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Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 10:37 AM Apr 2022

Does anyone have any experience with buying a home's furniture with the house?

We are trying to buy a house in Galveston. It's on Airbnb. The furnishings are not conveyed but they are available for sale.

I wonder if there's a method to it?. I really truly have no earthly idea how much it would cost to furnish an entire house. My thought immediately goes to beds and sheets and pillows and bedspreads and mattresses and drapes as being the number one cost. Plus any antiques or wooden furniture?

Although trying to buy every stick of what's needed in a kitchen could really add up a lot too. Pots and pans and dishes and forks and knives and utensils etc.

It's so beautiful. Here's the Airbnb listing:


https://abnb.me/Th8ihk0LCpb


24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Does anyone have any experience with buying a home's furniture with the house? (Original Post) Laura PourMeADrink Apr 2022 OP
Go way under the amount they are asking for it. You are doing them a favor, LizBeth Apr 2022 #1
Yes, I second that! Quakerfriend Apr 2022 #5
This is so true! bamagal62 Apr 2022 #8
I hear ya. Although inventory is so low, our agent thinks this house will go Laura PourMeADrink Apr 2022 #17
Wow, that is very very nice and would be quite expensive to replicate with new items. Used RKP5637 Apr 2022 #2
Exactly what's missing in the situation. Don't know what the intention Laura PourMeADrink Apr 2022 #18
Looks like very good quality furnishings but I agree with poster saying it is a pain MLAA Apr 2022 #3
I bought quite a bit with my home SheltieLover Apr 2022 #4
Now that's interesting. Can you do that before you buy it? Laura PourMeADrink Apr 2022 #11
I did SheltieLover Apr 2022 #20
I payed thousands less by asking seller to name prices than what I'd prepared to offer! SheltieLover Apr 2022 #21
That's great. Why is it when we finally are ready to buy something Laura PourMeADrink Apr 2022 #23
Likely because qpukes keep fking everything up. SheltieLover Apr 2022 #24
Pricing items can run several different ways bucolic_frolic Apr 2022 #6
Thanks. That's a good rule of thumb percentage of retail Laura PourMeADrink Apr 2022 #12
I don't think I'd buy it until I'd seen it Warpy Apr 2022 #7
Great advice-- enough Apr 2022 #10
Good points for sure. I'll have to look but I doubt very very much Laura PourMeADrink Apr 2022 #16
People will still smoke, especially when they can't be seen Warpy Apr 2022 #19
Got it! Laura PourMeADrink Apr 2022 #22
Most mortgage holders snowybirdie Apr 2022 #9
Thanks that's very important thing to know. So maybe it would be better to just put in an offer Laura PourMeADrink Apr 2022 #14
When I worked for IRS, we were trained to put extremely low spooky3 Apr 2022 #13
Good point you made me think, if this is a rental it means Laura PourMeADrink Apr 2022 #15

LizBeth

(10,821 posts)
1. Go way under the amount they are asking for it. You are doing them a favor,
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 10:39 AM
Apr 2022

making their life easier and they cannot get much of anything for it if they put it out to sell, and such a hassle. I had antiques, china, crystal, the good stuff. And ended up giving it all away to charity because no matter what I tried, was impossible to get rid of.

Quakerfriend

(5,655 posts)
5. Yes, I second that!
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 10:51 AM
Apr 2022

I have what were once considered valuable antiques that are now hardly sellable- No one wants old, heavy armoires, beds etc.

You would be doing them a huge favor!

The place is lovely & beautifully decorated!!

I would offer them a round figure & see if they bite- If not, you can negotiate higher.

Good Luck! Let us know how it goes

bamagal62

(3,650 posts)
8. This is so true!
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:04 AM
Apr 2022

And, today's younger group has no interest in anything used or old, from what I understand. They want everything, including the house, to be new. As my realtor says, "They want to move in and go out for sushi!".

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
17. I hear ya. Although inventory is so low, our agent thinks this house will go
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:49 AM
Apr 2022

for a $100,000 over ask . Course that's not considering the furniture at all. I like what someone mentioned below about it being a separate transaction.

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)
2. Wow, that is very very nice and would be quite expensive to replicate with new items. Used
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 10:40 AM
Apr 2022

furniture is hard to get rid of. I bought a house fully furnished and paid nothing for it. The person in that case was older and needed to get rid of the house and was pleased I took the entire place, as is.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
18. Exactly what's missing in the situation. Don't know what the intention
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:51 AM
Apr 2022

Of the seller is. Are they trying to dump the whole thing? Or are they setting up a rental somewhere else.

MLAA

(18,598 posts)
3. Looks like very good quality furnishings but I agree with poster saying it is a pain
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 10:43 AM
Apr 2022

for the seller to get rid of and think yard sale/estate sale prices for furnishings….pennies on the dollar.

Good luck!

