Best time to buy furniture

greenw00d

I've just made an offer on a house and I'm starting to think about all the furniture I'll need. I'll probably try and get a lot from ebay and second hand shops.

When is the best time to buy? Before Christmas, after Christmas, no seasonal change?

Cheers

theonlywayisup

If you have just made the offer, I would wait at least until exchange of contracts until you make purchases or obtain items you may not need if the purchase doesn't proceed.

soolin

theonlywayisup wrote: »

If you have just made the offer, I would wait at least until exchange of contracts until you make purchases or obtain items you may not need if the purchase doesn't proceed.

I agree, now can you please persuade my son to listen to me. My house is full already, and is even fuller as he keeps buying things for the house he hasn't yet exchanged on and we've run out of room in storage. I have a small chest of drawers I have to climb over just to get onto my PC desk!

OP, consider looking at bricks and mortar auctions as well, there are often some real bargains there.

greenw00d

Yeah, I'm agree, I'm just planning ahead.

Part of the reason for asking is I want to decide if I should push for completion before or after christmas.

macfly

Don't know where you live, but I will never buy retail or second hand again - furniture or white goods. Simon Charles auction dozens of suites, tables, beds, fridges etc etc every week.

jasmineswhiskers

If your offer gets accepted then i'd start looking straight away. That way you have some time to get the pieces you really like and for a good price.

pinkshoes

It depends if you're the type of person who wants have to have everything straight away!

I moved into my first flat with 2 beanbags and a futon (and bought a cheapo Ikea table to put the 42" plasma on - our only other item of "furniture" we owned!), then saved up and spent time looking for other bits of furniture I needed/wanted/liked.

Booley

Obviously if you have nothing then you'll need some basics but I agree with Pinkshoes. Sometimes it's good to get to know your home a bit and once you're in there you can get a proper feel for what would look nice and where.

The few times I've moved I've had pieces of furniture that I thought would look fine only to find that what was good for one house wasn't so good in another.

I'm only saying this because if you're anything like me then the charity shop will do very nicely out of you but your purse might wince a bit lol.

elmer

We ordered and paid for a new sofa before Xmas a couple of years ago and my friend told me I was mad and I should have waited for the Jan sales, however in the sales my sofa was "reduced" to a higher price than I had paid for it before Xmas.

When I asked the salesman why, he said that sales dry up after their last delivery before Xmas date is past and dont start again until the sales, so they often have special offers to maintain their sales figures.

Hope you find something you like

Elmer

hermum

If you aren't already it may be worth registering with your local freecycle, freegle or whatever yours is called. A lot of people will buy new in the sales or for Xmas & will be giving away their old.

lindseykim13

If you want bargains i'd be looking at pick up only items before xmas about now actually as people are decorating and sorting their houses out ready for xmas. I'm currently doing it!
I also don't have the space to keep furniture laying around while on ebay so they usually go on cheap BINS or freecycle. I would get looking now if you have somewhere to keep a few bits.