How To Buy Model Home Furniture
Buying furniture displayed in a model home can save you anywhere from 30 to 70 percent of the original retail cost. But you can't just walk into your local home furnishings store and buy used model home furniture. Instead, look for local stores and auctions specializing in this particular product niche.
Model Home Furniture Sales
Depending on how many model homes are in your area, you may be able to find auction houses or stores that specialize in selling their furniture by doing an internet search for "model home furniture for sale" and your city name. If your area has occasional model homes on display but not enough to support regular auctions or an entire store, you may have luck asking someone from the development where to purchase the furniture from model homes after they have been sold.
Tip
When you find a piece of model home furniture you like at a store or auction, buy it immediately because these items tend to be one of a kind. If someone else snaps up something, you will likely never see another piece like that again.
Things to Keep in Mind
Model home furniture may not be "used" in the traditional sense, but it isn't technically new. If everyone who came in to look at the home sat on a couch to fill out paperwork, for example, it might even be a little worn.
Adding to the problem of tattered model home furniture is that it is common for model home furniture to be made for display purposes and not for use in actual homes. Pieces made exclusively for model homes are typically cheap and flimsy because they don't need to last longer than it takes to sell all the houses in the neighborhood.
Many model homes are also frequently furnished with scaled-down furnishings to make the homes look more expansive. What appears to be a spacious sectional may be uncomfortable and impractical for everyday life.
With model home furniture stores and auction houses, all sales are final. You'll be stuck with your mistake if you buy a too-small dining table or a nightstand with paint that starts peeling a week after you bought it. Always take a tape measure to check the sizing of furnishings and thoroughly examine furniture before purchase.
Buy the Model Home
When you buy a model home, you may also be able to purchase the furniture inside. Buying furnishings along with your house can save you money over purchasing all new furnishings and ensure your home is ready to be lived in from day one.
Consider the potential downsides of model home furniture before adding any extra money to your home purchase cost, though. If the furnishings aren't high quality or are too small to be comfortable, you'll typically be best off buying them elsewhere.