SheltieLover

(59,599 posts)
4. I bought quite a bit with my home
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 10:49 AM
Apr 2022

I sent email to realtor listing items I was interested in & asked for seller's desired price for each.

Desired prices were literally pennies on the dollar for complete bedroom sets, etc!

Lovely home!

Best of luck!

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
11. Now that's interesting. Can you do that before you buy it?
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:26 AM
Apr 2022

This house is 5 hours away from us so it's not like we can walk through and itemize, at least not easily.

SheltieLover

(59,599 posts)
20. I did
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 12:08 PM
Apr 2022

Send email to realtor asking for price on everything, then one excluding what you don't want, or could live without. 👍

Or ask for the whole kahuna in one package price. Better yet, if you want everything.

SheltieLover

(59,599 posts)
21. I payed thousands less by asking seller to name prices than what I'd prepared to offer!
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 12:11 PM
Apr 2022

Paid $125 for one entire bedroom set, sans mattress & box spring. Nothing special, but in excellent condition & perfectly servicable, just for example!

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
23. That's great. Why is it when we finally are ready to buy something
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 01:39 PM
Apr 2022

It's a super bad super competitive market and the inventory is only a fraction of what it typically is?

It reminds me of when you're looking for a dress or something for an event and you can't find one but when you are not there are million out there that you love

bucolic_frolic

(46,973 posts)
6. Pricing items can run several different ways
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 10:56 AM
Apr 2022

plus with bulky items there is the cost of moving. But how to estimate them? There are new, used, wholesale, local auction, cart away.
There are companies that buy contents of homes, lock stock and barrel. Wonder if one of them would appraise it for a fee? My guess would be 25-40% of retail price, depending on condition, and as you say, antiques. The current owners would either have to haul away and sell it, or sell to a clean-out/auction company, or parse it off to an estate sale company. Hope that gives some ideas.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
12. Thanks. That's a good rule of thumb percentage of retail
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:28 AM
Apr 2022

I think it would be really important if we knew what the owners intentions were. I mean they've been owning a house that they've been renting out. Are they buying another one that they're going to run out and need the furniture? You know or are they just liquidating

Warpy

(113,130 posts)
7. I don't think I'd buy it until I'd seen it
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:02 AM
Apr 2022

but buying a furnished place instead of having to lug my own furniture around would be an attractive proposition with a few caveats:

First, the place is air bnb, so the furniture might be prefab and cheap and simply not last a long time. Don't overpay.

Second, which applies mostly to me, I'm a nonsmoker and violently allergic to tobacco smoke. I'd have to give it the sniff test. Living with the stink of old tobacco in upholstery, drapes, sheets, towels, etc. would be torture. Nothing covers it up and nothing really gets rid of it beyond ripping it out, painting the walls, and redoing the carpets.

Third, you say it's beautiful, which means it photographs well. Is this your style? Can you make it your style? Do you care about style?

Fourth, look past the furniture to storage. Empty places into which you can put stuff are as important as the surfaces and short term rental properties might be short on it.

Other than that, I'd say hooray, all you need to do is pack your suitcases and boxes pf books and papers amd GO.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
16. Good points for sure. I'll have to look but I doubt very very much
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:45 AM
Apr 2022

That they would allow any kind of smoking in there at all. Lots of places don't even allow it on the property at all anywhere. And this house is in the historic district so you have to answer to the historic society on anything you want to change.

But I do have to say one thing about it being on the Airbnb market with 46 five-star reviews it means one thing - - everything probably works. I read all the reviews and didn't see a single complaint.

Warpy

(113,130 posts)
19. People will still smoke, especially when they can't be seen
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:52 AM
Apr 2022

by anyone who's told them not to. Oh, they'll open a window but that doesn't help a whole lot.

Just look (and sniff) before you leap. That's all.

snowybirdie

(5,627 posts)
9. Most mortgage holders
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:18 AM
Apr 2022

Won't lend on the furniture. Only the house itself. You'll need a separate bill of sale to purchase the contents and pay for them yourself. But it's easier if all can agree.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
14. Thanks that's very important thing to know. So maybe it would be better to just put in an offer
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:34 AM
Apr 2022

On the house itself unfurnished. Then step two worry about the furniture. If they sold it they might be more amenable when they start thinking about having to move it all.

spooky3

(36,194 posts)
13. When I worked for IRS, we were trained to put extremely low
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:32 AM
Apr 2022

Values on used furniture, housewares, etc., just as others are saying.

On upholstered furniture, you may also want to check for bedbugs or other critters that can burrow into fabrics.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
15. Good point you made me think, if this is a rental it means
Fri Apr 29, 2022, 11:42 AM
Apr 2022

The mattresses and sofas and soft furniture have probably got a lot of wear and tear on them.

And we will want to rent it out too and live in it all winter.

Lots to think about. If we're going to rent it out immediately it's easier to have everything in place. But will likely be ready to be replaced by the time we get in there.

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