Can You Sell A Home With Furniture?

Selling a house is filled with plenty of unknowns, whether you’ve done it before or it’s your first time. Most homeowners would do anything to maximize their return or simply save themselves some trouble. So, can you sell a home with furniture?

You can sell a home with furniture, but it’s hard to appeal to a wide buyer base. Furnished homes primarily appeal to short-term renters and buyers who must move on short notice. Consider the cost of furnishing a new home before you sell a home with your furniture and decorations in it. 

The last thing you want to do is take a loss due to the high costs of furniture, shipping, and moving services. Follow along as we explore everything you must know about selling a home with furniture. 

Is It Better To Sell A House With Furniture In It Or Empty?

It’s typically better to sell an empty house than one with furniture in it. That’s because many buyers view furnished homes as an inconvenience. This is especially true when moving from a house or apartment they’ve lived in for years. 

They most likely have plenty of furniture and decor they’ve accumulated over time. The prospect of moving into a furnished house doesn’t typically appeal to that crowd. However, furnished homes can appeal to short-term renters who need a house on a tight timeline. 

Pros And Cons Of Selling A Furnished House

Selling a home with furniture in it is a nuanced decision that is tough to make. That’s why we put together a list of pros and cons to help you decide before you pull the trigger. 

Pros

Paint A Picture For Buyers

It’s no secret that staging is important when selling a home or renting it out. That’s because it helps people picture themselves in the house, making it easier for them to decide. Luckily, many people can easily see themselves in your house if it’s already full of your furniture. 

However, that doesn’t mean that you should necessarily leave your furniture as is. Look into common real estate staging techniques to appeal to potential customers. Take a minimalist approach to leave plenty of room for buyers’ imaginations. 

It’s also a great idea to avoid leaving behind any furniture and decor items that express your personality. Otherwise, you may taint a buyer’s vision of the house, and they won’t be able to visualize themselves there. Instead, simply leave basic furniture and decorations behind, like couches and rugs.  

Save Time And Money

Moving is equally stressful and expensive, especially if you have a lot of furniture. Even if you don’t hire professional movers, it's a costly process. Most people rent moving trucks and buy packing materials, with preparation sometimes taking weeks before the move.

However, that’s not an issue if you sell a home with furniture. Of course, you don’t need to include all your furniture when you sell the house. You can save money on moving costs even if you only leave a handful of chairs, couches, and tables behind. In that case, you can put the money you save toward new furniture. 

Appeal To A Certain Clientele  

Many people rent or buy homes on short notice because of career and life changes. Unexpected changes make finding and furnishing a home on short notice difficult. However, people in that position can benefit from finding a furnished home.

Whether it’s for rent or sale, you have a higher chance of appealing to people who must move on short notice without much furniture. Not only is the home move-in ready, but the fact that it’s furnished can also save them money. 

Ideally, you should specify that the home is furnished in the listing. Research real estate keywords and use them in the listing to stand out in the sea of competitors. 

Cons

Hard To Recoup The Investment

Furniture is expensive, and that’s part of why some people pursue furnished houses. However, it’s important to consider whether or not you can recoup your investment. For example, it’s unlikely that you can add the total value of the furniture to the asking price. 

Not only can this scare some buyers off, but they may also try to talk the price down. The more you lower the price, the less money you have to furnish another house. In that case, you may take a loss compared to selling an unfurnished house. 

You Must Furnish Another House

The biggest downside of selling a furnished home is that you must buy furniture for another home. This can be quite expensive, inconvenient, and stressful. While you can use the money you earned from selling your old home, it still takes a big investment. 

That includes a large time commitment, as you must rent a moving truck or accommodate delivery trucks. Many people understandably struggle to decide whether this negates the benefits of selling a home with furniture. On one hand, it gives you a chance at a fresh start, and on the other, it may cost more than it’s worth. 

Extra Scrutiny

Potential buyers naturally scrutinize every house and apartment they visit. After all, choosing a home is a big commitment, so it takes a lot of heavy consideration. The presence of furniture can open your home up to further scrutiny, and it may hurt your case. 

That’s because your belongings may paint a picture of life in the house. People may scrutinize every mark, scuff, and stain on your furniture. Messy furniture and decor can make potential buyers think about what kind of shape the rest of the home is in.

Sure, an inspection can reveal the condition of your electrical and HVAC systems, however, you may not get to that point if you turn buyers off with messy furniture. 

Do You Get More Money For A Furnished House?

You can get more money for a furnished house if it’s a short-term rental. However, you may not get more money if you sell a furnished house, as the buyer may talk you down. Unfortunately, many buyers consider furnished homes an inconvenience. 

This is less of an issue for renters who typically prioritize convenience. It also helps that you can charge 40% more when you rent out a furnished apartment in some cases. That said, you must research the average cost of rent for furnished apartments in the area. 

Sadly, furnished apartments are less popular for long-term rentals, and you can’t get as much money. You can still add up to 20% to the rental cost in a furnished house in some cases. 

Summing It Up

You can sell a home with furniture, but it’s not always worth the trouble. That’s because you must buy more furniture and cover moving costs when you move into your new home. This makes it hard to recoup the investment, and it doesn’t always even out after factoring in the cost of buying new furniture. 

Related Guides:

• What Items Cannot Be Moved By Professional Movers?
• Best Ways To Save Money On Movers