newly built home. Purchasing existing homes is not cheap, either; the report says that these buyers spend an average of $3,766 more than non-moving homeowners in the year after buying a home.

With such a large amount of money at stake, you should carefully research and consider any purchases in order to get the most from your furniture.

• Plan accordingly. Think about exactly what you need and how long you want it to last. For example, you might want a dining room table to last longer than a new sofa. Think about this when deciding how much you want to spend.
  
• Consider wear and tear. How will your new furniture be used? Are you a single person who entertains a lot? If that’s the case, you may want swanky, but durable furniture. Are you a parent of small children? Choose fabrics and materials that are hard-wearing and easy to clean and maintain.
  
• Budget well. Before starting to shop, allocate how much you will be able to spend total, and then break it down to each item. Make sure you stick to your budget; if you decide to buy a guest bed that is $1,000 instead of $500, the difference will have to be made up for elsewhere.
  
• Think about space. One of the most important things to do before furniture shopping is to understand how much furniture you can buy. Will the space fit two bookcases or three? A sectional sofa or a three-seater? A queen bed or a full? The last thing you want to do is cram your brand new furniture into a space that doesn’t work. Measure, measure, measure, and do some online research – there is free, downloadable software that can help you plan a space.
  
• Brainstorm. Not sure what theme you’re going for? Not even sure what you like? Peruse home and decorating magazines for ideas and looks for your home. If you’re not willing to spend the money on magazines, think about signing up for some store catalogs. Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and West Elm are just a few catalogs that illustrate great decorating ideas.
  
• Prioritize. Unless you have a lot saved up, you probably will not be able to purchase all of the furniture you want at once. If that’s the case, it is time to prioritize. Obviously, it is more important to buy a table to eat on than a guest bed, when you may not have overnight guests for months.
  
• Fully utilize stores. Many stores offer room planning tools or guides, product brochures and even complimentary interior design consultation to help you decorate well. These tools can be invaluable when you are planning multiple rooms or have many pieces to coordinate in one room.
  
• Think beyond the furniture. Although the price and quality of the furniture you’re buying is important, it is also crucial to know and understand the credit terms the store is offering and the store’s return policy. Large delivery charges or bad credit terms can quickly turn a great deal sour. Also, be sure to research rewards programs. Rewards programs can be truly “rewarding,” especially when you are purchasing expensive items.

Planning well and looking at all of the angles when buying furniture will earn you the house of your dreams without breaking the bank.

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