Buying the house and everything in it

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Published Date 10/2/2025

When Realtor.com's Jillian Pretzel bought her first condo at 25, she owned exactly three pieces of furniture — a bed, a plastic coffee table, and a lime green IKEA couch. So when she toured a listing with beautiful furniture already in it, she had a brilliant idea. Why not buy the furniture too? A few hundred dollars later, she had a fully furnished home and didn't have to worry about moving that lime green couch anywhere.

Deals of this nature happen more often than you'd think, making it a win-win for all parties involved. San Diego-based real estate CEO Phil Green says including furniture can save buyers time and money while helping sellers get rid of items they are not inclined to relocate anyway. “I once saw a sale close faster simply because the seller threw in a fully furnished patio that sealed the deal for buyers who loved to entertain,” he said.

But before you go haggling over furniture, however, it's important to know what typically stays and what goes. Built-in furniture, window treatments, and lighting fixtures are generally expected to remain with the house. Things like freestanding furniture, rugs, artwork, and patio furniture are usually packed up with the seller. The rules can vary by state though, so always check your contracts.

UK design expert Spencer Lee says buyers get most excited about furniture that looks effortless in the home. “Think outdoor dining sets on a landscaped patio or a perfectly scaled sectional in an open-plan living room,” Pretzel notes that buyers are essentially purchasing convenience and lifestyle, not simply objects. Lee recalls a seller who struggled to move a loft with soaring ceilings until they offered to include an oversized sectional and custom bookcase. These buyers were honest about it, admitting they never would have known how to furnish the space themselves.

If you're a seller, Palm Beach broker Jeff Lichtenstein has smart advice: Price your home without the furnishings, then offer it furnished for a little more. This protects you if buyers want to subtract the furniture cost from your asking price, and it makes the furniture feel like a bargain.

Okay — so what about those valuable antiques or heirlooms? No worries. Lee says these rarely make sense in a home sale. A nineteenth hutch might fetch far more through a reputable antique store than when thrown in on a sale unless moving it is next to impossible. Detroit antiques dealer Brad Stanwick suggests sending pictures to dealers via email if you're interested in selling, noting that dark wood furniture, especially English pine, is very popular right now.

Even if your furniture isn't worth much, however, it’s best to observe the golden rule. Apart from paying a professional stager, removing furniture and belongings before you list helps your home show better, which can ultimately help you get more money for your sale.

Realtor, TBWS

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Jeff Beck - NMLS ID: 19488. To verify licensing, visit NMLS Consumer Access (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). 

Jeff Beck

Loan Expert

NMLS: 19488

American Home Lending USA

240 S Buchanan St, Edwardsville IL 62025

Company NMLS: 2239

Office: 618-310-0091

Cell: 618-806-2281

Email: jbeck@ahlusa1.com

Web: https://www.americanhomelendingusa.com/