Houses for sale. Furnished or unfurnished to look for?

Today's buyers have wide access to information, are knowledgeable and search thoroughly before making a decision to purchase a new home. They are aware of their requirements and preferences and choose a property that best suits their style and lifestyle. Usually they have decided whether to view furnished or unfurnished houses, guided primarily by features such as luxury and modern architecture, yet comfort and homeliness.

Take a look at the advantages of furnished and unfurnished houses.

Advantages of furnished houses

Fully furnished houses are the ones that offer all the amenities for a comfortable and hassle-free and quick accommodation. The advantages of buying a new, furnished home are that you will not have the commitment of choosing furniture and furnishings that will simultaneously fit your property layout, budget and requirements.

Buying an already furnished house is a good option for those who don't spend a long time in it, as their work involves long business trips, for example, and for people for whom acquiring a property ready to move straight into is a necessity.

Furthermore, a furnished home is a preferred option for people with busy lifestyles who do not have the time to coordinate the process of furnishing the property with a designer and have found a house that perfectly suits their individual style and lifestyle.

Another option for choosing a furnished house is one in which the property is purchased for investment purposes- it is rented out and in which having everything from white goods and appliances to the smallest decorative details is a necessity.
Their interiors are carefully tailored and often this is done with the help of interior designers and architects who take on the job of finding luxury furnishings and ensuring the project is executed perfectly.

If appliances are included in the furnishings, their age and condition should be assessed. They may be well-preserved and functionally fit but outdated to market trends. For this reason, buying a property at any price with the furnishings may rather hamper the transaction, i.e. you may want to have the appliances removed from the furnishings.

In addition, it is a good idea to do a survey of the electrical and plumbing supply. Old pipes, especially hot water ones, can cause problems with leaks or blockages. If the plumbing is not replaced with polypropylene pipes, the likelihood of such problems occurring sooner or later increases.

Easier and faster check-in

When you're short on time and want to move into your new home relatively quickly, you're unlikely to want to experiment with an unfurnished property that you've yet to design. If you need to leave your current home quickly, or you are travelling from afar and need a place to stay, if you are a foreigner and have no friends in town, and need to find a house to live in for a short or long time - then a furnished property is your solution. It has everything you need for a comfortable life, making your everyday life easier from the start.

An already furnished property does not require any initial extra care - you literally walk in and start enjoying life as before, but in a new place. Of course, a few refreshing changes may be necessary to bring more comfort and charm to your new home, but they are wishful thinking and only if the home that was previously occupied is really in not-so-good condition according to your requirements.

Saving time and money on furniture selection

A furnished property is often also in good condition, which means fewer hassles and arguments with handymen or the need for repairs on your part. You'll also save yourself time searching for suitable furniture and having it made and delivered. The interior design of the property will already be taken care of by a qualified team of professionals and you will be able to move straight into a cosy home, with new furnishings.

Of course, when you buy a furnished house but the furniture in it is far from your taste, you could compromise on some of it, but you may find it necessary to replace some. If you spend more time in the living room, for example, but the sofa and chest of drawers are not to your taste, it would be quite logical to look for new ones. The same goes for any other room in the home where the furniture may not go together stylistically or simply not match your preferences. In this case, you will have to pay for re-furnishing even though you have already paid the full value of the property, including the furniture and decorations in it. If you can use them to furnish another property of yours, the loss to you would be virtually nil. However, this is not always an option for the new owner, resulting in an unnecessary expense that could be saved by buying an unfurnished property.

Advantages of unfurnished houses

Many buyers also prefer an option where they acquire a completed but unfurnished property. This is most often the situation with newly built homes or when the seller insists on taking their furnishings when moving out. Also, many buyers avoid using old furniture and belongings that belonged to a previous owner. If you're buying a new home with long-term intentions of living in it, it's a good idea to have furnishings that you purchased predominate.

An unfurnished house does not have any furnishings, meaning it is effectively empty. Of course, such dwellings have the complete structure - doors, windows, sinks, and toilet bowls, but the rooms are absolutely empty.

Possibility to decorate according to your own taste

By acquiring an unfurnished property, you guarantee that everything in it will be strictly individual to your taste and you will not have to move furniture left by the previous owners of the home. Many buyers in the luxury segment manage to find a furnished apartment in which even the smallest detail suits their essence, but of course it is possible that you will not find one and you will have to bring the desired comfort and coziness into it yourself.

Before you start furnishing, searching and buying different furniture, you need to clear the concept of your dwelling. Some people prefer light colors that create the illusion of size and bring a feeling of cleanliness and freshness. Others prefer darker and contrasting ones that bring a sense of eclecticism. Others are strict adherents of interior design trends and do everything "according to the latest fashion", but after a while decide to repaint the walls, move the sofa or get rid of unnecessary accumulated belongings. Go for a style that you like and at the same time gives you the functionality you need. Stick to a colour palette and materials that are in tune with each other.

A contemporary home is modern yet minimalist in its furnishings. The clean style, straight lines and symmetrical proportions are psychologically soothing and create a sense of order and harmony. Luxury is epitomised with grandeur that is devoid of clutter of elements. Winning combinations are alternating nude and contrasting colours, furniture that blends like fabrics - for example natural wood and glossy surfaces. Choose a few decorations such as a cosy bookcase, a few photo frames in the living room or a large painting in the bedroom along with a few candle holders. Don't prominently display knick-knacks on cabinets that you don't use every day or don't find a use for with other decorations. Stick to the same shapes - round mirrors, for example, or elliptical rugs.

Colours are important! White is a symbol of purity and freshness. The colour is a timeless classic that never goes out of style and is suitable for literally everything. In the past, it was thought that white things in the home would quickly get dirty, but today, thanks to new technology in materials, this is not a problem. If possible, choose white planters for your houseplants, white storage boxes or a white bathroom dispenser. White stands well on different textures and surfaces - smooth, rough, glossy, matte, no matter if on a textile or an accessory.

Lower price

If you can save on furnishings in furnished homes, here you can benefit from a lower transaction price on the property. This option would be workable for you if you are planning to acquire the home and gradually buy furnishings before you move in.

A major factor in buyers purchasing an unfurnished home is the ability to personally determine the desired décor. When you have made the decision to purchase an unfurnished house, the value itself is lower, therefore you can invest in working with an interior designer to go about discovering furniture tailored to your individual taste.

Trust a professional who has already thought about these things and furnished the property in a modern and cozy way. If you don't have a big budget, it's possible to compromise on quality, which in time will be an additional unforeseen expense. As they say - cheap often comes at a high price. So evaluate the time and money you have, think carefully about what you want, when and why you want it and choose the most cost-effective solution for you. It is illogical to invest a small amount in an unfurnished home and then an even larger amount in furnishing or maintaining it. The logistics of any furniture is also an important item to take into consideration.

How to make the right choice?

Even if you're moving into an already furnished home, you can always change something you don't like and replace it with something you like better. Of course, you may want to take some of your favourite furniture, belongings and accessories from your previous home to keep the interior similar. Think about whether you like the overall feel of the home, the colours, details and ornaments - whether you would repaint the walls, or put up wallpaper or authentic bricks for example. Furnishings are key in a house because, as well as being aesthetically beautiful, they should also provide you with comfort and functionality. Whatever you choose, the important thing is that you feel safe, relaxed and energised in your new home!

If you want to find your new exclusive home but are unsure whether to go for a furnished or unfurnished property, Unique Estates' consultants will help you find the best option for you. They will guide you through the pros and cons of these two choices, based entirely on your individual needs and preferences. Unique Estates consultants will assist you with finding the most suitable luxury home to become your new dream home.