Do you need to clear the house and sell it fast, but along with all the stress and worries from moving out of home, taking care of furniture in it is problematic?
Don’t worry. This is a situation we often face at Henfield Storage at our Brighton and London stores, and thus we have prepared the following guide to help.
why sell your home with the furniture?
What if you pack up only your necessary belongings and leave large furniture pieces like tables, chairs, sofa, and bed behind?
To leave furniture in a house you have to sell on short notice sure does save time, extra costs, and unnecessary hassle, but does it favour the deal? Not necessarily.
Put yourself in the shoes of prospect buyers.
They should imagine starting with interior design in a freshly bought property. Looks should encourage an atmosphere that allows fresh ideas, lifestyle, and taste. That’s why the furniture better go.
Naturally, relocating furniture is a time-consuming part of any moving process, so it could delay an entire sale. Leaving furniture behind makes transitioning to a new place much easier and quicker but might worsen the image of the property you want to sell.
dismantle furniture for easier storing
No matter how, where, and why you end up storing or changing ownership, you might want to take it apart, save on space, and have it ready for transport or storage. Just make sure you document the process so you don’t struggle with what goes where.
stash furniture in a storage facility
When you have to sell a house full of furnishing, or you need to stash unwanted furniture for safe-keeping, your best bet is to rent a storage unit or store it in a garage. Our London storage facility offers a secure place for your items, so you can take your time deciding whether to sell or donate them.
This way, you can take your time to make the best choice, be it selling or donating the furnitures. Aside from these, there are many reasons why you should consider putting your belongings in storage. This includes:
Clearing the clutter:
Self-storage facilities help you to declutter your space giving it a neat and organised look. This is especially important if you are looking to sell and move into your new home. When you’re selling your home, you need to think about what buyers want to see. They want a home that looks stylish and provides plenty of space. You also need to make sure that you are accentuating the best features. That’s difficult to achieve when every room is clogged up with extra items. Storage units provide the answer because, with this option, you can make sure that the clutter is out of sight. Decluttering also helps you to attract potential buyers easily.
Creating a staged move:
In an ideal world, you would need to move everything in one go. However, this is not always possible. Having a staged move means you can divide your workload and organise the move in a more structured way. A self-storage facility can help you to create this staged move where you can easily store your valuables and ease into your new home without getting inundated with boxes.
Preparing for your new home:
It is very rare that you will have your perfect dream home from day one. At the very least, you will probably need to give it a deep clean or do some painting work. If you are buying an older home, you might even have to do home renovations and remodelling. This can get challenging with furniture arriving on a tight schedule. Having access to cheap storage units means your furniture and other essentials have a temporary home while you turn your new house to your dream home.
HELPing with temporary accommodation:
Another likely situation is that you might have to live in temporary accommodation when moving homes. This temporary accommodation can be a rented place or your friends’ or family’s place. If you find yourself in such a situation, self-storage units would be your best option to keep your essentials until you move to your new home.
choose between full-service collection storage or self-storage
Hire a full-service storage business to do the work. Storage experts come to your house and pick up the furnitures you no longer want. After they’ve collected your furniture, they store it in a secure storage unit in their storage facility. Some storage facilities will give you an inventory of all your stuff so that you can keep track of what you stored away. And as far as traditional self-storage, it’s cheaper, but you’ll have to take care of everything, including finding the space, transport, etc., all by yourself.
We have storage facilities across London and Brighton.
Of course, if you opt-in for 3+ months of storage, Henfield Storage offers a free collection for our regular self-storage, click & store services, and lock-in storage, so we make it easier for you. Check which of our storage facilities is near you.
Helpful reads:
research on costs
Whether you are looking for collection storage or a traditional self-storage service, the pricing will depend on the area and how much there is to store.
Also, compare the average costs of a couple of storage units and types of contracts. This way, there is a better chance of finding a place with a minimum monthly fee. Make sure to check what happens if you skip several payments so you don’t end up losing your furnitures to an auction.
Are there any hidden costs? Take your time and get to know our storage terms & conditions to make sure that we’re most recommended for a reason.
storage facility’s security, accessibility, climate control, and lighting
Is there a reliable locking system and video monitoring? At Henfield Storage, we have 24/7 CCTV surveillance.
Are the lighting and climate suitable, so they don’t harm your belongings, especially technology and appliances? Yes.
And what about easy access to the storage place? Only during opening hours.
Can other people access your storage unit? Only upon your written permission.
Would you be able to take your stuff anytime you need to? Yes.
Still hesitant on renting a storage facility? You can always ask family or friends if they have some spare space to share with you.
Read: 11 Things To Know Before Renting a Storage
How To Prepare Your Home For Viewings
The selling experience can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve never done it before, but the easy tips and tricks below can help you prepare your home for successful viewings.
Declutter and Clean the Rooms
When your belongings clutter the rooms, your home will look and feel cramped, making it difficult for buyers to imagine themselves in it. Go through the house room by room and get rid of all unneeded items by throwing them away, donating them to charity, or putting them away in a cupboard or closet. Larger items such as furniture that you want to keep can be put into temporary storage with a professional storage company.
