Although the market is slowing down for sellers due to the increase in interest rates, it is still undeniably a seller’s market, according to a recent study by Homelight. As such, your home will still have strong buyer interest, especially if you are in one of the nation’s hottest real estate markets.
Even though you may have your market to your advantage, it may be a good idea to stage your house to make it more attractive to buyers. But what if your house is staged so beautifully that home buyers want to buy the furniture along with the house?
While this may not have been your intention, this could be a way to help you unload furniture, making it easier to buy a house while selling your own. Getting rid of your furniture in the selling process may allow you to find and move into your new place quickly. But what are some things you should be aware of when selling your furniture during a home sale?
Be Aware of What You’re Not Willing to Part With
Before you put your house on the market, it may be a good idea to look at all the furniture you’ve included in the staging process and determine what you are unwilling to sell. These could consist of heirlooms that are meaningful to you.
It could also include pieces you’ve rented to stage your home. Once you are aware of all the pieces you absolutely won’t let go of, it is a good idea to discover the value of the remaining pieces in case buyers want to purchase them.
Know the Value of Your Furniture
Would you even know what to charge if a buyer wanted to purchase the furniture? One way to determine the value of your furniture is to find old receipts with the price of the furniture on them.
If you no longer have the receipts or they have faded, it may be a good idea to try to recall when you bought the item and what credit card you may have used. If you can go back and check credit statements, it may give you an idea of how much you paid.
While you won’t be able to recoup the total cost, even for top-quality furniture, you can try to value the furniture near the original price minus years and wear and tear. Old items considered vintage or antique may have gone up in value. With such pieces, it may be a good idea to get an appraiser to determine the price of these furniture pieces.
Should You Include Furniture in the House Price or Sell Separately?
Another thing you should consider before listing your home is whether you should sell your furniture within the sale of the house or completely separate. Some potential buyers may want a fully furnished house because your home may be a vacation home for them, and they don’t want to spend time looking for new furniture.
So in this instance, it may be a good idea to include furniture with the home. But you will have to structure the deal so it won’t interfere with the home’s sale price.
Let a Professional Structure the Furniture Sell
Since including the price of furniture in the sale of a home can get tricky, it is best to let a professional structure the sale. To make sure the deal doesn’t fall apart over furniture, working with a real estate agent who has experience handling such transactions is the way to go.
