Merchandising a home with the right furniture is an important part of selling a lifestyle to prospective buyers. And while it is necessary to go all out, you don’t have to break the bank to create a model home that you’re proud of.
While some argue that leasing is the way to go, others swear it’s more cost-effective to buy furniture. Which way you go relies on several existing factors, such as budget constraints and marketing goals.
Let’s look at which option makes the most sense and why!
Lease or Buy Furniture for a Model Home?
Here’s a side-by-side comparison that should help settle the debate of whether leasing or buying furniture is the best way to go.
Leasing
Convenient Yet Expensive
While you can exchange pieces for different styles, colors, or fabrics at no extra cost, leasing furniture can prove to be expensive over time, especially if the project lasts more than the lease term.
Free Delivery, Relocation, Assembly, And Maintenance
Some leasing companies offer a slew of free services—cleaning or replacing worn-out furniture, for example. Some may also provide insurance so that you won’t have to bear the expense of, say, an unforeseen accident. Leasing furniture can thus help you avoid these costs.
Buying
Smarter, Functional, Stylish Choices
The best source to acquire furniture is from a merchandising contractor, as they can fill your model home with key pieces based on in-depth research. They also possess the expertise on how to make a model home project a cohesive, streamlined aesthetic. This ensures that the furniture pieces and accessories will imbue an aesthetic that sustains over time.
You have access to more market-trendy, quality options, meaning an environment that is on-brand and meets the homeowners’ aspirations. It’s also a great way to enhance and add variety to your social media pages and sales/marketing efforts.
Flexibility With Second Hand Furniture
Buying secondhand furniture allows you not only to spend less but also repurpose pieces in good condition. They’re considerably cheaper than leasing new pieces and can be purchased at a steal. If you’re on a tight budget, secondhand furniture can prove to be a worthy investment.
Ongoing Expenses
Buying furniture could mean spending extra on upkeep, delivery, and assembly, leading to mounting expenses. Some companies provide discounted services, so look into this before buying from a company. If a long-term contract is what you need, find a company that offers a few free services.
Takeaway
Chalk out a budget that centers on creating a winning home design rather than cutting costs as that could jeopardize a sale.
What If Clients Don’t Keep the Furniture?
Some buyers only need a visual idea of what living in a home looks like. They won’t necessarily commit to those same pieces on display. If your goal is not to sell the furniture on display, leasing makes more sense. Such a scenario will give you a sense of which furniture to swap when they don’t do well on home tours.
In the case of bought furniture, many builders put model furnishings up for sale to valued homeowners through a “Friends and Family Sale.” You’ll be able to recover most of the cost since the pieces are new.
Alternatively, you can reuse the furniture for other model homes you have on sale. They will, of course, have to meet similar target audience prerequisites like the previous model home. A merchandising contractor can help transition pieces to new homes with a few tweaks so that you won’t have to spend on new pieces.
For some model home builders, leasing furniture may be the smarter alternative. After all, it’s affordable, practical, and effective. It makes the most sense if you’re working with a stretched budget that focuses on more pressing architectural requirements.
On the flip side, buying furniture with a merchandising company helps you look at the bigger picture: creating a model home with a specialized aesthetic that surpasses the ordinary and is primed for sale.