Let in Natural Light
One of simplest and most effective ways to make your home look spacious and inviting is to let in natural light. Draw back and secure all curtains, remove hanging plants, furniture, and window sill accessories (e.g., photos, vases, and ornaments) that could block the light, and schedule viewings during the times when natural light is at its most effective. These small changes can all give the impression of having bright and open space throughout the home.
Leave Closed Spaces Open to View
Most people have a special closet where they can casually store items that are older, require repair, or don’t blend with the current decor. Over the years, however, this secret storage space can become so full that closing the door becomes a challenge.
When buyers walk through a home, they want to look into closets and cupboards to get an idea of all available storage space, so it’s a good idea to get all these spaces ready for inspection. This doesn’t mean you have to discard everything: you can store larger items at a local storage company, which can also supply you with boxes to organise everything else. As an added bonus, these items are now packed away and ready for your move.
Pay Attention to the Outdoors
Your garden is one of your home’s biggest selling point. Cut the grass, clear away any rubbish, and put out some lush green potted plants. If you have an outdoor area with seasonal furniture, dress it up with some tastefully coloured cushions or throws.
Remember: to get the most out of a viewing, don’t let the buyers imagine how amazing your home can be. Show them instead.
furniture arrangement & condition
You already have scheduled house viewings?
Well, then it’s time to take care of details to elevate the look of your place and make it attractive to potential buyers.
Clean and tidy every part of the property. Tidy the garage, basement, and attic. House viewers will likely check every corner possible. Keep this in mind and avoid hiding and stacking stuff you intend to keep because it’s simply unappealing and might hinder an imminent sale.
While you’re clearing furnishings meant for sale, try arranging a setup to display how customisable the room and furnishings can be. When viewing a well-furnished home, prospective buyers are more likely to envision their future life in it, which improves your chances of selling it sooner than you think.
Of course, you have to make sure that the furniture pieces are in good condition.
- Repair any damage.
- Replace what is worn out.
- Throw away what’s broken.
take quality and accurate photos of furniture for sale
Nowadays, more and more buyers browse the Internet to find a new home or shop for furniture. That’s why posting high quality and realistic photos of your furnished home on different buy/sell platforms is crucial to its successful sale.
But before you start taking photos, think of the cleaning! Tackle clutter, dust, stains, and personal items off your furniture. Images of clean and organised rooms make a positive impact on buyers and grab their attention. Otherwise, you risk prospects skipping your listing. What’s the stake? To eventually end up with zero booked house showings.
Advice on flattering and appealing furniture photos:
- Think about staging. Prepare the house in a way to highlight its best assets and thus impress buyers. If you lack inspiration, look for creative ideas and help on the web.
- Use proper lighting. Take your photos just after sunrise or before sunset because that’s when light is considered most complimentary.
- Photograph furniture arrangements from different angles. Remember to take both close-ups and wide shots to show maximum textures and reveal the property’s layout. If you find it challenging to take attractive photographs, just hire a professional.
- Edit the photos. Finally, why not try different editing apps to enhance your images further? Just be careful not to overdo it so you won’t mislead buyers.
Put effort when taking the photos of the property to provide buyers with a thorough feel of the place and thus guarantee more house showings.
give the furnitures detailed descriptions
People interested in the sale expect additional information about furniture in the property whether it will be present or missing and then move forward.
So, from a buyer’s point of view, think about what is important for people to know prior to purchasing a furnished home and do your best to explain it.
Provide a brief description of furniture materials, how old each piece is, its condition, and so on. Mention the function and added usefulness of all furniture pieces. This helps your post pop up when listed online.
how to price furniture when selling a house
House owners usually think that selling a house furnished allows a significant increase in the price. But that’s not always the case, and the added or detracted value depends on the condition and quality of what you have.
how to include furniture in the sale of a home?
It’s okay to list a slightly higher price but know your limits and don’t ask for too much. Often, British buyers are reluctant to acquire furniture along with the property and thus do you a favour by taking it off your hands. So, to avoid awkward situations, do your own research:
- Compare your furniture with similar units online and in stores.
- Examine the furniture for scratches, stains, holes, or other damage.
- Define its style and uniqueness.
With all this in mind, you could set a realistic and accurate price for everything you want to sell along with the property.
And if for some reason, you are in a hurry to sell and move out, you may have to start with a lower asking price so that you can sell it quicker.
pair furniture units to bargain on deals
If selling furnishing is your last option, pair chairs with tables, wardrobes, and shelving, etc. People always love a combo deal.
donate what you can’t sell
What about all the stuff you don’t plan to bring to your new home but also can’t sell? Do a good deed and donate.
But don’t just drop them off in your local charity shop. Put some thought into it, and depending on what exactly you donate, choose a nonprofit that will actually benefit from it. Some charities even come to your address to collect the furniture themselves, so you don’t have to worry about transporting it.
take what you want, leave the rest
Some things you just can’t sell, nor do you want to dump it. Well, take your belongings that truly matter and just leave the rest or join the zero waste movement and choose a rubbish company that will collect and recycle.
how do you store furniture when moving home?
We believe that you now have all your questions regarding storing furniture when moving home answered. If you’re located in the London area, store your furnitures in one of our storage facilities.
